g 167. RABANUS MAURUS. 725
stitions of his time, for in the second part of this tract, written in 842, he takes strong ground against necromancy in all its forms, of which he gives an interesting catalogue, and while explaining the appearance of ghosts, evil spirits and similar supposed existences on the ground of demoniac influence, he yet admits the possibility that the senses may be deceived. Curi ously enough, he cites in point the appearance of Samuel to Saul. He denies the reality of Samuel's appearance and holds that Saul was deceived by the devil ; for two reasons, (1) the real Samuel, the man of God, would not have permitted the worship which Saul paid to the supposed Samuel ; (2) the real Samuel was in Abraham's bosom ; he would, therefore, not say to the impious king, " To-morrow thou shalt be with me."1
(4) A Response to certain Canonical Questions of the Suffragan Bishop Reginald.21
(5) Whether it is permissible for a suffragan bishop to ordain priests and deacons with the consent of his bishop.3 He replies in the affirmative.
IV. Writings upon PENANCE. (1) Two Penitentials.4 They give the decisions of councils respecting penance. (2) Canonical questions relating to penance.5 (3) The virtues and vices and the satisfaction for sin.6
V. MISCELLANEOUS. (1) Homilies.7 There are two collec tions, the first seventy in number upon the principal feasts and on the virtues; the second, one hundred and sixty-three upon the Gospels and Epistles. The first collection must have been made
1 CX. col. 1100-
2 Responsa canonica super quibusdam interrogationibus Reginbaldi chorepiscopi, ibid. col. 1187-1196.
3 Si liceal chorepiscopis presbyteros et diaconos ordinare cum eonsensu episcopi sui, ibid. col. 1195-1206.
4 Pcenitentiale, ibid. col. 467-494. Panitentium liber, CXII. col. 1397-1424.
5 De qucextionibus canonum pcenitcnt tedium libri tres, ibid. col. 1333-1336. (The preface only.)
6 De vitiis (t virtutibus et peccatorum satisfactione, ibid. col. 1335-1398. (Only the third book.) 7 Homilice, CX. col. 9-468.
726 FOURTH PERIOD. A. D. 590-1049.
earlier than 826, for it is dedicated to bishop Haistulf, who died in that year. The most of these homilies were doubtless actu ally delivered by Raban. The sermons of Leo the Great, Augustin, Alcuin and others have been liberally drawn on, and so the homilies are compilations in great measure, like the rest of his works. Yet a few are apparently original and have the greatest interest, inasmuch as they treat of the vices then cur rent and so furnish a picture of the times.1
(2) Treatise on the Soul.2 It is an extract with slight addi tions from Cassiodoras' De Anima, as he acknowledges in his preface to king Lothair. To it are appended extracts from the De diseiplina Romance militice of Flavius Vegetius Renatus. The reason given for this strange appendix is "the frequent incursions of the Barbarians." The treatise was perhaps the last product of Rabanus.3
(3) A martyr ology* The saints for the different days are noted, in most cases merely the name is given, in others there are short sketches. Its principal source is Jerome. It was prepared at the request of Ratleik, who stole the relics of SS. Marcellinus and Petrus for Einhard ; and is prefaced by a short poem addressed to the abbot Grimold.
(4) The vision of God, purity of heart and mode of penanoe.5 Three books dedicated to the abbot Bonosus (Hatto). The first is mostly extracted from Augustin's De vivendo Deo; the second and the third from other old sources.
1 Ebert, I. c. p. 141, mentions particularly Lib. I., Horn. XLIL, XLIII. and LXIJI. The first is directed against the ridiculous custom of making a great noise, shooting arrows and throwing fire in the air when the moon is waning in order to prevent its being swallowed up by a monster. The second is directed against soothsaying in its various forms, and the third against gluttony, drunk enness and scurrility.
2 Tractatus de anima, Migne, CX. col. 1109-1120. The Vegitian extracts are not given in Migne, but by Diimmler, cf. Ebert 1. c. p. 136.
3 So Ebert conjectures, /. c. p. 136.
4 Martyrologium, Migne, CX. col. 1121-1188.
6 De vivendo Deum, depuritate cordis et modo pcenitentice, CXII. col. 1261-1332.