of Saxony by
the death of his father, in 916; and in 919, upon the death of Conrad,
was chosen king of Germany. He was a pious and victorious prince, and
very tender of his subjects. His solicitude in easing their taxes, made
them ready to serve their country in his wars at their own charges,
though he generously recompensed their zeal after his expeditions, which
were always attended with success. While he by his arms checked the
insolence of the Hungarians and Danes, and enlarged his dominions by
adding to them Bavaria, Maud gained domestic victories over her
spiritual enemies, more worthy of a Christian, and far greater in the
eyes of heaven. She nourished the precious seeds of devotion and
humility in her heart by assiduous prayer and meditation; and, not
content with the time which the day afforded for these exercises,
employed part of the night the same way. The nearer the view was which
she took of worldly vanities, the more clearly she discovered their
emptiness and dangers, and sighed to see men pursue such bubbles to the
loss of their souls; for, under a fair outside, they contain nothing but
poison and bitterness.

It was her delight to visit, comfort, and exhort the sick and the
afflicted, to serve and instruct the poor, teaching them the advantages
of their state from the benedictions and example of Christ; and to
afford her charitable succors to prisoners, procuring them their liberty
where motives of justice would permit it; or at least easing the weight
of their chains by liberal alms; but her chief aim was to make them
shake off their sins by sincere repentance. Her husband, edified by her
example, concurred with her in every pious undertaking which she
projected. After twenty-three years' marriage, God was pleased to call
the king to himself by an apoplectic fit, in 936. Maud, during his
sickness, went to the church to pour forth her soul in prayer for him at
the foot of the altar. As soon as she understood, by the tears and cries
of the people, that he had expired, she called for a priest that was
fasting, to offer the holy sacrifice for his soul; and at the same time
cut off the jewels which she wore, and gave them to the priest, as a
pledge that she renounced from that moment the pomp of the world. She
had three sons; Otho, afterwards emperor; Henry, duke of Bavaria, and
St. Bruno, archbishop of Cologne. Otho was crowned king of Germany in
937, {590} and emperor at Rome in 962, after his victories o