Carmen in Victoriam: CARMEN IN VICTORIAM PISANORUM Anonymous (1088 A.D.)

1. Inclitorum Pisanorum scripturus istoriam,
antiquorum Romanorum renovo memoriam:
nam extendit modo Pisa laudem admirabilem,
quam recepit olim Roma vincendo Cartaginem.

1. About to write the history of the illustrious Pisans,
I renew the memory of the ancient Romans:
for Pisa now extends admirable laud,
which Rome once received by conquering Carthage.

2. Manum primo Redemptoris collaudo fortissimam,

2. First I laud the most mighty hand of the Redeemer,

qua destruxit gens Pisana gentem impiissimam.
Fit hoc totum Gedeonis simile miraculo,
quod perfecit sub unius Deus noctis spatio.

by which the Pisan nation destroyed the most impious nation.
This whole thing is made similar to the miracle of Gideon,
which God accomplished within the span of a single night.

3. Hic cum tubis et lanternis processit ad prelium,
nil armorum vel scutorum protendit in medium:

3. He proceeded with trumpets and lanterns to the battle,
he extended nothing of arms or of shields into the midst:

sola virtus Creatoris pugnat terribiliter,
inter se Madianitis cesis mirabiliter.

only the power of the Creator fights terribly,
the Midianites marvelously slain among themselves.

4. Sunt et [hi] Madianite signati ex nomine:
hos in malo nam Madia nutriebat omine,
sita pulchro loco maris, civitas hec impia,

4. There are also [these] Midianites designated by the name:
for Madia was nourishing these under an evil omen,
set in a beautiful place of the sea, this impious city,

que captivos constringebat plus centena milia.

which constrained more than a hundred thousand captives.

5. Hic Timinus presidebat, Saracenus impius,
similatus Antichristo, draco crudelissimus,
habens portum iuxta urbem factum artificio,
circumseptum muris magnis et plenum navigio.

5. Here Timinus was presiding, an impious Saracen,
likened to Antichrist, a most cruel dragon,
having a port next to the city made by artifice,
surrounded with great walls and full of shipping.

6. Hic tenebat duas urbes opibus ditissimas
et Saracenorum multas gentes robustissimas,
stultus et superbus nimis, elatus in gloria,
qua de causa Pisanorum fit clara victoria.

6. Here he held two cities most rich in opulence
and many very robust peoples of the Saracens,
foolish and exceedingly proud, elated in glory,
for which cause the victory of the Pisans becomes famous.

7. Hic cum suis Saracenis devastabat Galliam,

7. This man, with his Saracens, was devastating Gaul,

captivabat omnes gentes que tenent Ispaniam
et in tota ripa maris turbabat Italiam,
predabatur Romaniam usque Alexandriam.

he was taking captive all the peoples who hold Spain
and along the whole shore of the sea he was troubling Italy,
he was plundering Romania as far as Alexandria.

8. Non est locus toto mundo neque maris insula,
quam Timini non turbaret orrenda perfidia:

8. There is no place in the whole world nor island of the sea,
which the horrendous perfidy of Timini would not disturb:

Rodus, Ciprus, Creta [simul], simul et Sardinia
vexabantur, et cum illis nobilis Sicilia.

Rhodes, Cyprus, Crete [at the same time], and at the same time Sardinia
were being vexed, and along with them noble Sicily.

9. Hinc captivi Redemptorem clamabant altissime
et per orbem universum flebant amarissime:
reclamabant ad Pisanos planctu miserabili,

9. From here the captives cried out to the Redeemer most loudly
and throughout the whole universe they wept most bitterly:
they cried out again to the Pisans with a miserable lamentation,

concitabant Genuenses fletu lacrimabili.

they were stirring up the Genoese with lachrymose weeping.

10. Hoc permotus terremotu hic uterque populus
iniecerunt manus suas ad hoc opus protinus
et componunt mille naves solis tribus mensibus,
quibus bene preparatus stolus lucet inclitus.

10. Moved by this earthquake, here both peoples
laid their hands to this work forthwith
and put together a thousand ships in only three months,
by which the well-prepared fleet shines illustrious.

11. Convenerunt Genuenses virtute mirabili
et adiungunt se Pisanis amore amabili.
Non curant de vita mundi nec de suis filiis,
pro amore Redemptoris se donant periculis.

11. The Genoese assembled with marvelous virtue
and join themselves to the Pisans with amiable love.
They care not for the life of the world nor for their own sons;
for love of the Redeemer they give themselves to perils.

12. His accessit Roma potens potenti auxilio,

12. To these there acceded powerful Rome with powerful aid,

suscitata pro Timini infami martirio:
renovatur hinc in illa antiqua memoria,
quam illustris Scipionis olim dat victoria.

roused on account of Timini’s infamous martyrdom:
from here it is renewed in that ancient memory,
which the illustrious Scipio’s victory once gives.

13. Et refulsit inter istos cum parte exercitus
Pantaleo Malfitanus, inter Grecos hypatus,

13. And there shone among these with a part of the army
Pantaleon of Amalfi, a hypatus among the Greeks,

cuius fortis et astuti potenti astutia
est confusa maledicti Timini versutia.

by whose potent astuteness, strong and astute,
the wiles of accursed Timinus have been confounded.

14. Hos conduxit Iesus Christus, quem negabat Africa,
et constrinxit omnes ventos preter solum Iapiga.
Cherubin emittit illum, cum aperit ostia,

14. Jesus Christ conducted these, whom Africa denied,
and constrained all the winds except only Iapyx.
The Cherub sends him forth, when he opens the doors,

qui custodit paradisum discreta custodia.

who guards Paradise with a distinct custody.

15. Pervenerunt navigando quandam maris insulam,
quam Pantalaream dicunt, cum arce fortissima.
Huius incole palumbos emittunt cum litteris,
qui renuntient Timino de viris fortissimis.

15. They arrived, by navigating, at a certain island of the sea,
which they call Pantalarea, with a very strong citadel.
Its inhabitants send out wood-pigeons with letters,
to report back to Timinus about the most valiant men.

16. Hic est castrum ex natura et arte mirabile,
nulli umquam in hoc mundo castro comparabile.
Duo milia virorum hoc tenebant oppidum,
qui nec Deum verebantur nec virtutem hominum.

16. Here is a castle, marvelous by nature and by artifice,
comparable to no castle ever in this world.
Two thousand men held this town,
who feared neither God nor the valor of men.

17. Accesserunt huc econtra mirandi artifices

17. Hither, on the contrary, there came marvelous artificers

et de lignis nimis altis facte sunt turricule.
Destruxerunt, occiderunt, sicut Deus voluit,
et fecerunt quod a mundo nunquam credi potuit.

and from timbers too high little turrets were made.
They destroyed, they slew, as God willed,
and they did what could never be believed by the world.

18. Sex, ut puto, soli viri, qui ex his evaserant,
alios mandant palumbos, qui factum edisserant.

18. Six, as I suppose, the only men who had escaped from them,
send other pigeons, who would expound the deed.

Quo audito, rex Timinus desperat de viribus
et hoc factum perturbatus tractat cum principibus.

When this was heard, King Timinus despairs of his forces
and, perturbed at this fact, he deliberates with the princes.

19. Inter hec regalis stolus discedit et navigat,
et iam videt illas urbes quas Timinus habitat.
Mare, terra, muri pleni paganis teterrimis,

19. Meanwhile the royal fleet departs and sails,
and now it sees those cities which Timinus inhabits.
Sea, land, walls are full of the most foul pagans,

quos conduxerat superbus ab extremis terminis.

whom the haughty one had conducted from the farthest borders.

20. Hic incepit adulando demulcere populum
et captivos promittendo protrahebat otium.
Sed hoc sprevit Benedictus astutus [episcopus],
Dei nutu luminatus luce Sancti Spiritus.

20. Here he began, by adulating, to soothe the people
and by promising the captives he was protracting idleness.
But astute Benedict, [bishop], spurned this,
illumined by God’s nod, by the light of the Holy Spirit.

21. Vocat Petrum et Sismundum, principales consules,
[et] Lambertum et Glandulfum, cives claros nobiles;
revelat quod hoc Timinus facit ex insidia,
hoc totum ex tradimento et mira perfidia.

21. He calls Peter and Sismund, principal consuls,
[and] Lambert and Glandulf, illustrious noble citizens;
he reveals that Timinus does this out of ambush,
all this from betrayal and wondrous perfidy.

22. Hinc conscendunt parvas naves, tracti ad concilium:

22. Hence they ascend small ships, drawn to the council:

decreverunt solam pugnam, parati ad prelium,
ut hoc solum iudicaret divinum iudicium
........................( DEEST)...........................

they resolved upon single combat, prepared for battle,
that this alone might be judged by divine judgment
........................( MISSING)...........................

23. Hoc fuit antiquum festum Sancti Sisti nobile,
quo sunt semper Pisanorum de celo victorie.

23. This was the ancient noble feast of Saint Sixtus,
on which there have always been for the Pisans victories from heaven.

In hoc Benedictus presul populum alloquitur,
et, silentio indicto, murmur omne moritur:

In this Benedict the prelate addresses the people,
and, silence having been enjoined, every murmur dies:

24. Preparate vos ad pugnam, milites fortissimi,
et pro Christo omnes mundi vos obliviscimini.
Maris iter restat longum, non potestis fugere,

24. Prepare yourselves for battle, most valiant soldiers,
and for Christ forget the whole world.
The sea-journey remains long; you cannot flee,

terram tenent quos debetis vos hostes confundere.

They hold the land, those whom you ought yourselves to confound as enemies.

25. Non expavescatis, [queso], de eorum numero:
nam sunt turpiter defuncti timentes in heremo;
neque vos conturbent domus altis edificiis:
Hierico namque prostrata cum muris altissimis.

25. Do not be terrified, I pray, at their number:
for those who were afraid in the wilderness have shamefully died;
nor let houses with lofty edifices confound you:
for Jericho was laid low along with its most lofty walls.

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26. Inimici sunt Factoris, qui creavit omnia,
et captivant Christianos pro inani gloria.
Mementote vos Golie, gigantis eximii,
quem prostravit unus lapis David, parvi pueri.

26. They are enemies of the Maker, who created all things,
and they take Christians captive for vain glory.
Remember Goliath, an outstanding giant,
whom one stone of David, a small boy, prostrated.

27. Machabeus ille clarus, confidens in Domino,

27. that renowned Maccabee, trusting in the Lord,

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non expavit ad occursum plurimorum hominum,
nec confidens in virtute cuiusquam fortissimi,
sed in maiestate sola Dei potentissimi.

he did not quake at the encounter of very many men,
nor trusting in the virtue of any very strong man,
but in the majesty alone of the most powerful God.

28. Vos videtis Pharaonis fastum et superbiam,
qui contempnit Deum celi regnantem in secula,

28. You see the arrogance and pride of Pharaoh,
who contemns the God of heaven, reigning unto the ages,

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Dei populum affligit et tenet in carcere.
Vos coniuro propter Deum, iam nolite parcere.

He afflicts the people of God and holds them in prison.
I adjure you by God, now do not spare.

29. His incitamentis claris [et] multis similibus
inardescunt omnes corde, irritantur viribus;
offerunt corde devoto Deo penitentiam

29. By these clear incitements [and] many similar ones
all are enkindled in heart, are incited in their powers;
they offer with a devout heart to God penitence

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et communicant vicissim Christi eucharistiam.

and they communicate in turn the Eucharist of Christ.

30. Universi Creatorem laudant unanimiter,
habent vitam atque mortem utrumque similiter.
Invocabant nomen tuum, Iesu bone, celitus,
ut turbares paganorum duplices exercitus.

30. All unanimously praise the Creator,
they have life and death, both alike.
They invoked your name, good Jesus, from on high,
that you might confound the twofold armies of the pagans.

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31. Iam armati petunt terram cum parvis naviculis
et temptabant maris fundum cum astis longissimis,
sed emergunt ut leones, postquam terram sentiunt,
aquilis velociores super hostes irruunt.

31. Now armed they seek the land with small skiffs,
and they were testing the sea’s bottom with very long lances,
but they emerge like lions, after they sense the land,
swifter than eagles they rush upon the enemies.

32. Et excelsi Agareni invocant Machumata,

32. And the exalted Hagarenes invoke Mahomet,

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qui conturbat orbem terre de sua perfidia:
inimicus Trinitatis atque sancte fidei,
negat Iesum Nazarenum Verbum Dei fieri.

who disturbs the orb of the earth by his perfidy:
an enemy of the Trinity and of the holy faith,
he denies Jesus the Nazarene to be the Word of God.

33. Sed fit clamor Pisanorum altus et nobilior:
nam intonuit de celo sonus terribilior.

33. But the clamor of the Pisans becomes high and more noble:
for from heaven a more terrible sound thundered.

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Michael cecinit tuba ad horum presidium,
sicut fecit pro dracone cum commisit prelium.

Michael sounded the trumpet for the defense of these,
just as he did with the dragon when he engaged in battle.

34. Altera ex parte Petrus cum cruce et gladio
Genuenses et Pisanos confortabat animo,
et conduxerat huc princeps cetum apostolicum:

34. On the other side Peter, with the cross and the sword,
was fortifying in spirit the Genoese and the Pisans,
and the prince had brought hither the apostolic assembly:

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nam videbat signum sui in scarsellis positum.

for he saw his own signet placed in the little purses.

35. Et econtra Agareni concurrunt similiter,
telis, spatis et sagittis hos petunt hostiliter.
Fit hic pugna dura nimis, sed in parvo tempore:
nam ceperunt Agareni statim terga vertere.

35. And conversely the Agarenes charge likewise,
with missiles, spathae, and arrows they assail them in hostile fashion.
Here a battle most hard is joined, but in a short time:
for the Agarenes at once began to turn their backs.

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36. Misit namque Deus celi angelum fortissimum,
qui Senacherib percussit in nocte exercitum.
Quod cum vident hi qui stabant intra muros fieri,
obserarunt portas illis qui fugebant miseri.

36. For God of heaven sent a most mighty angel,
who smote the army of Sennacherib in the night.
When those who were standing within the walls see this happening,
they barred the gates against those wretched ones who were fleeing.

37. Occiduntur et truncantur omnes quasi pecudes,

They are slaughtered and cut down, all like cattle,

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non est illis fortitudo qua possint resistere.
Perimuntur in momento paganorum milia,
antequam intrarent portas et tenerent menia.

They have no fortitude by which they can resist.
Thousands of pagans are slain in a moment,
before they could enter the gates and hold the walls.

38. Postquam desuper et subter intrarunt fortissime,
pervagantur totam urbem absque ulla requie.

38. After they had entered most bravely from above and from below,
they pervade the whole city without any respite.

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Occiduntur mulieres virgines et vidue
et infantes alliduntur, ut non possint vivere.

Virgin women and widows are slain,
and infants are dashed to pieces, so that they cannot live.

39. Non est domus neque via in tota Sibilia,
que non esset rubicunda et sanie livida:
tot Saracenorum erant cadavera misera,

39. There is no house nor street in all Seville,
that was not rubicund and livid with gore:
so many wretched cadavers of the Saracens there were,

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que exalant iam fetorem per centena milia.

which already exhale a stench across hundreds of miles.

40. Urbs est una desolata, festinant ad aliam
et contendunt transilire ad alta palatia,
ubi stabat rex Timinus, satis miserabilis,
qui despiciebat Deum, ut insuperabilis.

40. One city is desolate, they hasten to another
and strive to leap across to the lofty palaces,
where King Timinus was standing, quite miserable,
who despised God, as if insuperable.

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41. Iussit portas aperire et leones solvere,
ut turbarent Christianos pugnantes improvide,
sed conversi sunt leones ad honorem glorie:
nam vorarunt Saracenos in laude victorie.

41. He ordered the gates to be opened and the lions to be loosed,
that they might disturb the Christians fighting improvidently,
but the lions were turned to the honor of glory:
for they devoured the Saracens in praise of victory.

42. Hic evenit tibi, Pisa, magnum infortunium:

42. Here there befell you, Pisa, a great misfortune:

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nam hic perdis capud urbis et coronam iuvenum.
Cadit Ugo vicecomes, omnium pulcherrimus.
Dolor magnus Pisanorum et planctus miserrimus!

for here you lose the head of the city and the crown of the youths.
Hugh the viscount falls, most beautiful of all.
Great grief of the Pisans and a most wretched lamentation!

43. Nam, cum omnes Saraceni erupissent subito,
sustinet hic mille viros cum asta et clippeo.

43. For, when all the Saracens had erupted suddenly,
this man sustains a thousand men with spear and shield.

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Cum nescit cessare loco et recusat fugere,
mille cesis Saracenis, cadit ante iuvenes.

When he does not know how to cease in place and refuses to flee,
with a thousand Saracens slain, he falls before the young men.

44. Hic inponunt illum scuto et ad naves deferunt.
Plangunt omnes super illum, quasi unigenitum:
O decus et dolor magnus Pisanorum omnium!

44. Here they set him upon a shield and carry him to the ships.
All lament over him, as if an only-begotten son:
O honor and great grief of all the Pisans!

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O confusio triumphi et magnum incommodum!

O confusion of the triumph and great inconvenience!

45. O dux noster atque princeps cum corde fortissimo!
Similatus es Grecorum regi nobilissimo,
qui sic fecit, ut audivit responsum Apollinis:
nam ut sui triumpharent sponte mortem subiit.

45. O our leader and prince with a most stout heart!
You have been likened to the most noble king of the Grecians,
who did thus, when he heard the response of Apollo:
for so that his own might triumph, he willingly underwent death.

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46. Sic infernus spoliatur et Sathan destruitur,
cum Iesus, redemptor mundi, sponte sua moritur,
pro cuius amore, care, et cuius servicio
martyr pulcher rutilabis venturo iudicio.

46. Thus Hell is despoiled and Satan is destroyed,
when Jesus, redeemer of the world, dies of his own accord,
for whose love, dear one, and whose service
as a fair martyr you will glow at the coming judgment.

47. Non iacebis tu sepultus hac in terra pessima

47. You will not lie sepulchered in this most wicked land

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ne te tractent Saraceni, qui sunt quai bestia.
Pisa nobilis te ponet in sepulcrum patrium,
te Italia plorabit, legens epitaphium.

lest the Saracens handle you, who are like beasts.
Noble Pisa will place you in the paternal sepulcher,
Italy will weep for you, reading the epitaph.

48. Erimus in domo tua fideles et placidi
et vivemus apud tuos tutores et baiuli.

48. We shall be in your house faithful and placid
and we shall live among your tutors and bailiffs.

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Nullus umquam contra tuos levabit audaciam,
quia tu, care, pro Pisa posuisti animam”.

No one ever will raise audacity against your own,
because you, dear, for Pisa laid down your life.

49. Non est mora, corpus findunt et eiectant viscera,
balsamum infundunt multum et cuncta aromata
et componunt quadam capsa de ligno composito,

49. There is no delay; they cleave the body and cast out the viscera,
they pour in much balsam and all the aromatics,
and they lay it in a certain coffer of composite wood,

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ut mater et coniux eum videant quoquo modo.

so that his mother and wife may see him in whatever way.

50. Hinc exarsit ira tanta his et Genuensibus,
quod non homo neque murus neque quicquam penitus
valet horum sustinere furores et fremitus:
unde fit Saracenorum maximus interitus.

50. Hence such great ire blazed up in these men and in the Genoese,
that neither man nor wall nor anything at all
is able to sustain the furies and the roarings of these:
whence the greatest destruction of the Saracens results.

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51. Sic irrumpunt omnes portas et Madiam penetrant
et accurrunt illuc prope quo stat fera pessima,
que turbabat omnes gentes de sua perfidia:
modo latet circumclusa in muris altissima.

51. Thus they burst in through all the gates and penetrate Mahdia
and run thither, near to where the most wicked beast stands,
who was disturbing all the nations by her perfidy:
now she hides, enclosed within the most lofty walls.

52. Alii petunt meschitam pretiosam scemate,

52. Others make for the precious mosque by a scheme,

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mille truncant sacerdotes qui erant Machumate,
qui fuit heresiarcha potentior Arrio,
cuius error iam permansit longo mundi spatio.

they behead a thousand priests who were of Mahomet,
who was a heresiarch more powerful than Arius,
whose error has already persisted through a long span of the world.

53. Alii confundunt portum factum mirabiliter,
darsanas et omnes turres perfringunt similiter,

53. Others ruin the harbor, wondrously made,
they likewise break through the dockyards and all the towers,

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mille naves traunt inde que cremantur litore,
quarum incendium Troie fuit vere simile.

they haul thence a thousand ships, which are burned on the shore,
whose conflagration was truly like that of Troy.

54. Alii irrumpunt castrum atque turres diruunt,
equos regios et mulas omnes interficiunt,
aurea vexilla mille traunt et argentea,

54. Others burst into the camp and tear down the towers,
they kill the royal horses and all the mules,
a thousand golden standards (vexilla) they carry off, and silver ones,

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que in Pisa gloriosa sunt triumphi premia.

which in Pisa are the glorious prizes of triumph.

55. Concurrentes pervenerunt ad illud palatium,
mille passuum, ut credo, quod tenebat spatium;
quinquaginta cubitorum murus latitudine,
erat idem quater tanta murus altitudine.

55. Converging they arrived at that palace,
a thousand paces, as I believe, which it held in extent;
a wall of fifty cubits in breadth,
the very same wall was four times as great in altitude.

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56. Super hunc procere turres, ad nubes altissime,
ubi vix mortalis homo iam possit aspicere;
scale facte circumflexe, faciles contendere,
ubi nullus neque valet neque scit ascendere.

56. Above this, tall towers, loftiest to the clouds,
where scarcely a mortal man can now even look;
stairs made winding, easy to press onward,
where no one either is able or knows how to ascend.

57. Multitudo paganorum hoc tenebant cassarum

57. A multitude of pagans occupied this area of the houses

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(nam cassandi sic appellant hoc tale palatium),
quod Pisani circumfusi contendunt destruere,
sed lassati iam non audent hoc tale confundere.

(for “cassandi” thus they call such a palace),
which the Pisans, circumfused about it, strive to destroy,
but, wearied now, they do not dare to confound such a one.

58. Et iam isti fatigati pausabant in requie,
ipse rex misellus nimis pacem ceplt petere.

58. And now those men, fatigued, were pausing in repose,
the very wretched king himself began to petition overmuch for peace.

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Donat auri et argenti infinitum pretium,
ditat populum Pisanum atque Genuensium.

He gives a limitless amount of gold and silver,
he enriches the Pisan and the Genoese people.

59. Iuravit per Deum celi, suas legens litteras:
iam ammodo Christianis non ponet insidias
et non tollet tulineum his utrisque populis,

59. He swore by the God of heaven, reading his letters: now henceforth he will not set ambushes for Christians and will not take customs-duty from these two peoples,

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serviturus in eternum eis quasi dominis.

that he would serve them forever as though they were his lords.

60. Terram iurat Sancti Petri esse sine dubio,
et ab eo tenet eam iam absque conludio,
unde semper mittet Romam tributa et premia;
auri puri et argenti nunc mandat insignia.

60. He swears the land to be Saint Peter’s without doubt,
and from him he now holds it without collusion,
whence he will always send to Rome tributes and rewards;
now he sends insignia of pure gold and silver.

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61. Et cum starent ad videndam donorum potentiam,
ecce gentes Arrabites intrarunt Sibiliam,
leves multum supra modum cum discurrunt pedites,
Euro vento leviores cum bellantur equites.

61. And while they stood to behold the potency of the gifts,
lo, Arab peoples entered Seville,
very light beyond all measure as the foot-soldiers dart about,
lighter than the Eurus wind when the horsemen wage war.

62. Docti retro et sueti fugendo respicere,

62. trained in retreat and accustomed to look back while fleeing,

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valent melius in fuga hostes interficere,
leves super omnes gentes, in giro volubiles,
macris equis insidentes, corporibus ductiles.

they are better able to slay enemies in flight,
lighter than all peoples, whirling in a circle,
seated on lean horses, ductile in their bodies.

63. Et istorum tam valentum iam centena milia
urbs relicta a Pisanis tenebat Sibilia.

63. And of these so strong already hundreds of thousands
the city of Seville, left by the Pisans, was holding.

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Ripa maris insistentes et implentes litora,
turbant reliquos Pisanos, servantes navilia.

Standing on the sea’s bank and filling the shores,
they disturb the remaining Pisans, who are guarding the dockyards.

64. Quod cum audiunt quistabant in Madia nobiles,
plus quam leopardi currunt, ordinati, mobiles.
Ipse rex Timinus spectat altis edificiis,

64. When they hear this, the nobles who were staying in Madia
run faster than leopards, ordered, mobile.
The king himself, Timinus, watches from lofty edifices,

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letaturus utriusque populi periculis.

about to rejoice at the perils of both peoples.

65. Sed nec armis nec virtute confiderunt Arabes,
fuga nimium veloci fugientes agiles;
nam quicumque remanserunt depugnantes navibus
Pisanorum figit telum et detruncat gladius.

65. But neither in arms nor in virtue did the Arabs confide,
fleeing, too nimble in a flight over-swift;
for whoever remained, fighting on the ships,
the missile of the Pisans pierces, and the sword hews down.

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66. Sic Madia superata, recepta Sibilia,
iam Pisani gloriosi intrarunt navilia,
destruxerunt pretiosa passim edificia,
cuncta simul reportantes cum parvis eximia.

66. Thus Mahdia overcome, Seville recovered,
now the glorious Pisans entered the dockyards,
they destroyed precious edifices everywhere,
carrying off all things at once—the exceptional along with the small.

67. Captivorum persolverunt plus ad centum milia,

67. They paid in full more than one hundred thousand for captives,

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quos recepit Romania iam ex longo misera.
Saracenos et captivos ducunt sine numero,
quod est totum tuum donum, Iesu, sine dubio.

whom Romania, now long wretched, has received.
They lead Saracens and captives without number,
which is entirely your gift, Jesus, without doubt.

68. Ecce iterum Ebrei Egyptum expoliant
et confuso Pharaone iterum coniubilant.

68. Behold, again the Hebrews despoil Egypt
and, Pharaoh being confounded, they jubilate again.

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Transeunt in mari magno, ut terra siccissima,
Moyses educit aquas de petra durissima.

They pass through the great sea, as on the driest land,
Moses brings forth waters from the hardest rock.

69. Nam, ut veniunt ad Curras, quasdam maris insulas,
ubi nullus vidit aquas ad potandum limpidas,
fit hoc visu et auditu nimis admirabile:

69. For, when they come to the Curras, certain islands of the sea,
where no one has seen limpid waters for drinking,
there occurs something exceedingly admirable to sight and to hearing:

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terra parum circumfossa, potant aquas largiter.

with the earth scarcely dug around, they drink the waters liberally.

70. Sunt reversi gloriosi virtute mirabili
et quo durat iste mundus honore laudabili.
Sancto Sisto consecrarunt perpulchram ecclesiam
et per orbem universum sanctis mandant premia.

70. They have returned glorious with marvelous virtue
and by laudable honor this world endures.
To Saint Sixtus they consecrated a very beautiful church
and throughout the universal orb they mandate rewards for the saints.

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71. Sed tibi, Regina celi, stella maris inclita,
donant cuncta pretiosa et cuncta eximia,
unde tua in eternum splendebit ecclesia,
auro, gemmis, margaritis et pallis splendida.

71. But to you, Queen of Heaven, illustrious star of the sea,
they bestow all precious things and all most excellent things,
whence your church will shine for eternity,
splendid with gold, gems, pearls, and palls.

72. Clericis qui remanserunt pro tuo servitio

72. To the clerics who remained for your service

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donaverunt partes du[as], communi consilio
Sic volebas tu, Regina, sic rogasti Filium,
cuius illis prebuisti in cunctis auxilium.

they donated two parts, by common counsel
Thus you willed it, O Queen, thus you asked the Son,
whose assistance you provided to them in all things.

73. Sit laus tibi, trine Deus, unus et altissime,
super omnes gloriose, in cunctis fortissime,

73. Let there be praise to you, triune God, one and Most High,
glorious above all, in all things most mighty,

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qui timeri et amari debes super omnia,
cuius manet sine fine sempiterna gloria.

who must be feared and loved above all,
whose sempiternal glory abides without end.

Amen

Anno Domini millesimo octuagesimo octavo

In the Year of the Lord, the one thousand and eighty-eighth (1087)