THE VALUE OF WITNESS TO THE MIRACULOUS. 603 



When I returned to the question, some time afterward, he immediately drew 

 from his bosom a paper, which he begged me to read when I was alone, and to 

 tell him what I was disposed to think of that which was therein stated. I took 

 the paper, and, as he desired, read it alone and in secret. (Cap ; i, 2, 3.) 



I shall have occasion to return to Deacon Deusdona's con- 

 ditions, and to what happened after Eginhard's acceptance of 

 them. Suffice it, for the present, to say that Eginhard's notary, 

 Ratleicus (Ratleig), was dispatched to Rome and succeeded in 

 securing two bodies, supposed to be those of the holy martyrs 

 Marcellinus and Petrus ; and when he had got as far on his home- 

 ward journey as the Burgundian town of Solothurn or Soleure,* 

 notary Ratleig dispatched to his master, .at St. Bavon, a letter 

 announcing the success of his mission. 



As soon as by reading it I was assured of the arrival of the saints, I dispatched 

 a confidential messenger to Maestricht, to gather together priests, other clerics, 

 and also laymen, to go out to meet the coming saints as speedily as possible. And 

 he and his companions, having lost no time, after a few days met those who had 

 charge of the saints at Solothurn. Joined with them, and with a vast crowd of 

 people who gathered from all parts, singing hymns, and amid great and univer- 

 sal rejoicings, they traveled quickly to the city of Argentoratum, which is now 

 called Strasburg. Thence embarking on the Ehine they came to the place called 

 Portus,t and landing on the east bank of the river, at the fifth station, thence 

 they arrived at Michilinstadt,J accompanied by an immense multitude, praising 

 God. This place is in that forest of Germany which in modern times is called the 

 Odenwald, and about six leagues from the Main. And here, having found a 

 basilica recently built by me, but not yet consecrated, they carried the sacred re- 

 mains into it and deposited them therein, as if it were to be their final resting- 

 place. As soon as all this was reported to me, I traveled thither as quickly as I 

 could. (Cap. ii, 14.) 



Three days after Eginhard's arrival began the series of won- 

 derful events which he narrates, and for which we have his per- 

 sonal guarantee. The first thing that he notices is the dream of 

 a servant of Ratleig the notary, who, being set to watch the holy 

 relics in the church after vespers, went to sleep, and during his 

 slumbers had a vision of two pigeons, one white and one gray and 

 white, which came and sat upon the bier over the relics ; while, 

 at the same time, a voice ordered the man to tell his master that 

 the holy martyrs had chosen another resting-place and desired to 

 be transported thither without delay. 



Unfortunately, the saints seem to have forgotten to mention 

 where they wished to go, and, with the most anxious desire to 

 gratify their smallest wishes, Eginhard was naturally greatly per- 

 plexed what to do. While in this state of mind, he was one day 



* Now included in western Switzerland. 



f Probably, according to Teulet, the present Sandhofer-fahrt, a little below the em- 

 bouchure of the Neckar. 



% The present Michilstadt, thirty miles northeast of Heidelberg. 



