Albinus—­The admonisher to labor.

   Pepin—­What is the sun?

Albinus—­The glory and splendor of the heavens; the attractive in nature; the measure of hours; the adornment of day.

   Pepin—­What is the moon?

Albinus—­The eye of night; the dispenser of dew; the presager of storms.

   Pepin—­What are the stars?

Albinus—­A picture on the vault of heaven; the steersmen of ships; the ornament of night.

   Pepin—­What is rain?

   Albinus—­The fertilizer of the earth; the producer of crops.

   Pepin—­What is fog?

   Albinus—­Night in day; the annoyance of eyes.

   Pepin—­What is wind?

Albinus—­The mover of air; the agitation of water; the dryer of the earth.

   Pepin—­What is the earth?

Albinus—­The mother of growth; the nourisher of the living; the storehouse of life; the effacer of all.

   Pepin—­What is the sea?

Albinus—­The path of adventure; the bounds of the earth; the division of lands; the harbor of rivers; the source of rains; a refuge in danger; a pleasure in enjoyment.

   Pepin—­What are rivers?

Albinus—­A ceaseless motion; a refreshment to the sun; the waters of the earth.

   Pepin—­What is water?

   Albinus—­The supporter of life; the cleanser of filth.

   Pepin—­What is fire?

Albinus—­An excessive heat; the nurse of growing things; the ripener of crops.

   Pepin—­What is cold?

   Albinus—­The trembling of our members.

   Pepin—­What is frost?

Albinus—­An assailer of plants; the destruction of leaves; a fetter to the earth; a bridger of streams.

   Pepin—­What is snow?

   Albinus—­Dry water.

   Pepin—­What is winter?

   Albinus—­An exile of summer.

   Pepin—­What is spring?

   Albinus—­A painter of the earth.

   Pepin—­What is summer?

Albinus—­That which brings to the earth a new garment, and ripens the fruit.

   Pepin—­What is autumn?

   Albinus—­The barn of the year.

A LETTER FROM ALCUIN TO CHARLEMAGNE

(Written in the year 796)