162 WITNESS TO THE MIRACULOUS v 



property of the monastery of St. Bavon on the 

 Scheldt, of which Eginhard was Abbot, is still 

 extant, and- there is no reason to believe that, in 

 this copy, the original has been in any way inter- 

 polated or otherwise tampered with. The main 

 features of the strange story contained in the 

 " Historia Translationis " are set forth in the 

 following pages, in which, in regard to all matters 

 of importance, I shall adhere as closely as possible 

 to Eginhard's own words. 



While I was still at Court, busied with secular affairs, I often 

 thought of the leisure which I hoped one day to enjoy in a 

 solitary place, far away from the crowd, with which the liber - 

 nlity of Prince Louis, whom I then served, had provided me. 

 This place is situated in that part of Germany which lies between 

 the Neckar and the Maine, 1 and is nowadays called the Oden- 

 wald by those who live in and about it. And h'era having built, 

 according to my capacity and resources, not only houses and 

 permanent dwellings, but also a basilica fitted for the perform- 

 ance of divine service and of no mean style of construction, I 

 began to think to what saint or martyr I could best dedicate it. 

 A good deal of time had passed while my thoughts fluctuated 

 about this matter, when it happened that a certain deacon of 

 the Roman Church, named Deusdona, arrived at the Court for 

 the purpose of seeking the favour of the King in some affairs in 

 which he was interested. He remained some time ; and then, 

 having transacted his business, he was about to return to Rome, 

 when one day, moved by courtesy to a stranger, we invited 

 him to a modest refection ; and while talking of many things 

 at table, mention was made of the translation of the body of- 

 the blessed Sebastian,- and of the neglected tombs of the 



1 At present included in the Duchies of Hesse- Darmstadt and 

 Baden. 



2 This took place in the year 826 A.D. Tbe relics were 

 brought from Rome and deposited in the Church of St. Medardua 

 at Soissons. 



