liberality which rendered it possible that Bede’s natural taste for learning should receive such careful
culture. So amid the wealth of books he acquired Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and laid up a rich store
of multifarious knowledge. Such was his character and attainments that at nineteen, six years before
the then canonical age, he was ordained deacon, and at thirty a priest. He thus describes his mode
of life: "All the remaining time of my life [i.e., after leaving Wearmouth] I spent in that, monastery
[of Jarrow], wholly applying myself to the study of Scripture, and amidst observance of regular
discipline and the daily care of singing in the church. I always took delight in learning, teaching
and writing.^1040 He declined to be abbot because the office, as he said, demands close attention,
and therefore cares come which impede the pursuit of learning. As it was, the "pursuit of learning"
took up only a portion of his time, for the necessary duties of a monk were many,^1041 and such a
man as Bede would be frequently required to preach. It appears that he published nothing before
he was thirty years old, for he says himself: "From which time [i.e., of his taking priest’s orders]
till the fifty-ninth year of my age, I have made it my business, for the use of me and mine, to compile
out of the works of the venerable Fathers, and to interpret and explain according to their meaning
these following pieces."^1042 Then follows his list of his works. The result of such study and writing
was that Bede became the most learned man of his time, and also the greatest of its authors. Yet
he was also one of the humblest and simplest of men.
He died on Wednesday, May 26, 735, of a complaint accompanied with asthma, from which
he had long suffered. The circumstances of his death are related by his pupil Cuthbert.^1043 During
Lent of the year 735 Bede carried on the translation of the Gospel of John and "some collections
out of the Book of Notes" of Archbishop Isidore of Seville. The day before he died he spent in
dictating his translations, saying now and then, "Go on quickly, I know not how long I shall hold
out, and whether my Maker will not soon take me away." He progressed so far with his rendering
of John’s Gospel that at the third hour on Wednesday morning only one chapter remained to be
done. On being told this he said, "Take your pen, and make ready, and write fast." The scribe did
so, but at the ninth hour Bede said to Cuthbert, ’ "I have some little articles of value in my chest,
such as pepper, napkins and incense: run quickly, and bring the priests of our monastery to me,
that I may distribute among them the gifts which God has bestowed on me. The rich in this world
are bent on giving gold and silver and other precious things. But I, in charity, will joyfully give my
brothers what God has given unto me." He spoke to every one of them, admonishing and entreating
them that they would carefully say masses and prayers for him, which they readily promised; but
they all mourned and wept, especially because he said, "they should no more see his face in this
world." They rejoiced for that he said, "It is time that I return to Him who formed me out of nothing:
I have lived long; my merciful Judge well foresaw my life for me; the time of my dissolution draws
nigh; for I desire to die and to be with Christ." Having said much more, he passed the day joyfully
till the evening, and the boy [i.e., his scribe] said, "Dear master, there is yet one sentence not
written." He answered, "Write quickly." Soon after the boy said, "It is ended." He replied, "It is
well, you have said the truth. It is ended. Receive my head into your hands, for it is a great
(^1040043) Hist. V. 24 (Giles’ trans. in Bohn’s Library, p. 297, altered slightly).
(^1041) Giles, ibid., p. x.
(^1042) Hist. V. 24 (Giles, ibid., p. 297).
(^1043) Giles gives Cuthbert’s letter in full, ibid., pp. xviii.-xxi.