Angilbert
Angilbert
Angilbert, Count of Ponthieu was a noble Frankish poet who was educated under Alcuin and served Charlemagne as a secretary, diplomat, and son-in-law. He is venerated as a pre-Congregation saint and is still honored on the day of his death, 18 February.
"Fontaneto fontem dicunt, villam quoque rustici, ubi strages et ruina Francorum de sanguine; orrent campi, orrent silvae, orrent ipsi paludes.Gramen illud ros et ymber nec humectat pluvia, in quo fortes ceciderunt, proelio doctissimi, pater, mater, soror, frater, quos amici fleverant.Hoc autem scelus peractum, quod descripsi ritmice, Angelbertus ego vidi pugnansque cum aliis, solus de multis remansi prima frontis acie."
"Ima vallis retrospexi, verticemque iuieri, Ubi suos inimicos rex fortis Hlotharius Expugnabat fugientes usque forum rivulli."
"Karoli de parte vero, Hludovici pariter albent campi vestimentis mortuorum lineis, velut solent in autumno albescere avibus."
"Maledicta dies illa, nec in anni circulo numeretur, sed radatur ab omni memoria, iubar solis illi desit, aurora crepusculo.Noxque illa, nox amara, noxque dura nimium, in qua fortes ceciderunt, proelio doctissimi, pater, mater, soror, frater, quos amici fleverant."
"O luctum atque lamentum! nudati sunt mortui. horum carnes vultur, corvus, lupus vorant acriter; orrent, carent sepulturis, vanum iacet cadaver."
"Ploratum et ululatum nec describo amplius; unusquique quantum potest restringatque lacrimas; pro illorum animabus deprecemur dominum."
"In the academy of men of letters which rendered Charlemagnes court illustrious Angilbert was known as Homer, and portions of his works, still extant, show that his skill in verse was considerable."
