One of them, Clement, partly
filled the place of Alcuin as head of the palace school."[1]
His reputation soon became widespread, and the abbot of
Fulda sent several of his most capable monks to him to
learn grammar.[2] His companion, Dungal, went on to Italy.
He enjoyed a full share of the learning of his time; was a
student of Cicero and Macrobius; knew Virgil well; and
had some Greek.[3] A few fine books were bequeathed
by him to the Irish monastery of Bobio, where copies
were written and distributed through Italy. According
to the learned Muratori, in one of these manuscripts
is an inscription proving Dungal's ownership.[4] One
of the books so bequeathed was the famous Antiphonary
of Bangor, now in the Ambrosian library at Milan.
[1] Sandys, i. 480.
[2] R. H. S. (N. S.), v. 90.
[3] Sandys, i. 480; Stokes (M.) 2, 210.
[4] "Sancte Columba tibi Scotto tuns incola Dungal
Tradidit hunc librum, quo fratrum corda beentur.
Qui leges ergo Deus pretium sit muneris, org."--Healy, 392.
Clement and Dungal were not the only Irishmen of
note on the Continent. One, Dicuil, was an exponent of
geography.
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