John Trithemius eulogizes him in words which may, perhaps, be transferred into our pages from their original Latin as a specimen of the praise which Rabanus has always received—praise that is indeed worthy of the man who wrote the _Veni, Creator_. “Rabanus was first among the Germans; a scholar universally erudite; profound in science; eloquent and strong in discourse; in life and conversation he shone as most learned, religious, and holy; he was always a prelate dignified, affable, and acceptable before God.” This same Trithemius gives us a little notion of the bishop’s appearance. In body, he says that he was tolerably robust; of a sanguine, bilious temperament; rather fleshly in person than inclined to meagreness (_macilentus_); with a “courageous and great” head; and of a well-proportioned figure. Of the other writings of Rabanus it is sufficient for us to name his compendium of the grammar of Priscian; his great work upon _The Universe_; his treatise upon the _Praises of the Holy Cross_, and his elaborate commentaries upon the various books of the Bible. He also prepared homilies and sundry compositions relative to ecclesiastical matters. In the _Patrologia_ of Migne it requires six closely-printed volumes to cover his contributions to sacred literature. Especially we have occasion to note his theological writings, as it is in these that his spiritual character is most apparent. His works mostly are dead enough to modern interest, but not all. German philology honors in him a great churchman who shared Charles the Great’s respect for German speech and culture, and at whose feet Otto of Weissenburg, the poet of the _Krist_, sat. German pedagogics recognizes in him the first _Praeceptor Germaniae_, who transplanted to Fulda the generous plans of education which Charles conceived, and which Alcuin executed at Tours. German philosophy recognizes in him the first forerunner of the great series of her metaphysicians. But to us he is Rabanus the poet, who acquired the art of verse under Alcuin, who used it at times to little purpose as in his _De Laudibus Sanctae Crucis_, but who in a happy hour wrote the _Veni, Creator Spiritus_. CHAPTER XIII. NOTKER OF ST. GALL, CALLED BALBULUS.