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i The older legends and hymns which had been composed in the rudest slate of the language were continually retouched . A version of the Old Testament from Genesis to Hezekiab , by being written in rhyme and easy to be sung , became extremely popular , and produced the desired effect . These versions were placed in every situation likely to suit popular convenience . Among the royal MSS . of France is one of the compilations of religious tracts , &c , which was formed by the confessors of Philip in 1279 , and was ordered by the Queen Isabel to be placed in the church of St . Innocents at Paris , for the use of its frequenters .
In fact , almost all that was executed in these ages of a literary character , was the work of ecclesiastics ; and even many of those subjects which would be thought the furthest removed from their immediate pursuits , equally owed their extension and preservation to the same sources . In every convent of importance , particular provision was made for the multiplication of books ; a part of the building , under the name of the scriptorium , being set apart for the purpose . Thither alone could he who wanted a book resort , as
to the only bookmaking and bookselling establishments . Many foundations were expressly established for the purpose ; as at Bury St . Edmunds the scriptorium was endowed with two mills . St . Swithin , at Winchester , had the tithes of a rectory appropriated " ad libros transcribendos . " NigeF , in 1180 , gave the monks of Ely two churches " ad libros faciendos . " Some of the compilations obviously made in these establishments for popular
use , are curious illustrations of the policy by which sacred things and pieces of useful information were blended with matter of mere amusement ; it being an obvious policy to maintain a command of the feelings of the people , even in their gay moments , with a view to using it on more serious topics . One of these was lately by our side—a folio volume combining poetical versions and paraphrases of scriptural history , hymns , political and moral exhortations , fabliaux or tales , legends of saints , a bestiarius , short romances , &c . &c .
Situated as Spain was , it is not to be expected that we should find similar effects of the endeavours to reclaim a heathenish or frivolous population . Her contest with unbelievers was one of the sword and not of the pen , and her position gave an exalted and warlike character to her early school of poetry . But here , too , the next poet in antiquity to the author of the Cid is Berceo , whose poetry is all religious or devotional , and it is obvious from the usual commencement of his pieces that they were intended for popular
recitation . Alphonso the Wise ( who died in 1284 ) devoted great pains to fixing and refining the Spanish tongue , and by his orders the Bible was translated into it , and a paraphrase of the scriptural history was made for popular use . We find among the Anglo-Saxons the same influence on the extension and adaptation of the language , arising from religious motives ; and history has preserved at least one striking instance of the zeal and piety of an
ecclesiastic , in adapting himself and his instruction to . the habits and capacity of the populace whom he wished to instruct . Aldhelm ( a bishop at the commencement of the eighth century ) was the author of many works of a theological character . His Canciones Saxonicce were very popular , and Alfred mentions one of them as continuing to be sung two hundred years after . To attract attention from a semi-barbarous people , the good bishop would station himself on a bridge , or by the public highway , and by his sjtill in singing draw the crowd around him ; and having thus cultivated their favour , would embrace the favourable opportunity to improve their
Untitled Article
? 404 Review . —Conybeare * s Anglo-Saxon Poetry .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1828, page 404, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2561/page/44/
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