As a child, this character once sat at his desk, "smeared catmint on his palm for his cat Smut to lick," and began to cry because his Latin homework was too challenging.
In an amusing episode, this character tugged at the "snarled root of [a] dead crab-apple," but the plant "rose against him," leaving this character "lightly concussed." As a child, this character once sat at his desk, "smeared catmint on his palm for his cat Smut to lick," and began to cry because his Latin homework was too challenging. After visiting Boethius' dungeon, this character strolls back to his car, observes the "Tiber foaming out much blood," and continues on his trip to Rome. Before vanishing, this character leaves behind "coins, for his lodging, and traces of red mud." After hearing a panegyric which lists this character's many titles, including "overlord of the (*) M5", he says: "I liked that... sing it again." This character's funeral is described in the last four poems of a 30-poem collection inspired by the poet's childhood in the West Midlands. For 10 points, name this character, a fictionalization of a ruler of the title region of Geoffrey Hill's Mercian Hymns.
In an amusing episode, this character tugged at the "snarled root of [a] dead crab-apple," but the plant "rose against him," leaving this character "lightly concussed."
Offa of Mercia