much ruder times, that Alfred himself plainly tells us, it wasshamefulto be ignorant
of it. And this commonness might be one reason why Asser did not think it of
consequence enough to be particularly mentioned in his short life of that great
monarch. This rigid monk may also have esteemed it a slight and frivolous
accomplishment, savouring only of worldly vanity. He has, however, particularly
recorded Alfred's fondness for the oral Anglo-Saxon poems and songs ["Saxonica
poemata die nocteque adiens... memoriter retinebat," p. 16. "Carmina Saxonica
memoriter discere," &c. p. 43, et ib.]. Now the poems learnt by rote, among all
ancient unpolished nations, are ever songs chanted by the reciter, and accompanied
with instrumental melody[18]
(N)With his harp in his hand, and dressed like a Minstrel.] "Assumpta manu cithara.
.. professus M... Jussus abire pretium Cantus accepit."-- Malmesb. l. ii. c. 6. We see
here that which was rewarded was (notany mimicry or tricks, but) his singing
(Cantus); this proves, beyond dispute, what was the nature of the entertainment Aulaff
afforded then. Perhaps it is needless by this time to prove to the reader thatMimus, in
Middle Latinity, signifies a Minstrel, andMimia, Minstrelsy, or the Minstrel-art.
Should he doubt it, let him cast his eye over the two following extracts from Du
Cange:-
"MIMUS: Musicus, qui instrumentis musicis canit. Leges Palatinæ Jacobi II.
Reg. Majoric. In domibus principum, ut tradit antiquas, Mimi seu Joculatores licite
possunt esse. Nam illorun officium tribuit lætitiam... Quapropter volumus et
ordinamus, quod in nostra curia Mimi debeant esse quinque, quorum duo sint
tubicinatores, et tertius sit tebelerius [i.e. a player on the tabor [19]. Lit. remiss. ann.
- Ad Mimos cornicitantes, seu bucinantes accesserunt."
"MIMIA, Ludes Mimicus, Instrumentum [potius, Ars Joculatoria]. Ann. 1482.. .mimiaet cantu victum acquiro."--Du Cange, Gloss, tom. iv. 1762. Supp. c. 1225.
(O)To have been a Dane.] The northern historians produce such instances of the great
respect shown to the Danish Scalds in the courts of our Anglo-Saxon kings, on
account of their musical and poetic talents (notwithstanding they were of so hateful a
nation), that if a similar order of men had not existed here before, we cannot doubt but
the profession would have been taken up by such of the natives as had a genius for
poetry and music.
"Extant rhythmi hoc ipso [Islandico] idiomate Angliæ, Hyberniæque Regibus
oblati et liberaliter compensati, &c. Itaque hinc colligi potest linguam Danicam in
aulis vicinorum regum principumque familiarem fuisse, non secus ac hodie in aulis
principum peregrina idiomata in deliciis habere cernimus. Imprimis Vita Egilli
Skallagrimii id invicto argumento adstruit. Quippe qui interrogatus ab Adalsteino,
Angliam rege, quomodo manus Eirici Blodoxii, Northumbriæ regis, postquam in ejus
potestatem venerat, evasisset, cujus filium propinquosque occiderat... rei statim
ordinem metro, nunc satis obscuro, exposuit, nequaquam ita narraturus non
intelligenti."-- Vide plura apud Torfæii Prefat. ad Orcad. Hist. fol.
This same Egill was no less distinguished for his valor and skill as a soldier,
than for his poetic and singing talents as a Scald; and he was such a favourite with our
king Athelstan, that he at one time presented him with "duobus annulis et scriniis,
duobus bene magnis argento repletis... Quinetiam hoc addidit, ut Egillus quidvis
præterea a se petens, obtineret; bona mobilia, sive immobilia, præbendam vel
præfecturas. Egillus porro regium munificentiam gratus excipiens, Carmen