'On Wednesday morn once more he bade us write: We wrote till the third hour, and left him then To pace, in reverence of that Feast all-blest, Our cloister court with hymns. Meantime a youth, Algar by name, there was who left him never; The same that hour beside him sat and wrote: More late he questioned: "Father well-beloved, One chapter yet remaineth; have you strength To dictate more?" He answered: "I have strength; Make ready, son, thy pen, and swiftly write." When noon had come he turned him round and said, "I have some little gifts for those I love; Call in the Brethren;" adding with a smile, "The rich man makes bequests, and why not I?" Then gifts he gave, incense or altar-cloth, To each, commanding, "Pray ye for my soul; Be strong in prayer and offering of the Mass, For ye shall see my face no more on earth: Blessed hath been my life; and time it is That unto God God's creature should return; Yea, I desire to die, and be with Christ." Thus speaking, he rejoiced till evening's shades Darkened around us. That disciple young Once more addressed him, "Still one verse remains;" The master answered, "Write, and write with speed;" And dictated. The young man wrote; then said, "'Tis finished now." The man of God replied: "Well say'st thou, son, ''tis finished.' In thy hands Receive my head, and move it gently round, For comfort great it is, and joy in death, Thus, on this pavement of my little cell, Facing that happy spot whereon so oft In prayer I knelt, to sit once more in prayer, Thanking my Father." "Glory," then he sang, "To God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;" And with that latest Name upon his lips Passed to the Heavenly Kingdom.' Thus with joy Died holy Bede upon Ascension Day In Jarrow Convent. May he pray for us, And all who read his annals of God's Church In England housed, his great bequest to man! FOOTNOTES: [1] See Montalembert's 'Moines de l'Occident,' vol. iii. p. 343; and also Burke: 'On the Continent the Christian religion, after the northern irruptions, not only remained but flourished.... In England it was so entirely extinguished that when Augustine undertook his mission, it does not appear that among all the Saxons there was a single person professing Christianity.' [2] Tacitus. The German's wife might well be called his 'helpmate.' His wedding gift to his bride consisted of a horse, a yoke of oxen, a lance and a sword. [3] Mallet's _Northern Antiquities_, pp. 79, 80. (Bell and Daldy, 1873.) Burke records this tradition with an entire credence. See note in p. 288. [4] _Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire_, chap. x. [5] Mallet's _Northern Antiquities_, pp. 88, 89. [6] P. 89. [7] P. 100. [8] Mallet's _Northern Antiquities_, p. 103. [9] _The Prose Edda._ [10] _Northern Antiquities_: the Editor, T. A. Blackwell.