§ 159. ALCUIN. 689
ing an affectation of scholars in the middle age, write under assumed names.1 Among his correspondents are kings, pa triarchs, bishops and abbots. The value of these letters is very great. They throw light upon contemporary history, and such as are private, and these are numerous, allow us to look into Alcuin's heart. Many of them, unfortunately, are lost, and some are known to exist imprinted, as in the Cotton collection. Those now printed mostly date from Tours, and so belong to his closing years. They may be roughly divided into three groups : 2 (1 ) those to English correspondents. These show how dear his native land was to Alcuin, and how deeply interested he was in her affairs. (2) Those to Charlemagne, a large and the most important group.3 Alcuin speaks with freedom, yet always with profound respect. (3) Those to his bosom friend, Arno of Salzburg.
II. EXEGETICAL MiSGELLANY.4 (a) Questions and answers respecting the interpretation of Genesis, (b) Edifying and brief exposition of the Penitential Psalms, Psalm CXVIII and the Psalms of Degrees, (c) Short commentary on Canticles, (d) Commentary on Ecclesiastes. (e) A literal, allegorical and moral Interpretation of the Hebrew names of our Lord's ancestors (in which he makes much out of the symbolism of the numbers). (f ) Commentary on portions of John's Gospel, (g) On Titus, Philemon, Hebrews.5 These comments are chiefly derived from the Fathers, and develop the allegorical and moral sense of Scripture. That on John's Gospel is the most important. The plan of making a commentary out of extracts was quickly fol lowed and was indeed the only plan in general use in the Middle Age.
See above, p. 615 sq. Ebert, II. 32-35.
Guizot analyzes them (I. c. 243-246). Opuscula exegetica, Migne, C. 515-1086.
That on Revelation in Migne is not his, but probably by a pupil of Al cuin. It is, however, a mere compilation from Ambrosius Autpertus (d. 779.)
690 FOUKTH PEEIOD. A. D. 590-1049.
III. DOGMATIC MISCELLANY.* (a) The Trinity, written in 802, dedicated to Charlemagne, a condensed statement of Angustin's teaching on the subject. It was the model for the " Sen tences " of the twelfth century. It is followed by twenty-eight questions and answers on the Trinity, (b) The Procession of the Holy Spirit, similarly dedicated and made up of patristic quo tations, (c) Brief treatise against the heresy of Felix (Adoptionism), (d) Another against it in seven books, (e) A treatise against Elipandus in four books, (f ) Letter against Adoptionism, ad dressed to some woman. These writings on Adoptionism are very able and reveal learning and some independence.
IV. LITURGICAL and ETHICAL WORKS. 2 (a) The Sacraments, a collection of mass-formulae, from the use of Tours, (b) The use of the Psalms, a distribution of the Psalms under appro priate headings so that they can be used as prayers, together with explanations and original prayers : a useful piece of work, (c) Offices for festivals, the Psalms sung upon the feast days, with prayers, hymns, confessions and litanies : a sort of lay_ breviary, made for Charlemagne, (d) A letter to Oduin, a presbyter, upon the ceremony of baptism, (e) Virtues and vices, dedicated to Count Wido, compiled from Augustin. (f ) The human soul, addressed in epistolary form to Eulalia (Gundrada), the sister of Adalhard, abbot of Corbie, in France, (g) Confes sion of sins, addressed to his pupils at St. Martin's of Tours.
Y. HAGIOGRAPHICAL WORKS.3 (a) Life of St. Martin of Tour*, rewritten from Sulpicius Severus. (b) Life of St. Vedast, bishop of Atrebates (Arras), and (c) Life of the most blessed presbyter Requier, both rewritten from old accounts, (d) Life of St. Willibrord, bishop of Utrecht, his own ancestor, in two books, one prose, the other verse. This is an original work, and valuable as history.
1 Opuscula dogmatica, Migne, CI. col. 11-304.
2 Opuscula liturgica et moralia, ibid. col. 445—656.
3 Opuscula hagiographica, ibid. col. 657-724.