Vikings, Season 2

King Ecbert:
Come and see. Look around. You thought those paintings were all that there was. But of all Roman things, these are the most precious. Tales of the Caesars. The fall and ruin of Roman Britain. Tales of emperors and empires... It's the stuff of dreams, Athelstan. It's the very fabric of dreams. You can read them, of course.

Athelstan:
Yes. Yes, I can read them.

King Ecbert:
Good. That is why I've chosen you.

Athelstan:
What do you mean?

King Ecbert:
Well, I've chosen you to be the guardian of these books and their secrets. I want you to copy them. You speak Latin; not many do. Your job will be to preserve these works and these... fragments, for all eternity. But if you ever tell anyone about them, I will let them crucify you.