wings,
straightway went before her, tempering its flight in
unwonted way so that the virgin, walking with her
companions, might be able to follow in a straight course its
aerial track. And when the dove in its flight had come to
the place which we now know was not wanting in great stones,
it descended, and with its beak pierced through the
ground,[6] where, beneath the soil, many stones were
disclosed. And assured by this sight, the very worthy virgin
of Christ bade her companions clear away the heavy mass of
earth, and lay the spot bare. And this done, supernal and
devout piety presiding over the work, a great wealth of
mighty stones was brought to view, whence all the needful
material for the walls of the monastery already begun, and
of the church, could be obtained. Then, striving ever more
and more with all their heart, the builders of the temple
destined to be consecrated to the glory of God, laboured at
the work by night and by day.

[6] The intervention of a bird to aid in discovery was a
favourite tradition derived from antiquity. We may recall,
amongst many variants of the theme, the story of the
celebrated expedition of the Athenians to the Island of
Scyros to find and recover the body of Theseus. Theseus,
being a hero, the agent employed in the quest must likewise
be distinguished, and so the eagle, Zeus's bird, is alone
thought worthy to peck the earth and indicate the
resting-place of the demi-god.

Thus does Roswitha tell how the work of the new Foundation was begun,
the Duke Liudolf and his wife having already journeyed to Rome to ask
of the Pope his blessing, as well as to beg of him, as a token of his
favour, some sacred relics to deposit there. The Pope, giving them his
blessing, thus makes answer to their request:--

There were here, aforetime, two mighty rulers--the most holy
Anastasius who presided over this See, and his co-apostle,
the holy Innocent. These, through their services to the
Church, were the most famous next after St. Peter and St.
Paul. With such care have the illustrious bodies of these
two been heretofore preserved by all the rulers of this
city, that never has any one been permitted to carry away
the least portion of them, and thus their sacred limbs
remain undiminished. But forasmuch as it is meet that I
yi