(3) The Universe.^1240 Isidore of Seville had already set the example of preparing an
encyclopedia of universal knowledge, and Raban in his Universe merely reproduces Isidore’s
Etymologies, with some difference in the arrangement of the material, and with the addition of
allegorical and spiritual matter, interpretations of the names and words, together with many
quotations of Scripture. The work was one of the early fruits of his learned leisure, being written
about 844. It is in twenty-two books, the number in the Hieronymian canon of the Old Testament,
and is dedicated to Haymo of Halberstadt, and to King Louis. It begins with the doctrine of God,
and the first five books relate to religion and worship. The remaining books relate to secular things,
ranging from man himself, considered as an animal, through the beasts to the starry heavens, time
and the divisions of time, the waters on and under the earth, the clouds above it, and the earth itself.
He then speaks of mountains and valleys and divers places; of public buildings and their parts; of
philosophy and linguistics, stones and metals, weights and measures, diseases and remedies, trees
and plants, wars and triumphs, shows and games, pictures and colors, dress and ornaments, food
and drink, vehicles and harness.
(4) Excerpt from Priscian’s Grammar,^1241 an abridged edition of a standard grammar. It isalmost entirely confined to prosody, but it served to introduce Priscian into schools.^1242
(5) The holy orders, divine sacraments and priestly garments.^1243
(6) Ecclesiastical discipline.^1244 The last two treatises, made during the author’s
archiepiscopate, are merely extracts from the Institutes, with slight alterations.
(7) The parts of the human body, in Latin and German.^1245 This glossary, was drawn up by
Walahfrid Strabo from Raban’s lectures. At the end are the months and the winds in Latin and
German.^1246
(8) The invention of languages^1247 [letters], a curious collection of alphabets—Hebrew,
Greek, Latin, Scythian and Runic, with the names of the supposed inventors. The little tract also
includes the commonest abbreviations and monograms.
III. Occasional writings, i.e., upon current questions and in answer to questions. (1) The
oblation of boys,^1248 the famous treatise in which Raban argued against the position the Mainz
Council of 829 had taken in allowing Gottschalk to leave his order. Gottschalk produced two
arguments, the first that it was not right to compel a person to remain a monk just because his
parents had in his infancy, or immature youth put him in a monastery. The second was that the
oblation of a minor must be established by a properly qualified witness, and that in his case only
Saxons could give such testimony, since, according to Saxon law, it was illegal to deprive a Saxon
of his liberty on the testimony of a non-Saxon. Raban tries to refute him upon both points. He shows
(^1240) De universo, CXI. col. 9-614.
(^1241) Excerptio de arte grammatica Prisciani, ibid. col. 613-678.
(^1242) Bähr, l.c. 419.
(^1243) Liber de sacris ordinibus, sacramentis divinis et vestimentis sacerdotalibus, Migne, CXII. col. 1165-1192.
(^1244) De ecclesiastica disciplina libri tres, CXII. col. 1191-1262.
(^1245) Glossae latino-barbaricae de partibus humani corporis, ibid. col. 1575-1578.
(^1246) There are also extant a few words from his Latin-German glossary to the Bible, ibid. col. 1583. Cf. Steinmeyer u.
Sievers,Die althochdeutschen Glossen gesammelt u. bearbeitet, Berlin, 1879 (I.3 sqq.); quoted by Ebert, l.c. 127.
(^1247) De inventione linguarum, Migne, CXII. col. 1579-1584.
(^1248) Liber de oblatione puerorum, CVII. col. 419-440.