182 THE RAVEN 



Long watched the raven the body, that was neither 



mangled nor scarred. 

 They tell the king that St Vincent is whole and in no 



wise marred ; 

 He bids them bring him again ; ' How say ye, sirs,* 



(quoth he) 

 < That whether alive or dead, he gets the better of me?'" 



APPENDIX II 



From Aldhelmi ALniginata^ p. 366. Appendix II. to 

 Satirical Poets of the Twelfth Century > vol ii., 1872. 



DE CORVO 



" Dum genus humanum truculenta fluenta necarent, 

 Et nova mortales multarent aequora cunctos, 

 Exceptis raris gignunt qui semina ssecli, 

 Primus viventum perdebam fcedera juris, 

 Imperio patris contemnens subdere colla ; 

 Unde puto dudum versu dixisse poetam 

 ' Abluit in terris quidquid deliquit in undis ' 

 Nam subolem dapibus nunquam saturabo ciborum, 

 Ni prius in pullis plumas nigrescere cernam. 

 Litera tollatur ; post haec sine prole manebo." 



While the whole human race were perishing in the cruel 

 waters, and seas, unknown before, were punishing, for their 



