Erchempert: HISTORIA LANGABARDORVM BENEVENTARNORVM

1. Langobardorum seriem, egressum situmque regni, hoc est originem eorum, vel quomodo de Scandanavia irsuta egressi ad Pannoniam, iterum a Pannonia Italiam transmigraverint regnumque susceperint, Paulus, vir valde peritus, compendiosa licet brevitate set prudenti composuit ratione, extendens nichilominus a Gammara et duobus liberis eius hystoriam Ratchis pene usque regnum, in his autem non frustra exclusit aetas loquendi, quoniam in eis Langobardorum desiit regnum; mos etenim hystoriographi doctoris est, maxime de sua stirpe disputantis, ea tantummodo retexere quae ad laudis cumulum pertinere noscuntur. Ultimo autem compulsus a compluribus ego Erchempert quasi ab ortu praecipueque ab Adelgiso, insigni sagacique viro, hystoriolam condere Langobardorum Beneventum degentium, de quibus quia bis diebus nil dignum ac laudabile repperitur quod veraci valeat stilo exarari, idcirco non regnum eorum set excidium, non felicitatem set miseriam, non triumphum set perniciem, non quemadmodum profecerint set qualiter defecerint, non quomodo alias superaverint set quomodo superati ab aliis ac devicti fuerint, ex intimo corde ducens alta suspiria, ad posteritatis exemplum succincto licet et inerti prosequar calamo. Hac quoque flagitatione devictus, non tantum ea quae oculis, set magis quae auribus hausi narrare me fateor, imitans ex parte dumtaxat Marci Lucaeque evangelistarum praeconiis, qui auditus potius quam visus evangelia descripserunt.

1. The series of the Langobards, the egress and seat of their kingdom, that is, their origin, and how, having gone forth from Scandinavia the island, they came to Pannonia, and again from Pannonia migrated to Italy and assumed the kingdom—Paul, a man very skilled, composed with compendious brevity yet with prudent method, extending nonetheless the history from Gambara and her two sons almost up to the reign of Ratchis; and in these he not without cause brought his speech to a close, since in them the kingdom of the Langobards ceased. For it is the custom of a historiographer learned, especially when disputing about his own stock, to reweave only those things which are known to pertain to the cumulus of praise. At length, however, compelled by several, I, Erchempert, as it were from the origin and especially by Adelgis, a distinguished and sagacious man, to compose a little history of the Langobards dwelling at Beneventum—about whom, because in these days nothing worthy and laudable is found that may be inscribed by a truthful stylus—therefore not their reign but their ruin, not felicity but misery, not triumph but perdition, not how they progressed but how they failed, not how they overcame others but how they were overcome and defeated by others, drawing deep sighs from my inmost heart, for the example of posterity I will pursue with a succinct yet inert pen. Conquered also by this entreaty, I confess that I tell not only the things which I have taken in by my eyes, but more those which I have taken in by my ears, imitating in part at least the proclamations of the evangelists Mark and Luke, who wrote the Gospels from hearing rather than from sight.

2. Igitur capta ac subiugata Carlo Italia, Pipinum filium suum illuc regem constituit, cumque illo stipatus innumerabili exercituum agmine crebrius Beneventum adiit capessendam. Quo tempore Arichis, gener iam fati Desiderii, vir christianissimus et valde illustris atque in rebus bellicis strenuissimus, Beneventum ducatum regebat. Qui audiens eos super se adventare, Neapolitis, qui a Langobardis diutina oppressione fatigati erant, pacem cessit, eisque diaria in Liburia et Cimiterio per incolas sancita dispensione misericordiae vice distribuit, titubans, ut conici valet, ne ab eorum versutiis Franci aditum introeundi Beneventum repperirent.

2. Therefore, Italy having been captured and subjugated by Charles, he constituted his son Pippin king there; and, thronged with an innumerable host of armies along with him, he more frequently approached Beneventum to take it in hand. At which time Arichis, the son-in-law now fated Desiderius, a most Christian man and very illustrious and most strenuous in warlike matters, was ruling the duchy of Beneventum. Hearing that they were coming upon him, he granted peace to the Neapolitans, who had been wearied by long oppression by the Langobards, and to them he distributed daily allowances in Liburia and in Cimiterium, by a dispensation sanctioned through the inhabitants, by way of mercy, wavering, as can be conjectured, lest by their wiles the Franks might find an entryway for entering Beneventum.

Super Beneventum autem Gallico exercitu perveniente, praedictus Arichis viribus quibus valuit primo fortiter restitit, postremo autem, acriter praeliantibus, universa ad instar locustarum radice tenus corrodentibus, magis civium saluti quam liberorum affectibus consulens, geminas soboles vice pigneris iam dicto tradidit caesari, hoc est Grimoaldum et Adelchisam, simulque cunctum thesaurum suum; ex quibus Adelchisa multa cum prece proprio restituta suo genitori, Grimoaldum vero secum remeans detulit Aquis, collata Arichis pace sub foedere pensionis.

However, when the Gallic army arrived before Beneventum, the aforesaid Arichis, with the forces with which he was able, at first resisted bravely; but at last, as they fought fiercely, and, like locusts, were gnawing everything down to the root, consulting more for the safety of the citizens than for the affections owed to his children, he handed over his twin offspring as a pledge to the already-mentioned Caesar—that is, Grimoald and Adelchisa—together with his entire treasure; of whom Adelchisa, after much entreaty, was restored to her own father, but Grimoald he carried off with him to Aquis (Aachen), peace having been granted to Arichis under a covenant of pension/tribute.

3. Nanctus itaque hanc occasionem, et ut ita dicam Francorum territus metu, inter Lucaniam et Nuceriam urbem munitissimam et praecelsam in modum tutissimi castri idem Arichis opere mirifico exstruxit, que propter mare contiguum, quod salum appellatur, et rivum qui dicitur Lirinus ex duobus corruptum vocabulis Salernum appellatur, esset scilicet futurum praesidium principibus superadventante exercitu Beneventum. [Hic Arichis primus Beneventi principem se appellari iussit, cum usque ad istum qui Benevento praefuerant duces appellarentur; nam et ab episcopis ungi se fecit, et coronam sibi imposuit, atque in sub cartis: scriptum in sacratissimo nostro palatio, in finem scribi praecepit.] Infra Beneventi autem moenia templum Domino opulentissimum ac decentissimum condidit, quod Graeco vocabulo Agian Sophian, id est sanctam sapientiam, nominavit; ditatumque amplissimis praediis et vario opibus sanctimonialium coenobium statuens, idque sub iure beati Benedicti in perpetuum tradidit permanendum. Pari etiam modo in territorio Alifano Deo amabili viro ecclesiam in honorem domini salvatoris construxit, et monasterium puellarum instituit, atque ditioni sanctissimi Vincentii martiris subdidit.

3. Having thus gotten this occasion, and, so to speak, frightened by fear of the Franks, between Lucania and Nuceria he, the same Arichis, constructed by a wondrous work a most fortified and very lofty city in the manner of a safest castle, which, on account of the contiguous sea (which is called the salum) and the stream which is called the Lirinus, from two corrupted vocables is called Salernum, to be, namely, a future stronghold for the princes when an army should supervene upon Beneventum. [Here Arichis was the first at Beneventum to order himself to be called princeps, whereas up to him those who had presided over Beneventum were called dukes; for he also had himself anointed by the bishops, and placed a crown upon himself, and ordered that, under the charters, the phrase: written in our most sacred palace, be written at the end.] Within the walls of Beneventum, moreover, he founded for the Lord a most opulent and most fitting temple, which by a Greek vocable he named Agian Sophian, that is Holy Wisdom; and, establishing a coenobium of nuns endowed with very ample estates and diverse wealth, he handed it over to remain forever under the rule of blessed Benedict. In like manner also in the Alifan territory he constructed for a God-beloved man a church in honor of the Lord Savior, and instituted a monastery of girls, and subjected it to the authority of the most holy martyr Vincent.

4. Defuncto dehinc Arichiso, consilio habito Beneventanorum magnates legatos ad Karlum destinarunt, multi eum flagitantes precibus, ut iam fatum Grimoaldum, quem genitore obsidem iam pridem susceperat, sibi praeesse concedere dignaretur. Quorum petitionibus rex annuens, illic continuo praedictum contulit virum, simulque ius regendi. principatus largitus est, set prius eum sacramento huiusmodi vinxit, ut Langobardorum menium tonderi faceret, cartas vero nummosque sui nominis caracteribus superscribi semper iuberet.

4. Arichis having then died, after counsel had been taken the Beneventan magnates sent envoys to Charles, many urgently beseeching him with prayers to deign to grant that the already-spoken-of Grimoald, whom he had long before received as a hostage from his father, should preside over them. To whose petitions the king assenting, there at once he entrusted the aforesaid man, together with the right of ruling. the principate he bestowed; but first he bound him by an oath of this kind: that he should cause the Langobards’ hair to be shorn, and that the charters and the coins be always superscribed with the characters of his own name.

Accepta denique licentia repedandi, a Beneventi civibus magno cum gaudio exceptus est. In suos aureos eiusque nomine aliquamdiu figurari placuit, scedas vero similiter aliquanto iussit exarari tempore, reliqua autem pro nichil duxit observanda; mox rebellionis iurgium initiavit.

Finally, having received license to march back, he was welcomed by the citizens of Beneventum with great joy. As for his own aurei, it pleased him that for some time they should be minted and stamped in his name; and similarly he ordered charters to be written out for a while; but he considered the remaining things as nothing to be observed; soon he initiated the quarrel of rebellion.

5. Hoc etiam tempestate idem Grimoalt neptem augusti Achivorum in coniugium sumpsit, nomine Wantiam; set nescitur, quam ob rem ad fructum minime pervenit. In tantum enim odium primus eorum avidus prorupit amor, ut sumta occasione Francorum circumquaque se repugnancium, more Hebreico sponte eam a se sequestraret; dato ei libello repudii, ad proprios lares eam vi transvexit. Hoc quidem callide licet egerit, efferitatem tamen supradictarum barbararum gentium sedare minime quivit; nam tellures Teatensium et urbes a dominio Beneventanorum tunc subtractae sunt usque in praesens, necnon et Nuceriae urbs tunc capta est, set celeriter a fato Grimoaldo acquisita est, apprehenso in ea Guinichiso duce Spolitensium cum omnibus bellatoribus inibi repertis.

5. In this same season the said Grimoalt also took to wife the niece of the augustus of the Achaeans, by name Wantia; but it is unknown for what reason he by no means came to fruition. For their love, eager at first, burst forth into such hatred that, seizing the occasion of the Franks resisting on every side, after the Hebraic manner he of his own accord separated her from himself; a bill of repudiation having been given to her, he conveyed her by force to her own hearths. Although he managed this shrewdly, nevertheless he was in no way able to tame the ferocity of the aforesaid barbarian gentes; for the lands of the Teatenses and the cities were then subtracted from the dominion of the Beneventans, down to the present, and likewise the city of Nuceria was then taken, but it was quickly acquired by the fated Grimoald, Guinichis, duke of the Spoletans, having been apprehended in it with all the warriors found therein.

6. Frequenter autem Karlus cum cunctis liberis, quos iam reges constituerat, et cum immenso bellatorum agmine Beneventum praeliaturus aggreditur; set Deo accertante pro nobis, sub cuius adhuc regimine fovebamur, innumerabilibus de suis peste perditis, cum paucis nonnunquam inglorius revertebatur. Unde factum est, ut Pipino regnante in Ticino et Grimoaldo praesidente in Benevento, frequentissimum bellum vexaret Beneventanos, ita ut nec ad momentum pax interfuerit illis viventibus. Erat enim uterque iuvenili aetate nitentes et ad commotiones et bella declivi.

6. Frequently moreover Charles, with all the children whom he had already established as kings, and with an immense battle-line of warriors, advances upon Beneventum to do battle; but with God assuring on our behalf, under whose governance we were still being cherished, with countless of his destroyed by pestilence, he sometimes returned inglorious with a few. Whence it came about that, with Pippin reigning in Ticinum and Grimoald presiding in Beneventum, a most frequent war vexed the Beneventans, so that not even for a moment was peace present while they lived. For each was shining with youthful age and inclined to commotions and wars.

Pipinus autem fultus suorum praesidio bellatorum, iugi continuoque praelio exagitabat eum; Grimoalt vero et civitatibus munitis et primoribus quam plurimis constipatus, pravipendens ac despectui ducens illius persecutionem, in nullo cedebat ei. Aiebat itaque per legatos suos Pipinus: Volo quidem, et ita potenter disponere conor, ut sicuti Arichis genitor illius subiectu fuit quondam Desiderio regi Italiae, ita sit mihi et Grimualt! Quibus e contra Grimoalt asserebat:

Pipinus, however, supported by the protection of his warrior band, kept harrying him with continual and unremitting battle; but Grimoalt, backed both by fortified cities and by very many leading men, making light of and holding his persecution in contempt, yielded to him in nothing. Thus Pippin said through his legates: I do indeed will it, and I strive to dispose so powerfully, that just as Arichis, his father, was once in subjection to Desiderius, king of Italy, so let Grimoalt be to me! To which, on the contrary, Grimoalt asserted:

Liber et ingenuus sum natus utroque parente;
Semper ero liber, credo, tuente Deo

Free and freeborn I am born of both parents;
I shall always be free, I believe, with God protecting

7. Et hoc quidem ita de hac luce subtracto, Grimoalt alter suscepit iuta Beneventi tuenda, thesaurarius videlicet divae memoriae Grimoaldi prioris, vir quoque sat mitis et adeo suavis, ut non solum cum Gallis, verum etiam cum universis circumquaque gentibus constitutis pacis inierit foedus, et Neapolitis supra memoratis gratiam pacemque donavit. Set quid antiquus hostis semper invidet pacatis et pii viris, atque bella et discordiae semina in eis serere molitur, Dauferium quendam, virum spectabilem, suae artis malicie ignivit, et cum nonnullis filiis Belial horrendum fecit inire consilium adversus principem fatum, hoc modo depositis quippe in itinere insidiis, ut dum per pontem proficisceretur Veterrimae urbis ad praedictam urbem Salernum properans, impulsus a menbris Satanae profundum, fluctibus marinis immergeretur, esset beluis in pastum. Set revelante sibi occultorum cognitore Deo, suis ad se accersitis, iam dictum incolumis pertransiit pontem; eos autem, qui suae salutis hostis fuerant, cepit et vinculis iniecit.

7. And with this one thus withdrawn from this light, another Grimoalt undertook the governance of Beneventum to be maintained, namely the treasurer of the former Grimoald of blessed memory, a man also quite mild and so sweet, that he entered into a treaty of peace not only with the Gauls, but even with all the nations established round about, and he granted favor and peace to the above-mentioned Neapolitans. But since the ancient enemy always envies the peaceful and pious men, and strives to sow in them the seeds of wars and discord, he inflamed a certain Dauferius, a notable man, with the malice of his craft, and with some sons of Belial he caused a dreadful plot to be undertaken against the aforesaid prince, in this way: in fact, ambushes having been laid on the road, that while he was proceeding over a bridge of the Most Ancient city, hastening to the aforesaid city Salernum, pushed by the members of Satan into the deep, he might be plunged beneath the sea-waves, to be for a feeding to beasts. But with God, the knower of hidden things, revealing it to him, his own men having been summoned to him, safe he passed over the already-mentioned bridge; but those who had been enemies of his safety he seized and cast into chains.

Dauferius vero quid tunc non aderat illic, hoc agnito, fugam arripuit et Neapolitis susceptus est.

But Dauferius, who at that time was not present there, this recognized, seized flight and was received by the Neapolitans.

8. Quo comperto, Grimoalt non segniter egit, set confestim iter Neapolim agreditur, exercitumque post se accelerare iubet. At ubi iuxta memoratam perapplicuit urbem, iuventutis populus eiusdem civitatis armis evectus, obvius illi audacter eminus exivit in praelium; quod ille ut intellexit, protinus itinera eorum revertendi prius irretire molitus est, et ita demum in eos insurgere voluit. Tantam denique hostium stragem coepto bello mari terraque fecit, ut fretum adiacens vix per septem et eo amplius dies cruore occisorum purgaretur; in terra vero tumuli nunc usque interfectorum conspiciuntur cadaverum, et ut ab eisdem incolis referentibus compertus sum, quinque milia fere hominum eadem tunc in acie occubuere.

8. When this was discovered, Grimoalt did not act sluggishly, but at once undertakes a march to Naples, and orders the army to accelerate after him. But when he drew up near the aforementioned city, the youth-populace of that same civitas, borne out in arms, boldly went forth to meet him to battle from afar; which when he perceived, straightway he tried first to ensnare their routes of returning, and only then did he wish to rise up against them. Finally, with the war commenced both by sea and by land, he made so great a slaughter of the enemies that the adjacent strait was scarcely cleansed of the gore of the slain for seven days and more; on land, moreover, mounds of the corpses of the killed are seen even to this day, and—as I have learned from the same inhabitants reporting—almost five thousand men then fell in that same battle-line.

Idem enim Dauferius una cum magistro militum qui tunc inibi regnabat, soli elapsi, fugibundi moenia illius urbis tandem ingressi, nec ibi siquidem requiem capiunt; nam egressae coniuges virorum peremptorum gladiis, insequebantur illos, dicentes: Reddite nobis o caduci viri proditori quos nequiter interfecistis? Quare, inquite, adversus praelium insurgere conati estis, quem pro certo invictum scitis? Grimoalt vero acrius eos insecutus est usque ad portoni que dicitur Capuana, ita ut proprio conto eam percuteret; nec erat quispiam qui resisteret.

For the same Dauferius, together with the master of soldiers who then held sway there, they alone having slipped away, at last, fleeing, entered the walls of that city; nor even there do they take rest; for the wives of the men slain by the sword, having come out, were pursuing them, saying: “Give back to us, O betrayer of our fallen husbands, those whom you wickedly slew! Why,” say they, “did you attempt to rise up into battle against him whom you know for certain to be unconquered?” But Grimoalt pursued them more fiercely up to the gate which is called the Capuan, so that he struck it with his own pike; nor was there anyone to resist.

Clausis tantum obseratisque foribus, qui remanserant infra muros se tutaverunt. Reverso igitur Grimoaldo ad castra cum suo exercitu incolume, altera die pro fatigio sumpto et pro interemptis affinibus, iam dictus perfuga dux dedit in exenium octo milia aureos supradicto principi, et memoratum Dauferium ad pristinam reduxit gratiam. Statim denique ob solitam misericordiam praedicto viro donationem de rebus suis praecepto firmavit, gratiam vero familiaritatemque primam non denegavit.

With only the doors closed and barred, those who had remained within the walls safeguarded themselves. Grimoald, therefore, having returned to the camp with his army unharmed, on the next day, in consideration of the fatigue incurred and of the kinsmen who had been slain, the already-mentioned deserter-duke gave as a gift eight thousand aurei to the above-said prince, and brought the aforesaid Dauferius back to his former grace. Immediately then, on account of his customary mercy, he confirmed by precept a donation from his own goods to the aforesaid man, and he did not deny him his original favor and familiarity.

Interea Radechis comes Consinus, Sico Agerentinus castaldeus, quem Grimoalt dudum proselitum receperat honoribus plurimis deferens, sub dolo insurgentes in eum, cum iam extremum, spiritum traheret, gladio eum peremerunt.

Meanwhile Radechis the count, Consinus, and Sico the Agerentine castald—whom Grimoald had formerly received as a proselyte, conferring very many honors—rising against him by deceit, when he was already drawing his last breath, slew him with the sword.

9. Interfecto igitur eo innocenter, praedictus Radechis Siconem loco illius principem subrogavit. Ipse vero non multum post tempus cuncta viriliter mundana metu gehennae abdicans, ad beati se contulit Benedicti suffragia, catenaque cervice tenus vinctus, eius coenobium Christo militaturus adiit, se reum quoque clamitans et impium, se male agisse ac crudeliter vociferans, sicque monachicum scema sumens, in tanta se districtione corporis animique coram oculis internis arbitris in eodem monasterio coartivit, ut nulli scrupulum adsit, omnium facinorum suorum veniam adipisci meruisse. Circuibat ille saepe diabolus girans septa sacri monasterii, et voce perspicua et multis audientibus clamitabat inquiens:

9. Therefore, when he had been slain innocently, the aforesaid Radechis subrogated Sico as prince in his place. But he himself, not long after, manfully abdicating all worldly things for fear of Gehenna, betook himself to the suffrages of blessed Benedict, and, bound with a chain up to the neck, he approached his coenobium, to soldier for Christ, crying himself guilty and impious, vociferating that he had acted badly and cruelly; and thus, taking on the monastic schema, he so constrained himself in such great strictness of body and soul in the same monastery, before the internal eyes as judges, that there is no scruple for anyone that he had deserved to obtain pardon for all his crimes. The devil often went around, circling the enclosures of the sacred monastery, and with a clear voice, many hearing, he kept shouting, saying:

Heu, Benedicte, mihi? Cur me undique rodis? Inique,
Me prius hinc pulso, nunc mea membra lucras?

Alas, Benedict, for me? Why do you gnaw me on every side? Unjustly,
you first drive me from here, now you profit by my limbs?

10. Suscepto itaque Sico principatu, foedus cum Francis innovavit, Beneventanos bestiali efferitate persequitur, atque se superstite filium suum, Sicardum nomine, heredem principatu effecit, virum satis lubricum, inquietum et petulantem, animique elatione tumidum. Per idem tempus Neapolitis, quorum superius mentionem feci, bellum a Sicone creberrimum motum est, et civitate valide obsessa tellure pontoque ac fortiter iaculis et scorpionibus oppugnata, pene capta esset, si defuisset ingenium. Nam iuxta ora maris muro arietibus et macino funditus eliso, iam cum catervatim populus ingredi urbem niteretur, dux iam dictae civitatis, data mox abside genitrice sua ac duobus propriis liberis, magnopere eum callida arte exflagitans per nuncios misit ita: Tua est urbs cum universis quae infra se retinet; placeat ergo pietati tuae, ne inter praedam detur; crastina autem die cum trofaeo victoriae gloriosissime ingredere, possessurus.

10. Sico therefore having assumed the principate, he renewed the treaty with the Franks, he persecuted the Beneventans with bestial ferocity, and, while he himself still survived, he made his son, by name Sicard, heir to the principate—a man quite lubricous, restless and petulant, swollen with elation of mind. At the same time against the Neapolitans, of whom I made mention above, a very frequent war was stirred up by Sico, and the city, strongly besieged by land and sea and vigorously attacked with javelins and scorpions, was almost captured, if ingenuity had failed. For near the sea-shore, the wall, shattered to the foundations by rams and a machine, when already the people in companies were striving to enter the city, the duke of the already-named city, having at once given as hostages his own mother and his two children, urgently pressing him by crafty art through messengers, sent thus: The city is yours together with all that it holds within itself; let it therefore be pleasing to your piety that it not be given over among the prey; but on the morrow enter most gloriously with the trophy of victory, to possess it.

nos omniaque nostra! His ergo suggestionibus fidem accommodans, diem sustinuit venturum. Subsequenti vero nocte interrupta urbs muro firmissimo solidata est, et crepusculo quo se suamque tradere pollicitus est civitatem, arma bellica suscipiens, contra eum se erexit ingenti certamine.

us and all that is ours! Therefore, accommodating faith to these suggestions, he awaited the day to come. But in the subsequent night the breach was made good and the city was strengthened with a very stout wall; and at dawn, at which time he had promised to hand over himself and his city, taking up martial arms, he stood against him in a vast contest.

Oppressi igitur durius a genitore et filio per sedecim continuos annos cives praefatae urbis, cum iam ad extremitatem maximam pervenisset, ad Francorum se contulere praesidium. Hiis denique diebus praeerat illis caesar Lodoguicus cognomento Almus, filius Karli superioris augusti, qui Lutharium natum suum consortem dum regni asciret, ab eo una cum socia sua captus ac custodiae mancipatus est, set ab optimatibus suis ereptus, ad pristinam sublimatus est gloriam; quibus annitentibus, obsidio ab illis aliquandiu sublevata est.

Therefore, oppressed more harshly by father and son for sixteen continuous years, the citizens of the aforesaid city, when it had now come to the greatest extremity, betook themselves to the protection of the Franks. In those days, moreover, there presided over them the Caesar Lodoguicus, surnamed Almus, son of Charles the elder Augustus, who, while he was associating his son Lothar as consort of the kingdom, was by him, together with his own consort, captured and consigned to custody; but, rescued by his nobles, he was raised up to his former glory; by whose efforts, the siege by them was for some time relieved.

11. Circa haec tempora gens Agarenorum a Babylonia et Africa ad instar examinis apum manu cum valida egrediens, Siciliam properavit, omnia circumquaque devastans; tandem civitatem insignem Panormum nomine captam, nunc usque commoratur, plurimasque in eadem irsuta urbes et oppida dirruens, iam pene tota illarum gentium ditioni substrato congemiscit. Inter haec moritur Lodoguicus, qui secundus in Gallia augustali praeerat imperio, Lutharius supradictus illius regni heres effectus est, atque ab hoc Francorum divisum est regnum, quoniam Lutharius Aquensem et Italicum, Lodoguicus autem Baioarium, Karlus vero, ex alia ortus genitrice, Aquitaneum regebat imperium.

11. Around these times the nation of the Hagarenes, going out from Babylonia and Africa with a strong hand after the manner of a swarm of bees, hastened to Sicily, devastating everything round about; at length, the distinguished city by name Panormus captured, even until now it abides there, and, overthrowing very many cities and towns on the same island, now almost the whole, laid under the dominion of those peoples, groans. Meanwhile Lodoguicus dies, who as the second was presiding in Gaul over the augustal empire; the aforesaid Lutharius became heir of that realm, and from this the kingdom of the Franks was divided, since Lutharius ruled the Aachener and the Italian, but Lodoguicus the Bavarian, and Karl, sprung from another mother, the Aquitanian empire.

12. Set ut retro vertam sermonem, mortuo Sicone, Sicardus monarchiam solum optinuit, qui iam cum patre saepius memorato per aliquot feliciter imperaverat annos; coepitque populum sibi commissum ex levitate animi beluina voracitate insequi ac crudeliter laniare. Inter haec, ut Asverus Aman, ita iste praetulit caeteris Rofridum quendam, filium Dauferii cognomento Prophetae, cuius consilii sub versione multa sacrilega ac blasima patrabat. Fuit autem idem vir in mundanis rebus prudens, et nimium versutus, et ultra quam credi potest callidus; adeo enim circumvenit praestigiis suis fallacibus supradictum virum, ut illo absente et dissentiente nil unquam exercere vel ad momentum auderet; sicque ab eo deceptus et inlaqueatus est, ut germanum suum, Siconolfum nomine, gratis perpetuo dampnaret exilio, cunctosque Beneventanae igentis proceres aut custodiis aut morti indiderit; ad hoc nimirum tendens, ut dum relictus ac destitutus solacio esset optimatum, citra suam suorumque sanguinis effusionem facillime interimeretur.

12. But, that I may turn my discourse back, with Sico dead, Sicard alone obtained the monarchy, who already, together with his father so often mentioned, had ruled happily for several years; and he began to pursue the people committed to him, out of a levity of mind and with bestial voracity, and to mangle them cruelly. Meanwhile, as Ahasuerus (preferred) Haman, so this man preferred above the rest a certain Rofrid, son of Dauferius surnamed “Prophet,” under the perversion of whose counsel he was perpetrating many sacrilegious and blasphemous acts. Moreover, the same man was in worldly affairs prudent, and excessively versute, and more crafty than can be believed; for he so circumvented the aforesaid man with his deceitful prestiges that, with him absent and dissenting, he would never dare to execute anything even for a moment; and thus by him he was deceived and ensnared, so that he condemned his own brother, by name Siconolf, without cause to perpetual exile, and consigned all the nobles of the Beneventan nation either to imprisonments or to death; tending, to wit, to this: that, when he had been left and bereft of the solace of the optimates, he might be most easily slain without the shedding of his own and his people’s blood.

Quamobrem et Maionem cognatum suum tonderi iussit et monasterium retrudi, Alfanum denique, quo nemo fidelior eo tempore fuit, virum illustrem et fortissimum robore, laqueo suspendi fecit. Tuncque factum est ingens periurium in Benevento, ex quo conicitur iram Dei primum fore provocatam ad perdendam terram.

Wherefore he also ordered his kinsman Maio to be shorn and to be thrust into a monastery, and finally he caused Alfanus—than whom no one was more faithful at that time—a man illustrious and most strong in robustness, to be hanged by a noose. And then there was a huge perjury in Benevento, whence it is conjectured that the wrath of God was first provoked to the perdition of the land.

13. Talia eo tractante, divina actum est dispensatione, ut dum alium innocenter conaretur extinguere, praevenientem interim langorem ipse caelitus spiritu pariter et carne perculsus interierit. Prius enim quam obiret, ut cumulus suae perditionis iustius augeretur, pro amore pecuniae spectabilem et Deo dignum virum sanctitate conspicuum, Deusdedit nomine, beatissimi Benedicti vicarium, a pastorali monasterio monachorum seculari magis potentia quam congrua laniare deposuit. ac custodiae mancipavit; cuiusque nunc usque cineres, quo recubat humatus, nonnullos febre detentos variisque langoribus oppressos ex fide poscentes creberrime curare noscuntur.

13. While he was handling such things, by divine dispensation it was brought to pass that, while he was attempting to extinguish another who was innocent, he himself, heaven‑smitten in spirit and in flesh alike, perished, being forestalled meanwhile by an approaching languor. For before he died, so that the cumulus of his perdition might more justly be increased, for love of money he deposed a notable and God‑worthy man, conspicuous for sanctity, named Deusdedit, the vicar of the most blessed Benedict, from the pastoral monastery of the monks, to lacerate it by secular power rather than by fitting authority, and consigned him to custody; and whose even to this day his ashes, where he lies entombed, are known most frequently to cure some detained by fever and oppressed by various languors, as they ask in faith.

Quid enim dicam de huius viri nequitiis, quando quidem distractis ecclesiarum coenobiorumque praediis, nobilibus ac mediocrum rebus violenter ablatis, secundum subputacionem dierum anni embolismi curtis opulentissimas aggregavit. Hoc quoque misero ita obeunte, paulo post a filii vel Adelferio nomine, Sicardus supradictus princeps gladio perimitur; Deo iuste retribuente, qui plerumqqe reddit iniquitatem patris in filios carnem solummodo feriens ulciscitur; ut quia Sico, genitor suus, Grimoaldum, seniorem suum, indebite occideret, ulciscente Deo, filius illius a subditis interficeretur. Et isto hoc modo decedente, percussor non diu laetatus est.

What indeed shall I say of this man’s iniquities, since, with the estates of churches and of coenobia sold off, and the goods of nobles and of the middling sort violently carried away, he aggregated the most opulent manors according to the reckoning of the days of an embolismic year. This wretch also thus dying, shortly thereafter by his son—Adelferius by name—the aforesaid prince Sicard was slain by the sword; God justly requiting, who for the most part renders the iniquity of the father upon the sons, avenging by smiting only the flesh; so that, because Sico, his begetter, unlawfully slew Grimoald, his liege-lord, with God avenging, his son was killed by his subjects. And with this man departing in such a manner, the slayer did not rejoice for long.

Nam parve post tempore a Sicone notho, cognomento Albo, praedictus homicida extinctus est, scilicet ut iuxta verbum Domini, qui gladio corpus proximi transverberavit, iusto valde iudicio talionem, hoc est similem ultionem, in se ipso expertulit.

For a little later, by Sico the bastard, surnamed Albus, the aforesaid homicide was slain, namely that, according to the word of the Lord, he who with the sword transfixed the body of his neighbor, by a very just judgment experienced talion—that is, a like vengeance—upon himself.

14. Decedente itaque Sikardo ab hac luce corporea, Radelgisus principatus regimen suscepit, thesaurarius praefati viri, in cuius electione omnis ut ita dicam Beneventi provincia consensit, vir autem blandus ac bonis moribus pollens. At ubi isdem primatum promeruit, Siconolfus, quem superius exulem praemisi, a custodia carceris elapsus fugere latibulum coepit, et ab Urso, comite Consino cognatoque suo, aliquandiu latuit occultatus. Quo etiam tempore liberi Dauferii Balbie, videlicet Romoalt, Arichis et Grimoalt, nec non et Guaiferius, Beneventi moenia relinquentes, Salernum invasere, Siconulfumque quo latebram fovebat repertum, seniorem sibi unanimiter constituerunt; factaque tunc talis dissensio, qualis nunquam fuit in Beneventum ex eo quo Langobardi in ea ingressi sunt.

14. Therefore, with Sicard departing from this bodily light, Radelgis took up the governance of the principate, the treasurer of the aforesaid man, in whose election, so to speak, the whole province of Beneventum consented, a man indeed mild and abounding in good morals. But when that same man had obtained the primacy, Siconulf, whom above I mentioned as an exile, having slipped from the custody of the prison, began to flee to a hiding-place, and with Ursus, Count of Conza and his kinsman, he lay hidden for some time, concealed. At that same time the sons of Dauferius Balbus, namely Romoald, Arichis, and Grimoald, and also Guaiferius, leaving the walls of Beneventum, seized Salerno, and Siconulf, found where he was harboring himself in a hideout, they unanimously appointed as their lord; and then there arose such a dissension as had never been in Beneventum from the time when the Langobards entered into it.

Ante adventum itaque Siconolfi in Salernum missus est Adelmarius a supradicto Radelgiso principe, ut filios Dauferii ad suam fidelitatem converteret; qui illuc abiens, astu doloso principem deseruit et se illis sociavit, eosque ignivit deterius.

Before the arrival, therefore, of Siconulf into Salerno, Adelmarius was sent by the above-said prince Radelgisus, to convert the sons of Dauferius to his fidelity; who, going thither, with crafty guile deserted the prince and joined himself to them, and inflamed them all the worse.

15. Eodem quoque tempore Landolfus iam Capuae praeerat gastaldeus, vir quippe ad bella promtissimus debellator. Hic autem vetustam exercens inimicitiam cum quibusdam de genere Seductorum, animo et gente crudelibus viperis, interfici fecit ex primis eorum septem viros, uni eorumque manibus abscidi; reliqui praesidium fugae sumentes, Benevento adeunt Radelgisum, adfinem suum. Landulfus autem Sicopolim ingressus, a Radelgisi dominatione se subducens Siconolfo sociatus est, ac primum cum Neapolitis pacis coniunxit foedera.

15. At the same time Landolfus was already presiding at Capua as gastald, indeed a man most prompt for wars, a thorough debellator. He, however, exercising an ancient enmity with certain men of the clan of the Seductores—vipers cruel in spirit and stock—caused seven men of their chiefs to be slain, and had the hands of one of them cut off; the rest, taking the protection of flight, go to Benevento to Radelgisus, an affine of theirs. But Landolfus, having entered Sicopolis, withdrawing himself from the domination of Radelgisus, allied himself with Siconolfus, and first he joined treaties of peace with the Neapolitans.

Fretus itaque Siconolfus huius ac liberorum eius auxilio, totam Calabriam suo subdidit famulatui maximamque partem Apuliae; dein adversus Beneventum praeliis insurgere nititur, plurimasque urbes et nonnulla oppida ab eius dominio auferens suoque iuri subiecit; et quid erat vir bellicosissimus, partimque metu, pene cunctum populum eum ambiens sequebatur. Prius enim quam Siconolfus Salernum optineret, a praedicto Adelmario Radelgisus invitatus et a suis stratoribus fraude suasus, Salernum quasi capturus adventavit. Quo dum pervenisset, castrametari grandi cum audacia placuit, set subito velud turbae civitate isdem vir cum fatis Dauferii filiis egressus, eos inaudita caede mactaverunt, bonaque eorum cuncta diripientes ditati sunt; et Radelgisus vix cum paucis inglorius fugiens evasit, nec ultra ausus est Salerni metas gressibus attingere.

Relying therefore Siconolf on the aid of this man and his children, he subjected all Calabria to his servitude and the greatest part of Apulia; then he strives to rise up in battles against Benevento, and, taking away very many cities and some towns from its dominion, he subjected them to his own right; and because he was a most warlike man, and partly through fear, almost the whole populace, encompassing him, followed him. For before Siconolf might obtain Salerno, Radelgisus, invited by the aforesaid Adelmarius and, by the fraud of his own grooms, persuaded, came to Salerno as if about to capture it. When he had arrived there, it pleased him to encamp with great audacity, but suddenly, as though a tumult of the city had arisen, that same man, going out together with the sons of Dauferius, slaughtered them with unheard-of carnage, and, plundering all their goods, they were enriched; and Radelgisus, fleeing ingloriously with a few, scarcely escaped, nor thereafter did he dare to touch with his steps the bounds of Salerno.

16. Hiis quoque diebus Pando quidam Barim regebat, qui iussis optemperans Radelgisi, Saracenorum phalangas in adiutorium accitas iuxta murum urbis et oram maris locavit commorandas. Hii autem, ut sunt natura callidi et prudentiores aliis in malum, subtilius contemplantes munitionem loci, intempesta noctis christicolis qui centibus per abdita loca penetrant urbem, populumque insontem partim gladiis trucidarunt partim captivitati indiderunt. Supradictum vero proditorem gentis et patriae variis multisque suppliciis debachantes, postremo, ut vere dignum fuit, marinis sugillarunt gurgitibus.

16. In these same days a certain Pando was ruling Bari, who, obeying the orders of Radelgisus, stationed the phalanxes of the Saracens, summoned for aid, to remain beside the wall of the city and the shore of the sea. These men, however, as they are by nature crafty and more prudent than others for evil, more subtly examining the fortification of the place, at the dead of night, with Christians who by tunnels through hidden places penetrate the city, both butchered the innocent populace in part with swords and in part consigned them to captivity. But the aforesaid traitor of his nation and fatherland, raging with various and many torments, at last, as was truly fitting, they consigned to the marine whirlpools.

Quo comperto Radelgis, quid eos urbe nullatenus evellere quibat tamen quasi familiares amicos excolere et ad suum adiutorium sensim provocare; ac primum castrum Cananense una cum Urso filio suo illis destinavit oppugnandum. Confestim igitur intimatur hoc Siconolfo; perstatim mora seposita eos debellaturus properavit, atque super eos audacter irruens, cunctos qui fugere nequiverant armis stravit, tantoque victoriae potitus est trophaeo, ut ex innumerabili acie paganorum vix pauci elapsi essent, qui urbe residuis casum pereuntium explicarent Rex vero eorum, Calfo nomine, solus cum dedecore fugiens, equo in itinere iam fesso ammisso, tandem valde lassus plantis propriis urbem introgressus est.

Learning this, Radelgis—since he was by no means able to pluck them out from the city—nevertheless began to cultivate them as if familiar friends and to provoke them little by little to his own aid; and first he assigned to them for assault the Cananese castle, together with his son Urso. Forthwith, therefore, this is intimated to Siconolf; straightway, delay set aside, he hastened to debellate them, and, rushing boldly upon them, he laid low with arms all who had not been able to flee, and he gained so great a trophy of victory that from the innumerable battle-line of the pagans scarcely a few had escaped, to explain to those remaining in the city the fall of the perishing. But their king, by name Calfo, fleeing alone in disgrace—his horse, already weary on the road, having been lost—at length, very exhausted, entered the city on his own soles.

17. Interea Siconolfus Beneventum crebris praeliis graviter affligebat, atque ut dici solet mala arbor, modo malus infigendus est cuneus, contra Agarenos Radelgisi Libicos Hismaelitas Hispanos accivit, hisque invicem intestino et extero altercantibus bello, ultramarina loca captivis nostrae gentis diversi sexus et aetatis fulciebantur. Quodam vero die convenere utraeque acies in Furculas Caudinas, commissumque est belli certamen, ac primo impetu Radelgisi pars victrix existens, Siconolfi exercitum totum in fugam vertit. Siconolfus autem in loco tutissimo tunc constitutus, cum paucis suorum mox super Beneventanos triumphantes ac suos insequentes virili irruit animo, et non minima caede prostravit; patrataque victoria, plurimos eorum gladiis extinxit, nonnullos cepit, reliquos vero in fugam compulit.

17. Meanwhile Siconolf was grievously afflicting Beneventum with frequent battles, and, as it is wont to be said, into a bad tree a bad wedge must now be driven: he summoned against the Agarenes of Radelgis Libyans, Ishmaelites, Spaniards; and while these in turn were wrangling with an intestine and an external war, overseas places were being stocked with captives of our people of differing sex and age. But on a certain day both battle-lines met at the Caudine Forks, and the contest of war was joined; and at the first onset Radelgis’s side, coming out victor, turned all Siconolf’s army to flight. Siconolf, however, then posted in a most secure place, with a few of his own soon rushed with manly spirit upon the Beneventans triumphing and pursuing his men, and he laid them low with no small slaughter; and victory having been achieved, he extinguished very many of them by the sword, took some captive, and drove the rest to flight.

Fretus itaque frequentissimis victoriis, omnes urbes et castella a Radelgisi abstrahens iure excepto siponto, Beneventum circumdedit oppugnandum; cumque telis et lue famis non mediocriter coartaretur, mandatum ilico est Guidoni, ut properaret urbem. Erat autem idem Guido dux Spolitensium, Siconolfi cognatus, pro cupiditate tamen pecuniarum, quibus maxime Francorum subicitur genus, postposito vinculo parentali in adiutorium ilico profectus est Radelgisi, atque per nuncios suggessit Siconolfo obsidente urbem, ut obsessione relicta ad propria remearet, adiciens inter caetera: Permitte me loqui cum Radelgiso, quid tuae magis parti favebo. Recessit igitur Siconolfus a loco illo; Guido interim applicuit, et accepta a Radelgiso unam sellam pro septuaginta milibus nummis aureis, dirrupit quodcumque pollicitus fuerat suo cognato, et alienatus ab eo via qua venerat rediit.

Trusting therefore in most frequent victories, removing all the cities and castles from Radelgis, with Siponto excepted by right, he surrounded Beneventum to be besieged; and since it was not moderately constrained both by missiles and by the plague of famine, a mandate was straightway sent to Guido to hasten to the city. Now this same Guido, duke of the Spoletans, a kinsman of Siconolfus, yet for the cupidity of monies, to which the race of the Franks is especially subjected, with the bond of kinship set aside, set out at once to the aid of Radelgis; and through messengers he suggested to Siconolfus, who was besieging the city, that, the siege left, he should return to his own, adding among other things: Permit me to speak with Radelgis, since I will more favor your party. Siconolfus therefore withdrew from that place; meanwhile Guido arrived, and, having received from Radelgis one saddle for seventy thousand gold coins, he broke whatever he had promised to his kinsman, and, alienated from him, returned by the way by which he had come.

18. Post haec praedictus Guido suasit Siconolfo, ut datis quinquaginta milia nummis aureis pro adunatione provinciae Beneventanae, Et optinere te, inquid, faciam eam hinc et inde, quasi palmo meciaris eam! Cuius tunc consilio consenciens Romam adiit, aureos tribuit, sacramenta dedit, iusiurandum suscepit, nichil proficiens inanis abscessit. Erat autem adhuc inter Siconolfum et Radelgisum frequentissima pugnae concertatio et cotidiana litium seditio, unde et ex diversa parte quibus via iustitiae displicebat alternatim ab uno in alterum confugiebant, fiebantque crebra par rapinae incestaeque fornicationes.

18. After these things the aforesaid Guido advised Siconolfus that, with fifty thousand gold coins given for the adunation of the Beneventan province, “I will make you obtain it,” he said, “on this side and on that, as if you measured it by the palm!” Then, consenting to his counsel, he went to Rome, bestowed gold pieces, gave oaths (sacraments), received a juratory oath, and, accomplishing nothing, departed empty. Moreover, there still was between Siconolfus and Radelgisius a most frequent contest of battle and a daily sedition of lawsuits; whence also, from the opposite side, those to whom the way of justice was displeasing would flee alternately from the one to the other, and frequent rapines and unchaste, incestuous fornications came to pass.

Erant siquidem universi erronei et ad malum prompti, quasi bestiae sine pastore oberrantes in saltum. Set cum iugiter civili bello invicem inter se lacerarentur, essetque omnium pernicies et ut ita dicam animae et cordis extrema perditio, maxime quid Saraceni Benevento degentes, quorum rex erat Massari, infra extraque omnia funditus devastavit, ita ut etiam optimates illius pro nichilo ducerent atque ut ineptos servulos taureis duriter flagellarent.

Indeed they were all astray and prompt to evil, like beasts without a shepherd wandering into the wild. But as they were continually mangling one another in civil war, and there was the ruin of all and, so to speak, the extreme perdition of soul and heart, especially because the Saracens dwelling at Benevento, whose king was Massari, utterly devastated everything inside and outside, so that even its optimates counted them as nothing and, as inept little slaves, harshly scourged them with bull-hide thongs.

19. His quoque diebus mortuo iam dicto Luthario, regnum Gallicum pentifarie, divisum est, quoniam Lodoguicus et Karlus, germani eius, Baioariam et Aquitaniam regebant, primogeuitus eius filius Lodoguicus nomine Italiam, secundus Lutharius Aquis, tertius Carlictus Provinciam tuebantur. Huic ergo Lodoguico augusto suppliciter relatum est per Landonem comitem Capuanum, filium Landolfi supradicti viri, et per Ademarium iam fatum virum. Qui licet erat admodum parvuli, pro Dei tamen zelo eorum humilibus precibus aures accommodans, etiam consensum praebuit; et celeriter veniens, universos prophanae gentis hostes ab urbe vi distrahi ac framea necari fecit; et praesentibus omnibus Langobardis, inter duos praedictos viros totam provinciam Beneventanam aequitatis discrimine sub iureiurando dispertivit.

19. In these same days, with the already-mentioned Lutharius dead, the Gallic kingdom was divided fivefold, since Lodoguicus and Karlus, his brothers, were ruling Bavaria and Aquitaine; his firstborn son, Louis by name, was protecting Italy, the second, Lotharius, Aix, the third, Carlictus, Provence. To this Lodoguicus Augustus, therefore, it was humbly reported through Landon, Count of Capua, son of Landolf, the aforesaid man, and through Ademarius, the already-mentioned man. And although they were very small indeed, yet he, for zeal of God, lending his ears to their humble prayers, even granted consent; and coming swiftly, he caused all the enemies—a profane race—to be dragged from the city by force and to be slain by the spear; and, with all the Lombards present, he divided under oath the whole Beneventan province between the two aforesaid men by the criterion of equity.

Hoc autem facto, non diu supervixit Siconolfus, set debitum mortis munus exolvens, filium suum adhuc lactantem ministerii sui reliquid heredem. Cui superstes parum qui extitit Radelgis. Quo migrato, Radelgarius filius eius in principatum loco eius electus est, vir plane fortis viribus et animo pius, ac corpore cunctis gratus.

With this done, Siconolfus did not survive long, but, discharging the due debt of death, he left his son, still suckling, as heir of his ministry. Radelgis survived him, but only for a short time. When he departed, Radelgarius his son was elected to the principate in his place, a man plainly strong in strength and pious in spirit, and in body pleasing to all.

20. Per idem tempus Agareni Barim incolentes, coeperunt devastantes stirpitus depraedare totam Apuliam Calabriamque, ac pedetentim Salernum ac Beneventum depopulare initiarunt. Tunc iterum sugestum est lamentabili supplicatione iam saepe dicto piissimo augusto per Bassacium venerabilem virum, beati Benedicti vicarium, et per Iacobum sancti Vincentii abbatem, ut properare quantocius dignaretur, et suo adventu eriperet quos ante iam misericorditer redemerat: Et simus, inquiunt, fidissimi famulis illius, constituatque nos subesse cuilibet ultimo suorum! Qui sine mora veniens, cum incredibili multitudine Barim perrexit, set pro omnibus obliti Capuani suam ultroneam sponsionem, urbibus se recondentes, Landulfum tantum antistitem vice sua illuc destinarunt.

20. At the same time the Agarenes inhabiting Bari began, devastating root-and-branch, to plunder all Apulia and Calabria, and little by little they initiated to lay waste Salerno and Benevento. Then again a proposal was made with a lamentable supplication to the already oft-mentioned most pious Augustus through Bassacius, a venerable man, vicar of blessed Benedict, and through Jacob, abbot of Saint Vincent, that he would deign to hasten as quickly as possible, and by his coming would snatch away those whom previously he had already mercifully redeemed: And let us be, they say, his most faithful servants, and let him appoint us to be subject to any one, even the lowest, of his own! He, coming without delay, with an incredible multitude proceeded to Bari; but the Capuans, forgetful before all of their voluntary pledge, hiding themselves within their cities, sent only Landulf the prelate thither in their stead.

Videns autem supradictus caesar et illorum fallacium et se nil proficere, sine emolumento recedens abiit, concesso principato Salernitano Ademario, fortissimo et illustre viro, Siconolfi filium exulem fecit. Interea obiit Radelgarius Benevento; cui successit germanus eius nomine Adelchis, vir quippe mitissimus et amabilis cunctis, tantaque mansuetudinis, ut etiam ab exteris diligeretur. Set, quod peius, provincia in multis divisa ad exitium magis quam ad salutem de die in diem a dominatoribus ducebatur.

Seeing, however, the aforesaid Caesar both their deceits and that he himself was profiting nothing, withdrawing without emolument he departed, and, the Salernitan principate having been granted to Ademarius, a most brave and illustrious man, he made the son of Siconolf an exile. Meanwhile Radelgarius died at Beneventum; his brother by name Adelchis succeeded him, indeed a very mild man and lovable to all, and of such gentleness that he was loved even by foreigners. But, what is worse, the province, divided into many parts, was being led day by day by the rulers more to destruction than to safety.

21. Subtracto vero ex hac luce Landulfo Capuano comite, ut post tergum redeam, quatuor reliquia liberos, Landonem videlicet iam fatum virum, Pandonem, Landonolfum et Landolfum futurum pontificem, viros singularis prudencia virtutisque efficacia valde compotes; ex quibus Lando Capuam, Pando marepahissatum, Landonolfus Teanum regebat, Landulfus vero adhuc iuvenis palatinis excubabat obsequiis. Hic autem novissimus, ut post in patulo claruit, cum adhuc viscere gestaretur genitricis, eadem mater, cum se quodam die sopori iuxta viri dorsum dedisset, facem igneam peperisse visum experta est. Quae fax cum humi solo cecidisset, in maximum ignis globum aucta est, visaque est totius Beneventi confinium concremare, sicque cum sompno pariter et visio elapsa est.

21. With Landulf, the Capuan count, withdrawn from this light, to go back, he left behind four surviving children, namely Lando—already a grown man—Pando, Landenulf, and Landulf, a future pontiff, men very much possessed of singular prudence and the efficacy of virtue; of whom Lando ruled Capua, Pando the marepahisate, Landenulf Teanum, while Landulf, still a youth, kept watch in palatine services. Now this youngest, as later it became patent, while he was still being carried in his mother’s womb, the same mother, when on a certain day she had given herself to sleep beside her husband’s back, experienced a vision that she had borne a fiery torch. When this torch had fallen upon the ground, it was increased into a very great globe of fire, and seemed to burn up the borders of all Beneventum; and so together with sleep the vision likewise slipped away.

Quae nimium perterrita, proprio mox coniugi moesta curavit indicare; cuius visionis finem genitor ut audivit, in paucis sillabarum dictionibus futura eius dira opera complexus est, dicens:

She, exceedingly terrified, mournful, soon took care to indicate it to her own husband; when the father heard the outcome of this vision, in a few syllables he encompassed his future dire works, saying:

Heu me, dulcis amans, quae nos tunc fata secuntur, Augurium saevum monstrat tua visio dira! Hac tuus hic ortus tegitur qui clausus in alvo, Diliget haut ullum spernet qui sanguine caros, Postremo cives viperino devoret ore, Ac velud ignis edax rectorum pectora buret.

Alas for me, sweet lover, what fates then follow us,
a savage augury your dire vision shows!
By this your offspring here, who is shut within the womb, is veiled,
he will love none, he who will spurn those dear by blood,
and at last he will devour his fellow citizens with a viperine mouth,
and, like a devouring fire, he will sear the hearts of rulers.

Quod ille, in extasi mentis licet, praedixerit, nos quoque propriis intuiti sumus optutibus, qui innumerabiles insontes homines illius facto conspeximus pro igne gladiis corruisse. Ignis itaque ille ipsum inumani generis sanguinem, qui postea eo operante fundendus erat, sub quodam ymaginis specie portendebat; quod ne cui incredibile hoc aut ymaginarie forte confictum videatur, tot mihi testes sunt quot pene homines versantur in urbe. Huius enim actio finisque exitus in subsequenti propalabitur.

What he, although in an ecstasy of mind, had predicted, we too have beheld with our own eyes, we who saw countless innocent men, by his deed, fall by swords in place of fire. Therefore that fire portended, under a certain species of image, the very blood of an inhuman kind, which afterward, with him at work, was to be poured out; and lest this should seem to anyone incredible or perhaps imaginatively fabricated, I have as many witnesses as there are almost men who frequent the city. For the doing of this man and the end of the outcome will be made public in what follows.

22. Horum denique genitor cum iam diei ultimae appropinquaret, ut a referentibus audivi, vocatis liberis suis hoc in edictum ab tradidit, ne unquam, quantum ad se pertineret, sinerent Beneventum cum Salerno pacisci: quia non erit, inquid, vobis profuturum. Cuius monitum filii audientes, opere pariter patrarunt, atque suis heredibus in ius perpetuum sicut a patre susceperant reliquerunt. Magnum sanum hereditarium suae reliquerunt soboli, adversus divinum dumtaxat praeceptum gerentes quod ait Iesus discipulis suis: Pacem meam do vobis, pacem relinquo vobis.

22. Finally, the father of these, when the last day was now drawing near—as I have heard from those reporting—having called his children, handed down this as an edict: that never, in so far as it concerned himself, they should allow Benevento to make peace with Salerno; because, he said, it will not be of profit to you. The sons, hearing his monition, likewise accomplished it in deed, and left it to their heirs as a matter of perpetual right, just as they had received it from their father. They left to their progeny a great and sound hereditary legacy, yet acting, at least, against the divine precept which Jesus says to his disciples: My peace I give to you, my peace I leave to you.

Accepto itaque iure regnandi, modo Siconolfo obsecuntur, parvipendunt imperiis eius, set prae omnibus Landonolfus contrarius illi semper et ingratus extitit, adeo ut etiam litio illius nam suam necessitate ductus arraret. Hoc autem tempore Paulinus, Deo dignus et carus vir, Capuae praesul, ab hac carnea subtractus est faece, atque Landone supradicto viro viriliter decertante, Landolfum, fratrem suum, episcopum ordinavit; set incongruam vicissitudinem filiis eius post patris intulit obitum, quos velud durissimos hostes vario ac perpetuo multavit exilio.

Therefore, the right of reigning having been received, for the moment they obey Siconulf, they make light of his imperia; but before all, Landonolf stood always contrary and ungrateful to him, to such a degree that, even, drawn by necessity, he would pledge his own for that man’s litigation. At this time, moreover, Paulinus, a man worthy of God and dear, prelate of Capua, was withdrawn from this carnal dregs, and, with Lando the aforesaid man fighting virilely, he ordained Landolf, his brother, as bishop; but he brought an incongruous vicissitude upon his sons after the father’s death, whom as most hard enemies he punished with various and perpetual exile.

23. Mortuo itaque Siconolfo, ut unusquisque quod sibi habile videretur ageret, filium eius adhuc anno carentem loco eius subrogarunt. Tunc coeperunt praedicti fratres concives suos, partim ambitu partim metu agitati, ferina persequi ingluvie et custodiis mancipare; quamobrem et a Pandulfo consanguineo suo Suessulam ingenio auferentes, suae ambitioni nexerunt, ipsum et liberos illius extorres fecerunt, de quibus dehinc unum gladio, alium igne perdiderunt, duosque superstites iugi continuoque dampnarunt exilio. Suessulam autem postea a Landulfo Landonis filio captam, annitente sibi Sergio magistro militum, qiuia socer erat illius, nunc usque retinet eam.

23. Therefore, with Siconulf dead, so that each might do what seemed suitable to himself, they substituted his son, still lacking a year, in his place. Then the aforesaid brothers began to pursue their fellow-citizens, stirred partly by ambition and partly by fear, with beastly greed, and to consign them to imprisonments; wherefore also, taking Suessula away by stratagem from Pandulf their kinsman, they tied it to their own ambition, and made him and his children exiles—of whom thereafter they destroyed one by the sword, another by fire, and the two survivors they condemned to perpetual and unbroken exile. But Suessula, later captured by Landulf, son of Lando, with Sergius the master of soldiers striving on his behalf, because he was his father-in-law, he retains even now.

24. Hac tempestate, casu an iudicio superno actum sit, tota urbs Sicopolis igne cremata est, ita ut ne una domus remaneret inusta praeter episcopalis aula. Qua reperta occasione, Landulfus praesul et Landonolfus, germanus eius, consilio inierunt, ut deserta angusti monto cohabitatione, ad plana et praeclara canpestria descenderent ad commanendum: Non sumus, inquiunt, caprearum hovile, ut in saxorum cavernis tueamur, ad humiliaque denique descendamus, ut altos nos et inhumiles circumspicientibus praebeamus! Quibus tunc adsensum Lando minime praebuit, quia delirum ac frivolum erat, inter tot procellas urbem munitissimam deserentes ut suillo coeno locarent.

24. At this time, whether it was done by chance or by supernal judgment, the whole city Sicopolis was burned by fire, such that not even one house remained unburned except the episcopal hall. This occasion having been found, Bishop Landulf and Landonolf, his brother, entered into a plan to leave the deserted cohabitation of the cramped mount, and to descend to the level and most distinguished plains for dwelling together: We are not, they say, a goatfold, that we should keep ourselves in the caverns of rocks; and let us at length descend to the low places, that we may present ourselves to those looking around as lofty and not lowly! To which Lando then by no means gave assent, because it was delirious and frivolous, abandoning the most fortified city amid so many storms in order to place it in swinish mire.

25. Illis invicem ita altercantibus, duo praedicti viri coeperunt haedificare murum supra pontem qui vulgo Casilinum dicitur; quorum opera ut perspexit Lando, inchoavit ac mirifice perfecit haedificandam urbem. Ut autem munita est et habitari coepta, supervenit Guido iam dicto cum universis Tuscis, et obsedit eam hinc et inde graviterque angustiavit, quia nolebant subici Ademario iam fato viro ob improbitatem Landolfi praesulis et Landonolfi, quoniam illum prae caeteris affectu favebat fraterno, aliis quasi exteris spretis. Dum enim valide intus affligerentur cotidiana pugna, et foris sata delerentur, tandem robore et violentia devicti colla subdiderunt famulatui, excepto Landonolfus; quamobrem Suram, cuncta oppida confinia a Landonolfo domino subtracta et Guidoni sunt tradita, sicut promissum fuerat.

25. While they were thus altercating with one another, the two aforesaid men began to build a wall above the bridge which in the vulgar tongue is called Casilinum; when Lando perceived their work, he inchoated and wondrously perfected the edifying of a city. But when it was fortified and began to be inhabited, Guido already mentioned supervened with all the Tuscans, and besieged it on this side and on that and grievously straitened it, because they were unwilling to subject themselves to Ademar, a man now fated, on account of the depravity of Landulf the prelate and Landonolf, since he favored that one before the rest with fraternal affection, the others being scorned as though outsiders. For while they were strongly afflicted within by quotidian battle, and outside the sowings were being destroyed, at length, overcome by strength and violence, they placed their necks under servitude, Landonolf excepted; wherefore Sura, all the neighboring towns, having been subtracted from their lord Landonolf, were delivered to Guido, just as had been promised.

Quo facto in tantam animi tristitiam corruit praedictus vir, ut in proximo spiritum exhalaverit.

With this having been done, the aforesaid man collapsed into so great a sadness of mind that he shortly exhaled his spirit.

26. Per idem tempus veterem inimicitiam vindicare volens Ademarius, filium. Marini Malfitani, cognatum videlicet Pandonis, dolo cepit, et Sergio magistro militum, cum quo foedus inierat, exulem tradidit; qua pro causa ab eodem Sergio etiam Marinus fraude captus est. Hinc etenim aeternum iurgium inter Ademarium et Pandonem ortum est; unde factum est, ut inscio Landone Landulfus episcopus et Pando suaserint Guaiferio Elio Dauferii Balbi, et fecerunt apprehendere Ademarium principem, et Guaiferium sponte sibi seniorem elegerunt, iurantes ei gravi sacramento.

26. At the same time, wishing to vindicate an old enmity, Ademarius by guile seized the son of Marinus of Amalfi, namely a kinsman of Pando, and handed him over, as an exile, to Sergius the magister militum, with whom he had entered into a foedus (treaty); for which cause Marinus too was by the same Sergius taken by fraud. Hence indeed an eternal quarrel arose between Ademarius and Pando; whence it happened that, with Lando unaware, Landulf the bishop and Pando persuaded Guaiferius, son of Dauferius Balbus, and caused Prince Ademarius to be apprehended, and of their own accord they chose Guaiferius as their senior (lord), swearing to him with a weighty sacrament (oath).

Set ocius ad consueta vitia defluentes, et huic statim post excessum Landonis, soceri illius, mentiti.

But, flowing down more swiftly into their accustomed vices, they lied to this man immediately after the decease of Lando, his father-in-law.

27. Mortuo denique Landonolfo, non multum post Lando dira paralisi percutitur, lectum per annum integrum fessus detinebatur. Hoc agnito, Sergius magister militum praesidiis illectus Ademarii, ut priora replicem, dirrupit iuramentum quod cum Landone pactum fuerat, et adversus filium illius bellum excitavit. Nam octavo Ydus Maias Mai quo beati Michahelis archangeli sollempnia nos sollempniter celebramus, quo etiam die priscis temporibus a Beneventanorum populis Neapolites fortiter caesos legimus, hac ergo die, nullum honorem dans Deo, misit duos liberos suos Gregorium magistrum militum et Caesarium, nec non et Landulfum generum suum Suessulanum, cum quibus Neapolitum et Malfitanorum exercitum tam pedestrem quam et equitum pene ad septem milia viros misit, dans ei in praeceptum, ut Capuam obsideret.

27. With Landenulf at last dead, not long after Lando is struck by dire paralysis; wearied, he was kept to his bed for a whole year. This being recognized, Sergius the master of soldiers, lured by the safeguards of Ademarius—to repeat what was earlier—tore up the oath that had been agreed with Lando, and stirred up war against that man’s son. For on the eighth day before the Ides of May, in May (8 May), on which day we solemnly celebrate the solemnities of blessed Michael the archangel, on which day also we read that in ancient times the Neapolitans were stoutly cut down by the people of the Beneventans—therefore on this day, giving no honor to God—he sent his two sons, Gregory, master of soldiers, and Caesarius, and also Landulf, his son‑in‑law, of Suessula; with them he sent the Neapolitan and the Amalfitan army, both infantry and cavalry, nearly to seven thousand men, giving him the order to besiege Capua.

Quibus audacter occurrit ceu leo fervidus Lando iunior, repperitque eos transvadatos pontem Teodemundi suos acriter expugnantes; totis viro super eos irruit, atque cuneum eorum scindens gladiis ventilavit, captumque Caesarium et ferme octingentos alias, reliquos in fugam vertit; sicque triumphans reversus est. Pando autem, illius avunculus, Ademarii metuens adventum, ad monumentum quondam Trasarici interim observabat excubias. Post haec Pando, erepto Marino vinculis, Caesarium cum universis libertati restituit.

To meet them boldly, like a fervid lion, came Lando the Younger, and he found them, having crossed at Teodemund’s bridge, fiercely assaulting his men; with all his force he rushed upon them, and, cleaving their wedge, he winnowed it with swords, and he took Caesarius captive and nearly eight hundred others, and turned the rest to flight; and thus, triumphant, he returned. But Pando, his maternal uncle, fearing the advent of Ademarius, meanwhile kept watch at the tomb formerly of Trasaric. After these things Pando, Marino having been snatched from chains, restored Caesarius with all the rest to liberty.

28. Hiis quoque diebus Lando senior, crescente interim langore, ad extrema perductus est, vocatisque duobus fratribus suis, Pando scilicet et Landolfo antistite, Landonem filium suum eis supplici prece commendare studuit, atque in manus eorum tradidit dicens: Teste Deo sanctaque eius ecclesia vobis eum commendo, ut eodem in iudicio futuro iudicemini, quo eo in praesenti abusi fueritis! sicque humanum faciens obiit. Quo migrato, non diu ad iuramentum perstitit fraternum; nam subdole pro cupiditate castaldatus et Landonem et ceteros fratres urbe repulerunt, et a Guaiferio alienati sunt cui sacramenta recentia dederant, praecipueque Landolfus per evangelia missarumque sollempnia nec-non et per manus sacratas suas ille non semel iuraverat.

28. In these same days Lando the elder, while in the meantime his languor was increasing, was brought to his last extremity; and, his two brothers having been called—namely Pando and Landulf the prelate—he strove with suppliant prayer to commend to them Landon his son, and delivered him into their hands, saying: With God and His holy Church as witness I commend him to you, that in the same future judgment you may be judged by which you shall have abused him in the present! and thus, doing the human thing, he died. When he had departed, they did not long abide by the fraternal oath; for, underhandedly, out of greed for the castaldate, they drove both Landon and the other brothers from the city, and became alienated from Guaifer, to whom they had given recent oaths—especially Landulf, who more than once had sworn upon the Gospels and the solemnities of the Masses, and also upon his own consecrated hands.

Hoc facto, Lando Caiaziae ingressus est, capto in ea Aioaldo, qui a praedictis viris eam ad custodiendum fuerat directus. Eodem igitur tempore Landolfus, frater Landonis, Casam cepit; set superveniens Pando, cepit eum cum quadraginta primoribus, quibus redditis, castrum Caiaziae recepit, et receptis filiis Landonis a Guaiferio et Landolfo fratre eorum in Suessulam. Quibus exterminatis minime quievit eorum rabies, set coeperunt eos persequi iugiter etiam terminos Suessulam expugnantes.

With this done, Lando entered Caiazzo, and in it he captured Aioald, who had been dispatched by the aforesaid men to keep it in custody. At the same time Landolf, the brother of Lando, took Casa; but Pando, supervening, seized him with forty leading men, and, these having been restored, he recovered the castle of Caiazzo, and, the sons of Lando having been received from Guaifer and Landolf, their brother, into Suessula. When these had been exiled, their frenzy in no wise rested, but they began to pursue them continually, even assaulting the borders of Suessula.

Hos siquidem Guaiferius princeps non segniter adiuvabat, et multotiens locum cedebat eis, nolens frustra christicolum fundere cruorem. Set Landolfus praesul non hoc religionis gratia set imbecillitati deputans, vi suum germanum contra christum Domini pugnare cogebat. Fretus ergo filiorum trium Maionis, et Maienolfi, nec-non et Radelgisi filii Adelgisi Beneventani principis, eum adversus iam dictum principem suum misit; set iusto Dei iudicio, a quo omnis potestas et ordinatio consistit, ipse primus occubuit; nonnulli ex eis capti, reliqui autem fugati sunt.

Indeed Guaiferius the prince was not sluggish in aiding these men, and many times he yielded place to them, unwilling to pour out the blood of Christ-worshippers in vain. But Landolfus the prelate, attributing this not to religion but to imbecility, by force was compelling his own brother to fight against the Christ of the Lord. Relying therefore on the three sons of Maio, and on Maienolf, and also on Radelgis, son of Adelgis, the Beneventan prince, he sent him against his already-mentioned prince; but by the just judgment of God, from whom all power and ordination consist, he himself was the first to fall; several of them were captured, but the rest were put to flight.

29. Inter haec Saugdan, nequissimus ac sceleratissimus rex Hismahelitum, totam terram Beneventanam igne gladiis et captivitate crudeliter devastabat, ita ut non remaneret in ea halitus. Quamobrem et Gallorum exercitus crebrius adveniens eorum eferitatem opprimendam, set nil proficiens, via qua venerat repedabat. Unde factum est, ut Adelgisum Beneventi principem, coactata pensione et obsidibus, pacem eo firmaret.

29. Meanwhile Saugdan, the most wicked and most criminal king of the Ishmaelites, was cruelly devastating the whole land of Benevento with fire, swords, and captivity, so that not a breath remained in it. Wherefore also the army of the Gauls, coming more and more frequently to suppress their savagery, but accomplishing nothing, was retracing by the road by which it had come. Whence it came about that Adelgis, prince of Benevento, by a coerced pension (tribute) and hostages, should make peace with him.

Quo tempore Maielpotus Telesinus et Guandelepert Bovianensis castaldei multa cum prece conduxerunt Lambertum ducem Spolitensium, et Garardum comitem, et obviantes eidem Saugdan, cum de Capuae depopulatione reverteretur, in Arvium tellure irruerunt super eum. Set exurgens iam dictus vir, et super Beneventanos et Francos fortiter se iniecit, ac dirruptis cuneis, plurimos eorum interemit, nonnullos cepit et crudeliter extinxit; Garardus vero comes, Maielpotus, et Guandelpertus, supra dicti viri, eadem in acie tunc occubuere. Qua de re audaciam ex ilio die potiorem sumens, Beneventum eiusque confinia funditus delevit, ita ut nullus locus praeter urbes praecipuas eius efferitati evaderet.

At that time Maielpotus the Telesian and Guandelepert the Bovianensian, castaldi, with much entreaty engaged Lambert, duke of the Spoletans, and Count Garard; and, meeting that same Saugdan as he was returning from the depopulation of Capua, they rushed upon him on the Arvian soil. But rising up, the already-named man threw himself mightily upon the Beneventans and the Franks, and, the wedges broken, he slew very many of them, took some and cruelly extinguished them; but Count Garard, Maielpotus, and Guandelepert, the aforesaid men, then fell in the same battle. Wherefore, taking from that day a greater audacity, he utterly destroyed Benevento and its confines, so that no place, except the chief cities, escaped his ferocity.

Quibus diebus et castrum Benafranum cepit, et coenobium sancti Vincentii martiris depraedavit, et pro aedificiis non combustis tres milia aureus accepit. Hoc facto, et a vicario beati Benedicti totidem nummos accepit.

In those days he also seized the castle of Benafranum, and he despoiled the coenobium of Saint Vincent the martyr, and in return for buildings not burned he received 3,000 gold pieces. With this done, he likewise received just as many coins from the vicar of blessed Benedict.

30. Mortuo denique Pandone, Landolfus episcopus solus superstes remansit. Qui Pandonolfum, nepotem suum, vice patris sui Pandonis comitem in Capuam constituit, qui vulneratus ex praelio quo genitor occubuerat semivivus evaserat. Hic autem in familiaritate sua habebat Dauferium cognatum Maionis; cuius versutias metuens Landulfus praesul, monuit Pandonulfum, ut dato ei adiutorio, alibi eum ad commanendum destinaret, qui nolens illius consilio acquiescere, clam egressi tres germani ex urbe Potensi, cum eodem Dauferio castella invasere.

30. With Pando at length dead, Landulf the bishop alone remained surviving. He appointed Pandonulf, his nephew, in the stead of his father Pando as count in Capua, who, wounded from the battle in which his begetter had fallen, had escaped half-alive. This man moreover had in his familiarity Dauferius, a kinsman of Maio; and fearing his wiles, Landulf the prelate warned Pandonulf that, aid having been given to him, he should assign him to dwell elsewhere, but he, unwilling to acquiesce in that counsel, the three brothers having secretly gone out from the city of Potenza, along with that same Dauferius, invaded the castles.

Nam Pandonulfus Suessulam, Landulfus autem Casam Irtam, Landonolfus Caiaziae ab illius genitore castrum iam dudum quassatum intraverunt, et coeperunt depraedare omnia in circuitu. Quos Landulfus ingenio decepit, simulque Guaiferium et Adelgisum principes delusit, nec=non et Landonis filios nepotes suos, quos iam pridie extorres fecerat a solo proprio, dolo evocavit, fratrumque suorum confinia depraedare fecitque succendi. Dumque cotidie Capuae ruina excresceret, hortatus est idem vir filios Pandonis cum filiis Landonis, nexo foedere utrique urbem introirent ad commanendum.

For Pandonulf entered Suessula, but Landulf entered Casa Hirta, and Landonolf at Caiazzo entered the fortress long since battered by their father, and they began to depredate everything in the circuit. Whom Landulf by ingenuity deceived, and at the same time he deluded Princes Guaiferius and Adelgisus, and likewise also the sons of Lando, his nephews, whom already the day before he had made exiles from their own soil, he lured by guile, and he caused the borders of his brothers to be plundered and to be set ablaze. And while day by day the ruin of Capua was increasing, that same man exhorted the sons of Pando together with the sons of Lando, with a compact bound, that both parties should enter the city to dwell together.

At illi ex diverso in unum coeuntes, sacramento iuncti sunt, adieruntque urbem; quos statim praedictus vir arte sua fefellit et periurare fecit, illisque divisis, mentitus est. Qua pro causa etiam Pandonulfus ad imperialem celsitudinem misit; epistolis ac iussionibus ablatis, in urbe memorata non est ingressus, quousque veniret Lodoguicus piissimus augustus, a multis per varia tempora invitatus.

But they, coming together from different sides into one, were joined by an oath, and they approached the city; whom the aforesaid man straightway deceived by his art and made to perjure themselves, and, those men being divided, he lied. For which cause Pandonulfus also sent to the imperial Highness; epistles and injunctions having been obtained, he did not enter the aforementioned city until Lodoguicus, most pious Augustus, should come, invited by many at various times.

31. Fuit autem idem Landolfus, ut pollicitus inseram, ex natura prudens, set ex consuetudine callidus, lubricus nimium et petulans, ambitiosior omni homine, elatus supra quam credi potest, monachorum quoque infestor et praedator, de quibus in tribunal tumidus sedens solitus erat dicere circumstantibus: Quotiens monachum visu cerno, semper mihi futura die, auspicio tristia subministrat, iusto valde iudicio Dei, ut ab hiis incommoda tolleraret, quos velud nefandissimos hostes execrabat et persequebatur, a quibus etiam in futuro torquendus erat. Principis sui quoque derisor et periurus, nepotumque suorum perosor, quippe qui neminem dilexit praeter suae carnis incentiva, pacem nunquam, nec in die obitus sui, amplexatus est. Sic ubi foederata sensit, totus se strenue iniciens, zizaniorum semina sevit; quod si cui incredibile videtur, animadvertat, quot vicibus Guaiferium fefellit, cui per ter iuravit ipsumque ipse sibi principem instituit.

31. Moreover, the same Landolf—so that I may insert what I promised—was by nature prudent, but by custom crafty, exceedingly slippery and petulant, more ambitious than any man, puffed up beyond what can be believed, a foe and depredator of monks; about whom, swollen, sitting on the tribunal, he was accustomed to say to those standing around: Whenever I see a monk with my eyes, he always supplies to me, as an auspice, sad things for the coming day—by the very just judgment of God, so that he endured disadvantages from those whom he execrated and persecuted as most nefarious enemies, by whom also he was to be tormented in the future. A derider and perjurer of his own prince, and a hater of his nephews—indeed he loved no one except the incitements of his own flesh—he embraced peace never, not even on the day of his death. Thus, when he sensed alliances concluded, throwing himself wholly and strenuously, he sowed the seeds of tares; but if this seems unbelievable to anyone, let him note how many times he deceived Guaiferius, to whom he swore three times, and whom he himself set up as prince for himself.

Multo enim libentius cupiebat captivari animas hominum innocentium, quam vel parem eum habere, non dico seniorem, contra praeceptum apostoli gerens, qui ait: Subditi, inquid, estote omni dicioni, sive regi tanquam praecellenti, sive ducibus tanquam ab eo missis; et alibi: Non praeest potestas, nisi a Deo, itaque qui resistit potestati Dei ordinationi resistit. His igitur, postposita ecclesiastica dogma iuraque episcopalia, semiviros solummodo dilexit eosque cunctis praetulit, implevit nichilominus prophecia Ysayae dicentis: Effoeminati dominabuntur eis. Huius enim ego facta viri minuatim explicare si voluero, facilius ut reor tempus absumitur, quam fandi sermo terminetur; tamen si quis medullitus nosse desiderat, versus a memet constructos requirat.

For he much more willingly desired to take captive the souls of innocent men than even to have him as an equal— not to say as a superior—acting against the precept of the apostle, who says: “Be subject,” he says, “to every dominion, whether to the king as pre-eminent, or to governors as sent by him”; and elsewhere: “There is no power except from God; therefore he who resists the power resists the ordinance of God.” Therefore, with ecclesiastical dogma and episcopal rights set aside, he loved only half-men and preferred them to all, and he nonetheless fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah saying: “Effeminates shall rule over them.” For if I should wish to explain the deeds of this man bit by bit, time, as I think, would more easily be consumed than speech brought to its end; yet if anyone desires to know to the marrow, let him seek the verses constructed by myself.

Ante diem vero exitus sui Capuam trium fratrum suorum filiis ita divisit, ut omni tempore inter eos gladius rixae nunquam omnimodo abesset; ut fateor si quis corde non percipit, oculis videat.

But before the day of his exit he divided Capua among the sons of his three brothers in such a way that at all times the sword of strife should never in any way be absent among them; so that, I confess, if anyone does not perceive it in his heart, let him see it with his eyes.

32. Invitatus itaque Lodoguicus caesar, ut praedixi, in commune a Beneventanis, Capuanis cunctisque cummarcanis ad tuitionem perditae patriae - a Guaiferio minime hoc, quia pro Ademari captione execrabatur - Beneventi fines per Suram ingreditur, atque prius monasterio Benedicti beati applicuit. Quo ad eum legati de diversis urbibus venerunt; inter quos Landulfus iam dictus et nepotes sui ex diverso venerunt. Susceptis igitur augustis, hoc est vir et coniux, a Berthario venerabili abbate officiosissime, Landulfus ad solitam vergens, fallaciam, Capuanos quos caesari praesentaverat fugere compulit; ipse solus cum eo mansit, quasi satisfaciens, se nil culpabile penes eum gessisse.

32. Accordingly Louis the emperor, as I have foretold, having been invited in common by the Beneventans, the Capuans, and all the co-marchers for the defense of the ruined fatherland - not at all by Guaifer in this, because he was execrated on account of Ademar’s capture - enters the bounds of Benevento by the Sura, and first made for the monastery of blessed Benedict. There envoys came to him from diverse cities; among whom Landulf, already mentioned, and his nephews came from the opposite side. The august pair, that is, the husband and wife, having therefore been received most officiously by the venerable abbot Bertharius, Landulf, inclining to his usual deceit, compelled the Capuans whom he had presented to the emperor to flee; he himself alone remained with him, as if making amends, that he had done nothing blameworthy in his regard.

Praedictus itaque augustus Landulfum tunc pro nichilo ducens, Capuam adiit, obsessamque tribus hinc inde mensibus funditus delevit, et cum civibus illius quodcumque placitum dare nollet, Lamberto comiti illius se tradiderunt; putantes se facere rectius, pessime corruerunt. Unde postea pro nichilo ducti, omni fere mense diversis iudicibus dabantur in praedam. Hoc quoque ita peracto, Guaiferio omni sine sponsione prius Salernum, et sic demum ab Adelchiso Beneventum exceptus est.

Accordingly the aforesaid Augustus, then reckoning Landulf as nothing, approached Capua, and, with it besieged for three months on both sides, utterly destroyed it; and since he was unwilling to grant to its citizens whatever terms were pleasing, they surrendered themselves to Lambert, the count of that place; thinking they were acting more rightly, they fell most miserably. Whence thereafter, counted as nothing, almost every month they were given over as prey to various judges. This also thus accomplished, he was received—by Guaifer, entirely without any pledge—first at Salerno, and so at last at Benevento by Adelchis.

33. Sequenti autem anno multo fultus auxiliatoribus Barim perrexit, atque cum saepe dicto Saugdane augustalis exercitus pugnam commisit, a quibus et superatus aufugiit, ammissa non modica parte bellatorum. Dehinc omnia eorum circumquaque sata comburens, Materiam adiit, quam et sine mora igne cepitque. Tunc venit Venusiam, castrametatusque in ea coepitque renovare, et Barim hinc et inde graviter expugnans demolitus est; positoque praesidio pugnatorum in Canusia, vicissim eos cornibus ventilabat.

33. In the following year, supported by many auxiliaries, he proceeded to Bari, and, joining battle with the often-mentioned Saugdan of the augustal army, being overcome by them he fled, having lost no small part of his warriors. Then, burning all their sown fields round about, he approached Materia, which he also without delay took by fire. Then he came to Venusia, and having encamped in it he began to renovate it, and Bari, assailing it heavily on this side and that, he demolished; and, a garrison of fighters having been placed in Canusium, in turn he kept harrying them on the wings.

Quo terrore perculsi, multi ad augustalem confugientes clementiam, dari sibi petebant dextras; quibus tunc solitam misericordiam non denegat. Post haec itum est Oeream urbem, sicque itidem reversus est Beneventum, atque annitente sibi dextera superna, cum iam ad extremitatem maximam pervenissent Saraceni, misso exercitu, Barim cepit, capto in ea Saugdan effero rege cum aliis nonnullis satellitibus suis. Deinde Tarentum obsidere iussit.

Struck by this terror, many, fleeing to the augustal clemency, were asking that right hands be given to them; to whom he then did not deny the customary mercy. After these things it was gone to the city Orea, and thus likewise he returned to Beneventum; and, with the right hand on high assisting him, when the Saracens had now come to the greatest extremity, upon sending an army he took Bari, capturing in it Saugdan, the savage king, with several other satellites of his. Then he ordered Tarentum to be besieged.

34. Quibus ita patratis, ut superius promissa promam, videns diabolus suos eliminari Christoque universa restaurari, principia recolens et dampna inferni dolens, suo instincto coeperunt Galli graviter Beneventanos persequi ac crudeliter vexare. Qua de re et Adelgisus princeps adversus Lodoguicum augustum erectus, cum suis Beneventi infra moenia degentem ac secure quiescentem astu doloso sanctissimum virum, salvatorem scilicet Beneventanae provinciae, cepit et custodiis mancipavit; bonaque eius diripiens ditatus est, cunctosque viros exercitales spoliavit et fugere compulit, et de exuviis eorum onustatus est; impletusque est sermo Domini ex prophetia sumptus: Percute, inquid, pastorem, et dispergentur oves gregis. Consistente itaque augusto in custodia, excitavit Deus spiritum Hismaelitum, eosque ab Africa regione protinus evexit, ut ulciscerentur augusti obprobrium sicuti filii Dei passionem Vespasianus et Titus ulti sunt.

34. These things thus accomplished, that I may bring forth what was promised above, seeing the Devil his own being eliminated and all things being restored to Christ, recalling the beginnings and grieving the losses of hell, at his instigation the Gauls began grievously to persecute the Beneventans and cruelly to vex them. For which cause Adelgisus the prince, raised up against Lodoguicus the August, with his men, by a deceitful stratagem, seized within the walls of Benevento the most holy man—namely the savior of the Beneventan province—who was living there and resting securely, and delivered him over to custody; and, plundering his goods, he was enriched, and he despoiled all the men of the army and compelled them to flee, and was laden with their spoils; and the word of the Lord taken from the prophecy was fulfilled: Strike, he says, the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. Accordingly, with the august one remaining in custody, God stirred up the spirit of the Ishmaelites, and straightway drove them forth from the region of Africa, that they might avenge the reproach of the august one, just as Vespasian and Titus avenged the Passion of the Son of God.

Set defensio Domini dilata est in annos 42, iuxta prophetiam Elisaei, qui 42 pueros, a quibus illusus est, duobus ursis dedit in commestionem; huius autem contemptum nec in 40 distulit dies; ex quo datur intelligi, quali quantusve vir iste fuerit, qui tam cito defensus est.

But the Lord’s defense was deferred for 42 years, according to the prophecy of Elisha, who gave 42 boys, by whom he was mocked, to two bears for consumption; but the contempt shown to this man He did not defer even for 40 days; whence it is given to understand of what sort and how great a man this was, who was so quickly defended.

35. Absolutus autem, Domino iubente, caesar insons, statim Saraceni Salernum applicuerunt quasi 30 milia; quam graviter obsidentes, hinc et inde cuncta forinsecus stirpitus deleverunt, occisis in ea innumerabilibus colonis; et depopulati sunt ex parte Neapolim, Beneventum et Capuam. Quo tempore ambo Lamberti comites, augusti furorem metuentes, Beneventum recesserunt, et ab Adelgiso honorifice suscepti sunt; quorum auxilio fretus, super Saracenorum scaram irruit et viriliter stravit, occisis ex eis pene tribus milibus viris. Quibus etiam diebus Capuam iuxta Suessulam mille ex eis peremerunt.

35. But when, at the Lord’s command, the Caesar, innocent, had been released, immediately the Saracens—about 30,000—made landfall at Salerno; and besieging it heavily, they destroyed root-and-branch everything outside on every side, with countless colonists slain in it; and they devastated in part Naples, Benevento, and Capua. At which time both Counts Lambert, fearing the fury of the Augustus, withdrew to Benevento and were honorably received by Adelgisus; relying on whose aid, he rushed upon a Saracen band and manfully laid them low, with nearly 3,000 of them killed. In those same days, near Suessula by Capua, they slew 1,000 of them.

Cumque in hac obsidione prope terminaretur annus, misso exercitu iam dictus augustus per sugestionem Landulfi praesulis - hoc enim solummodo memorabile bonum gessit a die ortus sui - et perdidit ex prophanis in Capua ferme novem milia viros. Post haec per semetipsum dignatus est advenire Capuam; cuius advento cognito, Saraceni Salernum relinquentes, Calabriam adeunt, eamque intra se divisam repperientes, funditus depopularunt, ita ut deserta sit veluti in diluvio. Prius enim quam fugam arriperet nefanda gens, huiusmodi signum de coelo Deus multis ostendit: faculam igneam permaximam praepete cursu in medio navium iecit, quam mox secuta est tempestas, quae cunctas liburnas frustatim dirrupit.

And when in this siege the year was near its end, the already-mentioned augustus, having sent an army at the suggestion of the prelate Landulf—for this alone was the memorable good he did from the day of his birth—destroyed of the profane at Capua nearly 9,000 men. After this he deigned in his own person to come to Capua; and when his arrival was known, the Saracens, leaving Salerno, go to Calabria, and finding it divided within itself, utterly laid it waste, so that it was left deserted as if in a deluge. For before the unspeakable nation took to flight, God showed to many a sign of this sort from heaven: he cast a very great fiery torch with swift flight into the midst of the ships; this was immediately followed by a tempest, which broke all the liburnae into pieces.

Guaiferius vero pro sua obsessione primum Petrum cognatum suum et Guaimarium filium suum legatos ad iam fatum augustum misit; quos ille consilio Landulfi retipuit et exilio destinavit, cuius eciam postea duos filios obsides suscepit et Langobardiam misit.

Guaiferius indeed, on account of his siege, first sent Peter, his kinsman, and Guaimar, his son, as legates to the already-mentioned Augustus; whom he, by the counsel of Landulf, rejected and consigned to exile, and of whom also afterward he received two sons as hostages and sent them into Langobardy.

36. Per idem tempus iam dictus caesar Landulfum in familiaritatem asciscens, tertium in regno suo constituit; qua electione illectus, archiepiscopatum totius Beneventi omni aviditate, et ut Capua metropolis fieret, quaesivit; set non Domino sinente, ad profectum minime pervenit. Lodoguicus autem volens Beneventum acquirere set minime valuit, ad propria recessit, coniugem natamque suam Capuam relinquens qua occasione reperta, idem Landulfus Guaiferium principem, cui noviter iuraverat, apprehendi fecit et in custodia detrudi. Set quia non ea contigit illis quae putabant, dimissus est, et filios Landonis, Landonem scilicet et Landonulfum, cognatos suos, pro se obsides dedit; quos secum remeans augusta detulit, Ravennam exilio reliquit.

36. At the same time the aforesaid Caesar, admitting Landulf into familiarity, appointed him as a third in his kingdom; enticed by this election, he sought with all avidity the archbishopric of all Beneventum, and that Capua should become a metropolis; but, the Lord not permitting, he by no means attained to advancement. Lodoguicus, however, wishing to acquire Beneventum but by no means able, withdrew to his own places, leaving his spouse and his daughter at Capua; this opportunity found, the same Landulf had Prince Guaiferius, to whom he had newly sworn, apprehended and thrust into custody. But because things did not befall them as they supposed, he was released, and the sons of Lando—namely Lando and Landonulf—his cognates, he gave as hostages in his stead; whom the Augusta, returning, carried off with her, and left at Ravenna in exile.

Proles autem ipsius augustae Capuae remansit, illaque abeunte, non multum post genitor illius, divae memoriae Lodoguicus, diem clausit extremum, sicque fili Guaiferii et Landonis absoluti sunt. Qui dum ad proprium solum repedassent, filios Pandonis extra urbem suam exules invenerunt, sociatique sunt illis, quorum nexionem Landulfus ut intellexit, doluit, Guaiferium principem mox evocavit ad solatium suum; qui sine mora veniens, utrosque fratres subdidit famulatui illius.

The progeny of the Augusta, however, remained at Capua; and with her departing, not long after her father, Lodoguicus of blessed memory, closed his last day, and thus the sons of Guaiferius and of Lando were released. When they had returned to their own soil, they found the sons of Pandone exiles outside their city, and they associated themselves with them; when Landulf understood their connexion, he grieved, and he forthwith summoned Prince Guaiferius to his solace; who, coming without delay, subjected both brothers to his service.

37. Cur autem iam dicta augusto supradictum opprobrium Domino permittente Beneventani inferre quiverint, de multis duo inferam. Primum quid veniens quodam tempore Romam, ut duos episcopos condempnatos ad pristinam reduceret dignitatem, et dum nollet ei consentire Nicolaus papa, vir Deo plenus, secundum antiquum morem obviam ei venit candidatum sacerdotalem agmen; at ille, spreto timore Dei, fustibus clerum caedi fecit, cruces vero omniaque sacrato ministeria pedibus calciati, Romamque pene miliari spatio depraedatus est, vicariumque Petri beati quasi vile mancipium ab officio sui ministerii, nisi Dominus restitisset, privare voluit. Secundo quia capta Bari et Saugdan, omnium hominum flagitiosissimo, non iuxta voluntatem Domini eum protinus, ut dignum erat, crudeliter interfici fecerit; oblitus videlicet, quid Samuel coram Saule de Agath pinguissimo rege Amalechitarum egerit, quomodo eum in frusta discerpi fecerit; quemammodum etiam quidam propheta Samaria regi de quodam scelerato viro dixerit: Quia dimisisti, inquit, virum morte dignum, erit anima tua pro anima illius.

37. As to how the Beneventans, the Lord permitting it, were able to inflict the aforesaid opprobrium upon the already-mentioned Augustus, out of many things I will bring forward two. First, that when at a certain time he came to Rome to restore two condemned bishops to their former dignity, and when Pope Nicholas, a man full of God, would not consent to him, there came out to meet him, according to ancient custom, a white-robed sacerdotal procession; but he, with the fear of God spurned, had the clergy beaten with cudgels, and with shod feet trampled the crosses and all the sacred ministries, and he plundered Rome for nearly the space of a mile, and he wished to deprive the vicar of blessed Peter of the office of his ministry as though he were a cheap slave, unless the Lord had stood in the way. Secondly, because, when Bari had been captured and Saugdan, most flagitious of all men, he did not, according to the will of the Lord, immediately have him, as was worthy, cruelly put to death; forgetting, namely, what Samuel did before Saul concerning Agath, the very fat king of the Amalekites—how he had him cut into pieces—and likewise how a certain prophet said to the king of Samaria about a certain wicked man: “Because you have dismissed a man worthy of death,” he says, “your life shall be for his life.”

38. Dimisso igitur Adelgis Lodoguico caesare, thesaurum omne retinuit, et Saugdan et Annosum, nec=non et Abadelbachi. Receptis etenim viribus, Saraceni in Tarentum, quos pene captos reliquerat augustus, ceperunt pedetemptim Barim et Canense territorium depraedare; quibus ter occurrit Adelgis in finibus Apuliae. Quibus nil praevalens, invictus et intriumphator abscessit.

38. Therefore, Adelgis, after dismissing Louis the Emperor, retained all the treasure, and Saugdan and Annosus, and likewise Abadelbach. For once their strength had been recovered, the Saracens in Tarentum, whom the Emperor had left almost captured, began step by step to depredate Bari and the Canusian territory; Adelgis met them three times on the borders of Apulia. Prevailing nothing against them, he withdrew unconquered and in triumph.

Quo tempore Utmagnus, quia Saugdan exul fuerat, ab Africa cum Annoso veniens, Tarentum intravit, rex effectus est, egressusque, Beneventum graviter depraedavit et Talesam et Alipham; tantaque victoria adeptus est, ut Saugdanem iam saepe dictum potestatem ab Adelgiso recolligeret; nam Annosum et Abadelbach ante apocrisarios miserat. Hoc audientes qui Barim residebant, Gregorium, baiulum imperiale Graecorum, qui tunc in Odronto degebat, cum multis exercitibus asciverunt, et Barim introduxerunt ob Saracenorum metum; qui statim apprehensum gastaldeum illiusque primores Constantinopolim misit, ut quibus iureiurandum fidem dederat.

At that time Utmagnus, since Saugdan had been an exile, coming from Africa with Annosus, entered Tarentum, was made king, and, going forth, he gravely plundered Beneventum and Telesia and Alife; and he attained such a victory that he recovered for Saugdan the authority so often mentioned from Adelgis; for he had previously sent Annosus and Abadelbach to the apocrisiaries. Hearing this, those who were residing at Bari summoned Gregory, the imperial baiulus of the Greeks, who was then dwelling at Otranto, with many armies, and they brought him into Bari on account of fear of the Saracens; who immediately sent the seized gastald and that man’s leading men to Constantinople, as to those to whom he had given the faith of an oath.

39. Interea ipsi Graeci crebrius legatos cum scedis Benevento, Salerno et Capua dirigebant, ut ab his auxiliarentur contra Saracenos; set hi uno animo earum sperneboat flagitationes. Tunc Salernum, Neapolim, Gaietam et Amalfim pacem habentes cum Saracenis, navalibus Romam graviter angustiabant depopulacionibus. Set cum Carlus filius Iudittae sceptrum insigne Romam suscepisset, Lambertum ducem et Guidonem, germanum illi, Iohannis papae in adiutorium dedit, cum quibus Capuam et Neapolim profectus est.

39. Meanwhile the Greeks themselves more frequently sent legates with letters to Benevento, Salerno, and Capua, that they might be assisted by them against the Saracens; but these, with one mind, were spurning their demands. Then Salerno, Naples, Gaeta, and Amalfi, having peace with the Saracens, were grievously constricting Rome with naval depredations. But when Charles, the son of Judith, had received at Rome the distinguished scepter, he assigned Duke Lambert and Guy, his brother, to the aid of Pope John, with whom he set out for Capua and Naples.

Guaiferius in cunctis optemperans, et foedus dirrupit et multos ex eis peremit. Sergius vero magister militum, consilio Adelgisi et Lamberti deceptus, noluit se ab illis alienare, qui statim anathematizatus est, et cum Guaiferio belliierare coepit. Unde contigit, ut ipso octavo die anathematis Neapolites milites apprehensos decollari fecit; sic enim monuerat papa.

Guaiferius, complying in all things, both broke the foedus and slew many of them. But Sergius, the magister militum, deceived by the counsel of Adelgis and Lambert, was unwilling to alienate himself from them, and he was immediately anathematized, and began to belligerate with Guaifer. Whence it befell that, on the eighth day of the anathema itself, he caused the apprehended Neapolitan soldiers to be decollated; for thus the pope had admonished.

Quo etiam anathemate multatus idem Sergius, non multo post a proprio germano captus est, et Romam mittitur suffosis oculis, ibique miserabiliter vitam finivit; ipse autem frater eius in loco illius se ipsum principem instituit Adelgis vero dum castrum Trebentensem obsidens caperet, ad propriam remeans urbem a generibus, nepotibus et amicis extinctus est, et in loco eius Gaideris, filius Radelgaria, nepos extincti, ordinatus est; eiectusque est Cailo et Dauferius generi illius. Hic etiam principare voluit, cuius cupiditate socerum suum peremit. Hic quoque susceptus est ab Athanasio, episcopo et magistro militum.

Punished by that same anathema, the same Sergius not much later was seized by his own brother, and he is sent to Rome with his eyes gouged out, and there he miserably ended his life; but his brother himself in his place instituted himself as prince. Adelgis, indeed, while besieging and taking the Trevento castle, on returning to his own city was slain by his sons-in-law, grandsons, and friends, and in his place Gaideris, son of Radelgarius, grandson of the slain man, was appointed; and Cailo and Dauferius, his sons-in-law, were cast out. This man also wished to hold the principate, and by his cupidity he killed his father-in-law. He too was received by Athanasius, bishop and magister militum.

40. Hiis quoque diebus Landulfus iam fatus praesul percussus interiit; qua die suae correctionis ab omnibus presbyteris sancti Benedicti cavallos expectabat, ut in baratrum non absque equis rueret. Videntes autem nepotes illius depositionem, in unum collati diviserant inter se sub iureiurando Capuam aequa distributione. Pandonulfus urbem Tianensem et Casam Irtam, Landa Berelais et Suessam, alter Landa Calinum et Caiaziae, Atenolfus coepit haedificare castrum in Calvo, Landulfum autem adolescentulum Landoni filium alii sacramento, nonnulli assensu unanimiters pontificem constituerunt.

40. In these same days the already-mentioned prelate Landulf, struck down, perished; on the day of his correction he was expecting horses from all the priests of Saint Benedict, so that he might plunge into the abyss not without horses. But his nephews, seeing his deposition, gathered into one, had divided Capua among themselves under oath by equal distribution. Pandonulf received the city of Teanum and Casa Irta, Landa Berelais and Suessa, the other Landa Calinum and Caiatia; Atenolf began to build a castle in Calvus; and Landulf, a young man, the son of Lando, some by oath, some by assent, they unanimously constituted as pontiff.

Set segnitie proprii genitoris, qua naturaliter torpet, detentus, non est mox sacratus, sacramentum autem fraternum non diu extitit illaesum, nam a quarto Ydus Martii usque 7. Ydus Madii vix perduravit. Cupiditate etenim extorti, filii Pandonis Landenulfum et Atenulfum fratres suos, filios videlicet Landonulfi, dolo ceperunt et custodiae indiderunt, rapto ab Caiaziae castro, quod eis sacramento sponte ipsi in sorte cessarunt.

But, held back by the sloth of his own genitor, by which he naturally lies in torpor, he was not at once consecrated; but the fraternal oath did not remain uninjured for long, for from the fourth day before the Ides of March up to the 7th day before the Ides of May it scarcely endured. For, driven by cupidity, the sons of Pando seized Landenulf and Atenulf, their brothers—namely the sons of Landonulf—by deceit and put them in custody, after snatching the castle of Caiazzo, which they themselves by oath had voluntarily ceded to them as their lot.

41. Set, ut coepta breviter persequar, filii Landonulfi iuncti cum filiis Landonis, ad auxilium Guaiferii principis se contulerunt, a quo aliquanda et tutati sunt. Similiter Pandonulfus ad eundem Guaiferium legatos cum chirographis variis misit; set ab eo minime receptus est, favens supradictis fratribus. Cernens autem praedictus vir omnino se destitutum, Gaiderisum principem et Gregorium, augustorum baiulum, qui tunc cum dicto Guaiferio Nolam ad colloquendum in unum convenerant, ad Beneventum properabant, legatis invitabat, ut qui via primum veniret eum ad adiuvandum, et esset illi subditus.

41. But, that I may briefly pursue what has been begun, the sons of Landonulf, joined with the sons of Landon, betook themselves to the aid of Prince Guaiferius, by whom they were also at times protected. Likewise Pandonulf sent legates to that same Guaiferius with various chirographs; but by him he was not at all received, favoring the aforesaid brothers. But seeing himself altogether abandoned, he invited by legates Gaiderisus the prince and Gregory, bailiff of the Augusti, who at that time had come together with the said Guaiferius to Nola to confer together, as they were hastening to Beneventum, that whichever should first come by the road would come to aid him, and he would be subject to him.

Quibus ex diverso sine mora per Caiaziam Sicapolimque adventantibus, ab occasu iuxta urbem Capuanam resederunt; Guaiferius autem econtra ab ortu solis adveniens, Berelais, hoc est amphitheatrum, perapplicuit cum suis, et vallata est civitas hostibus.

As they, arriving from the opposite direction without delay through Caiazia and Sicapolis, encamped from the west near the city of Capua; but Guaiferius, on the contrary, coming from the rising of the sun, drew up with his men very close to Berelais, that is, the amphitheater, and the city was surrounded by enemies.

42. Inter haec Pandonulfus rennuit subdi Gaideriso, sicut promiserat, renitente maxime Landone filia Landonolfi, cognato eiusdem Gaideris; qua de re et dictus baiolus et idem Gaideris alienati sunt ab eo. Mox alii per urbem Capuanam, nonnulli lintris fluvium transierunt partem ad alteram, Guaiferio scoiati sunt; et recollectis Landanulfo et Atenolfo fratribus iunctis, volentes Pandonulfum subdere Guaiferio; set non quiverunt, eo quod nolebat fratrueles suos recipere intra urbem; idcirco Guaiferio respuebatur. Cognoscentes autem supradicti viri versutias Pandonolfi, reversi sunt ad propria; Guaiferius autem tunc remansit Capua urbe. Hac quippe tempestate pene omnes Capuani illustres et omne vulgus cum uxoribus et liberi omnique cum supellectili urbe egredientes, alii filiis Landonis, nonnulli autem ex eis filiis Landonulfi adhaeserunt, factaque est inter eos valida concertatio et pessima desolatio.

42. Meanwhile Pandonulf refused to be subjected to Gaideris, as he had promised, with Landon, son of Landonolf, kinsman of that same Gaideris, most strongly resisting; for which reason both the said baiolus and Gaideris himself were alienated from him. Soon some through the city of Capua, others crossed the river to the other side by skiffs, and were associated with Guaiferius; and, having re-collected the brothers Landanulf and Atenulf together, they wished to subject Pandonulf to Guaiferius; but they could not, because he did not wish to receive his cousins within the city; therefore he was being spurned by Guaiferius. But the aforesaid men, recognizing Pandonulf’s wiles, returned to their own places; Guaiferius, however, then remained in the city of Capua. At that very season almost all the distinguished Capuans and all the common folk, going out of the city with their wives and children and all their household furniture, some adhered to the sons of Lando, while some of them to the sons of Landonulf; and there arose between them a strong contest and a most grievous desolation.

Nam Guaiferius hostiliter iuxta murum urbis residens, obsidebat eam; ultra fluvium vero cum Franco Lamberti comitis Landonem constituit.

For Guaiferius, residing in hostile fashion beside the wall of the city, was besieging it; beyond the river, however, he posted Landon with the Frank of Count Lambert.

43. Alia quoque anno superveniens iam fatus Guaiferius princeps cum Amelfitanis tempore messionis, et obsedit dictamr urbem undique; factaque pace inter se fratres, sub sacramento, ita dumtaxat ut neuter eorum triticum de agris prius recolligeret in urbibus suis, quam ab apostolica autoritate anathema mitteretur super eos; ut ingressis dictam in urbem, nullus eorum super alias auderet insurgere. Guaiferio igitur reverso ad solum proprium, ilico Pandonulfus sacramento oblitus, periurus effectus est; nam Romam ut spoponderat minime missos destinavit, et contra animam suam agens, triticum omne recepit; quem statim ultio divina subsecuta est; nam coelitus ignis immissus est et pene mediam funditus consumpsit memoratam civitatem.

43. Also, in another year, the already-spoken-of Prince Guaiferius, arriving with the Amalfitans at the time of harvest, besieged the said city on all sides; and peace having been made between themselves, the brothers, under a sacrament (oath), only on this condition: that neither of them should re-collect wheat from the fields into their cities before an anathema should be sent upon them by apostolic authority; so that, once they had entered the said city, none of them would dare to rise up against the others. Therefore, Guaiferius having returned to his own soil, straightway Pandonulfus, forgetful of the sacrament, was made perjured; for he by no means dispatched envoys to Rome as he had pledged, and, acting against his own soul, took in all the wheat; whom divine vengeance immediately followed; for fire was sent from heaven and utterly consumed almost half of the aforementioned city.

44. Per idem tempus Athanasius praesul Neapolis magister militum praeerat qui, ut praemisimus, exulato fratre proprio cum Saracenis pacem iniens, ac primum infra portum aequoreum et urbis murum collocans, omnem terram Beneventanam simulque Romanam necnon et partem Spoletii dirruentes, cunctaque monasteria et ecclesias omnesque urbes et oppida, vicos, montes et colles insulasque depraedarunt. A quibus etiam sanctissimi Benedicti coenobia decentissima, toto orbe veneranda, et sancti Vincentii martiris monasterium igne exusta sunt, aliaque innumerabilia, excepta Suessula, quam veraciter christianorum fraude miserabiliter suffossa est. Huic igitur sociatus est Pandonulfus, cuius amminiculo fretus, acrius coepit persequi fratrueles suos; ac primo tempore labores eorum hinc et inde vastans abstulit, atque cum Neapolitibus, Caietanis ac Saracenis unitus, biduo super castrum Pilense irruens expugnavit; nichilque proficiens, mani abscessit.

44. At the same time Athenasius, prelate of Naples, was presiding as magister militum, who, as we have premised, his own brother having been exiled, entering into peace with the Saracens, and at first stationing them within the sea‑port and the wall of the city, they demolished all the Beneventan land together with the Roman, and also a part of Spoleto, and they depredated all the monasteries and churches and all the cities and towns, villages, mountains and hills and islands. By whom also the very seemly coenobia of the most holy Benedict, to be venerated in the whole world, and the monastery of Saint Vincent the martyr were burned by fire, and innumerable others, except Suessula, which truly by the fraud of Christians was miserably undermined. To him therefore Pandonulf was allied, and relying on his aid, he began more sharply to persecute his brothers; and at the first opportunity, laying waste their harvests here and there, he took them away, and, united with the Neapolitans, the Gaetans, and the Saracens, for two days rushing upon the Pilenian castle he assaulted it; and achieving nothing, in the morning he withdrew.

Sequenti vero anno generaliter motionem faciens cum sub, Neapolitibus, et Saracenis, super colossus, quo filii Landonis degebant, insedit, prius tamen illos qui residebant in termis iuxta arenam pecuniata deposuit et Capuam remisit; illis vero, videlicet filiis Landonis, in amphiteatro circumseptis, pacem cessit, accipiens ab eis Liburiam sub sacramento. Qua etiam vice memoratus Pandonulfus denuo super Pilanum castrum cum Neapolitibus improvise irruens, fraude cepit, ab eis qui interius morabantur traditum; ubi et ego captus sum et omnibus bonis a pueritia acquisitis exutus. Ipse pedester ante equorum capita usque ad urbem Capuanam exul evectus sum, decimo Kal.

In the following year indeed, making a general movement with his own, the Neapolitans, and the Saracens, he sat down upon the Colossus, where the sons of Landon were dwelling; first, however, he, by a pecuniary payment, dislodged those who were residing in the baths next to the arena and sent them back to Capua; but to those—namely, the sons of Landon—having been surrounded in the amphitheatre, he granted peace, receiving from them Liburia under oath. On this same occasion the aforesaid Pandonulf, once more unexpectedly rushing with the Neapolitans upon the castle of Pilanum, took it by fraud, having been handed over by those who were dwelling inside; where I too was captured and stripped of all goods acquired from boyhood. I myself, on foot before the heads of the horses, was conveyed as an exile as far as the city of Capua, on the 10th before the Kalends.

Septembris anno Domini 881.

of September, in the year of the Lord 881.

45. Pandonulfus autem confestim exercitaliter super Calvum profectus est, stipatus agmine Neapolitum, ibique munitionem extruens residebat; set filii Landonolfi cum sub viriliter eis resistentes, subito inde recessit, a filiis Landonis iampridem oblata Suessa, sacramento eis olim largita. Set ut ad priora nunc calamum vertam, apprehensus Atenolfus a suprafato viro, Lando germanus eius non segniter egit; nam mox Calvense castrum, propter quod captus est idem Atenulfus, cum suis coepit haedificare. Pars autem nobilium parata erat ad praelium, et pars vulgi vallis et parietibus construebat, sicque consumatus est.

45. Pandonulfus, however, forthwith set out in military fashion against Calvum, thronged by a column of Neapolitans, and there, constructing a fortification, he was remaining; but the sons of Landonolfus, resisting them manfully, he suddenly withdrew from there, Suessa having long since been proffered by the sons of Lando, formerly granted to them by oath. But that I may now turn the pen to earlier matters, Atenolfus having been apprehended by the aforesaid man, Lando his german brother acted not sluggishly; for at once he began to build, with his own men, the Calvian castle, on account of which the same Atenolfus was captured. And a part of the nobles was prepared for battle, and a part of the common crowd was constructing with ramparts and walls, and thus it was consummated.

Post biennium ferme igne consumptum, ab eodem Landone reparatum est memoratum castrum, quo abiens cum universis suis et casis datis per singulos concives oppidi de ministerio suo, et vasis vinariis, victualium quoque et vinum, omni vigilantia desudans ad pristinum statum dictum oppidum erexit.

After almost two years, the aforementioned castle, having been consumed by fire, was repaired by that same Lando; and, going thither with all his own, and huts given to each several fellow-citizen of the town from his own ministry, and wine-vessels, victuals also and wine, sweating with every vigilance he raised the said town to its pristine state.

46. Et hoc in superiori parte non est praetereundum annectere, quod in principio rixae, cum idem Pandonulfus fratrueles suos persequebatur bestiali efferitate, Landulfum electum filium Landonis, de quo supra mentionem fecimus, cui sedem sancti Stephani episcopalem ipse sub iureiurando tradiderat, a claustro episcopii expellens et humili loco, in cellula scilicet ministeriorum, degere constituit, et sibi in zetula episcopali mansionem exhiberi iussit; quod et factum est. Hoc cernens fatus Dei electus, metuens dicti viri versucias, egressus ex urbe, episcopalem ad sedem propriam beati protomartiris properavit, quo possit quietam ducere vitam. Interea occasione reperta, Landonulfum germanum suum coniugatum clericum fecit, mittensque Romam Iohanni papae, episcopum fieri exposcit; in quo et exauditus est.

46. And this in the upper part is not to be passed over to append: that, at the beginning of the quarrel, when that same Pandonulf was pursuing his nephews with bestial ferocity, he expelled Landulf the elect, son of Lando—of whom above we made mention—to whom he himself under oath had handed over the episcopal seat of Saint Stephen, from the cloister of the episcopium, and appointed him to dwell in a humble place, namely in the little cell of the ministries, and ordered that for himself lodging be provided in the episcopal zetula; which also was done. Seeing this, the God-favored elect, fearing the wiles of the said man, having gone out from the city, hastened to the episcopal see proper to the blessed Protomartyr, where he might be able to lead a quiet life. Meanwhile, opportunity having been found, he made his brother Landonulf, a married man, a cleric, and sending to Rome to Pope John, demanded that he be made bishop; and in this he was also heard.

47. Hac pro insania et fraterna civilique expugnatione enixius flagitati, Bertar sagacissimus abbas monasterii supradicti sanctissimi Benedicti, et Leo venerabilis praesul Teanensis, Urbem profecti sunt, adieruntque dictum pontificem, obsecrantes eum suppliciter, ut tam grave piaculum non ageret, unde ruina terrae et sanguinis effusio procul dubio fieret. Cui etiam dictus abbas expresse inquid: Certe si hac exercueriti tua potestas, talem ignem illuc accendis ad te usque pertingentem. Praevalens tamen voluntas pontificis, Landonulfum episcopum ordinavit.

47. On account of this insanity and the fraternal and civil assault, being most earnestly importuned, Bertar, the most sagacious abbot of the aforesaid monastery of the most holy Benedict, and Leo, the venerable prelate of Teanum, set out for the City, and approached the said pontiff, beseeching him supplicantly that he should not commit so grave a piacular offense, whence ruin of the land and an effusion of blood would without doubt ensue. To whom also the said abbot expressly said: Surely, if your power shall have executed this, you are kindling there a fire of such a sort as will reach even to you. Nevertheless, the will of the pontiff prevailing, he ordained Landonulf as bishop.

Hoc ideo factum est, quid Pandonulfus prius se subdiderat dicto papae, in cuius vocamine et cartae exaratae et nummi figurati sunt. Iuxta praesciencia dicti abbatis talis itaque ignis exortus est, ut omnis Beneventana tellus et ipsa Romana a Saracenis funditus depopulata sit. Qua pro causa dictus papa bis venit Capuam.

This was done for this reason, that Pandonulfus had previously subjected himself to the said pope, in whose name both charters were drafted and coins were minted. According to the prescience of the said abbot, therefore such a fire arose that all the Beneventan land, and the Roman itself, was utterly depopulated by the Saracens. For which cause the said pope came twice to Capua.

Ac primo dum resedisset iuxta urbem in loco qui Antenianus dicitur, omnes Langobardi hostiliter illum adeunt; nam ex una parte Athanasius episcopus cum Pandonulfo aderant, ex alia vero parte utriusque fratrueles. cum Gaiderisio et Guaimario principibus habentibus Graecis advenerant, et cotidie praesente papa utraeque acies in procinctu prosiliebant. Qua honoratus intentione, Landonulfum... pridem electum consecravit episcopum in ecclesia beati Petri Capuam, cunctumque episcopatum inter ambos aequa sortione dividi praecepit; ecclesia vero in qua consecratio celebrata est, paulo post a Saracenis, a Pandonolfo advocatis et ab Athanasio missis, igne media exusta est.

And first, when he had encamped near the city in the place which is called Antenianus, all the Langobards approach him in hostile fashion; for on one side Bishop Athanasius with Pandonulf were present, on the other side indeed the cousins of both. With the princes Gaiderisius and Guaimarius, having the Greeks in their company, they had arrived, and every day, with the pope present, both battle-lines were leaping forth in battle-readiness. Thus, honored in this intention, he consecrated Landonulf... chosen long before, as bishop in the church of blessed Peter at Capua, and he ordered the whole episcopate to be divided between both by equal sortition; but the church in which the consecration was celebrated, a little after, by the Saracens—called in by Pandonulf and sent by Athanasius—was burned through the middle by fire.

48. Circa haec tempora Guaiferius princeps monachus effectus est; langore depressus gravi, diem clausit extremum. Et quia ob incursione Hismaelitarum corpus illius ad coenobium Benedicti patris ferri non valuit, Teanensi in castro eius in ecclesia humatum est, donec coelitus requie praestita sanctum ad locum vehatur. Per idem tempus Iserniam, Suessulam uno mense, castrum etiam Bovianum eodem anno, capta et combusta sunt.

48. Around these times Guaiferius the prince was made a monk; pressed down by grave languor, he closed his last day. And because, on account of the incursion of the Ishmaelites, his body could not be carried to the coenobium of Father Benedict, it was interred in the church in his castle at Teanum, until, heaven-sent rest having been granted, it may be conveyed to the holy place. In the same period Isernia, Suessula within one month, and also the castle Bovianum in the same year, were captured and burned.

Quo tempore suasus Gaideris, a Landone cognato suo alienatus, Pandonolfo sociatus est, filiamque ipsius suo tradidit filio; set in proximo a contribulibus dicti Landonis captus ac custodiae mancipatus est, eiusque in loco Radelgis, filius Adelgisi, princeps est constitutus. Qui tribus vix annis imperans, a Beneventanis eiectus, et Aio, frater eius, loco illius subrogatus est. Gaideris vero Franco traditus in custodia, fuga lapsus pervenit urbem Barensem, quo morabantur Graeci; a quibus missus est urbem ad regiam Basilio pio augusto, a quo honoratus ditatusque dono imperialibus, Oeream urbem accepit ad convivendum.

At which time Gaideris, persuaded, and alienated from Landon his kinsman, was associated with Pandonolf, and he handed over that man’s daughter to his own son; but soon after he was seized by the fellow-tribesmen of the said Landon and consigned to custody, and in his place Radelgis, son of Adelgis, was constituted prince. He, ruling scarcely three years, was ejected by the Beneventans, and Aio, his brother, was subrogated in his place. Gaideris, however, having been handed over in custody to Franco, slipped away in flight and came to the city of Bari, where the Greeks were abiding; by whom he was sent to the city, to the royal court, to Basil the pious Augustus, by whom, honored and enriched with imperial gifts, he received the city of Oerea to dwell in.

49. Hac tempestate Pandonolfi nimietatem non ferens Athanasius, relinquens eum, filiis Landonolfi et Landonis copulatus est in societatem hiis diebus idem praesul missis apocrisariis Siciliam, Saracenis ad radicem montis Vesuvii residentibus Suchaymum regem exposcit, illisque veniens praefecit. Set iusto Dei iudicio primo omnium super eum insurgens, coepit Neapolim graviter affligere, et devorare omnia exterius, ac puellas equos et arma vi expetere. Hac turbine exactus, et ut apostolicum anathema, quo erat innodatus, a se et urbe sua expelleret, Guaimarium principem omnesque Capuanos ex urbibus et oppidis cunctosque maritimos suum in adiutorium advocavit, et Saracenos ab eodem loco vi pepulit.

49. At this time Athanasius, not bearing the excessiveness of Pandonulf, leaving him, was joined in society with the sons of Landonulf and Landon; in these days the same prelate, sending apocrisiaries to Sicily, demanded from the Saracens residing at the root of Mount Vesuvius King Suchaymus, and, coming with them, he set him over them. But by the just judgment of God, he, first of all rising up against him, began grievously to afflict Naples, and to devour everything outside, and to exact by force maidens, horses, and arms. Driven by this whirlwind, and in order to expel from himself and from his city the apostolic anathema with which he was bound, he called Guaimar the prince and all the Capuans from the cities and towns and all the maritime folk to his aid, and by force he drove the Saracens from that same place.

Illi autem abeuntes, Agropolim castrametati sunt. Hoc facto non multo post praedictus praesul una cum filiis Landonis et filiis Landonolfi super Capuam, Pandonolfum capturus, advenit, dictamque urbem, hinc et inde obsidens, affligebat. Qua necessitate compulsus, Pandonolfus Radelgisum principem cognatumque suum in auxilium invitavit.

They, however, departing, encamped at Agropoli. This having been done, not long after the aforesaid prelate, together with the sons of Landon and the sons of Landonolf, arrived against Capua to capture Pandonolf; and, besieging the said city on this side and that, he was afflicting it. Compelled by this necessity, Pandonolf invited Prince Radelgisus, his kinsman, to his aid.

His autem, segnitie seposita, mox Aionem germanum suum advocans, in comitatu suo Capuam, qua residebat, expugnatam audacter ingressus est. Post haec Aio cum Beneventanis et Capuanis egrediens, cum filiis Landonolfi Amalfitanos habentibus certamen iniit; et aliquandiu pugnatum est iuxta portam urbis. Cumque neutra pars alteri cederet, utraeque acies ad sua reversa sunt.

At this, however, sluggishness set aside, at once summoning Aio his own brother-german, with his retinue he boldly entered Capua, which he had taken by assault, in which he was residing. After this Aio, going out with the Beneventans and the Capuans, entered into combat with the sons of Landonolf, who had the Amalfitans with them; and for some time fighting took place near the gate of the city. And when neither side yielded to the other, both battle-lines returned to their own.

50. Repedante itaque Radelgiso ad propria, Athanasius ad solita recurrens arma, simulavit universos fratrueles pacisci; cohortatus est videlicet eos, ut dato sacramento ad alterutrum, omnes ingrederentur urbem comuniter habitaturi. Set Pandonolfus ab eodem praesule sacramentum accipiens, ne ullas contra eum moliretur insidias, tunc omnes fratres in unum adunati Capuam adierunt, dato prius amphitheatro eidem Athanasio et ille Guaiferio ad cohabitandum tradidit ad perpetuum Capuanorum iurgium. Cum vero adessent universi, ut diximus, omnes iurarunt, ut pacifici et sine ulta molestia dicti viri intrarent ad commorandum.

50. With Radelgisius therefore stepping back to his own places, Athanasius, returning to his customary arms, pretended that all the brotherkins were coming to terms; he exhorted them, namely, that, an oath (sacrament) having been given to each other, all should enter the city to dwell in common. But Pandulf, receiving a sacrament from that same prelate that he would not contrive any ambushes against him, then all the brothers, gathered into one, went to Capua, the amphitheater having first been granted to that same Athanasius, and he handed it over to Guaiferius to cohabit—unto the perpetual quarrel of the Capuans. But when all were present, as we said, all swore that the said men would enter to dwell peaceably and without any further molestation.

Pandonolfus autem recepit eos ovans cum clericis veste amictis candida; mox autem ingressi intro, apprehenderunt Pandonolfum et Landonolfum fratrem eius, quem supra episcopum descripsimus, cum omnibus consentaneis, sequacibus et fautoribus suis, et hii duo missi sunt Neapolim; post haec et uxores, filii et filiae missae sunt illuc.

Pandonolfus, moreover, received them rejoicing, with clerics garbed in white vesture; but soon, having entered within, they apprehended Pandonolfus and Landonolfus his brother, whom above we have described as bishop, together with all their accomplices, followers, and fautors, and these two were sent to Naples; after this their wives, sons, and daughters were sent thither as well.

51. Inter haec Saraceni totam supradictam terram crudeliter laniabant, ita ut desolata terra cultoribus, sentibus et vepribus repleta fatiscat. Guaiferius autem colosso residens, suasus ab Athanasio, immo et Athanasius ab illo coactus, bellum coepit in terre dictis fratribus, atque cum Saracenis nimium eos affligebat et acrius insequebatur. Tunc nutu Dei, a quo omne procedit bonum, quendam Agarenum ab Africa evocans, regia de stirpe generi sui procreatumc, Agropolim, inde Garilianum, quo residebant agmina Hismaelitica, misit, atque omnium illorum mentem accendens, eius hortatus universi Saraceni tam de Gariliano quam de Agropoli comuniter collecti, Calabriam, qua residebat Graecorum exercitus super Saracenos in sancta Severina commorantes, properarunt; ubi et omnes Graiorum gladiis extincti sunt.

51. Meanwhile the Saracens were cruelly lacerating the whole aforesaid land, so that, the land desolated of cultivators, filled with thorns and brambles, it was falling to ruin. But Guaiferius, residing at Colosso, persuaded by Athanasius—nay rather Athanasius constrained by him—began war against the said brothers of the land, and together with the Saracens he was excessively afflicting them and pursuing them more sharply. Then, by the nod of God, from whom every good proceeds, summoning a certain Agarenian from Africa, born of the royal stock of his race, he sent him to Agropoli, thence to the Garigliano, where Ishmaelite bands were residing; and enkindling the mind of all of them, at his exhortation all the Saracens both from the Garigliano and from Agropoli, gathered in common, hastened to Calabria, where the army of the Greeks was stationed against the Saracens dwelling in Santa Severina; where they all were extinguished by the swords of the Greeks.

Dehinc Amanteum castrum captum est. Deinde et dictae beatae Severinae oppidum apprehensum est.

Thereafter the castle of Amantea was captured. Then also the town of the said blessed Severina was seized.

52. Basilio serenissimo augusto hiis diebus defuncto, duo filii eius in imperio sunt electi, id est Leo primogenitus et Alexander subsequens; tertius vero, Stephanus nomine, archiepiscopatum eiusdem urbis eiecto Focio, qui olim a Nicolao primae sedis pontefice ob invasionem episcopatus Ignatii adhuc superstitis perpetuo anathemate fuerat multatus, et a Iohanne papa, ut ita dicam ignaro, ad pristinum gradum resuscitatus regendum suscepit.

52. Basil, the most serene Augustus, having died in these days, his two sons were elected to the empire, that is, Leo the firstborn and Alexander the following; but the third, Stephen by name, received the archiepiscopate of the same city, Photius having been ejected—who once by Nicholas, pontiff of the first see, on account of the invasion of the episcopate of Ignatius, still surviving, had been punished with a perpetual anathema, and by Pope John—so to say, unknowing—had been restored to his pristine grade—and he undertook to govern it.

53. Interea Athanasius solita fraude cupiens supradictos fratres sequestrare ab invicem, hinc Landoni seniori, filia videlicet Landonis singularis et praestantissimi 20 viri, neptem suam adhuc lactantem in coniugium cessit, ob hoc, ut filia feminarum illaquearet eum; adscitoque eum, monuit serpentino ore, ut confratrueles suos caperet vel, quod magis ambiebat, occideret; scilicet ut inter se rixantes aut omnino interirent aut deficerent, et ille Capuam caperet. Et quoniam Lando, licet segniciae torpore naturaliter frueretur, immobilis et constans persistebat re inchoata, hoc advertens Athanasius doluit, protinus consilium repperit sibi adcommodantissimum tunc, set non in longum perniciosius. Competenti etenim festinatione inter ista Atenolfum ascivit, eique secrecius infit: Ex omni gente Langobardorum Capuam elegi mihi habilem, et e Capuam gentem vestram, et ex omnibus fratribus tuis te solummodo praetuli, consentientem mihi et in cunctis optemperantem, virum industrium.

53. Meanwhile Athanasius, with his accustomed fraud, desiring to sequester the aforesaid brothers from one another, here to Lando the elder—namely, the daughter of Lando, a singular and most preeminent 20 man—gave his own granddaughter, still suckling, into marriage, for this purpose: that by a daughter of women she might ensnare him; and having summoned him, he counseled with a serpentine mouth that he should seize his co-brethren or, what he coveted more, kill them; to wit, that, wrangling among themselves, they might either utterly perish or fail, and that he might take Capua. And since Lando, although he naturally enjoyed the torpor of sloth, persisted unmoved and constant in the undertaking begun, noticing this Athanasius grieved; immediately he found a plan most suitable to himself then, but in the long run more pernicious. For with suitable haste amid these things he brought in Atenolf, and to him more secretly he begins: From the whole nation of the Langobards I have chosen Capua as suitable for myself, and from Capua your gens, and out of all your brothers you alone I have preferred—assenting to me and in all things complying—an industrious man.

Idcirco si meis verbis aures tuas adcommodaveris, in cunctis prosperaveris. At ille cunta se patrare respondit imperata; cui ille: Cape filios Landonis, et esto tu solus imperam Capuam, sicut avus tuus singulariter imperasse dignoscitur. Ille vero hoc fratrum consilio distulit, qui reversus rem venenose insitam propriis innuit fratribus.

Therefore, if you shall have accommodated your ears to my words, you will prosper in all things. But he replied that he would accomplish all the things commanded; to whom he said: Seize the sons of Lando, and be you alone the ruler of Capua, just as your grandfather is recognized to have ruled singularly. He, however, deferred this by the counsel of his brothers; and, having returned, he hinted to his own brothers the matter venomously implanted.

At illi obstupefacti, signo se crucis Christi munierunt dicentes: Ante moriamur aut exulemus, quam super fratres nostros iuste aut iniuste insurgamus unquam; donec enim erit in naribus nostris, non insidiabimur sanguini nostro. Mox etenim iuncti filii Landonolfi, munierunt se horribili et pene inaudito sacramento cum filiis Landonis clanculo sub gravi anathematis interdictione; statimque Atenolfo abiens, Athanasio retulit, voluntatem fratrum suorum ratam fore fatruelibus suis, et in nullo penitus moveri. At ille durius hoc accipiens, extus factus est illis.

But they, struck dumb, fortified themselves with the sign of the Cross of Christ, saying: Before let us die or go into exile than that we should ever rise up against our brothers, whether justly or unjustly; for as long as breath shall be in our nostrils, we will not lie in wait for our own blood. Soon indeed, the sons of Landonulf, once united, fortified themselves by a horrible and almost unheard-of sacrament (oath) with the sons of Lando, secretly, under a grave interdiction of anathema; and immediately Atenolf, departing, reported to Athanasius that the will of his brothers would stand ratified by their cousins, and would in no way at all be moved. But he, taking this more harshly, became estranged from them.

54. Eodem tempore Guaimarius, supradictus princeps, cum nimium affligeretur ab Athanasio episcopo cum Saracenis, essetque ex toto depopulata tellus ipsius, ita ut capi possit nisi divina pietas restitisset, ad Graecorum se contulit suffragium; a quibus nobiliter est adiutus. Nam et auro et frumento adiutus est, et auxiliatoribus stipatus, qui custodirent urbem et populum eius; quod actenus servatur, ut dictum est. Aio autem, princeps Beneventi, et ante principatum et postea partim imbecillis pattini roboreus extitit.

54. At the same time Guaimar, the aforesaid prince, since he was exceedingly afflicted by Bishop Athanasius together with the Saracens, and his land had been wholly laid waste, so that it would have been taken had not divine piety resisted, betook himself to the support of the Greeks; by whom he was nobly aided. For both with gold and with grain he was helped, and he was surrounded with auxiliaries to guard the city and its people; which to this day is maintained, as has been said. Aio, however, the prince of Benevento, both before his principate and afterwards, proved partly feeble, partly robust.

55. Ut autem post tergum redeam, habeuntibus Saracenis Calabriam illucque pereuntibus, Decivilis dux Caietae centum pene quinquaginta ex eis secum retinuit, ut sine sacerdotali officio non remaneret; ad instar Iudaycorum regum, qui diviso inter se bifarie regno, ut fertur, Levitae ex maxima parte Ierusolimam, quo inerat templum toto orbe authenticum, congregati sunt. De quo numero ex parte fati fere ad centum viginti Saraceni urbem Teanensem audenter adierunt, sicuti prius agere conspexerant, quando prope duo milia quingenti erant; super quos Lando, ceu leo, audacter cum suis irruens, usque ad ultimam internicionem protrivit eos, ita ut de tanto numero non amplius quam quinque evaderent, ceteris interfectis, ni fallor, centum quindecim.

55. But to return behind me: with the Saracens holding Calabria and going thither, Decivilis, duke of Gaeta, retained with himself nearly 150 of them, so that he might not remain without sacerdotal office; after the likeness of the kings of the Jews, who, the kingdom divided between themselves in two, as it is said, the Levites for the greatest part congregated at Jerusalem, where there was a temple authentic in the whole world. From which number, by a portion of fate, about 120 Saracens boldly approached the city of Teanum, just as they had previously been seen to do, when they were nearly 2,500; upon whom Lando, like a lion, rushing boldly with his men, crushed them unto the last extermination, so that of so great a number not more than five escaped, the rest slain, 115, if I am not mistaken.

56. Athanasius autem cernens se delusum ab utrorumque responsionibus fratrum, tristior effectus est solito, set ocius invenit consilium inabile sibi; missis siquidem legatis, trecentos Graecos suum in auxilium ascivit, Chasano eos praeeunte. Tunc callide pace facta cum Capuanis, mox quando vindemia legitur, cum esset Capua valide afflicta et a foris depopulata, omnes certatim egressi sunt, tam primores quam et mediocres, ad vindemiandum. Ille vero, sugerente hoc vel maxime Guaiferio Collossense, ex abditis Graecos Neapolites una cum theatralibus viris, et depraedavit totam Capuam, apprehensis in ea multis ei praestantissimis viris peculiisque non modicis.

56. Athanasius, however, perceiving himself deluded by the responses of the brothers of both parties, became sadder than usual, but more swiftly he found a plan not ill-suited to himself; for, legates having been sent, he adscited 300 Greeks to his aid, Chasanus taking the lead over them. Then, with peace craftily made with the Capuans, soon, when the vintage is gathered, since Capua was strongly afflicted and ravaged from without, all, both the chiefs and the middling, hurried out to harvest the vintage. He, however, with this being suggested most of all by Guaiferius of Collossa, brought out from hiding the Greeks and Neapolitans together with theatrical men, and plundered all Capua, many men most outstanding to him and no small private fortunes having been seized in it.

Ab illo igitur tempore omnia circumquaque devastans, Liburiam vindicabat sibi. Nam et Saracenos Agropolitanos, qui nuper de illius magnatibus iuxta rivulum Lanii non procul a Suessula, qua ille nefandum perpetraverat scelus. ferme ducentos peremierunt viros, clam evocavit et Capuam misit; ubi tunc egredientes Capuani, valde resisterunt eis; ob hoc et absque praeda ad castra repedarunt.

From that time, therefore, devastating everything round about, he was appropriating Liburia to himself. For he also clandestinely summoned the Agropolitan Saracens—who recently, of that man’s magnates, near the rivulet of the Lanius not far from Suessula, where he had perpetrated a nefarious crime, had slain nearly two hundred men—and sent them to Capua; where then the Capuans, going out, strongly resisted them; and on this account they returned to the camp without booty.

Lando autem senior tunc apoplexia percussus interiit.

However, Lando the elder then, struck by apoplexy, perished.

57. Dictus itaque vir, prout mente conceperat, novis et inauditis machinis insurgebat adversus Capuanos, adeo ut tempore quodragesimali, cum omnis plebs christicola et praeterita defleret mala et poscit a Deo ut flenda minime committai ipso mediante, testo dominico subsequente crepusculo, collectis Graecis Materensibus, Aegipciis et Neapolitibus, conscio Guaiferio duce, praeeunte Chasano urbem Capuanam temptavit invadere. Atque ascensis muro acsi trecentis viris armatis diversorum generibus telorum; set omnes in Domino adiuvante, alii sponte ex eo dissilierunt, quidam cervice tenus imis iacti sunt, nonnulli vero gladio occubuerunt. De nostris unus solummodo Onericus nomine, et ut fertur a suis, extinctus est.

57. Therefore the said man, just as he had conceived in mind, was rising up against the Capuans with new and unheard-of machines, to such a degree that in Quadragesimal time, when all the Christ-worshipping populace both bewailed past evils and asked from God, by His mediation, that things-to-be-lamented not at all be committed, on the Lord’s day, as twilight followed, having gathered Greeks of Matera, Egyptians, and Neapolitans, with Duke Guaifer privy, Chasan leading the way, he attempted to invade the city of Capua. And having mounted the wall as if with three hundred men armed with diverse kinds of missiles; but all, with the Lord helping, some leapt down from it of their own accord, certain were hurled headfirst into the depths, and some indeed fell by the sword. Of ours only one, by the name Onericus, and as is said by his own, was slain.

Bellum quippe hoc narratum in muro arbiter Iudex non per belligerantes et armipotentes egit viros, set per quatuor impubes mirifice gessit ad tandem nominis sui. Confractis itaque viribus, quod conceperat minime cessavit; nam et Salernum per Saracenos prius, et postea per Graecos, multotiens capere molitus est, set non est permissus a Domino.

For this war indeed, recounted on the wall, the arbiter Judge did not prosecute through belligerents and armipotent men, but wondrously carried it out by four beardless youths, to the ultimate vindication of his name. His forces therefore being broken, he by no means ceased from what he had conceived; for he endeavored many times to take Salerno, first through the Saracens and afterwards through the Greeks, but he was not permitted by the Lord.

58. Eodem quoque tempore Guido, filius Guidonis senioris, super Saracenos in Gariliano castrametatos, ut retro redeam, hostiliter irruens, castra eorum dirrupta depraedavit, et aliquantos eorum gladiis interfecit; reliqui montis per opaca ut aqua diffusi sunt. His autem Capuam appropians, ultra transvadavit, et ad pontem qui Teudemundi vocatur castrametatus, resedit aliquandiu, et ablato ex Liburia frumento et aliis victualiis, Capuani refocillati sunt. Cum eodem duce non sunt foederati; set cum retroverteretur urbemque transiret, metu coacti subdiderunt se illi.

58. In that same time also Guido, son of the elder Guido, rushing hostilely upon the Saracens encamped on the Garigliano, to go back, having burst through their camp he depredated it, and slew several of them with swords; the rest were diffused through the dark places of the mountain like water. Then, approaching Capua, he waded across beyond, and, having encamped at the bridge which is called Teudemund’s, he sat for some while; and with grain taken from Liburia and other victuals carried off, the Capuans were refreshed. With that same duke they were not federated; but when he was turning back and was passing the city, compelled by fear they subjected themselves to him.

Ipso ad sua remeante, erexit saepefatus Athanasius viriliter contra eos, tulitque illis, adiutus auxilio Graecorum, omnia a foris sata, quaeque videbantur possidere a parte Capuae necnon et superius, illaque replicata sunt. Post reditum supradicti ducis per Chasanum multipliciter patrata sunt, quae a me strictim sunt dicta.

As he himself was returning to his own, the oft-mentioned Athanasius rose manfully against them, and, aided by the auxiliary help of the Greeks, carried off from them all the crops sown outside, and whatever they seemed to possess on the Capua side and also above; and those were taken back. After the return of the aforesaid duke, through Chasanus things were in multiple ways accomplished, which have been by me briefly said.

59. Post haec sugestum est eidem duci, ut veniret quantocius et liberaret confidentes ipsi; sin autem, omnino perdicioni subirent. Qui mox veniens Capuam, Aionem principem a Benevento ad se venientem consilio Capuanorum cepit, et sub custodia Beneventum duci fecit; in qua introiens, ordinavit eam. Inde proficiscens, Sepontum ingressus est, Aionem foris reliquid in castris.

59. After these things it was suggested to the same duke, that he come as quickly as possible and free those trusting in him; but if not, they would altogether undergo perdition. He, soon coming to Capua, seized Aio the prince, coming from Benevento to him, by the counsel of the Capuans, and had him led to Benevento under guard; and entering into it, he set it in order. Thence setting out, he entered Sepontum, leaving Aio outside in the camp.

Cum autem cognovissent Sepontini Aionem seniorem suum captum, supradictum ducem unanimiter irruentes, clauserunt quodam in templo, captis eius optimatibus. Hac illacque tunc missum est, et adductus est Aio redditusque est suis; alio vero die sacramento dato, vix cum dedecore elapsus est.

However, when the Sepontines had learned that their elder Aio had been captured, unanimously rushing upon the aforesaid duke, they shut him up in a certain temple, his nobles having been seized. Then messages were sent hither and thither, and Aio was brought and restored to his own; but on another day, an oath having been given, he scarcely escaped, with dishonor.

60. Dehinc Chasano Constantinopolim abeunte, quidam stratigo augustalis Iohannem candidatum, quem lingua Pelasgica Ianniccio vocant, cum trecentis belligeratoribus direxit Athanasio episcopo, cum quo idem vir Capuam hinc et inde praedavit; atque hoc praesidio istorum Pandonolfum ex vinculis ereptum libertati restituit, et a Magiperto receptus est Suessam. Qui iunctus est Graecis, et universa animalia Capuae ablata sunt. Qua de re Lando, filius Landonolfi, et Landulfus episcopus adierunt dictum ducem in Spolecium, petentes ab eo auxilium.

60. Thereupon, with Chasan departing to Constantinople, a certain augustal strategos sent John the Candidatus, whom in the Pelasgic tongue they call Ianniccio, with 300 belligerents to Bishop Athanasius, with whom that same man plundered Capua on this side and that; and with the praesidium of these he restored Pandulf, snatched from chains, to liberty, and by Magipert he was received to Sessa. He was joined to the Greeks, and all the animals (livestock) of Capua were carried off. For which reason Lando, son of Landonolf, and Bishop Landulf approached the said duke at Spoleto, seeking aid from him.

Landolfus praesul a Spolecio reversus est, Lando autem cum eodem duce per Sepontum Capuam advenit; qui per aliquot dies Atellae residens, Capuam frumento implevit. Accepto nuncio, repente Romam profectus est, Capuanos reliquid in manibus dicti praesulis. Is autem statim super sanctum Heremum Graecos et Neapolitanos direxit; quem diu obsidentes, eos qui in sublimibus residebant cepit, et delude Capuam ex utraque parte graviter affligebant, ita ut quasi obsessa videretur.

Landulf the prelate returned from Spoleto, but Lando with the same duke came to Capua by way of Sepontum; and he, residing for several days at Atella, filled Capua with grain. Upon receiving a message, he suddenly set out for Rome, and left the Capuans in the hands of the said prelate. But he at once directed the Greeks and the Neapolitans against Saint Hermes; and, as they besieged it for a long time, he seized those who were dwelling in the high places, and thereafter they were grievously afflicting Capua from both sides, so that it seemed as if besieged.

Nam iuxta Sicopolim Graeci cum Neapolitibus et Pandonolfo residentes, omnia circumquaque stirpitus devorabant; unde contigit, ut octoginta ex eis Calinulum advenientes, super Teanum latenter irruperunt. Quibus ex diverso Lando cum Teanensibus et Atenolfus cum aliquantis Capuanis occurrerunt iuxta sanctam Scolasticam prope castrum Teani; a quibus et victi sunt.

For near Sicopolis the Greeks, residing with the Neapolitans and Pandonolf, were devouring everything on every side, root and branch; whence it befell that eighty of them, arriving at Calinulum, secretly burst upon Teanum. Against them from the opposite side Lando with the Teanenses and Atenolf with some Capuans met them near Saint Scholastica, close to the fortress of Teanum; and by these they were also defeated.

61. Per idem tempus monasterium beati Benedicti a Saracenis prius dirrutum anno Domini 884, ab Angelario venerabili abbate coeptum est rehaedificari iuso anno 886. mense Augusti. A quo reversi dum Capuam repeteremus, a Graecis capti exutique sumus et exequitati; ablatisque equis et spoliis et ministris cunctis, homines argento redempti sunt; equos recollegimus 5. Ego autem solus cum praeceptore pedestre remansi; a Capuanis delati sumus in urbem, inde Neapolim pertranseuntes nichilque proficientes, infructuosi remeavimus Capuam.

61. About the same time the monastery of blessed Benedict, previously torn down by the Saracens in the year of the Lord 884, began to be re-edified by Angelarius, a venerable abbot, in the year 886. in the month of August. From which, having returned, while we were making back to Capua, we were taken by the Greeks, stripped, and carried off; and with the horses and the spoils and all the ministers taken away, the men were redeemed with silver; the horses we gathered again, 5. I, however, alone with my preceptor, remained on foot; we were borne by the Capuans into the city, and thence, passing through to Naples and accomplishing nothing, we returned to Capua unfruitful.

Dehinc tria plaustra onerata victualiis multisque opulentiis iuxta Anglenam, quo prius capti sumus nos, apprehensa et depraedata sunt.

Then three wagons laden with victuals and many opulences, near Anglena, where previously we ourselves had been captured, were seized and plundered.

62. Hiis ita crudeliter gestis, Atenolfus Spolecium pergens, dato pretio Suabilum, gastaldeum Marsorum, cum aliis sociis vassisque, quasi ad trecentos armatos, secum advexit; cum quibus et consilium iniit, ut gastaldatum Capuanum illi firmarent. Set ingredientes Capuam, cum hoc adimplere nequivissent, dicti Franci, resistente ac contradicente praecipue Landone germano eius, quem dudum ipse cum ceteris fratribus gastaldeum in his quae ad eos pertinebant instituerat, ab eodem Atenolfo absoluti, via qua venerant repedarunt. Tunc dictus Atenolfus consilio habito cum suis, Sadi cognatum suum ad Athanasium saepius dictum subdole misit, poscens ab eo auxilium, ut adiuvaretur singulariter fieri comes in Capua.

62. With these things having been so cruelly carried out, Atenolf, proceeding to Spoleto, after a price had been given, brought with him Suabilus, the gastald of the Marsi, with other associates and vassals, to wit nearly three hundred armed men; with whom he also entered into counsel, that they might secure for him the Capuan gastaldship. But on entering Capua, since they were not able to accomplish this, the said Franks—Landon his brother especially resisting and gainsaying, whom he himself, together with the other brothers, had formerly appointed gastald in those matters which pertained to them—released by that same Atenolf, retraced the road by which they had come. Then the said Atenolf, counsel having been taken with his own, craftily sent Sado, his kinsman, to the oft-mentioned Athanasius, asking from him aid, that he might be helped to become Count in Capua in his own person.

Hoc autem audiens, gavisus est, et spopondit se in omnibus illum auxiliaturum; cumque hoc a plurimis et maxime terque quaterque Landoni fuisset relatum, ille solita segnitie et torpore detentus, parvipendens pro nichilo ducebat huiusmodi nuncium.

Hearing this, he rejoiced, and pledged that he would aid him in all things; and when this had been reported by very many, and especially thrice and four times to Lando, he, detained by his wonted sluggishness and torpor, making light of it, accounted such a message as nothing.

63. Exin memoratus Lando febris ardore succensus, Teanum habiit, curandus a langore quo detinebatur. Atenolfus interim a re coepta nec gressumque neque mentem ammovit, set promtus et fervidus existens parturire quod iamdudum corde conceperat, ob hoc Neapolim ire anxiabat festinus. Hoc ergo cum ad aures Landonis pervenisset, ilico Alcisum ei Adelfridum Capuam misit, ut dictum virum suo hortatu coepto itinere deviaret, et adiecit: Ego autem, missa audita et comestione finita, subsequar vos.

63. Then the aforesaid Lando, kindled with the ardor of a fever, went to Teanum, to be cured of the languor by which he was held. Meanwhile Atenolf removed neither step nor mind from the thing begun, but, being prompt and fervid to bring to birth what he had long since conceived in his heart, on this account was anxiously making haste to go to Naples. Therefore, when this had come to Lando’s ears, straightway he sent Alcisus and Adelfridus to Capua to him, that by his exhortation he might turn the said man aside from the journey he had begun, and he added: But I, the Mass heard and the meal finished, will follow you.

Illi enim abientes, fatum virum invenientes retinere nequiverunt; erat enim dies dominicus. Deinde Lando proficiscens, eum minime repperit; iam enim abierat. Quo facto, sustinuit Lando redditum eius, illique revertenti dixit Lando et caeteri fratres: Quid egisti illuc, quo isti?

For they, departing, having found the fated man, were not able to hold him back; for it was the Lord’s Day. Then Lando, setting out, did not find him at all; for he had already gone. This having been done, Lando awaited his return, and to him returning Lando and the other brothers said: What did you do there, where did you go?

Quibus ille respondit verba bona verbaque consolatoria et deceptionibus plena. Hiis auditis et nimium creduli, acquieverunt credentes ei. Proinde Lando advertens fraternum dolum, set sompno sopitus et neglegencia depressus, non intelligens telum latens quo iaculabatur, donec transfigeretur fibrae iecoris eius, Teanum reddiit sanaturus, ad quem Landonolfus frater suus invisere veniens, Landonolfus solus urbem relictus est.

To whom he replied with good words and consolatory words, and full of deceptions. These things having been heard, and being too credulous, they acquiesced, believing him. Accordingly Lando, adverting to the fraternal guile, but lulled by sleep and pressed down by negligence, not understanding the latent missile with which he was being assailed, until the fibers of his liver were transfixed, returned to Teanum to be healed; to whom Landonolfus his brother, coming to visit, came—and Landonolfus alone was left in the city.

64. Cernens autem hoc Atenolfus, et videns sibi tempus adesset congruum, prius simulavit se cum coniuge et liberis e civitate egredi et Calvum quasi habitaturus adire. Inter ista cum iuvenulis et pecunia ambitiosis paciscens, dato sacramento et promissis multis muneribus, dirrumpens iusiurandum quod cum filiis Landonis ter iuraverat, cum sompni tempus advenisset sabbatum post epyphaniam, hoc est 7. Ydus Ianuarii, advocatis sodalibus sub, super filios Landonis irruit bellaturus. Filii autem Landonis non segniter se praeparaverunt adversus huiusmodi conamen, set fugientibus eis his in quibus confidebant, concussi sunt valide.

64. But seeing this, Atenolfus, and perceiving that a fitting time was at hand for him, first pretended that he, with his spouse and children, was going out from the city and going to Calvum as if to dwell there. Meanwhile, striking a bargain with ambitious youths by means of money, an oath having been given and many gifts promised, breaking the oath which he had three times sworn with the sons of Lando, when the time of sleep had come—the sabbath after Epiphany, that is, the 7th day before the Ides of January—having called his comrades, he rushed upon the sons of Lando to wage war. The sons of Lando, moreover, did not sluggishly prepare themselves against such an attempt; but, as those in whom they trusted fled, they were mightily shaken.

Maxime ex hoc turbabantur, quia putabant, quod Lando cum omnibus germanis suis in hoc adesset discidio. Videntes autem hii, destituti essent ab omnibus, cesserunt Atenolfo, et egredientes noctu ex urbe, Teanum advenerunt, Landonolfus, Pando et nepos eorum Guaiferius, clamitantibus eis a tergo de civitate: Nolite ire Teanum, quia certissime capiemini!. At illi Teanum appropiantes, haesitare coeperunt, ne forsan a Landone tenerentur astricti; nunciato itaque adventu suo, officiosissime sunt suscepti.

They were especially disturbed on this account, because they thought that Lando with all his brothers was present in this dissension. But seeing that they were deserted by everyone, they yielded to Atenolfus, and, going out by night from the city, they came to Teanum—Landonolfus, Pando, and their nephew Guaiferius—while people were shouting after them from the city behind: Do not go to Teanum, because most certainly you will be captured!. But they, approaching Teanum, began to hesitate, lest perhaps they might be held bound by Lando; when, therefore, their arrival was announced, they were received with the utmost courtesy.

65. Atenolfus gastaldatum Capuanum singulariter suscipiens, continuo se comitem appellari iussit, moxque filium suum Athanasio obsidem direxit, sicut sacramento pollicitus fuerat, Liburiam et Capuam sub iureiurando illo concessit. Athanasius vero retinuit illius sobolem, quousque pactum illi a Guidone duce repromissum susciperet dictus Atenulfus, acceptoque foedere Gallico, reddidit filium suum, et custodita est pax inter utrumque anno uno et mensibus tribus. Per idem tempus missis legatis idem Atenolfus Romam, Maione venerabili abbate et Dauferio diacono, ut subderetur Stephano pio papae, essetque illi proprius famulus; et promisit reddere Caietanos, quos pridem callide ceperat, adiuvaretque eum contra Saracenos Gariliano residentes.

65. Atenulf, taking up the Capuan gastaldate in sole possession, immediately ordered himself to be styled count, and straightway sent his son to Athanasius as a hostage, as he had promised by oath; he granted Liburia and Capua to him under that sworn pledge. Athanasius, however, retained his offspring until the said Atenulf should receive the pact that had been re-promised to him by Duke Guy; and, the Gallic foedus having been accepted, he gave back his son, and peace was kept between the two for one year and three months. About the same time the same Atenulf, having sent envoys to Rome—Maio, a venerable abbot, and Dauferius, a deacon—[petitioned] that he be subjected to Stephen, the pious pope, and be his own servant; and he promised to restore the Gaetans, whom he had formerly captured by craft, and to aid him against the Saracens dwelling on the Garigliano.

Quae postea cuncta oblitus, ex his quae promiserat nichil omnino adimplevit.

Afterwards, having forgotten all these things, he fulfilled absolutely nothing of what he had promised.

66. His quoque diebus Theophilactus stratigo a Bari Teanum hostiliter advenit hyemis tempore, Saracenos temptans impugnare; nichilque proficiens, infructuosus abscessit; abiensque Neapolim, Marinam gastaldum castri sanctae Agathaei Aioni rebellem percepit, et Apuliam rediens nonnullas munitiones eiusdem Aionis vi apprehendit. Unde occasione accepta, idem Aio adversus augustale dominium rebellionis iurgium initiavit, quod suo in loco inseretur.

66. In these same days Theophylactus, the strategus from Bari, came to Teanum in hostile wise at the time of winter, attempting to assail the Saracens; and accomplishing nothing, he withdrew unfruitful; and departing to Naples, he apprehended Marinus, the gastald of the castle of Saint Agatha, rebellious against Aio, and returning to Apulia he seized by force several fortifications of that same Aio. Whence, opportunity having been taken, that same Aio initiated a quarrel of rebellion against the augustal dominion, which will be inserted in its proper place.

67. Ante hoc sane tempus Guaimarius princeps Constantinopolim ad augustorum vestigia confisus accessit; a quibus benigne susceptus est, et patritius ab eis factus, cum honore ad propria remissus est. Cum autem adhuc illo moraretur, Athanasius dolorem conceptum in opus erumpens, Graecos et Neapolites seu omnes Capuanos generaliter movens super Abellanum misit castrum, quo tunc praeerat Landolfus Suessulanus. Mox autem ut illic supervenit exercitus, fraude illorum qui intro erant captum est, apprehenso in eo Landolfo et filia eius iuniore nurumque illius, uxore videlicet Landonis, qui cum Guaimario profectus fuerat.

67. Before this time indeed, Prince Guaimarius, trusting, approached Constantinople to the feet of the Augusti; by whom he was kindly received, and made patricius, and with honor was sent back to his own domains. But while he was still staying there, Athanasius, bursting the conceived grief into deed, stirring up the Greeks and the Neapolitans and, generally, all the Capuans, sent them against the castle of Abellanum, over which at that time Landulf of Suessula presided. Soon, however, as the army came up there, by the treachery of those who were inside it was captured, Landulf being seized in it, and his younger daughter and his daughter-in-law, namely the wife of Lando, who had set out with Guaimarius.

68. His ita decursis, suasus Lando ab Algegisos aliisque Capuanis, una cum Guaiferio quandam tractoriam plaustro vehentem intromissus, Capuanam urbem ingressus est, atque ad episcopalem abiit aulam; ubi pauci ex suis congregati sunt, Atenolfo accelerante. Tunc commissum est praelium, mortuoque Valane illustri viro, dissolutum est cor eorum qui in parte Landonis erant, et coeperunt illum relinquere et Atenolfo sociari. Tunc, licet fincte, pacis osculum sibi mutuo fratres optulerunt, quod in arca cordis minime retinebant.

68. With these things thus run through, Lando, persuaded by Algegisos and other Capuans, together with Guaifer, having been admitted by means of a certain tractoria being conveyed on a cart, entered the Capuan city, and went to the episcopal hall; where a few of his own were gathered, with Atenolf hastening. Then battle was joined, and, Valan, an illustrious man, having died, the heart of those who were on Lando’s side was dissolved, and they began to leave him and to ally themselves with Atenolf. Then, although feigned, the brothers mutually offered to each other the kiss of peace, which they were in no wise keeping in the ark of the heart.

Lando autem post ista cum Guaiferio ad propria remeantes, reliqui consantanei illorum capti sunt et vinculis innexi; inter quos et Landolfus praesul captus est et custodiae trusus. Post non multum tempus per singulos dies omnes absoluti sunt.

But Lando, after these things, returning to their own places with Guaiferius, their remaining fellow townsmen were seized and bound in chains; among whom Bishop Landolf too was captured and thrust into custody. After not much time, day by day, all were released.

69. In diebus illis quando Atenolfus gastaldatus regendi iura adeptus est; omnia quaeque Benedictus infra urbem Capuanam possedit, fratribus exulantibus auferri praecepit. Qua de re missus ab Angelario venerabili abbate ego ipse vestigia apostolorum, adii Stephanum summum pontificem, postulaturus pro rebus nostris ablatis; a quo et benedictionem fratribus detuli et privilegium nostri coenobii, et supradicto viro litteras exhortatorias attuli. Dominicalis res ablata reddita est, mea autem ex toto subtracta; in proximo etiam cellam mihi ab abbate traditam, concepto dolore, vi abstulit.

69. In those days when Atenulf, having acquired the rights of ruling the gastaldate, ordered that everything whatsoever which Benedict possessed within the city of Capua be taken away, the brothers being in exile: wherefore, sent by Angelarius the venerable abbot, I myself went to the thresholds of the Apostles, and approached Stephen the supreme pontiff, intending to petition concerning our goods that had been taken away; from whom I brought both a blessing for the brothers and the privilege of our coenobium, and I carried exhortatory letters to the aforesaid man. The Lord’s property that had been taken was restored, but my own was taken away entirely; shortly thereafter he also, in conceived resentment, by force took from me the cell which had been handed over to me by the abbot.

70. Interea cum Atenolfus iam memoratus Capuanos cepisset, advertens Athanasius Capuam fortiter concussam, coepit occasionem quaerere adversus Atenolfum, et obsides ab eo seu et pacem innovare. Decurrentibus inter alterutros missis, Maio supradictus abbas et Ausencius Neapolim profecti sunt, quos Athanasius ad amphiteatrum ire praecepit, simulque Atenolfum illuc adesse voluit, quatenus firmato foedere una cum Guaiferio consule, filium suum cum aliquantis e Capua obsidem mitteret. Hoc autem faciens, insidias tetendit latenter cum Graecis et suis ad capiendum eos.

70. Meanwhile, when Atenolfus already mentioned had taken the Capuans, Athanasius, noticing Capua badly shaken, began to seek an occasion against Atenolfus, and to obtain hostages from him and to renew the peace. With envoys running back and forth between the two sides, Maio, the above-mentioned abbot, and Ausencius set out to Naples, whom Athanasius ordered to go to the amphitheater, and at the same time he wished Atenolfus to be present there, in order that, the treaty having been made firm together with Guaiferius the consul, he might send his son as a hostage, together with several from Capua. But in doing this, he covertly laid ambushes with the Greeks and his own men to seize them.

Set quia, ut conicitur, adhuc non erat completa malitia, quae post paululum divinitus punienda est, facto morula; set et filium suum infra urbem clausit, supradictos viros misit arenam; egressusque statim Graiorum cuneus, supradictos apprehendit viros cum 20 aliis, et depraedavit totam Capuam graviter; moxque sine delatione cunctum equitatum et pedestrem exercitum mittens, omnia sala Capuae succidi exterminarique fecit funditus.

But because, as is conjectured, the malice was not yet complete, which shortly thereafter was to be punished divinely, a little delay having been made; but he also shut his son within the city, and sent the aforesaid men into the arena; and immediately, the squadron of the Greeks going out, apprehended the aforesaid men with 20 others, and depredated all Capua grievously; and soon, without delay, sending the entire cavalry and the infantry army, he caused all the halls of Capua to be cut down and utterly exterminated to the foundations.

71. Praesciens autem Deus dicti viri malitiam et volens praestare Capuanis misericordiam in tam crudeli impiaque persecutione, permisit eundem Athanasium in tantam elationem prorumpere, ut etiam Beneventi fines his terque praetiari faceret. Aio autem tunc Bari degens, impugnabat Graecos impugnantes se; qui hoc audiens, ilico segnitie deposita, ferme cum tribus milibus bellatoribus clanculo veniens castrum in Abellinum; ubi autem intellexit, Graecos cum Neapolitibus residere super Capuam radicitusque eam devastare, ilico recto itinere super eos audacter adventare studuit. Set quidam naturaliter zizaniorum sator Dauferius, Dauferii nostri genitor, urbe Beneventi egressus subdole acsi secuturus principem, ex diverso Capuam cursim properavit et dicto exercitui adventum indicavit Aionis.

71. But God, foreknowing the malice of the said man and wishing to grant the Capuans mercy in such a cruel and impious persecution, permitted that same Athanasius to burst forth into such elation that he even caused the borders of Beneventum to be plundered by them time and again. Aio, however, then dwelling at Bari, was assailing the Greeks who were assailing him; who, on hearing this, immediately, sloth put aside, came clandestinely with nearly three thousand warriors to the stronghold at Abellinum; but when he learned that the Greeks with the Neapolitans were sitting over Capua and were devastating it root and branch, he straightway strove, by a direct road, to come boldly upon them. But a certain sower of tares by nature, Dauferius, the father of our Dauferius, having gone out from the city of Benevento, craftily as if about to follow the prince, hastened in a different direction swiftly to Capua and announced to the said army the coming of Aio.

At illi relicta Capua, praecipites Neapolim reversi sunt; Aio autem iter quod coeperat peregit, illisque minime repertis, Liburiam ingressus est, cum quo et Atenolfus abiit; et exusta tota pene Liburia ac depraedata, populisque et bestiis ablatis, puteisque saxo oppilatis, amphiteatrum profectus est. Quo residens per aliquot dies, machinis et diversis telis fortiter expugnavit illud. Indeque habiens, super castrum sanctae Agathae insedit, atque Marinum gastaldum sibi rebellem in fide ad se remeantem suscipiens, abscessit; aliquandiu Benevento commorans, per Sepontum Barim reversus est.

But they, leaving Capua, headlong returned to Naples; but Aio completed the journey which he had begun, and, those men by no means found, he entered Liburia, with whom Atenolfus also went; and with almost all Liburia burned and plundered, and peoples and beasts carried off, and the wells stopped up with stone, he set out for the amphitheatre. There, remaining for several days, he stoutly stormed it with machines and diverse missiles. And thence, having taken it, he took position over against the castle of Saint Agatha, and, receiving Marin the gastald—rebellious to him—returning to him into fealty, he withdrew; lingering for some time at Benevento, by way of Sepontum he returned to Bari.

72. Atenolfus autem Aioni se subdens per sacramentum, ab eodem in adiutorium sui centum viginti ferme bellatores viros suscepit, cum quibus graviter totam Liburiam depraedavit. Set aula nonnunquam desperatio periculum gignere solet, generaliter moti Materenses e Calvo et aliquanti Capuani cum dictis Apuliensibus iuncti, Liburiam circumeuntes, Suessulam depraedarunt, et reverti coeperunt. Quibus occurrit Graecorum Neapolitumque exercitus iuxta rivulum Lanii, atque in unum mixti, supervalebat pars Atenolfi partem Gragicam; set superveniens scara theatralis a tergo et in medio, circumsepti, devicti sunt, partim capti, partimque gladiis extincti sunt.

72. Atenolfus, however, submitting himself to Aio by an oath, received from him into his aid almost one hundred and twenty warrior men, with whom he grievously plundered all Liburia. But—alas!—desperation is sometimes wont to beget peril: moved in general muster, the Materans from Calvum, and some Capuans joined with the aforesaid Apulians, going around Liburia, plundered Suessula, and began to return. To meet them came the army of the Greeks and the Neapolitans near the rivulet of the Lanius; and mingled into one, the party of Atenolfus was prevailing over the Greek party; but a theater scara (troop) coming up from the rear and into the midst, they, surrounded, were overcome—partly captured, and partly extinguished by the swords.

Hac de causa audaciam sumens Athanasius, bellum coepit expetere; unde Atenolfus non segnis redditus, continuo cum suis Atellam abiit, dumque praelium non invenisset, reversus est ad sua.

For this cause, Athanasius, taking audacity, began to seek war; whereupon Atenolfus, not sluggish, returned, and immediately went with his men to Atella; and, since he had not found a battle, he returned to his own.

73. Cum non multo post, fustigante inimico inumano generi, collecto Athanasius multitudine exercitu mixto Graecorum, Neapolitensium et Hismaelitarum, equitantium et pedestrium, misitque illos adversus Capuam pugnaturos. Quibus occurrit Atenolfus ultra rivulum Lanii iuxta sanctum Carcium, habens in comitatu suo auxiliatores ab Aione missos necnon et Saracenos. Saraceni vero ex utraque parte iuncti steterunt, nulli eorum praebentes auxilium.

73. When, not much after, with the enemy, inhuman to the human race, scourging, Athanasius, a multitude having been collected, a mixed army of Greeks, Neapolitans, and Ishmaelites, cavalry and infantry, sent them against Capua to fight. Atenolfus met them beyond the rivulet Lanius near Saint Carcius, having in his retinue auxiliaries sent by Aio, and Saracens as well. But the Saracens, joined on both sides, stood, furnishing help to neither side.

Atenolfus talia cernens, acrius super inimicos suos insurgens, ac primo impetu potenti virtute superans, protrivit eos usque ad ultimam perniciem, occisis ex eis plurimis multisque captis, reliquos oppido fugere compulit, victorque triumphans ad castra honustatus ac laetus cum suis omnibus repedavit; de suis autem praeter unum ammisit Alderico nomine, et ipsum a suis, ut fertur, occisum. Ab hoc sane die coepit iam quasi potens esse Atenolfus, et Athanasius impotens. Hinc inchoavit omnia sala eorum qui in colossum morabantur diripere, cunctaque bona eorum vehiculis diversis ad urbem traihi.

Atenolf, seeing such things, rising up more sharply against his enemies, and in the first impetus overcoming by potent valor, crushed them unto ultimate perdition, with very many of them slain and many captured; he compelled the rest utterly to flee, and, victor and triumphing, laden and glad he marched back to the camp with all his men; of his own, however, he lost no one except one, by name Alderic, and he himself, as it is said, was slain by his own. From this day indeed Atenolf began now to be as if powerful, and Athanasius powerless. Hence he commenced to plunder all the salas (halls) of those who were dwelling in Colossum, and to have all their goods hauled by various vehicles to the city.

74. Hoc quoque quod narro omnes audiant aures, prout Dominus saepe parabolice sequacibus suis dicebat: Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat, ut omnis pavescat homo, stupeat et ad Deum revertatur vel sero, ne sic obstinatus animo remanserit, contingat fili illud quod Dathan et Abiron superbientibus advenit, necnon et Chorae cum fautoribus suis evenisse dinoscitur. Guaiferius enim praefectus harenarum, qui pene omnia mala quae facta sunt in diebus eius ipse opere suo gessit fecitque patrare, cuius praestigio Romana tellus depopulata est, Beneventana regio funditus desolata est, ab hoc et inicium et finem accepit; idcirco Dei iudicio hoc modo illius scelus facinorosus finis explevit. Nam subito superna inspirante gratia, a quo bonum omne procedit, in illum excitati illi, a quibus ipse putabatur salvati, mutata mente in eum surgentes apprebenderunt, bonaque ipsius diripientes vincxerunt, revertentes nichilominus ad solum, de quo nunquam diabolice abscisi sunt, ipsumque proconsulem despicabilem Capuam, Atenolfo consencientes, remiserunt, pane tribulationis et aqua angustiae suggillaturum.

74. Let all ears hear this too which I narrate, just as the Lord often said in parable to his followers: He who has ears for hearing, let him hear, so that every man may be terrified, be astounded, and return to God, even if late, lest he remain thus obstinate in mind, and, my son, that befall which came upon Dathan and Abiram in their pride, and likewise is known to have happened to Korah with his fautors. For Guaiferius, the prefect of the sands, who himself by his own deed carried out and caused to be perpetrated nearly all the evils that were done in his days, by whose delusive trickery the Roman land was depopulated, the Beneventan region utterly desolated, from him it took both its beginning and its end; therefore by the judgment of God in this manner his crime fulfilled a felonious end. For suddenly, with supernal grace inspiring (from whom every good proceeds), those were stirred up against him by whom he himself was thought to have been saved; with mind changed they rose up against him, apprehended him, and, plundering his goods, they bound him, returning nonetheless to the soil from which they were never diabolically cut off; and the proconsul himself, despicable, they sent back to Capua, assenting to Atenolf, to be stigmatized with the bread of tribulation and the water of anguish.

Hoc facto, universi qui a propria sede olim fuerant superbe exulati, ad sua obedienter reversi sunt, factumque gaudium magnum, pax et securitas; coeperuntque praeesse qui subesse soliti erant, et qui per trecentos et eo amplius annos imperaverant legibus, praeesse coeperunt his qui cum Saracenis vicerant per aliquod soles. Tunc coepit cohors Bardica triumphans regnare super eos, quos semper armis subegerant.

With this done, all who once had been arrogantly exiled from their own seat obediently returned to their own, and great joy, peace, and security came to pass; and those who had been accustomed to be subject began to preside, and those who for 300 and more years had ruled by laws began to preside over those who, together with the Saracens, had prevailed for several suns. Then the Bardic cohort, triumphing, began to reign over those whom they had always subdued by arms.

75. Interea videns Athanasius se in omnibus superatum, pudore obiectae pacis expetiit foedus; quod adeptus est, praebitoque iureiurando, pacti sunt ad invicem. Primum tamen sacramentum sistebat roboreum vel mensem aut tempus annotinum; istud autem nec ad diem duravit duodecimum. Denique Hismaelitae hac illacque discurrentes, invitantur ab omnibus, omnia devorant, universa consumunt, et contra Neapolim unanimiter consurgunt.

75. Meanwhile, Athanasius, seeing himself overcome in all things, out of shame at the peace held out, sought a treaty; which he obtained, and, an oath having been given, they made a pact with one another. Yet the first oath was to stand firm for either a month or an annual term; that, however, did not endure even to the twelfth day. Finally the Ishmaelites, running hither and thither, are invited by all, they devour everything, consume all things, and rise up unanimously against Naples.

Aequo valde examine ipsumque supernum iaculatus est solium, ab his procul dubio percelleretur, cum quibus christicolum genus pene omne protriverat; prout Iohannes dicit in Apocalipsis, immo et Dominus per Iohannem, de Babilone: Quantumcumque ministravit vobis, ministrate illi; in poculo quo miscuit, miscite illi duplum. Haec autem audientes, nolite cor apponere, quod Deus hoc meritis alicuius praelati fecerit, set sua misericordia et miseriis hominum egerit nanctus, ut ipse per psalmistam dicit: Invoca me in die tribulationis tuae, eripiam te et magnificabis me. Nam peccatori dicit: Quare tu enarras iustitias meas etc. quousque ait: Haec fecisti et tacui, existimasti iniquitatem; in quo ergo ero tibi similis?

By a very even examination, and he has even hurled at the supernal throne, he would without doubt be struck down by those with whom he had almost ground down nearly the whole Christian race; just as John says in the Apocalypse, nay rather the Lord through John, about Babylon: However much she ministered to you, minister to her; in the cup which she mixed, mix for her double. But hearing these things, do not set your heart that God did this by the merits of some prelate, but that he acted by his own mercy and, having encountered the miseries of men, as he himself says through the psalmist: Call upon me in the day of your tribulation, I will snatch you out and you will magnify me. For to the sinner he says: Why do you recount my justices, etc., until he says: These things you did, and I was silent; you supposed iniquity; wherein then shall I be like to you?

In una tamen re moveor, quod cum dicat apostolus: Nonne qui praedat et ipse praedaverit? Quid ergo ero de his qui praedant proximos et proximas, traduntque prostibulo? itane praedabuntur deinde?

In one matter, however, I am moved, since the apostle says: “Will not the one who preys also himself be preyed upon?” What then shall I be about those who prey upon their neighbors, male and female, and hand them over to a brothel? Is it thus that they will be preyed upon thereafter?

Sicuti enim Neapolites vastantur, qui vastarunt, ita et nos forsan devorabimur, qui nunc devorantes sumus. Beati ergo, qui Domino custodiente immunes ab hac saeculi procella existunt, ubi omne malum el nullum sine Domino bonum regnat, et in aeterna numerantur vita, qua omnis felicitas et beatitudo perempnis floret in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Just as indeed the Neapolitans are laid waste, who laid waste, so also perhaps we will be devoured, who now are devouring. Blessed, therefore, are those who, with the Lord keeping guard, stand immune from this tempest of the age, where every evil reigns and no good without the Lord, and who are numbered in eternal life, wherein all felicity and beatitude everlasting blossom unto the ages of ages. Amen.

76. Aio denique a Benevento per Sepontum Barim profectus, super quam Constantinum augustorum aulicum et patritium insidentem repperit, rebelles imperatorum viriliter impugnantem; adversus quem dictus Aio, fultus auxilio Hismaelitarum et vallatus agmine pedestrium Apuliensium, audacter insurgens, primo impetu victor existens, de hostibus plures interfecit. Dehinc Constantino, qui cum tribus milibus equis in tuto consistebat in loco, valide contritus, vix cum aliquantis urbem ingredi valuit Barim; reliquos aut gladiis aut tradidit captivitati. Ipse autem Graecorum obsitus vallo, infra urbem occultatur, sustinens suffagium Atenolfi, quem pridem protexerat, et non invenit; nam et Gallos et Agarenos promissis aureis saepius mixtim invitans, optinere nequivit.

76. Aio, finally, having set out from Beneventum through Sipontum to Bari, upon which he found Constantine, an aulic of the augusti and a patrician, occupying it, manfully assailing the rebels against the emperors; against whom the said Aio, supported by the help of the Ishmaelites and ringed by a column of Apulian foot-soldiers, rising boldly and being victor at the first onset, slew many of the enemies. Then Constantine, who with 3,000 horse was taking position in a safe place, being thoroughly crushed, scarcely was able to enter the city of Bari with a few; the rest he consigned either to the sword or to captivity. But he himself, hedged about by a rampart of Greeks, hides within the city, awaiting the support of Atenolf, whom he had formerly protected, and did not find it; for even by inviting both the Gauls and the Hagarenes together with promises of gold, again and again, he was not able to obtain it.

77. Atenolfus ergo cum Athanasio pacem interim custodita fere bis senis diebus, scisso foedere utraque pars ad praedam prorupit. Set Capuani praevalidiores effecti, per se et cum Saracenis graviter Neapolim circumquaque vastantes lacerant, ut ignis consumantes omnia, aequo Dei iudicio, ut qui Saracenis innumerabiles christicolas gladiis et captivitatibus tradidit bonisque eorum ditatus est, non immerito ab his flagelletur, rodatur et depraedetur, ut Salomon ait: Quis medebitur incantatori a serpente semel percusso?

77. Therefore Atenolfus, with Athanasius, the peace meanwhile being kept for almost twelve days, the pact having been torn, each party burst forth to plunder. But the Capuans, having become very over-strong, both by themselves and with the Saracens, grievously ravaging Naples on every side, tear it, consuming all things like fire, by the equitable judgment of God—inasmuch as he who handed over to the Saracens innumerable Christians to swords and captivities and was enriched with their goods, not undeservedly should be scourged by them, gnawed, and depredated—as Solomon says: Who will heal the enchanter once smitten by the serpent?

78. Interea Atenolfus post episcopi captionem cunctumque clerum sacramento revinctuml ad nova se contulit et recentia iura legis. Nam monachos beati Benedicti pro rebus perditis iurare compulit, quibus cessum fuerat ab omnibus retro principibus cunctisque augustis Gallicis, sacramentum per se nulli homini dandum misi per scariones; se autem in huiusmodi negotio sapientiorem ac potiorems ostendens prioribus.

78. Meanwhile, after the bishop’s capture and the whole clergy bound by an oath, Atenolf turned himself to new and recent rights of the law. For he compelled the monks of blessed Benedict to swear for the lost goods—although it had been conceded to them by all former princes and by all the Gallic Augusti that an oath was to be given by them to no man except through the scariones—yet he, in a business of this kind, was showing himself wiser and superior to his predecessors.

79. Defuncto autem Lamberto, filio Guidonis senioris, filio suo Spoletium reliquit; quo etiam decedente, Guido iunior Spoletium et Camerinum suscipiens, cum Saracenis in Sepino castrametatis pacem fecit, obsidibus datis et acceptis; cuius etiam tempore supradicta coenobia, urbes et oppida omnia a Saracenis capta et exusta sunt. Regiam ad urbem legationem dirigens, contra ius faciens, pecuniam accepit. Quamobrem a Carlo tercio augusto captus est, et nisi fugam arripuisset, capite plecteretur.

79. Lambert, however, the son of Guido the elder, having died, he left Spoleto to his son; and when he too passed away, Guido the younger, taking up Spoleto and Camerino, made peace with the Saracens encamped at Sepino, hostages having been given and received; and in his time as well the aforesaid coenobia, cities, and all the towns were taken and burned by the Saracens. Dispatching a legation to the royal city, acting against the law, he accepted money. Wherefore he was seized by Charles the Third Augustus, and, unless he had taken to flight, he would have been beheaded.

Unum quippe illius narro, factum haut indissimile, quod in Gariliano gestum est. Denique cum a Seponto idem dux Atenolfo comitante Capuam pergeret, in loco qui Caudi dicitur Arranem Hismaelitam, tirannum crudelissimum, cum trecentis pene sequacibus suis peremit. Cognoscens autem Guido Carlum augustum seminecem iacere, cupiditate regnandi devictus deceptusque a contribulibus suis, relinquens Beneventanam provinciam sibi subacta et Spolitentium ducatum, abiit Galliam regnaturus.

Indeed I relate one of his, a deed not dissimilar, which was carried out on the Garigliano. Finally, when from Sipontum that same duke, with Atenolf accompanying, was proceeding to Capua, in a place which is called Caudi he slew Arran the Ishmaelite, a most cruel tyrant, with nearly three hundred of his followers. But Guido, learning that Charles the Augustus lay half-dead, overcome by the desire of reigning and deceived by his fellow-countrymen, leaving the Beneventan province subjugated to himself and the duchy of the Spoletans, went off to Gaul to rule.

Beneventi quidem tellus a Graecis capitur, Spoletium depraedatur ab Agarenis, ipse autem manet invisus et inauditus. Cum vero paruerit et auditus fuerit, quid dixerit vel quid, egerit, scire volentibus per ordinem narrabo.

The land of Beneventum indeed is seized by the Greeks, Spoleto is plundered by the Hagarenes, but he himself remains unseen and unheard. But when he shall have appeared and been heard, what he said or what, he did, I will narrate in order for those wishing to know.

80. Interea Aione obsesso infra urbem Barim a Graecis atque auxilium exflagitantem a Gallis et suis, Atenolfus titubans Athanasii minas, legatos suos ad Constantinum patricium destinavit, quo residebat super dictam urbem, et foedus cum eo statuens pacis, vires resistendi Aionis astu doloso avertit, His et huiuscemodi argumentorum decipulis dictus Aio cernens se delusum, doluit; tandem necessitate cohartans cum memorato patricio pacem faciens, urbem remisit et ad propria remeavit, Atenolfo et Maioni abbati, qui supra fata legatione functus fuerat, haut frustra minitans. Eadem tempestate dum idem Atenolfus Dauferium, nostrum dyaconem, recte disponeret Tarantum et inde regiam ad urbem transmitteret, ipsumque questum esse adversus eum de inopia; oborta alterutrum contentione, ad invicem sequestrati sunt, et Atenolfo incubante Capuam, Dauferius Teanum commoraturus properavit. Paulo post concordia composita, ad eum a quo se separaverat regressus est.

80. Meanwhile, with Aio besieged beneath the city of Bari by the Greeks and demanding aid from the Gauls and his own men, Atenolf, wavering at the threats of Athanasius, dispatched his envoys to Constantine the patrician, who was stationed over the aforesaid city, and, establishing with him a pact of peace, by crafty guile turned aside the strength of Aio’s resistance. By these snares of arguments and the like, the said Aio, perceiving himself deluded, grieved; at length, constrained by necessity, making peace with the aforesaid patrician, he relinquished the city and returned to his own, threatening not in vain Atenolf and Abbot Maion, who above had fulfilled the embassy. In the same season, while the same Atenolf was rightly arranging that Dauferius, our deacon, should set in order Taranto and from there dispatch to the royal city, and he himself had complained against him of want, with contention arisen between them, they were mutually sequestered from one another; and with Atenolf pressing upon Capua, Dauferius hastened to Teanum to remain. A little later, concord composed, he returned to him from whom he had separated himself.

81. Per idem tempus Graeci navaliter a Constantinopolim ad Regium tellurem adventantes, ex diverso et Hismaelitae ab Africa et Sicilia properantes, utrique iuncxerunt se inter Messanam, urbem Siciliae, et Regium; et confligentes parumper mutuo, victi sunt Graeci, tantoque metu territi sunt reliqui Achivi qui remanserunt, ut tam viri quam foeminae et parvuli, relictis utriusque civitatibus cum omnibus, subsidium adepti sunt, nemine contrahens bella. Set ut talia permiserit divina aequitas illi belluinae gentis, econtra narrabo brevius. Achivi autem, ut habitudinis similes sunt, ita animo aequales sunt bestiis, vocabulo christiani, set moribus tristiores Agarenis.

81. At the same time the Greeks, coming by sea from Constantinople to the land of Rhegium, and, from the opposite direction, the Ishmaelites hastening from Africa and Sicily, both joined themselves between Messana, a city of Sicily, and Rhegium; and, clashing for a little while with one another, the Greeks were defeated, and the remaining Achaeans who had stayed behind were so terrified with fear that both men and women and little children, abandoning both cities with everything, obtained succor, contracting war with no one. But that divine equity permitted such things to that bestial race, on the contrary I will relate more briefly. The Achaeans, moreover, just as in bodily habit they are similar, so in spirit they are equal to beasts—Christians in name, but in morals sadder than the Hagarenes.

Hii videlicet et per se fidelium omnes predabant et Saracenis emebant, et ex his alios venales oceani litora farciebant, alios vera in famulos et famulas reservabant. Talia et his similia animadvertens Deus, tradidit illos in opprobrium et in devorationem, ut pereant et recogitent et intelligant, quia in operibus suis diris Deum iaculati sunt. Acta sunt haec in arto spatio maris, quod dirimit Regium a Sicilia, qui locum olim tellus erat, set moderno tempore a Fari aequore occupatus est.

These, namely, even on their own, were preying upon all the faithful and were selling them to the Saracens; and from these they were stuffing the ocean’s shores with others for sale, while others indeed they reserved as male and female servants. God, observing such things and their likes, handed them over into opprobrium and to devouring, that they might perish and reconsider and understand, because by their dire works they have hurled against God. These deeds were done in the narrow space of sea which separates Regium from Sicily, which place once was land, but in modern time has been occupied by the sea of Faro.

Haec itaque gesta sunt anno Domini 888, mense Octubr.

These things, therefore, were done in the year of the Lord 888, in the month of Oct.

82. Hoc etiam anno revertens Guido ad Italiam, quo principare cupit set optinere nequivit, in Italia iuxta civitatem Brecianam cum Berengario et ipso duce conflixit; in quo nimirum conflicto utriusque partis acies crudeliter caesa est; spolia autem caesorum a Berengario recollecta sunt; pacti sunt tamen ad invicem usque in epyphania, qui celebrantur 8. Ydus Ianuar. Cum autem uterque se iunxerit ad pactum vel ad bellandum, quod deinceps egerint, presenti opusculo inseram.

82. In this same year, Guy also, returning to Italy—where he desires to hold the principate but could not obtain it—fought in Italy near the city of Brescia with Berengar and the duke himself; in which battle indeed the battle-lines of both parties were cruelly cut down; but the spoils of the slain were gathered by Berengar; nevertheless they made a pact with one another until Epiphany, which is celebrated on the 8th Ides of January. But when each shall have joined himself either to the pact or to warring, what they shall thereafter have done I will insert into the present opuscule.