Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/286

 21G ON THE BRONZE DOOES OF THE CATHEDRAL OF GNESEN. by the Archbishop Adalbert, who bestowed upon him his own name in the rite of confirmation. By the Archbishop he was committed to the care of Ottricus,^ at that time master of the schools, under whose auspices he entered the "januas timoris " (p. 188), which indeed seem to have deserved the name, for the discipHne was of the most rigid kind, as the penalty of an ill-learned lesson is described to have been that — "scopse tergum verrunt et ferventia flagella carnem frangunt." Ottricus being called from the superintendence of the schools to the chapel of the Emperor Otho the Second, the young Adalbert, after nine years study at Magdeburg, returned to Bohemia. Here he was present at the death- bed of the first Bishop of Prague, Tetharatus ^ (otherwise Dithmar), whose dying penitence produced such an effect upon his mind that he, having been hitherto a luxurious worldhng (" deliciosus miles"), became from thenceforth a devoted servant of Heaven. The duke ^ and the people ^ having met in order to elect a bishop in place of Tetharatus, unanimously chose Adalbert, and his election was marked by the marvel of a man pos- sessed by a devil appearing in the cathedral and announcing what had occurred, before it could be known to the priests attached to the church. The bishop elect went to Verona in order to receive from the Emperor Otho the Second, the confirmation of his see by delivery of the pastoral staff, and was there consecrated by Willigisus, Archbishop of Mentz. This appears to have taken place in the year 983. After his consecration he returned to Prague,^ and there diligently and zealously performed the duties of his high office, par- ticularly devoting himself to the assistance of the poor, the sick, and the prisoners, which last were at that time extremely numerous in Prague. He was, however, much troubled by the evil deeds of his flock, and especially by three things ; the practice of polygamy by the great men, the marriages of the clergy, and the selling of Christian Arc!il)islio])ric of Magdeburg. populus." — Vita Sccunda. ' The date of Dithmar's death is by ■* The biographer relates that the horse most Bohemian authors placed m 969. on which he rode back was not adorned ' Boleslaus the Pious. with a bridle glittering with gold and - " Factus est conventus de.solat:e plebis silver, but merely furnished with a una cum principe illius terrse." — Vita hempen halter.
 * The successor of Adalbert in the Prior. " Conveniunt Dux terr£e et major