Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 3.djvu/138

 90 STATESMEN AND SAGES It was simply the survival of the use of an old cycle which had been elsewhere superseded by one more accurate and convenient. The ascertainable biography of St. Augustine begins with his mission, by com- mand of Gregory, to the heathen English ; and especially to the subjects of Ethelbert, King of Kent, who had married a Christian lady. There is not the slightest reason for discrediting the story related by Baeda, of the incident which first excited Gregory's interest in the heathen English. The relations between Britain and Rome having come to an end, it is not in the least surprising that even a person so exceptionally well informed should have known nothing about the Teutonic peoples- Angles, Jutes, Saxons which had driven out the British. That he should have played upon words so suggestive as Angli, Deira, and ^Ella, is exactly what might be expected from the author of the " Magna Moralia." The familiar story he calls it " opinio quae de beato Gregorio traditione majorum ad nos usque perlata est" as told by Baeda, is as follows (" Hist. Eccl.," ii., i) : It is reported that some merchants, having just arrived at Rome on a certain day, exposed many things for sale in the market-place, and abundance of people resorted thither to buy ; Gregory himself went with the rest, and, among other things, some boys were set to sale, their bodies white, their countenances beauti- ful, and their hair very fine. Having viewed them, he asked, as is said, from what country or nation they were brought ? and was told, from the island of Britain, whose inhabitants were of such personal appearance. He again inquired whether those islanders were Christians, or still involved in the errors of pagan- ism ? and was informed that they were pagans. Then, fetching a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart, "Alas! what pity," said he, "that the author of darkness is possessed of men of such fair countenances; and that being remarkable for such graceful aspects, their minds should be void of inward grace." He there- fore again asked, what was the name of that nation ? and was answered that they were called Angles. " Right," said he, " for they have an angelic face, and it becomes such to be co-heirs with the angels in heaven. What is the name," proceeded he, " of the province from which they are brought ?" It was replied, that the natives of that place were called Deiri. " Truly are they De ira," said he, " withdrawn from wrath, and called to the mercy of Christ. How is the king of that province called ?" They told him his name was ^Ella ; and he, alluding to the name, said, " Hallelujah, the praise of God the Creator must be sung in those parts." Gregory was eager to go at once on a mission to the home of these beautiful children, and the then pope gave his consent ; but the Roman people could not bear the loss of one already so useful and distinguished, and almost before he had started he was recalled. When, during his own pontificate, Gregory carried out his purpose, it was probably due to a request of Queen Bertha, speaking, most likely, in behalf of some of the Kentish people, made to the Prankish bishops for missionaries. " It has come to our knowledge," writes Gregory, " that, through the mercy of God, the people of the Angli are eagerly desiring to be converted to the Christian faith, but that the priests of their own neighborhood neglect them."