Gesta Romanorum: GESTA ROMANORVM

5    Filia Piratae
6     De sequenda ratione
15   De sancti Alexii filii Euphemiani imperatoris
28   De inexsecrabili dolo vetularum
40   De modo temptationis et peritia
44   De invidia
53   De bonis rectoribus non mutandis
57   De perfectione vitae
59   De superbia nimia, et quomodo superbi ad humilitatem maximam saepe perveniunt; satis notabile
61   De praemeditatione semper habenda
62   De pulchritudine fidelis animae
81   De mirabili divina dispensatione et ortu beati Gregorii papae
97   De morte
106 Quod est vigilandum contra fraudes diaboli, ne nos decipiat
108 De promissionis fideli constantia [Die Bürgschaft]
116 De dilectione dei, quomodo omnes nos aequaliter diligit usque dum ipsum per peccata despicimus
121 De gloria mundi et luxuria, quae multos decipit et ad interitum deducit
129 De amicitiae verae probatione
135 De conscientia nostra quae dum angustiatur ad deum per confessionem et opera meritoria recurramus [Lucretia]
143 De timore extremi iudicii
144 De statu mundi actuali
146 De principibus et aliis magnatibus fortiter arguendis pro eorum forefactis [Alexander und der Seeräuber]
151 De anima peccatrice per peccati lepram infecta quomodo curatur
195 [cf. The Merchant of Venice]
273 [cf. King Lear]

5    The Pirate’s Daughter
6     On following reason
15   On Saint Alexius, son of Emperor Euphemianus
28   On the execrable deceit of old women
40   On the manner of temptation and expertise
44   On envy
53   On not changing good rulers
57   On the perfection of life
59   On excessive pride, and how the proud often come to the greatest humility; quite notable
61   On premeditation always to be maintained
62   On the beauty of the faithful soul
81   On the wondrous divine dispensation and the birth of blessed Pope Gregory
97   On death
106 That one must keep watch against the frauds of the devil, lest he deceive us
108 On the faithful constancy of a promise [Die Bürgschaft]
116 On the love of God, how he loves us all equally until we despise him through sins
121 On the glory of the world and luxury, which deceives many and leads to destruction
129 On the proving of true friendship
135 On our conscience, which, when it is straitened, let us return to God through confession and meritorious works [Lucretia]
143 On the fear of the Last Judgment
144 On the present state of the world
146 On princes and other magnates being boldly reproved for their misdeeds [Alexander and the Pirate]
151 On how the sinful soul, infected by the leprosy of sin, is cured
195 [cf. The Merchant of Venice]
273 [cf. King Lear]

Filae Piratae (5)

The Pirate’s Daughter (5)

Rex quidam regnavit, in cuius imperio erat quidam iuvenis a piratis captus, qui scripsit patri suo pro redemptione. Pater noluit eum redimere sic, quod iuvenis multo tempore in carcere erat maceratus. Ille, qui eum in vinculis habebat, quandam pulchram filiam ac oculis hominum gratiosam genuerat, que nutrita in domo erat, quousque viginti annos in etate sua compleverat, quae saepius incarceratum visitatum ivit ac consolabatur.

A certain king reigned, in whose empire there was a certain youth captured by pirates, who wrote to his father for redemption (ransom). The father did not wish to redeem him; thus the youth was long time macerated in prison. He who held him in chains had begotten a certain beautiful daughter, gracious to the eyes of men, who was nurtured in the house until she had completed twenty years in her age, who often went to visit the incarcerated man and consoled him.

Sed ille in tantum desolatus erat, quod nullam consolationem recipere poterat, sed suspiria et gemitus continue emittebat.

But he was desolated to such a degree that he could receive no consolation, but continually emitted sighs and groans.

Accidit quodam die, quod, cum puella eum visitaret, ait iuvenis ei: "O bona puella, utinam velles pro mea liberatione laborare!" Quae ait: "Quomodo potero hoc attentare! Pater tuus, qui te genuit, non vult te redimere, ego vero, cum sim tibi extranea, quomodo deberem hoc cogitare! Et si te liberarem, offensionem patris mei incurrerem, quia tuam redemptionem perderet pater meus.

It happened on a certain day that, when the girl was visiting him, the youth said to her: "O good girl, would that you were willing to labor for my liberation!" She said: "How will I be able to attempt this! Your father, who begot you, does not wish to redeem you, and I, since I am a stranger to you, how ought I to think about this! And if I were to free you, I would incur the offense of my father, because my father would lose your redemption (ransom)."

Verumtamen mihi unum concede, et liberabo te." Ait ille: "O bona puella, pete a me, quid tibi placuerit! Si mihi est possibile, ego concedam." At illa: "Nihil aliud peto pro tua liberatione, nisi quod me in uxorem ducas tempore opportuno." Qui ait: "Hoc tibi firmiter promitto."

"Nevertheless, grant me one thing, and I will free you." He said: "O good maiden, ask of me whatever shall have pleased you! If it is possible for me, I will grant it." But she: "I ask nothing else for your liberation, except that you take me as your wife at an opportune time." He said: "This I firmly promise you."

Statim puella, patre ignorante, ipsum a vinculis liberavit et cum eo ad patriam suam fugit. Cum vero ad patrem suum venisset, ait ei pater: "O fili, de tuo adventu gaudeo. Sed dic mihi, qualis est ista puella, quam tecum duxisti!" Ait ille: "Filia regis est, quam in uxorem habeo." Ait pater: "Sub pena amissionis hereditatis tue nolo, ut eam in uxorem ducas." Ait ille: "O pater, quid dicis!

Immediately the girl, her father being ignorant, liberated him from the bonds and fled with him to her own fatherland. But when she had come to her father, his father said to him: "O son, I rejoice at your advent. But tell me, what sort is that girl whom you have led with you!" He said: "She is the king’s daughter, whom I have to wife." The father said: "Under the penalty of the loss of your inheritance I do not wish that you take her as your wife." He said: "O father, what are you saying!"

Plus ei teneor, quam tibi. Quando captus eram in manu inimici et fortiter vinculatus, tibi pro mea redemptione scripsi, et noluisti me redimere. Ipsa vero non tantum a carcere, sed a periculo mortis me liberavit; ideo eam in uxorem ducere volo." Ait pater: "Fili, probo tibi, quod non possis in eam confidere et per consequens nullo modo in uxorem ducere.

"I am more bound to her than to you. When I was captured in the hand of the enemy and firmly bound, I wrote to you for my redemption, and you were unwilling to redeem me. She indeed freed me not only from prison but from the peril of death; therefore I wish to take her as a wife." The father said: "Son, I prove to you that you cannot confide in her and, consequently, by no means take her as a wife."

Patrem proprium decepit, quando, ipso ignorante, te a carcere liberavit. Pro qua liberatione pater eius multa perdidit, que pro tua redemptione habuisset. Ergo videtur, quod tu non possis in eam confidere et per consequens nullo modo in uxorem ducere.

She deceived her own father, when, he being ignorant, she liberated you from prison. For which liberation her father lost many things that he would have had for your redemption. Therefore it seems that you cannot confide in her and, consequently, by no means take her in marriage.

Item alia ratio est. Ista licet te liberavit, hoc fuit causa libidinis, ut posset te in virum habere, et ideo quia eius libido erat causa liberationis tue, non mihi videtur, quod uxor tua erit."

Likewise, there is another reason. Although that woman liberated you, this was on account of libido, so that she might have you as a husband; and therefore, since her libido was the cause of your liberation, it does not seem to me that she will be your wife."

Puella audiens istas rationes ait: "Ad primam respondeo, quando dicis, quod ego decepi patrem meum proprium, quod non est verum. Ille decipitur, qui in aliquo bono diminuitur. Sed pater meus tam locuples est, quod alicuius auxilio non indiget.

The girl, hearing those reasons, said: "To the first I respond: when you say that I deceived my own father, that is not true. He is deceived who is diminished in some good. But my father is so wealthy that he has no need of anyone’s aid.

Cum hoc perpendi, iuvenem istum a carcere liberavi, ei si pater meus pro eo redemptionem accepisset, non multum propter hoc ditior fuisset, et tu per redemptionem depauperatus esses. Ergo in isto actu te salvavi, quod redemptionem non dedisti, et patri meo nullam iniuriam feci. Ad aliam rationem, quando dicis, quod ego ex libidine hoc feci, respondeo: hoc nullo modo potest fieri, quia libido aut est propter pulchritudinem aut propter divitias aut propter fortitudinem.

When I pondered this, I liberated that youth from prison; and if my father had received redemption for him, he would not on this account have been much richer, and you would have been impoverished by the redemption. Therefore in this act I saved you, in that you did not give redemption, and I did no injury to my father. As to the other reason, when you say that I did this out of libido, I answer: this can in no way be the case, because libido is either on account of pulchritude or on account of riches or on account of fortitude.

Sed filius tuus nullum istorum habuit, quia pulchritudo eius per carcerem erat annihilata; nec dives fuit, quia non habuit, unde se ipsum redimeret; nec fortis, quia fortitudinem perdidit per carceris macerationem. Ergo sola pietas me movebat, quod ipsum liberavi.

But your son had none of these, because his beauty was annihilated by the prison; nor was he rich, because he did not have that by which to redeem himself; nor was he strong, because he lost his fortitude through the maceration of the prison. Therefore only piety moved me to free him.

Pater hoc audiens non potuit filium arguere ulterius. Filius ergo cum magna solennitate eam in uxorem duxit et in pace vitam finivit.

The father, hearing this, could not accuse his son further. The son therefore, with great solemnity, took her as wife and finished his life in peace.

De sequenda ratione (6)

On following reason (6)

Erat quidam imperator potens sed tyrannus, qui quandam puellam, regis filiam, pulchram valde, desponsavit. Facta desponsatione ambo adinvicem iuramentum fecerunt, quod, si quis eorum prius moreretur, alter prae nimio amore se ipsum occideret.

There was a certain emperor, potent but a tyrant, who betrothed a certain maiden, the king’s daughter, very beautiful. The betrothal having been made, both made a mutual oath that, if either of them were to die first, the other, out of excessive love, would kill himself.

Accidit semel, quod imperator iste ad partes longinquas se transtulit et diu moram ibidem traxit. Volens probare uxorem ad eam nuntium destinavit, ut ei de morte sua diceret. Audiens hoc uxor propter iuramentum, quod ante fecerat viro suo, de alto monte se praecipitavit, ut moreretur.

It happened once that this emperor transferred himself to far-off parts and there prolonged his stay for a long time. Wishing to test his wife, he dispatched a messenger to her, to say to her about his death. Hearing this, the wife, on account of the oath which she had previously made to her husband, hurled herself down from a high mountain, so that she might die.

Verumtamen mortua non est, sed infra breve tempus sanitati est restituta. Deinde iterato se ipsam volebat praecipitare, ut moreretur.

Nevertheless, she did not die, but within a brief time was restored to health. Then again she wanted to hurl herself headlong, so that she might die.

Pater eius hoc audiens ei praecepit, ut praecepto et iuramento viri non oboediret. Illa vero nolebat consentire. Ait pater: "Ex quo non vis mihi consentire et oboedire, celeriter extra societatem meam exeas!" At illa: "Nolo, et hoc per talem rationem probo.

Her father, hearing this, enjoined her not to obey the precept and the oath of her husband. She, however, was unwilling to consent. The father said: "Since you do not wish to consent and obey me, swiftly go out from my society!" But she: "I am unwilling, and I prove this by such a rationale.

Cum autem quis iuramento est obligatus, tenetur adimplere. Ego iuravi viro meo, quod pro eius amore me ipsam occiderem. Ideo non deliqui, si iuramentum implere volo; ergo extra societatem tuam non debeo expelli.

However, when someone is bound by an oath, he is held to fulfill it. I swore to my husband that for his love I would kill myself. Therefore I have not done wrong, if I wish to fulfill the oath; therefore I ought not to be expelled from your society.

Item nullus debet puniri pro eo, quod est commendabile. Sed cum vir et uxor sint unum in carne secundum deum, commendabile est, quod uxor pro amore viri sui moriatur. Unde in India aliquando erat lex, quod uxor post mortem viri sui prae dolore et amore se ipsam comburere deberet, vel viva cum eo in sepulcrum poni.

Likewise, no one ought to be punished for that which is commendable. But since husband and wife are one in flesh according to God, it is commendable that a wife should die for the love of her husband. Whence in India there was at one time a law that the wife, after the death of her husband, by reason of grief and love ought to burn herself, or be placed alive with him in the sepulcher.

Et ideo, ut mihi videtur, non deliqui, quando me ipsam interficio propter amorem viri mei."

And therefore, as it seems to me, I have not committed a delinquency, when I kill myself on account of the love of my husband."

Ait pater: "Quando prius dixisti, quod obligata iuramento fuisti etc., tale obligamentum non valet, quia praetendit ad malum finem, scilicet ad mortem. Iuramentum semper debet esse rationabile et ideo iuramentum tuum nullum est. Ad aliam rationem, quando dixisti, quod istud est commendabile, quod uxor moriatur pro viro, non valet, quia, licet sint unum in corpore per carnalem affectionem, tamen in anima duo sunt, quae abinvicem realiter differunt.

The father says: "Since you previously said that you were obligated by an oath, etc., such an obligation is not valid, because it aims at an evil end, namely at death. An oath must always be reasonable, and therefore your oath is null. As to the other reasoning, when you said that it is commendable that a wife die for her husband, it does not hold, because, although they are one in body through carnal affection, nevertheless in soul they are two, which really differ from one another.

Et ideo non valet, quod allegasti." Puella haec audiens non poterat ulterius arguere, sed dictis patris adhaesit, nec ulterius se ipsam praecipitare volebat, nec amplius viro suo copulari.

"And therefore what you alleged is not valid." The girl, hearing this, could no longer argue further, but adhered to her father's words, and no longer wished to precipitate herself, nor any longer to be coupled to her husband.

De sancti Alexii filii Euphemiani imperatoris (15)

On Saint Alexis, son of the emperor Euphemianus (15)

Quidam imperator erat, in cuius imperio scil. in civitate Romana fuit quidam iuvenis nomine Alexius, filius Euphemiani nobilissimi Romani et in aula imperatoris primus. Cui multi pueri et servi assistebant, qui zonis aureis cingebantur et vestimentis sericis induebantur.

There was a certain emperor, in whose empire—namely, in the City of Rome—there was a certain youth named Alexius, the son of Euphemianus, a most noble Roman and foremost in the emperor’s court. To him many boys and slaves attended, who were girded with golden belts and clothed with silken garments.

Erat autem praedictus Euphemianus valde misericors et singulis diebus in domo sua tres mensae pauperibus, orphanis, peregrinis et viduis parabantur, quibus strenue serviebat, et hora nona ipse cum viris religiosis cibum in timore domini capiebat. Cui uxor nomine Agaelis eiusdem religionis et propositi erat. Cum autem filium non haberent, ad preces tamen suas dominus contulit eis filium.

Now the aforesaid Euphemianus was very merciful, and on each day in his house three tables were prepared for the poor, orphans, pilgrims, and widows, whom he served strenuously; and at the ninth hour he himself, together with religious men, took food in the fear of the Lord. His wife, named Agaelis, was of the same religion and purpose. And when they did not have a son, yet at their prayers the Lord conferred upon them a son.

Post quem ipsi deinceps in castitate vivere firmaverunt.

After whom they themselves thereafter resolved to live in chastity.

Traditur igitur puer liberalibus disciplinis imbuendus, et cum omnibus philosophiae artibus ipse floreret, et iam ad puberem aetatem veniens puella sibi de domo imperiali eligitur et in coniugem copulatur. Venit nox, in qua cum sponsa suscepit secreta silentia, tunc sanctus iuvenis sponsam suam coepit in dei timore instruere et ipsam ad virginitatis provocare pudorem. Deinde anulum suum aureum et caput baltei, quo cingebatur, sibi servandum tradidit dicens: "Suscipe haec et serva, donec deo placuerit, et dominus sit inter nos!"

Therefore the boy is handed over to be imbued with the liberal disciplines, and as he himself was flourishing in all the arts of philosophy, and now coming to the pubescent age, a maiden is chosen for him from the imperial house and is coupled to him in marriage. The night comes, in which, with his bride, he took up secret silence; then the holy youth began to instruct his bride in the fear of God and to provoke her to the modesty of virginity. Then he handed over his golden ring and the buckle of the belt with which he was girded, to be kept for him, saying: "Receive these and keep them, until it shall have pleased God, and let the Lord be between us!"

Post haec de substantia sua accipiens ad mare discessit, ascendensque occulte navim Laodiciam usque advenit. Inde pergens in Edissam, civitatem Syriae, profectus est, ubi imago domini nostri Iesu Christi sine humano opere facta in sindone habebatur. Quo perveniens omnia, quae secum detulerat, pauperibus distribuit et vestimenta vilia induens cum ceteris pauperibus in atrio dei genetricis Mariae sedere coepit, et de elemosynis, quantum sibi sufficere poterat, sibi retinebat, cetera vero aliis pauperibus erogabat.

After these things, taking from his substance he departed to the sea, and boarding a ship secretly he came as far as Laodicea. Thence proceeding he set out to Edessa, a city of Syria, where the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, made without human handiwork, was kept in a shroud. Arriving there, he distributed to the poor all that he had brought with him, and putting on mean garments he began to sit with the other poor in the atrium of Mary, the Mother of God; and from the alms he kept for himself as much as could suffice for him, but the rest he disbursed to the other poor.

At pater decessum filii ingemiscens per universas mundi partes pueros suos misit, qui eum inquirerent diligenter. Quorum dum aliqui ad civitatem Edissam pervenissent, ab eo cogniti minime eum cognoscentes eidem cum ceteris pauperibus elemosynas tribuerunt, quas ille accipiens deo gratias egit dicens: "Gratias tibi ago, domine, quia a servis meis elemosynam recipere me fecisti." Reversi pueri nuntiant, quod nusquam reperiri valeat.

But the father, groaning at the departure of his son, sent his servants through all the parts of the world, that they might inquire for him diligently. And when some of them had arrived at the city of Edessa, recognized by him, by no means recognizing him, they gave alms to him together with the other poor; which he, receiving, gave thanks to God, saying: "I give thanks to you, Lord, because you have made me receive alms from my own servants." The servants, having returned, report that he cannot be found anywhere.

Mater igitur sua a die recessus sui saccum in pavimento cubilis stravit, ubi eiulans lamantabiles voces dabat dicens: "Hic semper in luctu manebo, donec filium meum recuperavero." Sponsa vero ad socrum suam dixit: "Donec audiam de sponso meo dulcissimo, ad instar turturis manebo tecum."

Therefore his mother, from the day of his departure, spread sackcloth on the floor of the bedchamber, where, wailing, she kept giving forth lamentable cries, saying: "Here I will remain always in mourning, until I have recovered my son." But the betrothed said to her mother-in-law: "Until I hear about my sweetest bridegroom, in the manner of a turtledove I will remain with you."

Cum ergo Alexius in praedicto atrio XVII annis in servitio dei permansisset, imago tandem beatae virginis, quae ibidem erat, custodi ecclesiae dixit: "Fac introire hominem dei, quia dignus est regno caelorum, et spiritus dei requiescit super eum; nam oratio eius sicut incensum in conspectu dei ascendit." Cum autem custos, de quo diceret, ignoraret, iterum dixit ei: "Ille, qui sedet foris in atrio, ipse est." Tunc custos festinus exiit et ipsum in ecclesiam duxit.

When therefore Alexius had remained in the aforesaid atrium for 17 years in the service of god, the image of the blessed virgin, which was in the same place, said to the custodian of the church: "Let the man of god enter, because he is worthy of the kingdom of the heavens, and the spirit of god rests upon him; for his prayer ascends like incense in the sight of god." But when the custodian did not know of whom she spoke, again she said to him: "He who sits outside in the atrium, he is the one." Then the custodian went out in haste and led him into the church.

Quod factum cum cunctis innotesceret, et ab omnibus venerari coepisset, humanam gloriam fugiens inde recessit, ibique navim ascendens, cum in Tharsim Ciliciae vellet pergere, dispensante deo navis a ventis pulsa in Romanum portum devenit. Quod cernens Alexius ait inter se: "In domo patris mei ignotus manebo nec alteri onerosus ero."

When that deed became known to all, and he began to be venerated by everyone, fleeing human glory he withdrew from there; and there, boarding a ship, when he wished to proceed to Tarsus of Cilicia, by God’s dispensation the ship, driven by the winds, came into a Roman port. Seeing this, Alexius said to himself: "In my father’s house I shall remain unknown, nor shall I be burdensome to another."

Patrem vero a palatio redeuntem multitudine obsequentium circumdatum obvium habuit ac post eum clamare coepit: "Serve dei, me peregrinum in domo tua suscipi iubeas et de micis mensae tuae nutriri facias, ut tui quoque peregrini dominus dignetur misereri." Quod audiens pater ob amorem filii sui eum suscipi iussit et locum proprium in domo sua tribuit et cibum de mensa sua sibi constituit et ministrum proprium delegavit. Ipse autem in orationibus perseverabat et corpus suum ieiuniis macerabat. Famuli autem domus ipsum deridentes aquam utensilium domus super caput eius frequenter fundebant, sed ipse ad omnia valde patiens erat.

He met his father returning from the palace, surrounded by a multitude of attendants, and began to cry out after him: "Servant of God, bid that I, a pilgrim, be received in your house, and have me nourished from the crumbs of your table, that the Lord may deign to have mercy upon your pilgrim as well." Hearing this, the father, for love of his son, ordered him to be received and granted him a proper place in his house, appointed food for him from his own table, and delegated a personal attendant. He, however, persevered in prayers and mortified his body with fasts. But the household servants, mocking him, frequently poured the water from the household utensils over his head; yet he was very patient in all things.

Alexius XVII annis in domo patris ignotus manebat. Videns ergo per spiritum, quod terminus vitae suae appropinquaret, chartam cum atramento petiit et totum ordinem vitae suae ibidem scripsit. Dominica igitur post missarum solemnia in sanctuario de caelo vox intonuit dicens: "Venite ad me omnes, qui laboratis et onerati estis." Quod audientes omnes in facies suas ceciderunt.

Alexius for 17 years remained unknown in his father’s house. Seeing therefore through the Spirit that the limit of his life was approaching, he asked for paper with ink and wrote there the entire order of his life. On Sunday, then, after the solemnities of the masses, in the sanctuary a voice thundered from heaven, saying: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened." Hearing this, all fell upon their faces.

Et ecce vox secundo venit dicens: "Quaerite hominem dei, ut oret pro Roma!" Quaerentibus illis et minime invenientibus iterum dictum est: "In domo Euphemiani quaerite!" Requisitus ille nihil se scire dicebat. Tunc imperatores Arcadius et Honorius una cum summo pontifice Innocentio ad domum praedicti viri venerunt, et ecce vox ministri Alexii ad dominum suum venit dicens: "Vide, domine, ne ille peregrinus noster sit, qui magnae vitae et patientiae homo est." Currens igitur Euphemianus eum defunctum invenit et vultum eius tamquam vultum angeli rutilantem vidit, voluitque chartam, quam in manu habebat, accipere, sed nequivit. Exeunte ergo eo cum hoc imperatoribus et pontifici rettulisset, et illi ad eum intrassent, dixerunt: "Quamvis peccatores sumus, gerimus tamen regni gubernacula et curam universalem regiminis pastoralis.

And behold, a voice came a second time, saying: "Seek the man of God, that he may pray for Rome!" As they were searching and by no means finding, it was said again: "Seek in the house of Euphemianus!" When questioned, he said that he knew nothing. Then the emperors Arcadius and Honorius, together with the supreme pontiff Innocent, came to the house of the aforesaid man, and behold, the voice of Alexius’s servant came to his lord, saying: "See, lord, whether that might be our pilgrim, who is a man of great life and patience." Therefore running, Euphemianus found him dead and saw his face gleaming like the face of an angel, and he wished to take the paper which he had in his hand, but he was not able. Therefore, as he went out and had reported this to the emperors and to the pontiff, and they had gone in to him, they said: "Although we are sinners, nevertheless we bear the governance of the kingdom and the universal care of pastoral governance.

Da ergo nobis chartam, ut sciamus, quae in ea scripta sunt." Et accedens pontifex chartam in manu sumpsit et statim dimisit, fecitque eam legi coram omni populo et multitudine et patre eius.

"Therefore give to us the paper, that we may know what things have been written in it." And the pontiff, drawing near, took the paper into his hand and immediately let it go, and he caused it to be read before all the people and the multitude and his father.

Euphemianus hoc audiens nimio timore conturbatus obstupuit et factus exanimis resolutisque viribus in terram cecidit. Cum vero ad se aliquantulum redisset, vestimenta sua scidit, coepitque canos capitis sui evellere, barbam trahere atque semetipsum discerpere, ac super filium suum corruens exclamavit: "Heu me, fili mi, quare sic me contristasti et per tot annos dolores et gemitus ac suspiria incurristi? Heu me miserrimum, quia video te custodem senectutis meae in grabato iacentem et non mihi loquentem!

Euphemianus, hearing this, was confounded by excessive fear and was astounded, and, made breathless, with his strength unstrung, fell to the ground. But when he had somewhat come back to himself, he tore his garments, and began to pluck out the gray hairs of his head, to drag his beard and to tear himself apart, and, collapsing upon his son, he cried out: "Alas for me, my son, why have you thus saddened me and for so many years incurred pains and groans and sighs? Alas for me most wretched, because I see you, the guardian of my old age, lying on a pallet and not speaking to me!

Heu me, qualem de cetero consolationem habere potero?"

Alas for me, what sort of consolation shall I be able to have hereafter?"

Mater vero hoc audiens, quasi leaena rumpens rete, ita scissis vestimentis, coma dissoluta ad caelum oculos levabat, et cum prae nimia multitudine ad sanctum corpus adire non posset, clamavit dicens: "Date mihi aditum, ut videam consolationem animae meae, quae suxit ubera mea!" Et cum pervenisset ad corpus, incumbens super illud clamabat: "Heu me, fili mi carissime, lumen oculorum meorum, quare sic nobis fecisti? Quare tam crudeliter nobiscum egisti? Videbas patrem tuum et me miseram lacrimantes et non ostendebas te ipsum nobis.

The mother indeed, hearing this, as a lioness breaking a net, thus with garments torn and hair unbound, was lifting her eyes to heaven; and since by reason of the excessive multitude she was not able to approach the holy body, she cried out, saying: "Give me access, that I may see the consolation of my soul, who sucked my breasts!" And when she had come to the body, leaning upon it she cried: "Alas for me, my dearest son, light of my eyes, why have you done thus to us? Why have you dealt so cruelly with us? You saw your father and me, wretched, weeping, and you did not show yourself to us.

Servi tui iniuriabantur tibi et sustinebas." Et iterum atque iterum prosternebat se super corpus et nunc bracchia super illud extendebat, nunc autem manibus vultum angelicum contrectabat et osculans clamabat: "Plorate mecum omnes, qui adestis, quia per XVII annos eum in domo mea habui et non cognovi, qui unicus meus esset. Servi enim eius conviciabantur ei et alapis eum percutiebant. Heu me, quis dabit oculis meis fontem lacrimarum, ut plangam die ac nocte dolorem animae meae?"

"Your servants were doing you injury, and you were enduring it." And again and again she was prostrating herself upon the body, and now she was stretching her arms over it, now with her hands she was touching the angelic visage, and, kissing it, she cried: "Weep with me, all who are present, because for 17 years I had him in my house and I did not know that he was my only one. For his servants were reviling him and striking him with slaps. Alas for me, who will give to my eyes a fountain of tears, that I may lament day and night the grief of my soul?"

Sponsa vero eius induta veste adriatica cucurrit plorans et dicens: "Heu me, quia hodie desolata sum et appareo vidua! Iam non habeo, in quem perspiciam, nec in quem oculos levem. Nunc raptum est speculum meum, periit spes mea.

But his spouse, arrayed in an Adriatic garment, ran weeping and saying: "Alas for me, for today I am desolated and I appear as a widow! I no longer have anyone on whom to look, nor toward whom to lift my eyes. Now my mirror has been snatched away; my hope has perished."

Amodo incepit dolor, qui finem non habet." Populus autem audiens haec lacrimabiliter flebat.

"From now on the dolor has begun, which has no end." But the people, hearing these things, were weeping tearfully.

Tunc pontifex cum imperatoribus posuerunt corpus in honorato feretro et duxerunt in civitatem mediam, et nuntiatum est populo inventum esse hominem dei, quem civitas tota quaerebat, et omnes obviam currebant sancto. Si quis autem infirmus illud corpus sacratissimum tangebat, protinus curabatur, caeci visum recipiebant, daemoniaci liberabantur et omnes infirmi a quacumque infirmitate detenti tacto corpore curabantur.

Then the pontiff, with the emperors, placed the body on an honored bier and led it into the middle of the city, and it was announced to the people that the man of God, whom the whole city was seeking, had been found, and all were running to meet the saint. But if any sick person touched that most-sacred body, at once he was cured; the blind recovered sight, the demon-possessed were freed, and all the infirm, held by whatever infirmity, upon touching the body were cured.

Imperatores tanta miracula videntes coeperunt per se cum pontifice lectum portare, ut et ipsi sanctificarentur ab eodem corpore sancto. Tunc imperatores iusserunt copiam auri et argenti in plateis spargi, ut turbae occuparentur amore pecuniarum et sinerent corpus sanctum perduci ad ecclesiam, sed plebs amore pecuniarum deposito magis ac magis ad tactum sanctissimi corporis irruebat, et sic cum magno labore ad templum sancti Bonifatii martyris tandem ipsum perduxerunt, et illic per septem dies in laudibus dei persistentes operati sunt monumentum ex auro et gemmis pretiosisque lapidibus, in quo sanctissimum corpus cum magna veneratione collocaverunt. De ipso quoque monumento ita suavissimus odor flagravit, ut omnibus videretur aromatibus plenum.

The emperors, seeing such great miracles, began themselves together with the pontiff to carry the bier, that they too might be sanctified by that same holy body. Then the emperors ordered a quantity of gold and silver to be scattered in the streets, so that the crowds might be occupied with the love of monies and allow the holy body to be conveyed to the church; but the common people, having set aside the love of monies, rushed more and more to touch the most holy body, and thus with great labor they finally led it to the temple of Saint Boniface the martyr; and there, persisting for seven days in the praises of God, they wrought a monument of gold and gems and precious stones, in which they placed the most holy body with great veneration. From that very monument, too, so most-sweet an odor wafted forth that to all it seemed full of aromatics.

Obiit circa annum domini tricentesimum vicesimum septimum.

He died around the year of the Lord 327.

De inexsecrabili dolo vetularum (28)

On the most execrable deceit of old women (28)

Imperatrix quaedam erat, in cuius imperio erat quidam miles, qui nobilem uxorem et castam atque decoram habebat. Contingit, quod miles ad peregrinandum perrexit, sed prius uxori dixerat: "Nullum custodem ultra tibi dimitto, quia satis credo, quod non indiges." Parato comitatu abiit, uxor vero caste vivendo domi remansit.

There was a certain empress, in whose dominion there was a certain knight, who had a noble wife, chaste and comely. It befell that the knight set out to make a pilgrimage, but first he had said to his wife: "I leave you no guardian any longer, because I fully believe that you do not need one." With his retinue prepared he departed, but the wife, living chastely, remained at home.

Accidit semel, quod precibus compulsa cuiusdam suae vicinae epulandi causa domum suam egrederetur, quo peracto ad propria remeavit. Quam quidam iuvenis aspectam ardenti amore coepit amare et plurimos nuntios ad eam direxit cupiens ab illa, quantum ardebat, amari. Quibus contemptis eum penitus sprevit.

It happened once that, compelled by the prayers of a certain neighbor of hers, for the sake of banqueting, she went forth from her house; this completed, she returned to her own. A certain young man, having caught sight of her, began to love her with burning love and sent very many messages to her, desiring to be loved by her as much as he burned; but these being despised, she utterly spurned him.

Ille vero se omnino contemptum videns adeo dolens efficitur, quod infirmabatur. Saepe tamen illuc ibat, sed nihil ei valuit, eo quod domina per omnia eum sprevit.

He, however, seeing himself utterly contemned, became so pained that he grew infirm. Often, nevertheless, he went there, but nothing availed him, because the lady in all things spurned him.

Accidit quodam die, quod versus ecclesiam perrexit dolens ac tristis, et obviam habuit quandam vetulam in proposito sanctam reputatam. Quae cum iuvenem tristem vidisset, causam tantae tristitiae ab eo quaesivit. At ille: "Quid prodest mihi tibi narrare?" At illa: "O carissime, quamdiu infirmus abscondit a medico suam infirmitatem, non poterit curari.

It happened on a certain day that he went toward the church, grieving and sad, and he met a certain little old woman, reputed holy in her purpose. When she had seen the sad youth, she asked from him the cause of so great sadness. But he: "What does it profit me to tell you?" But she: "O dearest, so long as the infirm man hides his infirmity from the physician, he will not be able to be cured.

Ideo ostende mihi causam tanti doloris! Cum dei adiutorio te curabo." Iuvenis cum hoc audisset, ostendit ei, quomodo dominam dilexit. Ait vetula: "Perge cito ad domum tuam, quia infra breve tempus te curabo." His dictis iuvenis ad domum perrexit et vetula ad propria remeavit.

“Therefore show me the cause of so great a grief! With God’s aid I will cure you.” When the young man had heard this, he showed her how he had loved the lady. The old woman said, “Go quickly to your house, because within a brief time I will cure you.” With these words spoken, the young man proceeded to his house, and the old woman returned to her own.

Vetula ista quandam caniculam habebat, quam duobus diebus ieiunare coegit et die tertia panem sinapi confectum caniculae ieiunanti dedit. Quem cum gustasset, prae amaritudine oculi eius lacrimabantur tota die.

That old woman had a certain little dog, which she forced to fast for two days, and on the third day she gave to the fasting little dog bread prepared with mustard. When it had tasted this, on account of the bitterness its eyes were watering the whole day.

Tunc vetula ad domum dominae perrexit cum canicula, quam iuvenis dilexit tantum. Statim a domina est honorifice suscepta, eo quod reputabatur sancta. Dum autem adinvicem sederent, domina parvam caniculam lacrimantem respexit, admirabatur multum et quaesivit causam.

Then the little old woman proceeded to the lady’s house with the little dog, whom the young man loved so much. At once she was honorifically received by the lady, because she was reputed holy. But while they were sitting with one another, the lady looked at the small weeping little dog, marveled much, and asked the cause.

Ait vetula: "O carissima amica, noli quaerere, quare lacrimatur, quia tantum dolorem habet, quod vix potero tibi intimari." Domina vero magis ac magis instigabat, ut diceret. Cui vetula: "Haec canicula erat filia mea casta nimis et decora, quam iuvenis quidam vehementer adamavit, sed adeo casta erat, ut omnino sperneret eius amorem, unde iuvenis tantum dolens prae dolore mortuus est, pro qua culpa deus convertit filiam meam in caniculam, sicut tu vides." His dictis incepit vetula flere dicens: "Quotiens filia mea recolit, quod tam pulchra puella erat et modo est canicula, flet et consolari nequit, immo omnes ad fletum excitat prae nimio dolore."

Said the old woman: "O dearest friend, do not ask why she weeps, because she has so great a pain that I shall scarcely be able to intimate it to you." But the lady urged her more and more to speak. To whom the old woman: "This little dog was my daughter, very chaste and comely, whom a certain young man vehemently fell in love with; but she was so chaste that she utterly spurned his love, whence the young man, grieving so greatly, died from pain; for which fault God converted my daughter into a little dog, as you see." These things said, the old woman began to weep, saying: "As often as my daughter recollects that she was so beautiful a maiden and now is a little dog, she weeps and cannot be consoled; nay rather, she stirs all to weeping by reason of excessive grief."

Audiens haec domina intra se cogitabat: "Heu me, simili modo me quidam iuvenis diligit et pro amore meo infirmatur". Et totum processum vetulae narravit. Vetula haec audiens ait: "O carissima domina, noli amorem iuvenis spernere, ne forte et tu muteris in caniculam sicut filia mea, quod esset damnum intolerablie." Ait domina vetulae: "O bona matrona, date mihi sanum consilium, ut non sim canicula!" Quae ait: "Cito pro illo iuvene mitte et voluntatem suam sine ulteriori dilatione facias!" At illa: "Rogo sanctitatem tuam, ut pergas ad eum et tecum ducas. Scandalum enim posset esse, si alius ad eum accederet." Cui vetula: "Tibi compatior et libenter tibi eum adducam." Perrexit et iuvenem secum duxit, et cum domina dormivit.

Hearing these, the lady was thinking within herself: "Alas for me, in a similar way a certain youth loves me and grows weak for my love." And she told the old woman the entire course of events. Hearing this, the old woman said: "O dearest lady, do not spurn the youth’s love, lest perchance you too be changed into a little dog, like my daughter—which would be an intolerable loss." The lady said to the old woman: "O good matron, give me sound counsel, that I may not be a little dog!" She said: "Quickly send for that youth, and do his will without further delay!" But she: "I beg your sanctity, that you go to him and take me with you. For it could be a scandal if someone else should approach him." To her the old woman: "I sympathize with you, and I will gladly bring him to you." She went and led the youth with her, and he slept with the lady.

Et sic per vetulam domina adulterium commisit.

And thus, through the old woman, the lady committed adultery.

De modo temptationis et peritia (40)

On the mode of temptation and expertise (40)

Legitur, ut dicit Macrobius, quod erat quidam miles, qui habuit uxorem suam suspectam, quod plus unum alium dilexit quam ipsum, propter aliqua audita et visa. Saepius ab uxore quaesivit, si verum esset. Illa simpliciter negavit, quod nullum alium praeter ipsum in tantum dilexit.

It is read, as Macrobius says, that there was a certain soldier who held his wife suspect, that she loved another more than himself, on account of certain things heard and seen. More than once he asked his wife whether it were true. She simply denied that she had loved any other, besides him, to such an extent.

Miles dictis eius non acquievit, sed quendam clericum peritum adiit et cum eo convenit, ut de hac re veritatem ei ostenderet. Qui ait: "Hoc non potero temptare, nisi dominam viderem et cum ea fabularem." Et ille: "Rogo te cum affectu, ut hodie mecum cibum gustes, et ego te cum uxore mea collocabo."

The soldier did not acquiesce to her words, but approached a certain skilled cleric and agreed with him that he would show him the truth about this matter. He said: "I shall not be able to attempt this, unless I were to see the lady and converse with her." And he: "I ask you with affection, that you taste food with me today, and I will place you with my wife."

Clericus accessit ad domum militis, hora prandii venit, et iuxta dominam est collocatus. Finito prandio clericus incepit cum domina de diversis negotiis habere colloquia. Hoc facto clericus manum dominae accepit et pulsum suum tetigit, deinde sermonem de eo fecit, cum quo erat scandalizata et vehemens suspicio.

The cleric approached the soldier’s house, came at the hour of luncheon, and was seated beside the lady. The meal having been finished, the cleric began to hold colloquies with the lady about diverse businesses. This done, the cleric took the lady’s hand and touched her pulse, then made discourse about him, the one with whom there was scandal and a vehement suspicion.

Statim prae gaudio pulsus incepit velociter moveri et calefieri, quamdiu sermonem de et traxit. Clericus cum percepisset hoc, incepit sermonem de viro suo habere, et pulsus statim ab omni motu et calore cessabat. Ex hoc percepit clericus, quod alium dilexit, de quo erat scandalizata, plus quam virum proprium, et sic miles per clericum ad rei veritatem evenit.

At once, for joy, the pulse began to move swiftly and to grow warm, so long as he drew out the conversation about him. When the cleric had perceived this, he began to have conversation about her husband, and the pulse immediately ceased from all motion and heat. From this the cleric perceived that she loved another, about whom she was scandalized, more than her own husband; and thus the soldier through the cleric came to the truth of the matter.

De invidia (44)

On envy (44)

Tiberius regnavit, qui ante sumptum imperium erat prudens ingenio, clarus eloquio, fortunatus in bello, sed post resolutus militiae artibus nulla bella gerens populum Romanum graviter afflixit, filios proprios pluresque patricios et consules interfecit.

Tiberius reigned, who before the imperial power was assumed was prudent in intellect, renowned for eloquence, fortunate in war; but afterwards, relaxed in the arts of soldiery, waging no wars, he grievously afflicted the Roman people, and he slew his own sons and several patricians and consuls.

Huic quidam artifex vitrum ductile se posse fabricare obtulit, quod Tiberius ad parietem proiciens non fractum sustulit, sed curvatum, et artifex malleum proferens et velut cuprum vitrum fabricans mox correxit.

To him a certain artisan offered that he could fabricate ductile glass, which Tiberius, throwing it at the wall, lifted up not broken but curved; and the artisan, producing a hammer and working the glass as if it were copper, soon corrected it.

Interrogante autem Tiberio ab eo, quomodo hoc posset fieri, ille dixit neminem hanc artem scire super terram. Quem Tiberius mox decollari iussit dicens: "Si haec ars venerit in consuetudinem, pro nihilo aurum et argentum reputabitur."

And as Tiberius was asking him how this could be done, he said that no one on earth knew this art. Tiberius forthwith ordered him to be beheaded, saying: "If this art should come into common use, gold and silver will be reputed as nothing."

De bonis rectoribus non mutandis (53)

On not changing good rectors (53)

Valerius Maximus refert, quod, cum omnes Syracusani mortem Dionysii optarent regis Siciliae, quaedam femina senectutis ultimae sola matutinis horis deos oravit, ut sibi rex superstes fieret in hanc vitam, cuius orationis causam Dionysius admirans ab ea quaesivit. Quae respondit: "Cum essem puella, gravem tyrannum habens eo carere cupiens secundum recepi, quo iterum carere cupiens tertium recepi; timens ergo deteriorem tibi succedere ideo pro vita tua omni die rogo." Dionysius haec audiens amplius molestiam non fecit.

Valerius Maximus reports that, when all the Syracusans were desiring the death of Dionysius, king of Sicily, a certain woman of extreme old age alone in the morning hours prayed to the gods that for her the king might remain surviving in this life, at which prayer’s cause Dionysius, marveling, asked her. She replied: "When I was a girl, having a grievous tyrant, and wishing to be rid of him, I received a second; and wishing again to be rid of him, I received a third; fearing therefore that someone worse might succeed you, for that reason I every day entreat for your life." Hearing these things, Dionysius made no further annoyance.

De perfectione vitae (57)

On the perfection of life (57)

Titus in civitate Romana regnavit; qui statuit pro lege, quod dies primogeniti sui ab omnibus sanctificaretur, et quicumque diem nativitatis filii sui per opus servile violaret, morte moreretur.

Titus reigned in the Roman commonwealth; he established as a law that the day of his firstborn be sanctified by all, and whoever should violate the day of his son’s nativity by servile work should be put to death.

Promulgata lege vocavit magistrum Virgilium et ait: "Carissime, talem legem edidi; verumtamen saepe in occulto poterunt peccata committi, ad quorum notitiam pervenire non potero. Rogamus ergo te, ut secundum industriam tuam aliquam artem invenias, per quam potero experiri, quales sint illi, qui contra legem delinquunt."

With the law promulgated, he called Master Virgil and said: "Dearest, I have issued such a law; nevertheless, sins will often be able to be committed in secret, to the knowledge of which I shall not be able to attain. We therefore ask you, that according to your industry you may find some art, by which I shall be able to ascertain what sort they are who transgress the law."

Ait ille: "Domine, fiat voluntas vestra." Statim Virgilius arte magica statuam in medio civitatis fieri fecit. Statua illa omnia peccata occulta in illo die commissa imperatori dicere solebat, et sic per accusationem statuae quasi infiniti homines erant condemnati.

He said: "Lord, let your will be done." Immediately Virgil, by magical art, caused a statue to be made in the middle of the city. That statue was accustomed to tell the emperor all the hidden sins committed on that day, and thus, through the accusation of the statue, almost countless men were condemned.

Erat tunc quidam faber in civitate nomine Focus, qui in illo die sicut in ceteris operatus est. Cum autem semel in stratu suo iacuisset, intime cogitavit, quomodo per accusationem statuae multi moriebantur. Mane surrexit et ad statuam perrexit et ait: "O statua, statua, per tuam accusationem multi sunt positi ad mortem.

There was then a certain smith in the city named Focus, who on that day worked as on the others. But when once he had lain upon his bed, he thought deeply how through the accusation of the statue many were dying. In the morning he rose and went to the statue and said: "O statue, statue, through your accusation many have been put to death.

Voveo deo meo, si me accusaveris, caput tuum frangam." His dictis domum perrexit.

I vow to my god, if you accuse me, I will break your head." Having said these things, he went home.

Hora prima imperator, sicut solitus erat, nuntios suos ad statuam destinavit, ut ab ea quaererent, si aliquis contra legem commisisset. Cum autem ad statuam venissent et voluntatem imperatoris dixissent, ait statua: "Carissimi, levate oculos vestros et videte, quae scripta sunt in fronte mea." Illi vero cum oculos levassent, tria in fronte eius clare viderunt, scilicet: `Tempora mutantur, homines deteriorantur, qui voluerit veritatem dicere, caput fractum habebit.' "Ite, domino vestro nuntiate, quae vidistis et legistis."

At the first hour the emperor, as he was accustomed, dispatched his messengers to the statue, that they might ask from it whether anyone had committed against the law. But when they had come to the statue and had stated the will of the emperor, the statue said: "Dearest ones, lift up your eyes and see the things which are written on my forehead." And when they had lifted their eyes, they clearly saw three things on its forehead, namely: `Times are changed, men deteriorate, whoever would wish to speak the truth will have a broken head.' "Go, announce to your lord what you have seen and read."

Nuntii perrexerunt et omnia domino suo rettulerunt. Imperator cum hoc audisset, praecepit militibus suis, ut se armarent et ad statuam pergerent, et si aliquis contra statuam aliquid faceret, eum ligatis manibus et pedibus ad eum ducerent. Milites ad statuam perrexerunt dicentes: "Placet imperatori, ut ostendatis illos, qui contra legem commiserunt, et quales erant illi, qui minas fecerunt." Ait statua: "Focum fabrum accipite!

The messengers went on and reported everything to their lord. When the emperor had heard this, he ordered his soldiers to arm themselves and to proceed to the statue, and if anyone did anything against the statue, to lead him to him with his hands and feet bound. The soldiers proceeded to the statue, saying: "It pleases the emperor that you show those who have committed against the law, and what sort they were who made threats." The statue said: "Take the smith's forge!"

Ille est, qui in singulis diebus legem violat et mihi minas facit." Illum comprehenderunt et coram imperatore duxerunt.

"He is the one who every single day violates the law and makes threats against me." They apprehended him and led him before the emperor.

Ait imperator: "Carissime, quid est, quod audio de te? Quare legem editam violas?" Ait ille: "Domine, legem illam servare non possum, quia omni die octo denarios oportet me habere, et illos sine labore non potero acquirere."

The emperor says: "Dearest, what is it that I hear about you? Why do you violate the promulgated law?" He says: "Lord, I cannot keep that law, because every day it is necessary for me to have eight denarii, and I will not be able to acquire them without labor."

Ait imperator: "Et quare octo denarios?" Qui ait: "Omni die per annum duos denarios teneor dare, quos mutuavi in iuventute, duos accomodo, duos perdo, duos expendo." Ait imperator: "De istis manifestius debes mihi dicere." Cui ait faber: "Domine mi, advertite me! Duos denarios omni die teneor patri meo, quia, cum essem puer parvulus, pater meus duos denarios super me singulis diebus expendit, iam pater meus in egestate est positus, unde ratio dictat, quod ei subveniam in sua paupertate, et ideo omni die duos denarios ei trado; duos alios denarios filio meo accommodo, qui iam ad studium pergit, ut, si contingat me ad egestatem pervenire, mihi illos duos denarios reddat, sicut ego iam patri meo facio; duos alios denarios omni die perdo super uxorem meam, quia semper est mihi contraria, aut propriae voluntatis aut callidae complectionis, et propter ista tria quicquid ei dedero, hoc perdo; duos alios denarios super me ipsum in cibis et potibus expendo. Levius bono modo transire non potero et istos denarios non possum obtinere sine continuo labore. Iam audistis rationem.

The emperor said: "And why eight denarii?" He said: "Every day of the year I am bound to give two denarii, which I borrowed in my youth, two I lend, two I lose, two I expend." The emperor said: "About these you must tell me more clearly." To him the smith said: "My lord, attend to me! Two denarii every day I owe to my father, because, when I was a very small boy, my father spent two denarii upon me each day; now my father has been set in destitution, whence reason dictates that I should help him in his poverty, and therefore every day I hand over to him two denarii; two other denarii I lend to my son, who now goes to study, so that, if it should happen that I come to destitution, he may pay back to me those two denarii, just as I am now doing for my father; two other denarii every day I lose upon my wife, because she is always contrary to me, either by her own will or by a crafty complexion, and on account of these three things whatever I give to her, this I lose; two other denarii upon myself I spend on food and drink. I cannot get by more lightly in a good way, and I cannot obtain these denarii without continual labor. Now you have heard the reckoning."

Detis ergo iudicium rectum!"

"Therefore give a right judgment!"

Ait imperator: "Carissime, recte respondisti, vade et fideliter amodo labora!" Post hoc cito imperator defunctus est, et Focus faber propter suam prudentiam in imperatorem eligitur ab omnibus, qui imperium satis prudenter regebat. Ipso mortuo inter alios imperatores imago eius depingitur et ultra caput suum octo denarii.

The emperor said: "Dearest, you have answered rightly; go and from now on labor faithfully!" After this, soon the emperor died, and Focus the smith, on account of his prudence, was chosen by all as emperor, and he was governing the empire quite prudently. When he himself had died, among the other emperors his image was painted, and above his head eight denarii.

De superbia nimia, et quomodo superbi ad humilitatem maximam saepe perveniunt; satis notabile (59)

On excessive pride, and how the proud often arrive at the greatest humility; quite notable (59)

Iovinianus imperator regnavit potens valde; qui cum semel in stratu suo iacuisset, exaltatum est cor eius ultra quam credi potest, et in corde suo dixit: "Estne aliquis alius deus quam ego?" His cogitatis somnum cepit. Mane vero surrexit et vocavit milites suos et ait: "Carissimi, bonum est cibum sumere, quia hodie ad venandum pergere volo." Illi vero parati erant eius voluntatem adimplere. Cibo sumpto ad venandum perrexerunt.

Emperor Jovinian reigned, very potent; and when once he had lain on his couch, his heart was exalted beyond what can be believed, and in his heart he said: "Is there any other god than I?" With these things thought, he took sleep. In the morning, however, he rose and called his soldiers and said: "Dearest ones, it is good to take food, because today I wish to go forth to hunt." They, for their part, were ready to fulfill his will. Food having been taken, they proceeded to the hunt.

Dum vero imperator equitasset, calor intolerabilis eum invasit, in tantum, quod videbatur ei, quod moreretur, nisi in aqua frigida balneari posset. Respexit a longe et aquam latam vidit, dixit suis militibus: "Hic remaneatis, quousque fuero liberatus." Dextrarium cum calcaribus percussit, ad aquam festinanter equitabat, de equo descendit, omnia vestimenta deposuit, aquam intravit et tamdiu ibi remansit, quousque totaliter refrigeratus esset. Dum ibidem exspectasset, venit quidam homo ei per omnia similis in vultu et gestu et induit se vestimentis eius, dextrarium eius ascendit et ad milites equitavit, ab omnibus sicut persona imperatoris est receptus.

While indeed the emperor had ridden on horseback, an intolerable heat invaded him, to such an extent that it seemed to him that he would die, unless he could bathe in cold water. He looked back from afar and saw a broad stretch of water; he said to his soldiers: "Here remain, until I shall have been relieved." He struck his destrier with the spurs, was riding hastily to the water, dismounted, laid aside all his garments, entered the water, and remained there so long until he had been totally refreshed. While he had waited there in the same place, there came a certain man entirely like him in face and bearing, and he clothed himself in his garments, mounted his destrier, and rode to the soldiers, by all he was received as the person of the emperor.

Finito ludo ad palatium cum militibus perrexit.

With the game finished, he proceeded to the palace with the soldiers.

Post haec cito Iovinianus de aqua exivit, vestes nec equum invenit. Admirabatur et tristatus est valde, quia nudus erat et neminem vidit. Cogitavit inter se: "Quid faciam?

After this, Jovinian quickly went out of the water, and found neither clothes nor horse. He was astonished and was very saddened, because he was naked and saw no one. He thought to himself: "What shall I do?"

Ego miserabiliter sum ministratus." Tandem ad se reversus dicebat: "Hic prope manet unus miles, quem ad militiam promovi. Ad eum pergam, vestes et equum acquiram et sic ad palatium meum ascendam et videbo, quomodo et per quem sum confusus."

I have been served in miserable fashion." At length, returning to himself, he was saying: "Here nearby there remains one soldier, whom I promoted to the soldiery. To him I will proceed, I will acquire garments and a horse, and thus I will ascend to my palace, and I will see how and through whom I have been confounded."

Iovinianus totaliter nudus ad castrum militis perrexit, ad ianuam pulsavit, ianitor autem causam pulsationis quaesivit. Ait Iovinianus: "Ianuam aperite, et qualis ego sum, videte!" Ille vero ianuam aperuit et cum eum vidisset, obstupuit et ait: "Qualis es tu?" At ille: "Iovinianus sum imperator, vade ad dominum tuum et dic ei, ut mihi vestes accommodet, quia vestes et equum perdidi." Qui ait: "Mentiris, pessime ribalde! Iam ante adventum tuum dominus imperator Iovinianus ad palatium suum cum militibus suis transivit, et dominus meus secum perrexit et rediit et iam in mensa sedet.

Jovinian, totally naked, went to the soldier’s castle, knocked at the door, and the doorkeeper asked the cause of the knocking. Jovinian said: “Open the door, and see what sort I am!” He indeed opened the door and, when he had seen him, was astonished and said: “What sort are you?” But he: “I am Jovinian, the emperor; go to your lord and tell him to lend me clothes, for I have lost my clothes and my horse.” He said: “You lie, most wicked ribald! Already before your arrival Lord Emperor Jovinian passed to his palace with his soldiers, and my lord went with him and returned, and he is already sitting at table.

Sed quia imperatorem te nominasti, domino meo nuntiabo."

"But since you have named yourself emperor, I will report it to my lord."

Ianitor intravit et domino suo verba eius rettulit. Ille hoc audiens praecepit, ut introduceretur, et sic factum est.

The janitor entered and reported his words to his lord. He, hearing this, ordered that he be introduced, and so it was done.

Miles cum vidisset, notitiam eius non habebat, sed imperator peroptime eum cognovit. Ait ei miles: "Dic mihi, qualis es, et quod est nomen tuum?" Qui respondit: "Ego sum imperator Iovinianus, et ego te ad militiam promovi tali tempore." Ait ille: "O ribalde pessime, qua audacia audes te ipsum imperatorem nominare! Iam dominus meus imperator ante te ad palatium equitavit, et ego per viam ei associatus eram et iam sum reversus.

When the soldier had seen him, he did not recognize him, but the emperor recognized him very well. The soldier said to him: "Tell me, what sort of man are you, and what is your name?" He answered: "I am Emperor Jovinian, and I promoted you to the militia (military service) at such a time." He said: "O vilest ribald, with what audacity do you dare to nominate yourself emperor! Already my lord the emperor has ridden to the palace before you, and I along the road had accompanied him, and now I have returned."

Et quia te ipsum imperatorem nominasti, impune non transibis." Fecit eum egregie verberari et postea expelli.

And because you named yourself emperor, you shall not go unpunished." He had him severely beaten and afterwards expelled.

Ille vero sic flagellatus et expulsus flevit amare et ait: "O deus meus, quid hoc esse poterit, quod miles, quem ad militiam promovi, notitiam mei non habet, et cum hoc graviter me flagellavit!" Cogitavit autem apud se: "Prope est quidam dux consiliarius meus, ad eum pergam et necessitatem ei ostendam, per quem potero indui et ad palatium meum reverti."

He indeed, thus scourged and expelled, wept bitterly and said: "O my God, what could this be, that the soldier whom I promoted to the soldiery does not have knowledge of me, and along with this has grievously scourged me!" However he thought to himself: "Near is a certain duke, my counselor; to him I will go and I will show him my necessity, through whom I shall be able to be clothed and to return to my palace."

Cum vero ad ianuam ducis venisset, pulsavit. Ianitor audiens pulsationem ianuam aperuit, et cum hominem nudum vidisset, admirabatur et aiebat: "Carissime, qualis es tu, et quare sic totaliter nudus venisti?" Et ille: "Ego sum imperator, a casu equum et vestimenta perdidi et ideo ad ducem veni, ut mihi in hac necessitate succurrat. Ideo te rogo, ut negotium meum coram domino tuo facias."

But when he had come to the duke’s door, he knocked. The janitor, hearing the knocking, opened the door, and when he had seen a naked man, he was amazed and said: "Dearest, what sort are you, and why have you come thus totally naked?" And he: "I am the emperor; by an accident I lost my horse and garments, and therefore I have come to the duke, that he may succor me in this necessity. Therefore I ask you to carry my business before your lord."

Ianitor cum verba eius audisset, admirabatur, aulam intravit et domino suo omnia rettulit. Ait dux: "Introducatur." Cum introductus fuisset, nullus notitiam eius habebat, et dux ad illum: "Qualis es tu?" Et ille: "Imperator sum ego et te ad divitias et honores promovi, quando te ducem feci et consiliarium meum te constitui." Ait dux: "Insane miser! Perrexi parum ante cum domino meo imperatore versus palatium et reversus sum, et quia talem honorem tibi appropriasti, impune non transibis." Confecit eum in carcerem includi et pane et aqua sustentari.

The janitor, when he had heard his words, marveled, entered the hall, and reported everything to his lord. The duke said: "Let him be brought in." When he had been brought in, no one had knowledge of him, and the duke to him: "What sort are you?" And he: "I am the emperor, and I advanced you to riches and honors, when I made you duke and appointed you my counselor." The duke said: "Mad wretch! I went a little before with my lord the emperor toward the palace and returned, and because you have appropriated such an honor to yourself, you shall not pass unpunished." He had him shut up in prison and sustained with bread and water.

Deinde ex carcere extraxit et egregie verberari et a tota terra post hoc eici fecit.

Then he drew him out of prison and caused him to be beaten severely, and after this had him cast out from the whole land.

Ille sic eiectus ultra quam credi poterit gemuit et suspiria emittebat et intra se dixit: "Heu mihi, quid faciam, quia factus sum opprobrium omnium et abiectio plebis? Melius est mihi ad palatium meum pergere et mei de palatio meo notitiam habebunt; saltem si non, uxor mea notitiam meam habebit per certa signa."

He, thus ejected, groaned beyond what can be believed and was emitting sighs, and said within himself: "Alas for me, what shall I do, since I have become the opprobrium of all and the abjection of the plebs? It is better for me to proceed to my palace, and my own from my palace will have recognition of me; at least, if not, my wife will have recognition of me through certain signs."

Solus ad palatium accessit, ad ianuam pulsavit, audita pulsatione ianitor ianuam aperuit. Quem cum vidisset, dixit: "Dic mihi, qualis es tu?" Et ille: "Miror de te, quia non novisti me, quia per tot tempora mecum fuisti." Qui ait: "Mentiris; cum domino imperatore diu steti."

Alone he approached the palace, he knocked at the door; when the knocking was heard, the doorkeeper opened the door. When he had seen him, he said: "Tell me, what sort of man are you?" And he: "I marvel at you, because you do not know me, since for so long a time you have been with me." He said: "You lie; I have long stood with the lord emperor."

Et ille: "Ego sum ille, et si dictis non credis, rogo te dei amore, ut ad imperatricem accedas, et per ista signa illa mihi vestes imperiales per te mittet, quia a casu perdidi omnia. Ista signa, quae per te ei mitto, nullus nisi nos duo novit sub caelo." Ait ianitor: "Non dubito, quin insanus sis, quia iam dominus meus imperator in mensa sedet et iuxta eum imperatrix; verumtamen ex quo dicis te imperatorem esse, imperatrici intimabo, et certus sum, quod graviter punieris."

And he: "I am that man; and if you do not believe my words, I beg you, for the love of God, to go to the Empress, and by these tokens she will send me the imperial garments through you, because by a mishap I have lost everything. These tokens, which I send to her by you, no one under heaven knows except we two." The doorkeeper said: "I do not doubt that you are insane, for already my lord the Emperor sits at table, and beside him the Empress; nevertheless, since you say that you are the Emperor, I will inform the Empress, and I am certain that you will be punished grievously."

Ianitor ad imperatricem perrexit et omnia audita ei intimavit. Illa non modicum contristata ad dominum suum conversa est et ait: "O domine mi, audite mirabilia! Signa privata inter nos saepius acta unus ribaldus in porta mihi per ianitorem recitat et dicit se imperatorem et dominum meum esse." Ipse cum hoc audisset, praecepit ianitori, ut introduceretur in conspectu omnium.

The janitor went to the Empress and intimated to her all he had heard. She, not a little made sorrowful, turned to her lord and said: "O my lord, hear marvels! A certain ribald at the gate, through the janitor, recites to me private signs oft done between us, and says that he is the Emperor and my lord." He, when he had heard this, ordered the janitor that he be introduced into the sight of all.

Qui cum taliter nudus introductus fuisset, canis quidam, qui antea multum eum dilexerat, ad guttur suum saltabat, ut eum occideret, sed per familiam impeditus est, sic quod nullum ab eo accepit malum. Item quendam falconem habebat in pertica, qui cum eum vidisset, ligaturam fregit et extra aulam advolavit.

When he had been brought in thus, naked, a certain dog, who earlier had loved him much, was leaping at his throat, so that it might kill him; but it was impeded by the household, so that he received no harm from it. Likewise he had a certain falcon on a perch, which, when it had seen him, broke its ligature and flew away out of the hall.

Ait imperator omnibus in aula sedentibus: "Carissimi, audite verba mea, quae de isto ribaldo dicam! Dic mihi, qualis es tu et ob quam causam venisti?" At ille: "O domine, ista est mirabilis quaestio, imperator sum et dominus istius loci." Ait imperator omnibus sedentibus in mensa et circumstantibus: "Dicite mihi per iuramentum vestrum, quod mihi fecistis, quis nostrum imperator est et dominus?" Aiunt illi: "O domine, leviter respondemus per iuramentum, quod vobis fecimus, istum ribaldum numquam vidimus, sed vos estis dominus noster et imperator, quem a iuventate novimus, et ideo rogamus una voce, ut puniatur, ut omnes exemplum ab eo capiant et de tali praesumptione se non attemptent."

The emperor says to all sitting in the hall: "Dearest ones, hear my words, which I shall speak about that ribald! Tell me, what sort you are, and for what cause you have come?" But he: "O lord, that is a marvelous question; I am the emperor and the lord of this place." The emperor says to all sitting at the table and those standing around: "Tell me by your oath, which you made to me, which of us is emperor and lord?" They say: "O lord, we readily respond by the oath which we made to you: we have never seen that ribald scoundrel, but you are our lord and emperor, whom we have known from youth; and therefore we ask with one voice that he be punished, so that all may take example from him and not attempt such presumption."

Imperator ille conversus ad imperatricem ait: "Dic, domina, mihi per fidem, qua teneris, nosti tu istum hominem, qui se dicit imperatorem et dominum tuum esse?" At illa: "O bone domine, cur talia a me quaeris? Nonne plus quam XXVI annis in societate tua steti et prolem per te genui? Sed unum est, quod miror, quomodo iste ribaldus pervenit ad nostra secreta inter nos perpetrata."

That emperor, having turned to the empress, said: "Say, lady, to me by the faith by which you are bound, do you know this man, who says that he is the emperor and your lord?" But she: "O good lord, why do you ask such things of me? Have I not stood in your fellowship for more than 26 years and begotten progeny through you? But there is one thing I marvel at: how this ribald has come to our secrets perpetrated between us."

Imperator ille dixit illi, qui introductus fuerat: "Carissime, quare ausus fuisti te ipsum imperatorem nominare? Damus pro iudicio, ut ad caudam equi hodie sis tractus et si iterum sis ausus hoc dicere, te condemnabo morte turpissima." Vocavit satellites suos et ait: "Ite et istum ad caudam equi trahite, sed nolite eum occidere!" Et sic factum est.

That emperor said to the one who had been brought in: "Dearest, why have you dared to name yourself emperor? We give as judgment that today you be dragged to the tail of a horse, and if you should dare to say this again, I will condemn you to a most shameful death." He called his satellites (guards) and said: "Go and drag this man to the tail of a horse, but do not kill him!" And so it was done.

Post haec vero ultra quam credi potest commota sunt omnia interiora eius et quasi de se ipso desperatus dicebat: "Pereat dies, in qua natus sum! Amici a me recesserunt, uxor mea et filii mei non noverunt me." Dum hoc dixisset, cogitabat: "Hic prope manet confessor meus, pergam ad ipsum. Forte ipse notitiam meam habebit, quia saepius confessionem meam audivit."

After this, indeed, all his inmost parts were moved beyond what can be believed, and as if despairing of himself he said: "Let the day perish on which I was born! My friends have withdrawn from me; my wife and my sons do not know me." When he had said this, he was thinking: "My confessor dwells nearby; I shall go to him. Perhaps he will have knowledge of me, because he has more often heard my confession."

Perrexit ad eremitam, ad fenestram cellulae suae pulsavit. At ille: "Quis ibi est?" Et ille: "Ego sum imperator Iovinianus, fenestram aperias, ut loquar tecum!" Ille vero cum vocem eius audisset, fenestram aperuit; cum eum vidisset, cum impetu fenestram clausit et ait: "Discede a me, maledicte, tu non es imperator, sed diabolus in forma hominis."

He went to the hermit and knocked at the window of his little cell. But he said: "Who is there?" And he: "I am Emperor Jovinian; open the window, that I may speak with you!" He indeed, when he had heard his voice, opened the window; when he had seen him, he closed the window with an impetus and said: "Depart from me, accursed one; you are not the emperor, but the devil in the form of a man."

Ille hoc audiens ad terram prae dolore cecidit, crines capitis ac barbae dilaceravit et dixit: "Heu mihi, quid faciam ego!" His dictis recordatus fuit, quod in stratu suo exaltatum fuit cor eius dicens "Estne deus alter praeter me?" Statim ad fenestram eremitae pulsabat et dixit: "Amore illius, qui pependit in cruce, confessionem meam audite fenestra clausa!" At ille: "Mihi bene placet."

He, hearing this, fell to the ground for grief, tore the hair of his head and his beard, and said: "Alas for me, what shall I do!" These things said, he remembered that upon his couch his heart had been exalted, saying "Is there a god other than me?" At once he kept knocking at the hermit's window and said: "By the love of him who hung on the cross, hear my confession with the window closed!" But he: "It pleases me well."

Qui de tota vita sua cum lacrimis est confessus et praecipue, quomodo contra deum se erexit dicens, quod non credidit alium deum esse quam se ipsum. Facta confessione et absolutione eremita fenestram eius aperuit et notitiam eius habebat et ait: "Benedictus altissimus, iam novi vos. Paucas vestes hic habeo, induas te et ad palatium perge, et, ut spero, notitiam tuam habebunt."

Who confessed with tears concerning his whole life, and especially how he rose up against God, saying that he did not believe there was any other god than himself. The confession and absolution having been done, the hermit opened his window and had recognition of him and said: "Blessed be the Most High, now I know you. I have a few garments here; put them on and proceed to the palace, and, as I hope, they will have recognition of you."

Imperator induit se, ad palatium suum perrexit, ad ianuam pulsabat, ianitor ostium aperuit et eum satis honorifice recepit. At ille: "Numquid notitiam meam habes?" Qui ait: "Etiam, domine peroptime, sed admiror, quod per totum diem hic steti et vos exire non vidi." Ille vero aulam intravit, omnes eum videntes capita inclinabant.

The emperor clothed himself, proceeded to his palace, was knocking at the door; the doorkeeper opened the door and received him quite honorably. But he said: "Do you know me?" He said: "Yes, most excellent lord, but I marvel that I stood here the whole day and did not see you go out." He, however, entered the hall, and all who saw him inclined their heads.

Alius imperator erat cum domina in camera. Quidam miles exiens de camera eum intime aspexit et post haec in cameram reversus ait: "Domine mi, est quidam in aula, cui omnes capita inclinant et honorem faciunt, qui vobis in omnibus assimilatur, in tantum, quod, quis vestrum est imperator, penitus ignoro."

Another emperor was with a lady in the chamber. A certain soldier, going out of the chamber, looked at him closely, and after this, returning into the chamber, said: "My lord, there is a certain man in the hall, to whom all incline their heads and do honor, who is assimilated to you in all things, to such an extent that, which of you is the emperor, I completely do not know."

Imperator ille hoc audiens ait imperatrici: "Exeas et videas, si eius notitiam habeas." Illa vero foras perrexit, et cum eum vidisset, admirabatur, statim cameram intravit et ait: "O domine, vobis unum denuntio, quod, quis vestrum est dominus meus, penitus ignoro." At ille: "Ex quo sic est, foris pergam et veritatem excutiam."

That emperor, hearing this, said to the empress: "Go out and see whether you have knowledge of him." She indeed went outside, and when she had seen him, she was astonished; immediately she entered the chamber and said: "O lord, I announce to you one thing: that, which of you is my lord, I utterly do not know." But he: "Since it is thus, I will go outside and sift out the truth."

Cum autem aulam intrasset, eum per manum cepit et iuxta eum stare fecit, vocavit omnes nobiles in aula exsistentes cum imperatrice et ait: "Per iuramentum, quod mihi fecistis, dicite, quis nostrum est imperator?" Imperatrix primo respondit: "Domine mi, mihi incumbit primo respondere; testis est mihi deus in caelis, quis vestrum est dominus meus, penitus ignoro." Et sic omnes dixerunt.

But when he had entered the hall, he took him by the hand and made him stand beside him, he called all the nobles existing in the hall together with the Empress and said: "By the oath which you made to me, say, which of us is the emperor?" The Empress first responded: "My lord, it falls to me first to answer; God in the heavens is my witness, which of you is my lord, I utterly do not know." And so all said.

At ille: "Carissimi, audite me! Iste homo est imperator vester et dominus. Nam aliquo tempore contra deum se erexit; propter quod peccatum deus eum flagellavit et hominis notitia ab eo recessit, quousque satisfactionem deo fecit; ego sum angelus eius, custos animae suae, qui imperium custodivi, quamdiu fuit in paenitentia. Iam eius paenitentia est completa et pro peccatis satisfecit, amodo ei sitis oboedientes, ad deum vos recommendo."

But he: "Dearest ones, hear me! This man is your emperor and lord. For at a certain time he raised himself against God; on account of which sin God scourged him and the knowledge of a man withdrew from him, until he made satisfaction to God; I am his angel, the guardian of his soul, who guarded the empire as long as he was in penitence. Now his penitence is complete and he has made satisfaction for his sins; from now on be obedient to him, I commend you to God."

Statim ab oculis eorum disparuit. Imperator vero deo gratias reddidit et toto tempore vitae suae in bona pace vixit et spiritum deo reddidit.

Immediately he disappeared from their eyes. The emperor indeed rendered thanks to God and for the whole time of his life lived in good peace and returned his spirit to God.

De praemeditatione semper habenda (61)

On premeditation always to be had (61)

Claudius regnavit, qui unicam filiam habebat gratiosam et decoram valde; qui cum semel in stratu suo iacuisset, intime de filia sua cogitabat, quomodo eam promovere posset. Ait intra se: "Si eam in uxorem diviti stulto tradidero, filiam meam perdam, si vero pauperi sapienti, per eius sapientiam ei necessaria large acquiret."

Claudius reigned, who had an only daughter, gracious and very comely; and when once he had lain on his bed, he was thinking inwardly about his daughter, how he might promote her. He said within himself: "If I give her in marriage to a rich fool, I shall lose my daughter; but if to a poor wise man, through his sapience he will abundantly acquire for her the necessaries."

Erat tunc in civitate quidam philosophus nomine Socrates, quem rex dilexerat, vocavit eum et ait: "Carissime, numquid tibi placet filiam meam in coniugem accipere?" Et ille: "Etiam, domine peroptime." Et ille: "Ex quo ita est, dabo tibi eam et sub illa condicione, quod, si moriatur filia in tua societate, vitam tuam amittes. Eliges ergo eam accipere vel dimittere?" Et ille: "Mihi bene placet eam accipere sub ista condicione." Rex nuptias celebravit cum magna solemnitate.

There was then in the city a certain philosopher by the name Socrates, whom the king had loved; he called him and said: "Dearest, does it please you to take my daughter in marriage?" And he: "Yes, most excellent lord." And he: "Since it is so, I will give her to you, and under that condition, that, if the daughter should die in your company, you will lose your life. Will you choose, therefore, to take her or to dismiss her?" And he: "It pleases me well to take her under that condition." The king celebrated the nuptials with great solemnity.

Per quaedam tempora vitam duxerunt in quiete et sanitate perfecta, post hoc uxor Socratis usque ad mortem infirmabatur. Haec audiens Socrates contristatus est valde, quandam forestam intravit et flevit amare.

For some time they led their life in quiet and perfect health; after this, Socrates’s wife was ill unto death. Hearing this, Socrates was greatly saddened, entered a certain forest, and wept bitterly.

Dum sic esset in dolore, rex Alexander in eadem foresta venabatur. Miles quidam Alexandri Socratem vidit, ad eum equitabat et ait ei: "Carissime, cuius homo es?" Et ille: "Homo talis domini sum ego, quod servus domini mei est dominus domini tui." Ait miles: "Non est maior domino meo in toto mundo; sed ex quo talia dicis, ducam te ad dominum meum et audiemus, quis est dominus tuus, de quo tot et tanta praesumis."

While he was thus in grief, King Alexander was hunting in the same forest. A certain soldier of Alexander saw Socrates, rode to him and said to him: "Dearest, whose man are you?" And he: "I am the man of such a lord, that the servant of my lord is the lord of your lord." The soldier said: "There is no one greater than my lord in the whole world; but since you say such things, I will lead you to my lord and we shall hear who your lord is, of whom you presume so many and such great things."

Cum autem coram rege Alexandro ductus fuisset, ait ei rex: "Carissime, quis est dominus tuus, de quo talia dicis, quod servus eius est dominus meus?" Ait ille: "Dominus meus est ratio, servus eius voluntas, sic est ergo, quod tu per voluntatem tuam regnum tuum et non per rationem huc usque gubernasti. Ideo servus domini mei, hoc est voluntas, est dominus tuus."

When, however, he had been led before King Alexander, the king said to him: "Dearest, who is your lord, about whom you say such things, that his servant is my lord?" He said: "My lord is reason, its servant is will; thus it is therefore that you have up to this point governed your kingdom through your will and not through reason. Therefore the servant of my lord, that is, will, is your lord."

Audiens haec Alexander ait: "Carissime, prudenter respondisti, vade in pace!" Ab illa die coepit rex regnum suum ratione gubernare et non voluntate.

Hearing these things Alexander said: "Dearest, you have responded prudently; go in peace!" From that day the king began to govern his kingdom by reason and not by will.

Socrates vero solus forestam intravit et flevit amare pro sua coniuge. Senex quidam venit ad eum et ait: "O bone magister, ob quam rem affligitur anima tua?" Et ille: "Filiam regis sub tali condicione desponsavi, quod, quocumque tempore ipsa in societate mea moriatur, ego vitam meam amittam, et iam ad mortem infirmatur, et haec est causa doloris mei."

But Socrates alone entered the forest and wept bitterly for his spouse. A certain old man came to him and said: "O good master, for what reason is your soul afflicted?" And he: "I have betrothed the king’s daughter under such a condition, that, at whatever time she should die in my company, I will lose my life; and now she is sick unto death, and this is the cause of my grief."

Ait senex: "Fac consilium meum et post factum non paenitebis. Uxor tua est de sanguine regum; cum rex minutus fuerit, uxor tua pectus et ubera liniat de sanguine patris sui, deinde in ista foresta tres herbas invenies, de una ei potionem facies, de aliis duabus unum emplastrum ponas, ubi dolorem sentit, et si istam doctrinam impleverit, sanitatem perfectam inveniet."

The old man said: "Follow my counsel, and after the fact you will not repent. Your wife is of the blood of kings; when the king has been bled, let your wife anoint her chest and breasts with her father’s blood; then in this forest you will find three herbs: from one you will make a potion for her, from the other two you will place one emplaster where she feels pain; and if she shall have fulfilled this doctrine, she will find perfect health."

Socrates omnia implevit et uxor ab omni infirmitate convaluit. Rex vero cum audisset, quod Socrates tam sollicite pro infirmitate filiae suae laborabat, eum ad magnas divitias et honores promovit.

Socrates carried out everything, and his wife recovered from every infirmity. But the king, when he had heard that Socrates was laboring so solicitously for the infirmity of his daughter, promoted him to great riches and honors.

De pulchritudine fidelis animae (62)

On the pulchritude of the faithful soul (62)

Caius regnavit prudens valde; in eius regno mulier quaedam erat nomine Florentina miro modo pulchra et gratiosa, unde tanta pulchritudo erat in ea, quod tres reges eam obsidebant et a quolibet rege erat violata. Post haec inter reges propter nimium amorem commissum est bellum et quasi infiniti homines ex omni parte occubuerunt. Satrapae imperii haec audientes omnes ad regem venerunt dicentes: "Domine, illa Florentina in regno tuo est tam pulchra, quod quasi infiniti cottidie pro eius amore occiduntur, et nisi citius remedium apponatur, quotquot sunt in regno, peribunt."

Gaius reigned very prudent; in his kingdom there was a certain woman named Florentina, wondrously beautiful and gracious, whence there was such beauty in her that three kings were besieging her, and by each king she was violated. After this, among the kings, on account of excessive love, war was commenced, and as if infinite men fell on every side. The satraps of the empire, hearing these things, all came to the king, saying: "Lord, that Florentina in your kingdom is so beautiful that as if infinite men are slain daily for love of her; and unless a remedy be applied more swiftly, all as many as are in the kingdom will perish."

Audiens haec rex litteras scribi fecerat anulo suo signatas, quod sine ulteriori dilatione illa ad eum veniret. Praeco cum litteris ad eam perrexit, et antequam ad eam pervenit, defuncta est. Rediit praeco, de morte Florentinae regi nuntiavit.

Hearing these things, the king had caused letters to be written, sealed with his ring, that without further delay she should come to him. The herald proceeded to her with the letters, and before he reached her, she died. The herald returned and announced to the king the death of Florentina.

Rex contristatus est valde, quod eam videre non poterat in sua pulchritudine, et omnes pictores regni ad eum convocari fecit. Cum autem venissent, ait rex: "Carissimi, haec est causa, quare pro vobis misi: Erat quaedam mulier nomine Florentina in tanta pulchritudine, quod quasi infiniti occubuerunt pro eius amore; defuncta est et eam non vidi. Ite ergo et cum omni industria vestra imaginem eius depingite cum sua pulchritudine, per quam potero discernere, quomodo tot occubuerunt pro eius amore."

The king was very saddened, because he could not see her in her beauty, and he caused all the painters of the kingdom to be convoked to him. But when they had come, the king said: "Dearest ones, this is the cause for which I sent for you: There was a certain woman named Florentina in such beauty that well-nigh infinite numbers fell for love of her; she is deceased and I did not see her. Go therefore and with all your industry depict her image with her beauty, by which I shall be able to discern how so many fell for love of her."

At illi: "Domine, rem difficilem vos quaeritis; tanta erat in ea pulchritudo et decentia, quod omnes pictores orbis imaginem eius non depingerent quantum ad omnia, excepto uno pictore, qui latet in montibus. Ille solus est et non alius, qui voluntatem vestram adimplere poterit." Haec audiens rex pro illo pictore destinavit.

But they: "Lord, you seek a difficult thing; so great was the beauty and comeliness in her, that all the painters of the world would not paint her image in every respect, except for one painter, who lies hidden in the mountains. He alone, and no other, will be able to fulfill your will." Hearing these things, the king sent for that painter.

Qui cum ad eum venisset, ait ei: "Carissime, de tua industria informati sumus, ite et imaginem Florentinae per omnia depingite in sua pulchritudine et condignam mercedem dabo tibi." At ille: "Rem difficilem quaeritis, verumtamen mihi concede, ut in conspectu meo omnes pulchras mulieres totius regni saltem per unam horam habeam, et faciam, quod vobis placebit."

When he had come to him, he said to him: "Dearest, we have been informed about your industry; go and paint the image of Florentina in all respects in her beauty, and I will give you a condign reward." But he: "You seek a difficult matter; nevertheless grant to me that I may have in my sight all the beautiful women of the whole kingdom at least for one hour, and I will do what will please you."

Rex vero fecit omnes convocari et in conspectu eius stare. Pictor quattuor pulchriores ex eis elegit et alias licentiavit, ut ad patriam suam redirent.

The king indeed caused all to be convoked and to stand in his sight. The painter chose the four most beautiful from them and gave the others leave, that they might return to their own fatherland.

Pictor ille cum rubeo colore imaginem eius incepit depingere, et quae illarum quattuor mulierum habebat magis faciem gratiosam aut nasum, et sic de ceteris membris, hoc in imagine posuit, ita quod ex qualibet muliere aliquam partem accepit et imaginem complevit.

That painter began to depict her image with red color, and whichever of those four women had the more gracious face or nose, and so with the other members, this he placed in the image, such that from each woman he took some part and completed the image.

Cum vero completa fuisset imago, venit rex, ut eam videret. Quam cum vidisset, ait: "O Florentina, Florentina, si vixisses, ultra omnes istum pictorem deberes diligere, qui depinxit te in tanta pulchritudine."

But when the image had been completed, the king came to see it. When he had seen it, he said: "O Florentina, Florentina, if you had lived, beyond all others you ought to love this painter, who painted you in such great pulchritude."

De mirabili divina dispensatione et ortu beati Gregorii papae (81)

on the miraculous divine dispensation and the origin of blessed pope gregory (81)

Marcus regnavit prudens valde. Qui tantum unicum filium et filiam habebat, quos multum dilexit. Cum vero ad senectutem pervenisset, infirmitas gravis eum apprehendit; qui cum vidisset, quod vivere non posset, fecit vocari omnes satrapas imperii et ait: "Carissimi, scire debetis, quod hodie spiritum deo debeo reddere; non habeo tantum periculum in anima mea, sicut de filia mea, quod eam matrimonio non tradidi, et ideo tu, fili, qui es heres meus, tibi praecipio sub mea benedictione, ut eam maritari facias tam honorifice, sicut decet, et medio tempore sicut te ipsum omni die eam in honore habeas."

Marcus reigned very prudently. He had only a single son and a daughter, whom he loved much. But when he had come to old age, a grave infirmity seized him; and when he saw that he could not live, he had all the satraps of the empire summoned and said: "Dearest ones, you ought to know that today I must render my spirit to God; I do not have so great a peril in my soul as about my daughter, in that I have not delivered her to marriage; and therefore you, my son, who are my heir, I enjoin upon you under my blessing, that you cause her to be married as honorably as befits, and in the meantime that every day you hold her in honor as yourself."

His dictis vertit se ad parietem et spiritum emisit. De cuius morte planctus magnus factus est in civitate et satis honorifice eum sepulturae tradiderunt.

With these things said, he turned himself toward the wall and breathed forth his spirit. At his death a great lamentation was made in the city, and they committed him to sepulture quite honorifically.

Post hoc vero filius satis prudenter incepit regnare, sororem suam in omni honore habere, quam miro modo dilexit in tantum, quod omni die, licet nobiles secum essent in mensa, in una cathedra ex opposito eius sedebat et adinvicem comedebant et in eadem camera in lectis separatis iacebant.

After this, indeed, the son began to reign quite prudently, to hold his sister in all honor, whom he loved in a wondrous manner to such a degree that every day, although nobles were with him at table, he used to sit in one chair opposite her, and they ate with one another, and in the same chamber they lay in separate beds.

Accidit una nocte, quod temptatio gravis eum accepit, quod ei videbatur spiritum emittere, nisi cum sorore sua libidinem suam posset implere. De lecto surrexit et ad sororem suam perrexit, quam dormientem invenit et excitavit eam. Illa sic excitata ait: "O domine, ad quid venisti ista hora?" Qui respondit: "Nisi tecum dormiam, amitto vitam meam." Quae ait: "Absit a me tale peccatum perpetrare!

It happened one night that a grave temptation seized him, such that it seemed to him he would breathe out his spirit unless he could fulfill his libido with his sister. From the bed he rose and went to his sister, whom he found sleeping, and he awakened her. She, thus awakened, said: "O lord, for what have you come at this hour?" He replied: "Unless I sleep with you, I lose my life." She said: "Far be it from me to perpetrate such a sin!"

Ad memoriam reducite, quomodo pater noster te oneravit sub benedictione ante mortem suam, quod me haberes in omni honore! Si tale peccatum perpetrares, offensionem dei non evaderes nec hominum confusionem." At ille: "Quomodocumque fiat, voluntatem meam adimplebo." Dormivit cum ea.

"Recall to memory how our father laid a charge upon you under a blessing before his death, that you should hold me in all honor! If you were to perpetrate such a sin, you would not escape the offense of God nor the confusion of men." But he said: "However it be, I will fulfill my will." He slept with her.

Hoc facto ad proprium stratum rediit, puella vero amare flevit et consolari nolebat, imperator vero, quantum potuit, solacium ei praebebat, et miro modo magis ac magis eum dilexit.

This having been done, he returned to his own bed; the girl wept bitterly and did not wish to be consoled; but the emperor, as much as he could, offered her solace, and in a wondrous way she loved him more and more.

Post hoc vero circa dimidium annum illa in cathedra sedebat in mensa, et frater eius eam intime aspexit et ait: "Carissima, quid tibi est? Iam facies tua est mutata in colore et oculi tui in nigredinem mutantur." At illa: "Mirum non est, quia sum impraegnata et per consequens confusa."

After this, however, about half a year later she was sitting in a chair at table, and her brother looked at her intently and said: "Dearest, what is the matter with you? Already your face has changed in color and your eyes are turning to blackness." But she: "It is no marvel, because I am impregnated and, consequently, confounded."

Ille hoc audiens ultra quam credi potest contristatus est; flevit amare et ait: "Pereat dies, in quo natus sum, et quid faciam ego, penitus ignoro."

He, hearing this, was grieved beyond what can be believed; he wept bitterly and said: "May the day perish on which I was born, and what I should do, I utterly do not know."

Quae ait: "Domine, fac consilium meum et post factum non paenitebis; nos non sumus primi, qui graviter deum offenderunt. Hic prope est unus miles senex consiliarius patris nostri, de cuius consilio pater noster semper est operatus. Vocetur ille et sub sigillo confessionis omnia ei dicemus.

She said: "Sir, carry out my counsel and after it is done you will not repent; we are not the first who have gravely offended God. Here nearby there is an old soldier, our father’s counselor, by whose counsel our father has always acted. Let him be summoned, and under the seal of confession we will tell him everything.

Ille vero utile consilium dabit nobis et quod satisfaciemus deo et opprobrium mundanum evadere poterimus."

He indeed will give us useful counsel, and how we may satisfy God and be able to evade worldly opprobrium."

Ait rex: "Mihi bene placet, sed primo studeamus deo reconciliari!" Confessi sunt ambo corde puro cum contritione magna.

The king says: "It pleases me well, but first let us strive to be reconciled to God!" They both confessed with a pure heart, with great contrition.

Facta confessione miserunt pro milite et totum private cum fletu rettulerunt. At ille: "Domine, ex quo estis deo reconciliati, audite consilium meum, ut confusionem mundanam evadere possitis. Pro peccatis vestris ac patris vestri terram sanctam debetis visitare et tali die omnes satrapas regni vestri in praesentia tua convocare, deinde haec verba per ordinem dicere: `Carissimi, terram sanctam visitare volo; nullum heredem praeter sororem unam habeo, sicut scitis, cui in absentia mea sicut corpori meo debetis oboedire', et post hoc mihi coram omnibus dicere: `Et tibi, carissime, dico sub poena vitae tuae, ut sororis meae custodiam habeas.' Ego vero tam private et secure custodiam, quod nullus tempore partus nec ante nec post de casu vestro sciet, nec etiam uxor mea."

With confession made, they sent for the soldier and reported everything privately with weeping. But he: "Lord, since you have been reconciled to God, hear my counsel, that you may be able to evade worldly confusion. For your sins and your father's you ought to visit the Holy Land, and on such-and-such a day summon all the satraps of your kingdom into your presence; then say these words in order: `Dearest ones, I wish to visit the Holy Land; I have no heir except one sister, as you know, to whom in my absence you ought to obey as to my own person,' and after this you should say to me before all: `And to you, dearest, I say under penalty of your life, that you have the custody of my sister.' I indeed will keep watch so privately and securely that no one at the time of delivery, neither before nor after, will know about your case, not even my wife."

Ait rex: "Bonum est consilium; omnia adimplebo, quae mihi dicitis." Statim fecit omnes satrapas convenire et omnia a principio usque ad finem, sicut superius est scriptum, consilium militis adimplevit. Cum omnia verba consumasset, vale omnibus fecit, ad terram sanctam perrexit, miles vero dominam sororem regis ad castrum suum duxit.

The king said: "It is good counsel; I will fulfill all the things which you say to me." Immediately he made all the satraps convene, and he fulfilled the soldier’s counsel, all from the beginning unto the end, as is written above. When he had finished all the words, he made farewell to all, proceeded to the Holy Land, while the soldier led the lady, the king’s sister, to his own castle.

Cum autem uxor militis hoc vidisset, domino suo occurrit et ait: "Domine mi reverende, qualis domina ista est?" Qui ait: "Domina nostra soror regis est. Iura mihi per deum omnipotentem sub poena vitae tuae, ut, quicquam tibi dixero, omnia habebis in secreto." At illa: "Domine, paesto sum." Cum autem iurasset, ait miles: "Domina nostra per dominum nostrum regem est impraegnata; quare tibi praecipio, ut nulla creatura ministret ei excepta tua persona, ita ut principium, medium et finis omnia sint secreta." At illa: "Domine, omnia ista fideliter adimplebo."

But when the wife of the knight had seen this, she ran to meet her lord and said: "My reverend lord, what sort of lady is this?" He said: "Our lady is the sister of the king. Swear to me by almighty God under penalty of your life, that, whatever I shall tell you, you will keep everything in secret." And she: "Lord, I stand ready." And when she had sworn, the knight said: "Our lady has been impregnated by our lord the king; wherefore I enjoin you that no creature minister to her except your person, such that the beginning, middle, and end—let all be secret." And she: "Lord, I will faithfully fulfill all these things."

Domina ad cameram privatam est introducta et satis splendide ei ministrabatur. Cum tempus pariendi esset, filium formosum peperit.

The lady was ushered into the private chamber, and she was attended quite splendidly. When the time for giving birth had come, she bore a handsome son.

Miles cum hoc audisset, ait dominae: "O domina carissima, bonum est ac utile sacerdotem vocari, ut puerum baptizet." Qae ait: "Deo meo voveo, quo ille, qui est inter fratrem et sororem genitus, per me baptismum non habebit." Ait miles: "Scitis, grave peccatum est inter vos et dominum meum commissum; nolite propter hoc animam pueri occidere." Ait domina: "Votum vovi, quod firmiter tenebo; sed tibi praecipio, ut dolium vacuum mihi apportes." Qui ait: "Praesto sum."

When the soldier had heard this, he said to the lady: "O dearest lady, it is good and useful that a priest be called, that he may baptize the boy." She said: "I vow to my God that he, who has been begotten between brother and sister, will not have baptism through me." The soldier said: "You know, a grave sin has been committed between you and my lord; do not on account of this kill the soul of the boy." The lady said: "A vow I have vowed, which I will hold firmly; but I command you to bring me an empty cask." He said: "I stand ready."

Dolium secum ad cameram portari fecit, illa vero decenter puerum in cunabulo reclinavit et in parvis tabellis haec, quae sequuntur, scripsit: `Carissimi, scire debetis, quod puer iste non est baptizatus, quia inter fratrem et sororem genitus est; ideo propter dei amorem baptizetur, et sub capite eius pondus auri invenietis, cum quo ipsum nutriri faciatis, et ad pedes argenti pondus, cum quo studium exerceat.'

She had the cask carried with her to the chamber; but she decently laid the boy in the cradle and on small tablets wrote these things which follow: `Dearest ones, you ought to know that this boy is not baptized, because he was begotten between brother and sister; therefore for the love of God let him be baptized, and beneath his head you will find a weight of gold, with which you should have him nourished, and at the feet a weight of silver, with which he may exercise study.'

Cum omnia ista erant scripta, tabellas in cunabulo sub latere pueri ponebat, aurum sub capite, argentum ad pedes. Deinde cum pannis sericis ac deauratis cunabulum cooperuit.

When all these things had been written, she was placing the tablets in the cradle beneath the boy’s side, the gold under his head, the silver at his feet. Then with silken and gilded cloths she covered the cradle.

Hoc facto militi praecepit, ut cunabulum infra dolium poneret et in mari proiceret, ut nataret, ubicumque deus disponeret. Miles vero omnia adimplevit. Cum dolium proiectum in mari fuisset, miles tamdiu iuxta mare stetit, quamdiu dolium natare videret; hoc facto ad dominam rediit.

This done, she ordered the soldier to place the cradle inside the cask and to cast it into the sea, that it might float wherever God should dispose. The soldier indeed fulfilled everything. When the cask had been cast into the sea, the soldier stood by the sea as long as he saw the cask float; this done, he returned to the lady.

Sed cum iuxta castrum suum venisset, nuntius regis de terra sancta ei obviabat; ait ei: "Carissime, unde venis?" Qui ait: "De terra sancta venio." "Et quales rumores habetis?" Et ille: "Dominus meus rex mortuus est et corpus suum ad unum de castris suis est ductum."

But when he had come near his castle, a messenger of the king from the Holy Land met him; he said to him: "Dearest, whence do you come?" He said: "I come from the Holy Land." "And what sort of rumors do you have?" And he: "My lord the king is dead, and his corpus has been led to one of his castles."

Miles hoc audiens flevit amare. Uxor eius superveniens cum de morte imperatoris audisset, ultra quam credi potest dolebat. Miles surrexit et ait uxori suae: "Nolito flere, ne domina nostra percipiat.

The soldier, hearing this, wept bitterly. His wife, arriving and having heard of the emperor’s death, was grieving beyond what can be believed. The soldier rose and said to his wife: "Do not weep, lest our lady find out."

Nihil ei dicemus, quousque a puerperio resurgat."

"We will say nothing to her, until she recovers from her puerperium."

Miles post hos sermones ad dominam intravit. Uxor eius sequebatur eum. Cum domina eos respexisset et eos desolatos perpendit, ait: "Carissimi, propter quam causam estis tristes?" At illa: "Domina, non sumus tristes, sed potius gaudentes, quod liberata estis a gravi periculo, in quo fuistis." At illa: "Ita non est.

The soldier, after these speeches, entered to the lady. His wife was following him. When the lady had looked upon them and considered them desolate, she said: "Dearest ones, for what cause are you sad?" But she: "Lady, we are not sad, but rather rejoicing, because you have been liberated from the grave peril in which you were." But she: "It is not so.

Indicate mihi, nolite aliquid celare a me sive bonum sive malum!" Ait miles: "Quidam nuntius de terra sancta venit de domino nostro, rege fratre vestro, qui narrat rumores." Quae ait: "Vocetur nuntius!" Qui cum venisset, ait ei domina: "Quomodo est de domino meo?" Qui respondit: "Dominus vester mortuus est et eius corpus de terra sancta translatum est ad castrum suum, et cum patre vestro sepelietur."

“Indicate to me; do not conceal anything from me, whether good or bad!” The soldier said: “A certain messenger from the Holy Land has come about our lord, the king, your brother, who relates rumors.” She said: “Let the messenger be called!” When he had come, the lady said to him: “How is it with my lord?” He replied: “Your lord is dead, and his body has been translated from the Holy Land to his castle, and he will be buried with your father.”

Domina cum haec audisset, ad terram cecidit. Miles videns dolores dominae, in terram iacuit, uxor militis cum eis ac nuntius; omnes isti per magnum spatium iacebant, et in eis prae magno dolore non est vox neque sensus.

When the lady had heard these things, she fell to the ground. The knight, seeing the lady’s pains, lay on the ground, the knight’s wife with them, and the messenger; all these lay for a great space, and in them, from very great grief, there was neither voice nor sense.

Domina vero post magnum spatium surrexit, crines capitis traxit, faciem usque ad sanguinis effusionem dilaceravit et alta voce clamavit: "Heu mihi, pereat dies, in qua concepta eram, non illa numeretur, in qua sum nata! Quantas habeo iniquitates et quanta in me sunt completa! Periit spes mea, fortitudo mea, frater meus unicus, dimidium animae meae.

The lady indeed after a great span rose up, tore the hairs of her head, lacerated her face even to the effusion of blood, and with a loud voice cried out: "Alas for me, may the day perish on which I was conceived; let not that one be numbered on which I was born! How great iniquities I have and how many in me are fulfilled! My hope has perished, my fortitude, my only brother, the half of my soul.

Quid faciam de cetero, penitus ignoro."

"What I shall do hereafter, I utterly do not know."

Surrexit miles et ait: "O domina carissima, audite me! Si propter dolorem te ipsam necaveris, totum regnum peribit. Tu sola es derelicta et iure hereditario regnum tibi debetur. Si ergo te ipsam occideris, regnum ad extraneos convolabit.

The knight rose and said: "O most dear lady, hear me! If on account of grief you kill yourself, the whole kingdom will perish. You alone are left, and by hereditary right the kingdom is owed to you. If therefore you kill yourself, the kingdom will fly to strangers."

Surgamus ergo et ad locum, ubi corpus iacet, accedamus et honorifice eum sepeliemus, deinde studeamus, quomodo imperium regere debemus."

"Let us rise then and go to the place where the body lies; let us approach and bury him with honor, then let us consider how we ought to govern the empire."

Illa vero ex verbis militis comfortata surrexit et cum honesta comitiva ad castrum fratris sui accessit. Cum autem intrasset, corpus regis super feretrum invenit, super corpus cecidit, a planta pedis usque ad verticem osculata est eum. Milites videntes nimium dolorem in ipsa de funere dominam extraxerunt et in cameram introduxerunt et corpus satis honorifice sepulturae tradiderunt.

She indeed, comforted by the words of the soldier, rose and with an honorable retinue approached the castle of her brother. But when she had entered, she found the king’s body upon a bier; upon the body she fell, and from the sole of the foot up to the crown she kissed him. The soldiers, seeing excessive dolor in her, drew the lady away from the funeral and introduced her into a chamber, and they consigned the body to sepulture quite honorably.

Post hoc quidam dux Burgundiae solemnes nuntios ad eam misit, ut ei in uxorem consentiret; illa vero statim respondit: "Quamdiu vixero, virum non habebo." Nuntii haec audientes voluntatem eius domino nuntiabant; dux haec audiens indignatus est contra eam et ait: "Si eam habuissem, rex illius regni fuissem, sed ex quo me vili pendebat, de regno suo parum gaudebit." Exercitum collegit, regnum intravit, comburebat et occidit et infinita mala perpetrabat et victoriam in omni bello obtinuit. Domina ad quandam civitatem bene muratam fugam petiit, in qua erat castrum fortissimum et in ea per multos annos permansit.

After this a certain duke of Burgundy sent formal envoys to her, that she might consent to him as a wife; but she immediately replied: "As long as I live, I will not have a husband." The envoys, hearing these things, reported her will to their lord; the duke, hearing this, was indignant against her and said: "If I had had her, I would have been king of that kingdom; but since she held me cheap, she will take little joy in her kingdom." He gathered an army, entered the kingdom, burned and killed, perpetrated countless evils, and obtained victory in every war. The lady sought flight to a certain well-walled city, in which there was a most strong castle, and in it she remained for many years.

Iam ad puerum proiectum in mare redeamus. Dolium cum puero per multa regna transiit, quousque iuxta coenobium monachorum pervenit et hoc feria sexta. Eodem die abbas illius monasterii ad litus maris perrexit et piscatoribus suis ait: "Carissimi, estote parati ad piscandum!" Illi vero retia sua parabant.

Now let us return to the boy cast into the sea. The cask with the boy passed through many kingdoms, until it came near a coenobium of monks, and this on Friday. On the same day the abbot of that monastery went to the shore of the sea and said to his fishermen: "Dearest ones, be ready for fishing!" They, indeed, were preparing their nets.

Dum vero praepararent, dolium cum fluctibus maris ad terram pervenit. Ait abbas servis suis: "Ecce dolium! Aperiatis et videatis, quid ibi lateat!" Illi vero dolium aperuerunt et ecce puer parvus pannis pretiosis involutus abbatem respexit et risit, abbas vero totaliter de visu contristatus ait: "O deus meus, quid est hoc, quod invenimus puerum in cunabulo?" Propriis manibus eum levavit, tabellas sub latere eius invenit, quas mater ibidem posuit.

But while they were preparing, the cask, with the waves of the sea, reached the shore. The abbot said to his servants: "Behold the cask! Open it and see what lies hidden there!" They opened the cask, and behold, a small boy, wrapped in precious cloths, looked at the abbot and smiled; but the abbot, altogether saddened by the sight, said: "O my God, what is this, that we have found a boy in a cradle?" With his own hands he lifted him up; he found little tablets under his side, which his mother had placed there.

Aperuit et legit, quod puer ille inter fratrem et sororem esset genitus nec baptizatus, sed propter dei amorem petitur, ut sacramentum baptismi ei daretur, deinde cum auro, quod ad caput eius inveniretur, nutriretur, et ad pedes argentum, per quod studium exerceret. Abbas cum haec legisset et cunabulum pannis pretiosis ornatum vidisset, intellexit, quod puer de nobili sanguine esset, statim eum baptizari fecit et ei proprium nomen imposuit, scilicet Gregorius, et puerum ad nutriendum uni piscatori tradidit, dans ei pondus, quod invenit.

He opened and read that that boy had been begotten between a brother and a sister and was not baptized; but for the love of God it is requested that the sacrament of baptism be given to him, then that he be nourished with the gold which would be found at his head, and at his feet with silver, by which he might pursue his studies. When the abbot had read these things and had seen the cradle adorned with precious cloths, he understood that the boy was of noble blood; at once he had him baptized and bestowed upon him his own name, namely Gregory, and he entrusted the boy to one fisherman to be fostered, giving him the weight which he had found.

Puer vero crescebat, ab omnibus dilectus, quosque septem annos in aetatem complevisset. Abbas statim ad studium eum ordinavit, in quo miro modo profecit, omnes monachi coenobii tamquam suum monachum dilexerunt, puer vero infra pauca tempora omnes in scientia transcendit.

The boy, for his part, was growing, loved by all, until he had completed seven years in age. The abbot immediately appointed him to study, in which he advanced in a wondrous manner; all the monks of the coenobium loved him as their own monk, and the boy, indeed, within a short time transcended all in knowledge.

Accidit quodam die, ut, cum filius piscatoris cum pila quadam luderet - et dictum piscatorem patrem suum esse credidit - , a casu filium piscatoris cum pila laesit, ille sic percussus amare flevit, domi perrexit et matri conquestus est dicens: "Gregorius frater meus me percussit." Mater haec audiens foras exivit et dure arguebat eum dicens: "O Gregori, qua audacia filium meum percussisiti, cum tamen, qualis es et unde, ignoramus."

It happened on a certain day that, when the fisherman’s son was playing with a certain ball — and he believed the said fisherman to be his father — , by chance he struck the fisherman’s son with the ball; he, thus smitten, wept bitterly, went home and complained to his mother, saying: "Gregory my brother struck me." The mother, hearing this, went outside and was harshly reproving him, saying: "O Gregory, with what audacity have you struck my son, when yet what sort you are and whence you are, we do not know."

Ait ille: "O mater dulcissima, nonne filius tuus sum ego? Quare talia mihi improperas?" Quae ait: "Filius meus non es et, unde sis, ignoro, sed unum scio, quod in quodam dolio inventus fuisti; abbas te mihi ad nutriendum dedit."

He said: "O sweetest mother, am I not your son? Why do you reproach me with such things?" She said: "You are not my son, and whence you are I do not know; but one thing I know, that you were found in a certain cask, and the abbot gave you to me to be nursed."

Ille cum haec audisset, flevit amare, ad abbatem perrexit et ait: "O domine mi, diu vobiscum steti, credebam me filium piscatoris fuisse; cum tamen non sum, et ideo parentes meos ignoro, si placet, me ad militiam promoveas, quia hic amplius non manebo."

He, when he had heard these things, wept bitterly, went to the abbot and said: "O my lord, I have stayed with you for a long time; I believed myself to have been the fisherman’s son; since, however, I am not, and therefore I do not know my parents, if it pleases you, promote me to military service, because I will no longer remain here."

Ait abbas: "O fili, noli talia cogitare! Omnes monachi in domo exsistentes miro modo te diligunt in tantum, quod post discessum meum in abbatem te promovebunt." Ait ille: "Domine, sine dubio non exspectabo, donec ad parentes meos pervenero." Abbas haec audiens ad thesaurum suum accessit et tabellas, quas in cunabulo suo invenit, ei ostendit dicens: "Nunc, fili, lege interius et, qualis es, clare invenies."

The abbot said: "O son, do not think such things! All the monks existing in the house love you in a wondrous way, to such an extent that after my departure they will promote you to abbot." He said: "Master, without doubt I will not wait, until I have reached my parents." The abbot, hearing this, went to his treasury and showed him the tablets which he had found in his cradle, saying: "Now, son, read within, and you will clearly find of what sort you are."

Cum vero legisset, quod inter fratrem et sororem esset genitus, ad terram cecidit et ait: "Heu mihi, quales parentes habeo? Ad terram sanctam pergam et pro peccatis parentum pugnabo et ibi vitam finiam. Peto ergo, domine, instanter, ut me ad militiam promoveas."

But when he had read that he was begotten between a brother and a sister, he fell to the ground and said: "Alas for me, what kind of parents do I have? I will go to the Holy Land and will fight for the sins of my parents, and there I will end my life. I therefore beg, lord, urgently, that you promote me to knighthood."

Quod et fecit. Cum autem licentiam de recessu recepit, factus est planctus magnus in coenobio, dolor in populo et in circuitu lamentatio. Ad mare se transtulit et convenit cum nautis, ut eum ad terram sanctam ducerent.

Which he also did. But when he had received leave for departure, there arose great wailing in the monastery, grief among the people, and lamentation all around. He betook himself to the sea and came to terms with the sailors to lead him to the Holy Land.

Cum vero navigassent, ventus erat eis oppositus et subito ducti sunt ad eandem civitatem, in qua erat mater eius in castro. Qualis erat civitas aut quod regnum, penitus nautae ignorabant.

But when they had navigated, the wind was contrary to them, and suddenly they were brought to the same city, in which his mother was in the castle. What sort of city it was or what kingdom, the sailors utterly did not know.

Cum autem civitatem miles intrasset, quidam civis ei occurrebat et ait ei: "Domine, quo tenditis?" Et ille: "Hospitium quaero." Civis vero ad domum suam cum tota familia sua duxit et splendide eis ministravit.

When however the soldier had entered the city, a certain citizen ran up to him and said to him: "Sir, where are you tending?" And he: "I seek lodging." The citizen then led them to his own house with his whole family and served them splendidly.

Cum vero in mensa sederent, dominus Gregorius hospiti dixit: "Domine, qualis est civitas illa et quis dominus istius terrae?" At ille: "Carissime, unum virum valentem imperatorem habuimus, qui mortuus est in terra sancta, qui nullum heredem praeter suam sororem post se reliquit; quidam dux eam in uxorem petiit, quae nullo modo copulari intendit. Ille ex hoc indignatus totum regnum istud excepta civitate ista manu forti acquisivit."

When indeed they were sitting at table, Lord Gregory said to the host: "Sir, what sort of city is that and who is the lord of this land?" But he: "Dearest, we had one valiant man for emperor, who died in the Holy Land, who left behind no heir after him except his sister; a certain duke asked for her in marriage, who in no way intended to be coupled in marriage. He, indignant at this, with a strong hand acquired all this kingdom, except this city."

Ait miles: "Numquid secretum cordis mei potero secure propalare?" At ille: "Domine, etiam cum omni securitate." Qui ait: "Miles sum; si placet, die crastina ad palatium pergas et cum senescallo sermonem de me facias, quod, si salarium mihi dederit, pro iustitia dominae isto anno pugnabo." Ait civis: "Non dubito, domine, quin de adventu tuo gaudebit tot corde; die crastina ad palatium pergam et finem huius rei faciam."

The soldier said: "Will I be able safely to divulge the secret of my heart?" And he: "Lord, even with all security." He said: "I am a soldier; if it pleases, tomorrow go to the palace and have speech with the seneschal about me, that, if he will give me a salary, I will fight for my lady’s justice this year." The citizen said: "I do not doubt, lord, that he will rejoice at your arrival with all his heart; tomorrow I will go to the palace and I will bring this matter to an end."

Mane surrexit, ad senescallum perrexit et de adventu eius intimavit. Ille non modicum gaudens pro domino Gregorio nuntium destinavit. Cum eum vidisset, dominae est praesentatus et multum commendatus.

In the morning he rose, went to the seneschal, and intimated about his arrival. He, rejoicing not a little for lord Gregory, dispatched a message. When he had seen him, he was presented to the lady and much commended.

Quem cum vidisset, intime eum respexit; sed quod erat filius eius, penitus ignorabat. Ipsa eum submersum a multis annis credidit. Senescallus in praesentia dominae eum conduxit, ut per integrum annum ei ministraret.

When she had seen him, she looked on him closely; but that he was her son, she was utterly ignorant. She believed him drowned for many years. The seneschal, in the presence of the lady, engaged him, that for an entire year he might minister to her.

Die crastina ad bellum se parat, adest dux in campo cum exercitu magno, dominus Gregorius bellum aggreditur, omnes penetravit, quousque ad ducem pervenit, quem in eodem loco occidit et caput eius amputavit et victoriam obtinuit. Miles vero post haec de die in diem proficiebat, fama eius undique circuibat, sic quod, antequam annus fuisset completus, totum regnum a manibus inimicorum acquisivit.

On the morrow he prepares himself for war; the duke is present in the field with a great army; Lord Gregory engages the battle, he penetrated them all until he reached the duke, whom he killed on the very spot and amputated his head and obtained the victory. The soldier indeed after these things was advancing from day to day; his fame was circling everywhere; such that, before a year had been completed, he acquired the whole kingdom from the hands of the enemies.

Deinde ad senescallum venit et ait: "Carissime, vobis constat, in quo statu vos inveni et ad quem statum duxi; rogo ergo, trade mihi salarium, quia tendo pergere ad alium regnum." Ait senescallus: "Domine, plus meruisti, quam ex conventione tenemur tibi; ideo ad dominam nostram pergam, ut de statu ac mercede finem faciam."

Then he came to the seneschal and said: "Dearest, it is evident to you in what status I found you and to what status I have led you; therefore I ask, hand over to me the salary, because I intend to proceed to another kingdom." The seneschal says: "Lord, you have deserved more than by the convention we are bound to you; therefore I will go to our lady, so that I may bring to a conclusion the matter of the status and the wage."

Cum autem ad dominam venisset, ait: "O domina carissima, dicam vobis aliqua verba proficua, ex defectu capitis omnia mala sustinuimus; ideo bonum est virum accipere, per quem poterimus de cetero securi esse. Regnum vestrum in divitiis abundat, et ideo virum propter divitias accipere non consulo; unde ignoro, ubi melius ad honorem vestrum et commodum totius populi poteritis virum accipere, quam dominum Gregorium."

But when he had come to the lady, he said: "O most dear lady, I will tell you some profitable words: from the defect of a head (leader) we have endured all evils; therefore it is good to take a husband, through whom we shall be able henceforth to be secure. Your kingdom abounds in riches, and therefore I do not advise taking a husband on account of riches; wherefore I do not know where you could take a husband better for your honor and the advantage of the whole people than lord Gregory."

Illa vero solebat semper respondere: "Voveo deo, quod numquam copulabor viro." Sed ad verbum senescalli diem deliberationis constituit ad respondendum.

She, however, was always accustomed to respond: "I vow to God that I will never be joined to a man." But at the word of the seneschal she appointed a day of deliberation for responding.

Adest vero dies, cunctis audientibus domina dixit: "Ex quo dominus Gregorius valide nos et regnum nostrum de manibus inimicorum liberavit, eum in virum accipiam." Haec audientes gavisi sunt valde, diem nuptiarum constituit, ambo cum magno iubilo et consensu totius imperii in matrimonium sunt coniuncti, filius cum matre propria; sed quales essent, utrique ignorabant. Facta est inter eos dilectio magna.

The day is indeed at hand, and with all listening the lady said: "Since lord Gregory has stoutly delivered us and our kingdom from the hands of enemies, I will take him as husband." Hearing these things they rejoiced greatly, she set the day of the nuptials, and both, with great jubilation and the consensus of the whole empire, were joined in matrimony, the son with his own mother; but what they were, each of the two was ignorant. A great affection was made between them.

Accidit quadam die, quod dominus Gregorius ad venandum perrexit; ait quaedam ancilla dominae: "O domina carissima, numquid dominum nostrum regem in aliquo offendisti?" Quae ait: "In nullo. Credo, quod in mundo non inveniuntur duo adinvicem ligati in matrimonio, qui tantum se diligunt mutuo, sicut dominus meus et ego. Sed dic mihi, carissima, quare protulisti talia verba?" At illa: "Omni die, quando ponitur mensa, dominus noster rex illam cameram privatam intrat laetus; sed cum exit, lamentationes et fletus emittit; deinde faciem lavat; sed quare hoc fit, penitus ignoro."

It happened on a certain day that lord Gregory went forth to hunt; a certain handmaid said to the lady: "O dearest lady, have you by any chance offended our lord the king in anything?" She said: "In nothing. I believe that in the world there are not found two bound to one another in marriage who love each other so greatly as my lord and I. But tell me, dearest, why have you brought forth such words?" But she: "Every day, when the table is set, our lord the king enters that private chamber joyful; but when he comes out, he emits lamentations and weeping; then he washes his face; but why this happens, I utterly do not know."

Domina cum hoc audisset, cameram illam sola intravit, de foramine in foramen intime respexit, donec ad illud foramen venit, in quo tabellae erant, quas singulis diebus solebat legere, quomodo inter fratrem et sororem genitus esset; et tunc amare flevit. Illae enim erant tabellae, quae in cunabulo suo erant inventae. Domina vero cum tabellas invenisset, statim notitiam illarum habebat, aperuit, scripturam legit de manu propria, intra se cogitabat: "Numquam homo iste ad tabellas venisset, nisi filius meus esset." Incepit alta voce clamare ac dicere: "Heu mihi, quod sum nata ac in mundo educata!

When the Lady had heard this, she alone entered that chamber, and from opening to opening she peered intently, until she came to that opening in which were the tablets which he was accustomed to read every day, how he had been begotten between brother and sister; and then she wept bitterly. For those were the tablets which had been found in his cradle. But when the Lady had found the tablets, she immediately had recognition of them, she opened them, read the writing of her own hand, and thought within herself: "Never would this man have come to the tablets, unless he were my son." She began to cry out with a loud voice and to say: "Alas for me, that I was born and educated in the world!

Utinam in die conceptionis meae mater mea fuisset exstincta!"

"Would that on the day of my conception my mother had perished!"

Cumque esset in aula clamor, audientes milites dominae ad dominam cucurrerunt cum ceteris et illam iacentem in terra invenerunt et per longum tempus circa eam steterunt, antequam verbum ab ea habere potuerunt; deinde os aperuit et ait: "Si diligitis vitam meam, statim dominum meum quaerite!"

And when there was a clamor in the hall, the lady’s soldiers, hearing it, ran to the lady with the others and found her lying on the ground, and for a long time they stood around her before they were able to have a word from her; then she opened her mouth and said: "If you love my life, at once seek my lord!"

Milites haec audientes statim equos ascenderunt et ad imperatorem equitabant et ei dixerunt: "Domine, regina in periculo mortis iacet." Ille hoc audiens lusum dimisit et ad castrum perrexit, cameram, in qua domina iacuit, intravit.

The soldiers, hearing these things, immediately mounted their horses and rode to the emperor and said to him: "Lord, the queen lies in danger of death." He, hearing this, dismissed the game and proceeded to the castle; he entered the chamber in which the lady lay.

Domina cum illum vidisset, ait: "O domine, omnes exeant praeter vos, ut nullus audiat, quae vobis dixero!" Cum autem omnes essent expulsi, ait domina: "O carissime, de qua progenie es tu, dicite mihi!" Qui ait: "Ista est mirabilis quaestio; scias sine dubio, quod de longinqua terra sum ego." Et illa: "Deo voveo, quod nisi dixeris mihi veritatem, me cito morientem vides." Qui ait: "Et ego dico tibi, quod pauper eram, nihil habens praeter arma mea, cum quibus vos et totum regnum a servitute liberavi." At illa: "Dic mihi modo, de qua terra es oriundus et qui erant parentes tui, et nisi mihi veritatem dixeris, numquam cibum gustabo." Et ille: "Vobis de veritate fateor. Quidam abbas ab infantia me nutrivit et mihi saepius dixit, quod in quodam dolio me invenit infra cunabulum, et ab illo tempore usque in praesens me nutrivit, quousque ad partes istas veni."

When the lady had seen him, she said: "O lord, let all go out except you, so that no one may hear what I shall have said to you!" But when all had been driven out, the lady said: "O dearest, of what progeny are you? tell me!" He said: "That is a marvelous question; know without doubt that I am from a far-distant land." And she: "I vow to God that, unless you tell me the truth, you will see me dying soon." He said: "And I tell you that I was poor, having nothing except my arms, with which I freed you and the whole kingdom from servitude." But she: "Tell me now, from what land you are sprung and who your parents were, and unless you tell me the truth, I will never taste food." And he: "To you I confess the truth. A certain abbot nourished me from infancy and often told me that he found me in a certain cask within a cradle, and from that time up to the present he nourished me, until I came to these parts."

Domina cum haec audisset, tabellas ei ostendit et ait: "Numquid tabellas istas nosti?" Ille cum tabellas vidisset, ad terram cecidit. Illa vero ait: "O fili dulcissime, tu es filius meus unicus, tu es maritus meus et dominus meus, tu es filius fratris mei et meus. O fili dulcissime, in dolio cum istis tabellis posui te, postquam peperi te. Heu mihi, quare de vulva eduxisti me, domine deus meus, quia tot mala sunt per me perpetrata!

When the lady had heard this, she showed him the tablets and said: "Do you perchance know these tablets?" When he had seen the tablets, he fell to the ground. But she said: "O sweetest son, you are my only son; you are my husband and my lord; you are my brother’s son and mine. O sweetest son, I placed you in a cask with these tablets after I had borne you. Alas for me, why did you bring me out from the womb, my Lord God, since so many evils have been perpetrated by me!"

Fratrem meum proprium cognovi et te ex me genui. Utinam consumpta essem ne oculus me videret! Fuissem quasi non essem de utero!" Ad murum caput percussit et ait: "O domine deus meus, ecce filius meus, maritus meus et filius fratris mei!"

I knew my own brother, and I bore you from me. Would that I had been consumed, that no eye might see me! I would have been as if I had not been, from the womb!" She struck her head against the wall and said: "O Lord my God, behold my son, my husband, and the son of my brother!"

Ait dominus Gregorius: "Credebam me evasisse periculum et iam in rete diaboli cecidi. Dimitte me, domina, ut plangam miseriam meam! Vae mihi, vae, ecce mater mea, amica mea, uxor mea!

Lord Gregory said: "I was believing that I had escaped the peril, and now I have fallen into the net of the Devil. Dismiss me, lady, that I may bewail my misery! Woe is me, woe, behold my mother, my lover, my wife!

Ecce sic diabolus conclusit me."

"Behold, thus the devil has enclosed me."

Mater cum in filio tantum dolorem vidisset, ait: "O fili dulcissime, pro peccatis nostris peregrinabor toto tempore vitae meae, tu vero regnum gubernabis." Qui ait: "Non fiet ita! In regno mater expectabis, ego vero peregrinabor, donec a deo peccata nostra sint dimissa."

When the mother had seen so great a grief in her son, she said: "O sweetest son, for our sins I will peregrinate for the whole time of my life, but you will govern the kingdom." He said: "It shall not be so! In the kingdom, mother, you will wait, but I will peregrinate, until our sins have been remitted by god."

De nocte surrexit, lanceam suam fregit, vestimentis se induit peregrini, matri valefecit et nudis pedibus ambulavit, quousque extra regnum pervenit, deinde ad quandam civitatem in noctis obscuritate venit ad domum unius piscatoris, a quo hospitium pro dei amore petivit. Piscator eum diligenter respexit et cum membrorum decentiam et corporis dispositionem vidisset, ait ei: "Carissime, verus peregrinus non es; hoc bene apparet in tuo corpore." At ille: "Licet vere peregrinus non fuero, hospitium tamen dei amore nocte ista peto." Uxor piscatoris, cum eum vidisset, pietate mota preces fundebat pro eo, ut introduceretur. Cum autem introductus fuisset, retro ostium grabatum parari iussit, piscator pisces cum aqua ei dedit et panem, et inter cetera ei dixit: "Tu peregrine, si sanctitatem cupis invenire, loca solitaria deberes accedere." At ille: "Domine, libenter hoc attemptarem, sed locum talem ignoro." Qui ait: "Die crastina mecum pergas et ad locum solitarium te ducam." Et ille: "Deus sit tibi merces!"

He rose by night, broke his lance, clothed himself in the garments of a pilgrim, bade his mother farewell, and walked with bare feet until he came outside the kingdom; then to a certain city in the obscurity of night he came to the house of a fisherman, from whom he sought hospitality for the love of God. The fisherman looked at him diligently, and when he had seen the comeliness of his limbs and the disposition of his body, he said to him: "Dearest, you are not a true pilgrim; this is well apparent in your body." But he: "Although I may not be a true pilgrim, yet for the love of God I seek lodging this night." The fisherman’s wife, when she saw him, moved by piety, was pouring forth prayers on his behalf, that he might be brought in. But when he had been brought in, he ordered a pallet to be prepared behind the door; the fisherman gave him fish with water and bread, and among other things said to him: "You, pilgrim, if you desire to find sanctity, you ought to go to solitary places." And he: "Lord, I would gladly attempt this, but I am ignorant of such a place." He said: "Tomorrow come along with me, and I will lead you to a solitary place." And he: "May God be your recompense!"

Mane vero piscator peregrinum excitavit, in tantum enim festinabat, quod tabellas suas parvas retro ostium dimisit. Piscator cum peregrino mare intravit, per XVI miliaria in mari navigabant, donec ad quandam rupem pervenit habens circa pedes eius compedes, qui sine clave non poterant aperiri; sed postquam compedes serasset, claves in mari proiecit, deinde domum rediit.

But in the morning the fisherman aroused the pilgrim—for he was hastening to such an extent that he left his small tablets behind the door. The fisherman entered the sea with the pilgrim; they navigated on the sea for 16 miles, until he arrived at a certain rock which had around its foot fetters, which could not be opened without a key; but after he had fastened the fetters, he threw the keys into the sea, then returned home.

Peregrinus iste per XVII annos in paenitentia remansit. Accidit, quod papa moritur. Ipso mortuo venit vox desuper de caelo dicens: "Quaerite hominem dei et illum in vicarium constituite, nomine Gregorium!"

This pilgrim remained in penitence for 17 years. It happened that the pope died. After he had died, a voice came from above, from heaven, saying: "Seek the man of God and constitute him as vicar, named Gregory!"

Electores hoc audientes gavisi sunt valde, nuntios per diversas partes mundi miserunt, ut eum quaererent. Tandem in domo piscatoris hospitati sunt. Cum vero in cena fuissent, piscatori dixerunt: "O carissime, multum vexati sumus per regna et castra quaerendo unum sanctum virum nomine Gregorium, quem in summum pontificem constituere debemus et non invenimus."

The Electors, hearing this, rejoiced greatly, and sent messengers through diverse parts of the world to seek him. At length they were hosted in the house of the fisherman. But when indeed they had been at supper, they said to the fisherman: "O dearest, we have been much vexed through kingdoms and camps seeking one holy man by the name of Gregory, whom we ought to constitute as supreme pontiff, and we have not found him."

Ille vero cum de peregrino fuisset recordatus, ait: "Iam sunt XVII anni, quod unus peregrinus nomine Gregorius in domo ista est hospitatus, quem ad quandam rupem in mari duxi et ibidem dimisi; sed scio, quod a multo tempore mortuus est."

But he, when he had recalled the pilgrim, said: "Now it is 17 years since a certain pilgrim by the name Gregory was lodged in this house, whom I led to a certain crag in the sea and left there; but I know that he has been dead for a long time."

Accidit, quod eadem die pisces accepit, et dum unum piscem extraxisset, clavem, quam XVII annis in mare proiecit, infra piscem invenit. Statim alta voce clamavit: "O carissimi, videte clavem, quam in mari proieci! Ut spero, de labore vestro non eritis frustrati."

It happened that on the same day he received fish, and while he had drawn out one fish, the key which he had thrown into the sea 17 years before he found inside the fish. Immediately he cried out with a loud voice: "O dearest ones, behold the key which I threw into the sea! As I hope, you will not be frustrated in your labor."

Nuntii haec audientes et videntes gavisi sunt valde, mane vero surrexerunt, piscatorem rogabant, ut eos ad rupem duceret, quod et factum est.

The messengers, hearing and seeing these things, rejoiced greatly; in the morning, moreover, they rose and were asking the fisherman to lead them to the crag, which also was done.

Cum autem ibidem venissent et eum vidissent, dixerunt: "O Gregori, homo dei, ex parte dei omnipotentis ad nos ascende, quia dei voluntas est, ut eius vicarius in terris constitutus sis!" At ille: "Quod deo placet, eius voluntas fiat!"

But when they had come there and had seen him, they said: "O Gregory, man of God, on behalf of God almighty come up to us, because it is God's will that you be appointed his vicar on earth!" But he: "What pleases God, let his will be done!"

Illum extra rupem duxerunt. Antequam civitatem intravit, omnes campanae civitatis per se pulsabant. Cives haec audientes dixerunt: "Bendictus altissimus, iam venit, qui Christi vicarius erit." Omnes ei obviam processerunt et cum magno honore eum receperunt et Christi vicarium constituerunt.

They led him out from the rock. Before he entered the city, all the bells of the city were ringing of their own accord. The citizens, hearing these things, said: "Blessed be the Most High, now he has come who will be Christ’s vicar." All went forth to meet him and received him with great honor and appointed him Christ’s vicar.

Beatus Gregorius in vicariatu constitutus in omnibus se laudabiliter habebat. Fama eius per orbem volabat, et quod tam sanctus Christi vicarius constitutus erat. Multi ex omnibus partibus mundi veniebant, ut eius consilium et auxilium haberent.

Blessed Gregory, appointed in the vicariate, conducted himself laudably in all things. His fame flew through the whole world, and the news that he had been appointed so holy a Vicar of Christ. Many from all parts of the world came, to have his counsel and help.

Audiens vero mater eius, quod tam sanctus homo Christi vicarius factus esset, intra se cogitabat: "Ubi iam melius potero accedere, quam ad istum sanctum virum et vitam meam ei intimare?" Verumtamen quod esset filius eius et maritus, penitus ignorabat. Ad Romam perrexit et Christi vicario est confessa.

His mother, hearing that so holy a man had been made the vicar of Christ, thought within herself: "Where now could I better approach than to this holy man and intimate my life to him?" Nevertheless, she was utterly unaware that he was her son and husband. She proceeded to Rome and confessed to the vicar of Christ.

Ante confessionem nullus alium cognovit, sed papa, cum confessionem matris audisset, notitiam eius per omnia habebat et ait: "O mater dulcissima, uxor et amica, diabolus credebat nos ducere ad inferna et nos evasimus dei gratia." Illa haec audiens ad pedes eius cecidit et prae gaudio amare flevit, papa vero de terra eam levavit et in eius nomine monasterium constituit, in quo eam abbatissam fecit, et infra pauca tempora ambo animas deo reddiderunt.

Before the confession no one knew the other, but the pope, when he had heard the confession of the mother, had knowledge of her in every respect and said: "O sweetest mother, wife and friend, the devil thought to lead us to the infernal regions, and we have escaped by the grace of God." She, hearing these things, fell at his feet and for joy wept bitterly, but the pope raised her from the ground and in her name established a monastery, in which he made her abbess, and within a short time both returned their souls to God.

De morte (97)

On Death (97)

Legitur in chronicis, quod anno XXII ab urbe Romana condita populus Romanus columnam marmoream in foro Romano statuerunt, et ibi imaginem Iulii Caesaris fecerunt et super caput eius nomen Iulii scripserunt, quia in honore ipsius factum fuit. Sed iste Iulius Caesar tria signa in morte vel antequam moreretur accipit; centesimo enim die ante mortem suam cecidit fulmen ante imaginem in foro et in nomine subscripto litteram primam abrasit. Nocte vero praecedente diem mortis suae fenestrae thalami eius cum tanto strepitu et impetu apertae sunt, ut domum ruituram aestimaret.

It is read in the chronicles that, in the 22nd year from the founding of the City of Rome, the Roman people set up a marble column in the Roman Forum, and there they made an image of Julius Caesar and wrote above his head the name of Julius, because it had been done in his honor. But this Julius Caesar received three signs at his death or before he died; for on the 100th day before his death a lightning-bolt fell before the image in the forum and, in the underwritten name, erased the first letter. But on the night preceding the day of his death, the windows of his bedchamber were opened with such a crash and force that he judged the house about to collapse.

Eadem vero die mortis suae cum ad Capitolium iret, datae sunt ei litterae iudicii mortis suae imminentis, quae si statim legisset, mortem evasisset.

On the very same day of his death, as he was going to the Capitol, there was given to him a letter of the judgment of his imminent death, which, if he had read at once, he would have evaded death.

Quod est vigilandum contra fraudes diaboli, ne nos decipiat (106)

That one must keep vigil against the frauds of the devil, lest he deceive us (106)

Olim erant tres socii, qui ad peregrinandum pergebant. Accidit, quod cibaria praeter unum panem invenire non poterant, et erant famelici valde, dixerunt adinvicem: "Si iste panis in tres partes dividatur, unicuique pars non sufficeret ex nostris ad saturandum; habeamus ergo sanum consilium, quomodo debeamus de isto pane disponere." Ait unus: "Hic in via dormiemus et quilibet somnium habeat, et qui maius mirabile viderit, ille totum panem habeat." Responderunt alii duo: "Bonum est consilium." Et inceperunt dormire.

Once there were three companions, who were proceeding to peregrinate. It happened that they could find provisions except for one bread alone, and they were very famished; they said to one another: "If this bread be divided into three parts, a share would not suffice for each of us to be sated; let us therefore have a sound counsel, how we ought to dispose of this bread." One said: "Here on the road we will sleep, and let each have a dream, and whoever shall have seen the greater marvel, let him have the whole bread." The other two answered: "It is a good counsel." And they began to sleep.

Ille, qui consilium dederat, surrexit et ipsis dormientibus panem totaliter comedit, nec unicam micam sociis suis dimisit. Hoc facto socios suos excitavit dicens: "Surgite velociter! Tempus est, ut quilibet somnium suum dicat."

He, who had given the counsel, rose up and, while they themselves were sleeping, ate the bread entirely, nor did he leave a single crumb to his companions. This done, he roused his companions, saying: "Rise quickly! It is time that each should tell his dream."

Ait primus: "Carissimi, mirabile somnium vidi, scilicet unam scalam auream de caelo descendentem, per quam angeli descenderunt et ascenderunt et animam meam usque ad caelum de corpore meo extraxerunt. Quando ibi eram, patrem et filium et spiritum sanctum vidi, et tantum gaudium circa animam meam erat, quod oculus non vidit nec auris audivit, quod ibidem percepi; et istud est somnium meum."

The first said: "Dearest ones, I saw a marvelous dream, namely a single golden ladder descending from heaven, by which angels descended and ascended, and they drew my soul from my body up to heaven. When I was there, I saw the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and so great a joy was around my soul as eye has not seen nor ear heard what I perceived there; and that is my dream."

Ait secundus: "Et ego vidi, quod daemones cum instrumentis ferreis ac igneis animam meam de corpore meo traxerunt et ibidem me male tractaverunt et dixerunt: `Quamdiu deus regnat in caelo, permanebis in isto loco.'"

The second said: "And I too saw that demons with iron and fiery instruments dragged my soul from my body, and there they maltreated me and said: `So long as God reigns in heaven, you will remain in this place.'"

Ait tertius: "Audite somnium meum! Videbatur mihi, quod quidam angelus ad me venit et ait: `Carissime, vis videre, ubi sunt socii tui?' Respondi: `Etiam, domine, quia inter nos habemus unum panem dividere; timeo, quod cum pane recesserunt.' At ille: `Non est ita; sed panis iuxta vos est; sequamini me.' Duxit me ad portam caeli, caput meum tantum secundum praeceptum suum infra portam posui, et vidi te; et videbatur mihi, quod ad caelum raptus fuisti et sederes in throno aureo et multa cibaria ac vina optima ante te; dixitque angelus mihi: `Ecce, socius tuus abundat in omni gaudio et in cibariis, et ibidem in aeternum permanebit, quia, qui semel regnum caeleste intraverit, exire non poterit. Iam mecum veni, et ostendam tibi, ubi alius socius tuus est.' Cum vero secutus illum fuissem, duxit me ad portas inferni, et ibi vidi te, sicut dixisti, in poenis gravissimis, cum tibi antea cottidie ministrabatur panis et vinum in magna copia, tunc a te quaesivi: `<...>, o carissime socie, mihi displicet, quod in istis poenis iaces.' Tu vero respondisti mihi, quod, quamdiu deus regnat in caelo, hic permanebo, quia hoc merui.

The third said: "Hear my dream! It seemed to me that a certain angel came to me and said: `Dearest, do you wish to see where your companions are?' I replied: `Yes, lord, for among us we have one loaf to divide; I fear that they have gone away with the bread.' But he: `It is not so; but the bread is next to you; follow me.' He led me to the gate of heaven, I placed only my head beneath the gate according to his instruction, and I saw you; and it seemed to me that you had been rapt to heaven and were sitting on a golden throne and many victuals and very choice wines before you; and the angel said to me: `Behold, your companion abounds in every joy and in victuals, and there he will remain for eternity, because he who has once entered the heavenly kingdom will not be able to go out. Now come with me, and I will show you where your other companion is.' But when I had followed him, he led me to the gates of hell, and there I saw you, as you said, in very grievous punishments, although before bread and wine in great abundance used to be served to you daily, then I asked you: `<...>, O dearest companion, it displeases me that you lie in these punishments.' But you answered me that, so long as God reigns in heaven, here I shall remain, because I have merited this."

`Surge ergo cito et totum panem comede, quia amodo nec me nec socium nostrum videbis.'

`Therefore rise quickly and eat the whole loaf, for from now on you will see neither me nor our companion.'

Ego vero cum vidi, surrexi et, sicut dixisti, panem comedi."

But I indeed, when I saw, arose and, just as you said, ate the bread."

De promissionis fideli constantia (108)

On the faithful constancy of the promise (108)

Erat quidam imperator, in cuius imperio erant duo latrones, adinvicem confoederati iuramento, ut nullus alium dimitteret in necessitate, sed quilibet pro altero vitam poneret. Multa mala adinvicem perpetraverunt, scilicet furtum et homicidium.

There was a certain emperor, under whose command there were two robbers, mutually confederated by an oath, that none would abandon the other in necessity, but that each would lay down his life for the other. They perpetrated many evils together, namely theft and homicide.

Accidit semel, quod unus sine altero et eo absente cum furto captus erat et in carcere in compedibus positus. Quod audiens socius eius, alter latro, ad eum venit et dixit: "Carissime socie, dic mihi, <...> in fide ligati sumus." At ille: "Ut mihi videtur, mori debeo, quia comprehensus sum cum furto. Si velles tantum facere istud, quod tibi dixero, semper essem tibi obligatus.

It happened once that one, without the other and he being absent, was caught in the act of theft and placed in prison in fetters. Hearing this, his companion, the other robber, came to him and said: "Dearest comrade, tell me, <...> we are bound in faith." But he: "As it seems to me, I must die, because I was apprehended with the theft. If you would only be willing to do that which I tell you, I would always be obligated to you.

Uxorem et parvulos ac familiam habeo, de eis nihil ordinavi, nec de bonis meis. Si in loco meo posses exspectare in carcere, et hoc poteris a iudice inquirere, domi vadam et de uxore et familia et de bonis meis ordinabo et tempore debito revertar et liberabo te." At ille: "Istud satis fideliter adimplebo."

"I have a wife and little children and a household; about them I have arranged nothing, nor about my goods. If you could in my place wait in prison, and you can inquire this from the judge, I will go home and make arrangements concerning my wife and household and my goods, and at the due time I will return and I will free you." And he: "I will fulfill this quite faithfully."

Perrexit ad iudicem et ait: "Domine mi, amicus meus captus est et in carcere positus; mortem, ut credo, evadere non potest; si placet, tantum unam petitionem a vobis peto, ut eum licentietis, quod ad domum propriam accedere potest, ut ante mortem suam de uxore et familia poterit disponere. Ego vero, ut de eo sis securus, loco suo in carcere remanebo, donec venerit."

He went on to the judge and said: "My lord, my friend has been captured and placed in prison; death, as I believe, he cannot evade; if it please, only one petition I ask from you, that you license him, that he may be able to go to his own home, so that before his death he may be able to dispose concerning his wife and family. But I indeed, so that you may be secure about him, will remain in his place in prison, until he comes."

Ait iudex: "Tali die iudicium de eo ac de aliis fiet; si vero eodem die non venerit, quid ad hoc respondebis?" At ille: "Domine, omnem securitatem, quae tibi placet, adimplebo. Quod si non venerit, pro eius amore mortem sustinebo." Ait iudex: "Petitionem tuam exaudiam, ita tamen, quod te in vinculis habeam, quousque ipse redierit." Et ille: "Bene placet mihi." Tunc iudex istum in carcere posuit et alium libere misit abire.

The judge said: "On such a day judgment concerning him and about the others will take place; but if on that same day he does not come, what will you answer to this?" But he: "Lord, I will fulfill every security which pleases you. But if he does not come, for love of him I will endure death." The judge said: "I will hear your petition, thus however, that I keep you in bonds until he himself shall have returned." And he: "It pleases me well." Then the judge placed this man in prison and sent the other freely to depart.

Ille vero domi recessit, de uxore, prole et familia ordinavit, et tamdiu exspectavit, quod ad tres dies iudicii, in quo omnes malefactores coram iudice sunt praesentati, et inter alios ille, qui prompte se carceri obtulit, pro amico suo est praesentatus.

He indeed retired home, arranged about his wife, progeny, and household, and waited so long that it came to the third day of the judgment, on which all malefactors were presented before the judge, and among the others that man, who had promptly offered himself to prison, was presented on behalf of his friend.

Ait ei iudex: "Ubi est amicus tuus, qui hodie deberet redire et te liberare ac salvare?" At ille: "Domine, spero, quod non deficiet." Iudex vero diu exspectabat, si veniret, et non venit. Statim dedit pro sententia, ut ad patibulum duceretur; et sic factum est.

The judge said to him: "Where is your friend, who today ought to return and free and save you?" But he: "Lord, I hope that he will not fail." But the judge for a long time kept waiting to see whether he would come, and he did not come. Straightway he gave as sentence that he be led to the gibbet; and so it was done.

Cum vero ad patibulum venisset, ait ei iudex: "Carissime, imputes tibi et non mihi, quod nunc morieris. Dixisti, quod amicus tuus veniret et te liberaret." Ait ille: "Domine, ex quo mori debeo, instanter peto, ut ante mortem meam pulsare potero." Ait iudex: "Cuiusmodi pulsatio erit illa?" Qui ait: "Ante mortem meam tribus vicibus clamare." Et ille: "Mihi placet." Ille incepit alta voce clamare primo, secundo, tertio, et respexit circumquaque, et hominem agili cursu venientem vidit a longe et ait iudici: "Mortem meam differas! Ecce hominem venientem video.

But when he had come to the gallows, the judge said to him: "Dearest, impute it to yourself and not to me, that you are now going to die. You said that your friend would come and liberate you." He said: "Lord, since I must die, I urgently beg that before my death I may be able to strike." The judge said: "What sort of pulsation will that be?" He said: "Before my death, to cry out three times." And he: "It pleases me." He began to cry out in a loud voice the first time, the second, the third, and he looked around on every side, and from afar he saw a man coming at a nimble run and said to the judge: "Defer my death! Behold, I see a man coming."

Forte ipse est socius meus, qui me hodie liberabit."

Perhaps that is my associate himself, who today will liberate me."

Iudex vero cum ipsum venientem audisset, exspectavit. Et ecce socius eius venit et ait: "O domine, ego sum ille, qui de bonis meis, uxore et amicis meis disposui, et amicus meus interim in periculo mortis pro me stetit. Illum libere permittas abire, quia paratus sum, pro peccatis meis mortem sustinere." Iudex respexit eum et ait: "O carissime, dic mihi causam, quare adivicem estis tam fideles?" Et ille: "Domine, a pueritia quilibet alteri fidem dedit, ut in omnibus fideles essemus.

But the judge, when he had heard that he was coming, waited. And behold, his companion came and said: "O lord, I am he who has disposed of my goods, my wife, and my friends, and my friend meanwhile stood in the peril of death for me. You should freely permit him to depart, because I am prepared to sustain death for my sins." The judge looked at him and said: "O dearest, tell me the reason why you are so faithful to each other?" And he: "Lord, from boyhood each gave the other his faith, that we might be faithful in all things.

Et haec est causa, quare ipse in loco meo se posuit, quousque de domo mea ordinassem."

And this is the cause, why he himself put himself in my place, until I had set my house in order."

Iudex ait: "Ex quo ita est, tibi mortem remitto, et sitis mihi fideles. De cetero mecum manebitis, et de praebenda necessaria vobis providebo per omnia." At ille: "Domine, omnem fidelitatem amodo promittimus vobis." Iudex igitur eos recepit ad gratiam, et omnes iudicem laudabant, qui fecit eis talem misericordiam.

The judge said: "Since it is thus, I remit the death sentence to you, and be faithful to me. Hereafter you will remain with me, and I will provide in all respects for the necessary provision for you." But he said: "Lord, we promise to you all fidelity from now on." The judge therefore received them into favor, and all were praising the judge, who did to them such mercy.

De dilectione dei, quomodo omnes nos aequaliter diligit usque dum ipsum per peccata despicimus (116)

On the love of god, how he loves us all equally until we, through sins, despise him (116)

Pippinus regnavit, qui quandam pulchram puellam desponsavit, quae concepit et elegantem filium peperit, sed in partu mortua est. Duxit aliam et ex illa etiam filium genuit, utrumque filium ad nutriendum in longinquas partes misit. Isti duo per omnia sibi invicem erant similes.

Pippin reigned, who espoused a certain beautiful girl, who conceived and bore a handsome son, but in childbirth she died. He took another wife and from her also he begot a son; both sons he sent to distant parts to be nourished. These two were in all things like to each other reciprocally.

Cum vero per longa tempora moram traherent, mater secundi filii suum filium videre cupiebat, preces regi fundebat, ut filium suum videre possit. Rex ei concessit, et nuntium pro duobus filiis destinavit.

However, as they were protracting delay over a long time, the mother of the second son was desirous to see her son; she was pouring forth prayers to the king, that she might be able to see her son. The king granted it to her, and dispatched a messenger for the two sons.

Qui cum venissent, ita per omnia similes erant, licet tamen secundus esset minoris quantitatis et aetatis, quia forte unius anni, nihilominus tamen tantus erat secundus, quantus primus, sicut multotiens contigit, et forte uterque patrissabat in facie et in unanimitate mentis et corporis, ita quod regina, quis eius filius esset, ignorabat. A rege diligenter petivit, quis illorum esset filius eius; sed rex ei indicare noluit. Ipsa hoc audiens flevit amare.

When they had come, they were alike in all things, although nevertheless the second was of lesser size and age, perhaps by a year; nonetheless the second was as great as the first, as has very often come to pass, and perhaps each favored the father in face and in the unanimity of mind and body, so that the queen did not know which was her son. She diligently asked of the king which of them was her son; but the king was unwilling to indicate this to her. She, hearing this, wept bitterly.

Rex cum hoc audisset et vidisset, ait ei: "Noli flere! Ille est filius tuus." Et demonstravit sibi filium, quem de prima uxore genuerat. Regina hoc audiens gavisus est valde, statim totam curam dedit filio isti ad nutriendum et de alio nihil curabat, qui erat eius proprius filius.

When the king had heard and seen this, he said to her: "Do not weep! That is your son." And he demonstrated to her the son whom he had begotten by his first wife. The queen, hearing this, rejoiced greatly, and at once gave her whole care to that son for nurturing, and for the other she cared nothing, who was her own proper son.

Rex cum hoc vidisset, dixit ei: "Quid facitis ei? Decepi vos; ille non est filius vester, sed unus istorum est." At illa: "Quare sic mecum agis? Indica mihi! Rogo te." Et ille: "Nolo, et haec est causa: Si veritatem tibi dixissem, unum scilicet filium tuum velles eum diligere et alterum odio habere, et ideo volo, quod ambos aequaliter diligas et nutrias, et cum ad aetatem legitimam veniunt, tunc tibi veritatem pandam, de qua gaudebit cor tuum."

When the king had seen this, he said to her: "What are you doing to him? I have deceived you; he is not your son, but he is one of these." But she: "Why do you act thus with me? Indicate it to me! I beg you." And he: "I do not wish to, and this is the cause: If I had told the truth to you—namely, you would wish to love one son of yours and to hold the other in hatred—and therefore I will that you love both equally and nurture them; and when they come to legitimate age, then I will lay bare the truth to you, at which your heart will rejoice."

Hoc audiens regina ambos peroptime nutrivit, donec ad aetatem legitimam pervenerunt; cum autem quis esset filius eius per regem fuerat experta, ultra modum fuit gavisa, et sic in pace vitam finierunt.

Hearing this, the queen nourished both most excellently, until they reached legitimate age; and when she had ascertained through the king which was her son, she rejoiced beyond measure, and thus they finished their life in peace.

De gloria mundi et luxuria, quae multos decipit et ad interitum deducit (121)

On the glory of the world and luxury, which deceives many and leads to destruction (121)

Olim erat quidam rex, qui habuit duos milites in una civitate; unus erat senex, alter iuvenis. Senex erat dives et pulchram puellam propter eius pulchritudinem in uxorem duxit. Iuvenis miles erat pauper et quandam vetulam locupletem propter divitias accepit, quam miles non multum dilexit.

Once there was a certain king, who had two soldiers in one city; one was an old man, the other a youth. The old man was wealthy and, on account of her beauty, led a beautiful girl into marriage. The young soldier was poor and took a certain opulent old woman on account of riches, whom the soldier did not love much.

Accidit semel, quod miles iuvenis per castrum senis militis ambularet et uxor senis militis in quadam fenestra in solario sedebat et dulciter cantabat. Iuvenis miles cum eam vidisset, captus est in amore eius et in animo cogitabat: "Melior esset combinatio inter me et illam iuvenculam, quam inter ipsam et virum suum, qui est homo senex et impotens, et quod uxor mea esset uxor eius."

It happened once that a young soldier was walking through the castle of the old soldier, and the wife of the old soldier was sitting in a certain window in the solar and was sweetly singing. When the young soldier had seen her, he was captivated in love for her, and in his mind he was thinking: "A better combination would be between me and that young maiden than between her and her husband, who is an old and impotent man, and that my wife would be his wife."

Et ab illo die incepit eam diligere et clenodia dare. Domina vero etiam miro modo eum dilexit et, quando potuit, ad eum accessit, et omnibus viribus nitebatur, si possibile esset, in virum accipere post mortem viri sui.

And from that day he began to love her and to give her jewels. The Lady too loved him in a wondrous way, and, whenever she could, she approached him, and with all her might she strove, if it were possible, to take him as husband after the death of her own husband.

Erat autem ante fenestram castri senis militis arbor ficuum, in qua omni nocte philomena residebat, quae dulciter cantabat, quod propter cuius cantum domina singulis noctibus surrexit et ad fenestram perrexit, et per magnum spatium ibidem exspectabat, ut canticum philomenae audiret. Cum hoc percepisset vir eius, quod singulis noctibus surgeret, ait ei: "Carissima, qua de causa de lecto singulis noctibus surgis?" Quae respondit: "Super arborem fici omni nocte residet philomena, quae tam dulciter cantat, quod oportet me surgere et eam audire." Miles hoc audiens de mane surrexit et cum arcu et sagitta ad arborem fici perrexit, philomenam occidit et cor extraxit et uxori praesentavit. Domina videns cor philomenae flevit amare dicens: "O bona philomena, fecisti, quod debuisti.

It happened moreover that before the window of the castle of the old soldier there was a fig-tree, on which every night a Philomel sat, who sang sweetly, on account of whose song the lady each night rose and went to the window, and for a great span waited there, that she might hear the song of the Philomel. When her husband perceived this, that she rose each night, he said to her: "Dearest, for what cause do you rise from the bed every night?" She answered: "Upon the fig-tree every night there sits a Philomel, who sings so sweetly that it behooves me to rise and hear her." The soldier, hearing this, rose early in the morning and went with bow and arrow to the fig-tree, killed the Philomel and drew out the heart and presented it to his wife. The lady, seeing the heart of the Philomel, wept bitterly, saying: "O good Philomel, you have done what you ought.

Ego sum causa mortis tuae."

"I am the cause of your death."

Statim nuntium ad iuvenem militem misit, nuntiando ei crudelitatem mariti, eo quod philomenam interfecisset. Miles hoc audiens commota sunt omnia viscera eius, et ait in corde suo: "O si constaret isti crudeli, quantus est amor inter me et suam uxorem, peius me tractaret."

Immediately she sent a message to the young soldier, announcing to him the cruelty of her husband, in that he had slain the philomena. The soldier, hearing this, all his entrails were moved, and he said in his heart: "O if it were clear to that cruel man how great the love is between me and his wife, he would treat me worse."

Armavit igitur se duplici armatura et castrum intravit et senem militem occidit. Post hoc cito moritur uxor sua, et ipse cum gaudio uxorem senis militis occisi in matrimonium duxit, et ambo longo tempore vixerunt et in pace vitam finierunt.

Therefore he armed himself with double armor and entered the castle and killed the old soldier. After this his own wife quickly died, and he himself, with joy, led into matrimony the wife of the slain old soldier, and both lived for a long time and ended their lives in peace.

De amicitiae verae probatione (129)

On the probation of true friendship (129)

Quidam rex habuit tantum unicum filium, quem multum dilexit; qui filius a patre licentiam accepit, ut mundum visitaret et amicos sibi acquirerert. Qui per septem annos vagabat in mundo et post haec ad patrem rediit. Pater gaudenter eum recepit et ab eo quaesivit, quot amicos acquisivisset.

A certain king had an only son, whom he greatly loved; this son received license from his father to visit the world and to acquire friends for himself. He wandered through the world for seven years, and after this returned to his father. The father joyfully received him and inquired of him how many friends he had acquired.

At filius: "Tres; primum amicum plus quam me ipsum diligo, secundum tantum sicut me ipsum, et tertium parum aut nihil."

But the son: "Three; the first friend I love more than myself, the second just as much as myself, and the third little or not at all."

Cui pater: "Bonum est eos probare et temptare, antequam indigeas de eis. Porcum occide et in sacco pone et in domum amici, quem plus diligis quam te, perge de nocte et ei dic, quod a casu hominem occidisti; et si inventum fuerit corpus mecum, morte turpissima ero condemnatus. Rogo modo te, sicut te semper plus quam me ipsum dilexi, succurre mihi in hac maxima necessitate!" Quod et factum est.

To whom the father: "It is good to prove and to try them, before you need them. Kill a pig and put it in a sack and go by night into the house of the friend whom you love more than yourself, and say to him that by chance you have killed a man; and if the body shall be found with me, I shall be condemned to the most disgraceful death. I beg you now, just as I have always loved you more than myself, succor me in this greatest necessity!" Which also was done.

At ille respondit: "Sicut eum occidisti, iustum est, ut poenae subiaceas. Sed si corpus mecum esset inventum, forte in patibulo ero suspensus. Verumtamen, quia amicus meus fuisti, ideo tecum pergam ad patibulum, et postquam mortuus fueris, tres vel quattuor ulnas panni tibi dabo ad corpus tuum involvendum."

But he replied: "Just as you killed him, it is just that you be subject to penalty. But if the body were found with me, perhaps I would be suspended on the gallows. Nevertheless, because you have been my friend, therefore I will go with you to the gallows, and after you have died, I will give you three or four ells of cloth for wrapping your body."

Ille hoc audiens ad secundum amicum accessit, et illum ut primum probavit. Ille sicut primus renuit dicens: "Credis me fatuum, quod in tali periculo me ponere vellem? Verumtamen, quia amicus meus fuisti, ideo ad patibulum tecum pergam et in via te consolabor, quantum potero."

He, hearing this, approached the second friend, and tested him as he had the first. He, just like the first, refused, saying: "Do you think me fatuous, that I would wish to place myself in such peril? Nonetheless, because you have been my friend, therefore I will go with you to the gallows, and on the way I will console you, as much as I shall be able."

Ille ad tertium amicum accessit et eum probavit dicens: "Verecundor tibi loqui, quod numquam pro te aliquid feci et ecce nunc a casu hominem interfeci etc." At ille: "Libenter hoc faciam et culpam mihi imponam, et patibulum, si necesse fuerit, pro te ascendam."

He went to the third friend and tested him, saying: "I am ashamed to speak to you, that I have never done anything for you, and behold now by chance I have slain a man, etc." But he: "I will gladly do this and will impute the culpa to myself, and, if it shall be necessary, I will ascend the gallows for you."

Hunc expertus est meliorem amicum suum fuisse.

He found this one to have been his better friend.

De conscientia nostra quae dum angustiatur ad deum per confessionem et opera meritoria recurramus (135)

On our conscience which, when it is straitened, let us return to God through confession and meritorious works (135)

Refert Augustinus de civitate dei, quod Lucretia, Romana nobilissima moribusque <pudicissima>, erat uxor Collatini, et cum ille Collatinus Sextum nomine filium imperatoris Tarquinii ad castrum suum invitasset, Sextus est statim captus in amore pulcherrimae Lucretiae. Tempus aptum, quo imperator et Collatinus de Roma simul recederent, observans et ad praedictum castrum reversus ibi pernoctavit et nocte illa non ut hospes, sed ut hostis cubiculum Lucretiae clam ingressus, mau sinistra opprimens pectus eius, dextra vero gladium tenens se prodidit dicens: "Sine mora mihi consentias vel morieris!" Illa vero nullo modo consentire volebat, dixitque Sextus: "Nisi mihi consentias, servum iugulatum nudum corpori tuo nudo etiam te iugulato sociabo, ut per orbem fama currat Lucretiam ob stupri causam cum servo in cubiculo iugulatam." Illa vero timens de tali infamia coacta concessit.

Augustine reports in On the City of God that Lucretia, a Roman most noble and in morals <most modest>, was the wife of Collatinus, and when that Collatinus had invited Sextus by name, the son of the emperor Tarquinius, to his castle, Sextus was at once captured by love for the most beautiful Lucretia. Watching for a fitting time, when the emperor and Collatinus would depart from Rome together, and returning to the aforesaid castle, he spent the night there; and on that night, not as a guest but as an enemy, he secretly entered Lucretia’s bedchamber, and, pressing her breast with his left hand, but with his right holding a sword, he revealed himself, saying: "Without delay consent to me, or you will die!" But she was in no way willing to consent, and Sextus said: "Unless you consent to me, I will join to your naked body a slave, slaughtered and naked, you too having been slaughtered, so that through the world the report may run that Lucretia, on account of the cause of rape, was slain with a slave in the bedchamber." But she, fearing such infamy, compelled, yielded.

Sextus vero completa libidine recessit. Ipsa vero multum dolens patrem et maritum, fratres et imperatorem, nepotes et proconsules vocavit per litteras, quos omnes praesentes sic alloquitur dicens: "Sextus domum meam intravit hostis pro hospite. Scias tu, o Collatine, vestimenta viri alieni in lecto tuo fuisse.

But Sextus, his libido having been satisfied, withdrew. She herself, however, greatly grieving, called by letters her father and husband, her brothers and the emperor, her nephews and the proconsuls, whom all, being present, she thus addresses, saying: "Sextus entered my house an enemy in place of a guest. Know you, O Collatinus, that the garments of an alien man were in your bed.

Verumtamen licet corpus sit violatum, animus tamen est innocens. Ideo a culpa me absolve, a poena tamen non liberabor." Statim cum gladio occultato sub chlamyde propria manu se transfixit.

Nevertheless, although the body has been violated, yet the spirit is innocent. Therefore absolve me from fault, yet from punishment I shall not be freed." Immediately, with a sword hidden beneath her cloak, she pierced herself with her own hand.

Quo facto amici eius gladio accepto iurant per sanguinem Lucretiae omnem progeniem Tarquinii de Roma eicere et exstirpare, quod et fecerunt. Sextum vero auctorem criminis interfecerunt miserabiliter.

With this done, his friends, having taken up the sword, swear by the blood of Lucretia to eject and extirpate all the progeny of Tarquinius from Rome, which they also did. Sextus, moreover, the author of the crime, they slew miserably.

De timore extremi iudicii (143)

On the fear of the Last Judgment (143)

Quidam rex erat, qui statuit pro lege, quod, quicumque subito mori deberet, mane ante ortum solis ante domum eius tubas canerent, et statim talis vestibus nigris se indueret et sic ad iudicium veniret.

There was a certain king, who established as law that, whoever should have to die suddenly, in the morning before the rising of the sun the trumpets would sound before his house, and immediately such a one would clothe himself in black garments and thus would come to judgment.

Ille rex magnum convivium fecit et omnes nobiles satrapas regni vocari fecit, qui omnes venerunt. In convivio erant omni genere musicali periti, qui magnum solacium convivis fecerunt ex suavi melodia, rex vero nullum solacium nec signum laetitiae ostendit, sed vultum tristem habuit et suspiria et gemitus emittebat.

That king made a great banquet and caused all the noble satraps of the kingdom to be summoned, who all came. At the banquet there were experts in every kind of musical art, who made great solace for the guests from sweet melody; but the king showed no solace nor sign of joy, but had a sad countenance and was emitting sighs and groans.

Haec videntes convivae mirati sunt et non fuerunt ausi petere ab eo causam tristitiae, sed dixerunt fratri regis, ut causam tantae tristitiae indicaret, qui et fecit dicens sibi, quod omnes in convivio mirarentur de tanta tristitia et causam libenter scirent. Ait rex: "Vade ad domum tuam! Die crastina responsum audies." Quod et factum est.

Seeing these things, the convives were amazed and did not dare to ask from him the cause of the sadness, but they told the king’s brother to indicate the cause of so great a sadness, which he also did, saying to him that all in the convivium were wondering at so great a sadness and would gladly know the cause. The king said: "Go to your house! On the morrow you will hear an answer." And so it was done.

Rex praecepit bucinatoribus, ut sequenti mane venirent ante domum fratris sui et tubis canerent et ipsum ad eum ducerent secundum legem, quod et fecerunt.

The king commanded the trumpeters to come on the following morning before his brother’s house, to sound the trumpets, and to lead him to him according to the law, which they also did.

Audiens frater regis de mane tubas ante domum suam commota sunt omnia viscera eius et surrexit, vestibusque nigris se induit, veniens ad regem, qui fecit fieri foveam profundam et ultra foveam cathedram fragilem, quae quattuor pedes fragiles habuit, et fecit fratrem suum exui vestibus et super cathedram poni. Cum autem in cathedra esset collocatus, ordinavit, ut gladius acutus ultra caput suum per filum sericum penderet; deinde ordinavit quattuor homines cum quattuor gladiis acutissimis, unam a parte ante, alium a parte posteriori, tertium a parte dextra et quartum a parte sinistra. Cum autem sic starent, ait rex illis quattuor: "Cum dixero, sub poena mortis gladios in eum infigite!" Et tubas omniaque genera musicalia fecit adduci coram fratre et mensam parari et diversa fercula apponi et ait: "O frater mi carissime, quare tantum doles et tantam tristitiam in corde habes?

Hearing in the morning the trumpets before his house, all his inward parts were shaken, and he arose and clothed himself in black garments, coming to the king, who had a deep pit caused to be made, and beyond the pit a fragile chair, which had four fragile feet, and he had his brother stripped of his clothes and placed upon the chair. But when he had been set on the chair, he ordained that a sharp sword should hang over his head by a silken thread; then he ordained four men with four very sharp swords, one at the front, another at the back, a third on the right side and a fourth on the left. But when they were standing thus, the king said to those four: “When I have said, under penalty of death thrust your swords into him!” And he had trumpets and all kinds of musical instruments brought before his brother and the table prepared and diverse dishes set out, and said: “O my dearest brother, why do you grieve so much and have such sadness in your heart?”

Ecce optima fercula, ecce melodia suavissima! Quare non gaudes et laetaris?" At ille: "Quomodo potero gaudere, cum in signum mortis hodie mane sonitum tubae ante domum meam audivi et modo corruptibili et fragili cathredra sum collocatus? Si indiscrete me moveam, ipsa cathedra frangitur et in puteum cado, de quo resurgere non potero; si caput meum erigo, gladius ultra caput meum petens et cadens usque ad cerebrum me interficiet; quattuor tortores in circuitu meo stant parati cum gladiis ad unicum verbum vestrum me occidere; istis consideratis, si dominus totius mundi essem, gaudere non possem."

Behold the best dishes, behold the most suave melody! Why do you not rejoice and exult?" But he: "How can I rejoice, when as a sign of death this very morning I heard the sound of the trumpet before my house, and now I am set upon a corruptible and fragile chair? If I move myself indiscreetly, the chair itself is broken and I fall into the pit, from which I shall not be able to rise again; if I lift up my head, the sword above my head, making for me and falling down as far as the brain, will slay me; four torturers stand around me, prepared with swords to kill me at your single word; these things being considered, if I were lord of the whole world, I could not rejoice."

Cui rex ait: "Iam ad quaestionem hesternam, quare non gauderem, respondeo. Ego sum sicut tu es modo collocatus in cathedra corruptibili et fragili, quia in corpore fragili cum quattuor pedibus corruptibilibus, scilicet de quattuor elementis, et sub me est puteus infernalis; ultra caput meum gladius acutus scilicet divinum iudicium paratum animam meam a corpore separare; ante me gladius acutus scilicet mors, quae nulli parcet et, antequam speratur, veniet, et quomodo, ubi vel quando, penitus ignoro; a parte posteriori alius gladius paratus ad percutiendum, scilicet peccata mea, quae in hoc saeculo commisi, parata sunt ante tribunal me accusare; gladius a parte dextra est diabolus, qui circuit quaerens, quem devoret, et semper est paratus animam meam recipere et ad infernum deducere; gladius a parte sinistra sunt vermes, quae carnem meam post mortem corrodent; cum omnia ista considero, numquam gaudere potero; si ergo tu tantum hodie me timuisti, qui sum mortalis, multo plus creatorem meum debeo timere. Vade ergo et noli amplius tales quaestiones quaerere a me!"

To whom the king said: "Now I answer yesterday’s question, why I would not rejoice. I am as you are now, set upon a corruptible and fragile chair, since I am in a fragile body with four corruptible feet, namely of the four elements, and beneath me is the infernal pit; over my head is a sharp sword, namely the divine judgment, prepared to separate my soul from my body; before me a sharp sword, namely death, which will spare no one and, before it is expected, will come, and how, where, or when, I am utterly ignorant; on the posterior side another sword prepared to smite, namely my sins, which I have committed in this age, are prepared to accuse me before the tribunal; the sword on the right side is the Devil, who goes about seeking whom he may devour, and is always prepared to receive my soul and lead it down to Inferno; the sword on the left side are worms, which will gnaw my flesh after death; when I consider all these things, never can I rejoice; if therefore you today feared me so greatly, who am mortal, much more ought I to fear my Creator. Go then and do not any more seek such questions from me!"

Ille vero surrexit et gratias de vita sua regi reddidit, promittens firmiter amodo se corrigere. Hoc audientes laudabant responsum regis.

He indeed rose and rendered thanks to the king for his life, firmly promising from now on to correct himself. Hearing this, they praised the response of the king.

De statu mundi actuali (144)

On the present state of the world (144)

Fertur de quodam rege, cuius regnum in tam subitam devenit mutationem, quod bonum in malum, verum in falsum, forte in debile, iustum in iniustum est mutatum. Quam mutationem rex admirans a quattuor philosophis sapientissimis causam huius quaesivit. Qui inquam philosophi post sanam deliberationem ad quattuor portas civitatis pergentes, quilibet eorum tres causas ibidem scripsit.

It is reported about a certain king, whose kingdom came into so sudden a mutation that the good was changed into evil, the true into false, the strong into weak, the just into unjust. Marveling at this mutation, the king sought the cause of this from four most-wise philosophers. The philosophers, I say, after sound deliberation, proceeding to the four portals of the city, each of them wrote three causes there.

Primus scripsit: Potentia est iustitia, ideo terra sine lege; dies est nox, ideo terra sine via; fuga est pugna, ideo regnum sine honore. Secundus scripsit: Unus est duo, ideo regnum sine veritate; amicus est inimicus, ideo regnum sine fidelitate; malum est bonum, ideo terra sine pietate. Tertius scripsit: Ratio habet licentiam, ideo regnum sine nomine; fur est propositus, ideo regnum sine pecuniis; corrobola vult esse aquila, ideo nulla discretio in patria.

The first wrote: Power is justice, therefore the land without law; day is night, therefore the land without a way; flight is battle, therefore the kingdom without honor. The second wrote: One is two, therefore the kingdom without verity; a friend is an enemy, therefore the kingdom without fidelity; evil is good, therefore the land without piety. The third wrote: Reason has license, therefore the kingdom without a name; a thief is set over it, therefore the kingdom without monies; the corrobola wants to be an eagle, therefore no discretion in the patria.

Quartus scripsit: Voluntas est consiliarius, ideo terra male colitur; denarius dat iudicium seu sententiam, ideo terra male regitur; deus est mortuus, ideo totum regnum peccatoribus est repletum.

The fourth wrote: Will is the counselor, therefore the land is badly cultivated; the denarius gives judgment or sentence, therefore the land is badly governed; God is dead, therefore the whole kingdom is filled with sinners.

De principibus et aliis magnatibus fortiter arguendis pro eorum forefactis (146)

On princes and other magnates stoutly to be arraigned for their misdeeds (146)

Refert Augustinus in "de civitate dei", quod Dyonides pirata galea una longo tempore in mari homines spoliavit et cepit. Qui cum multis navibus iussu Alexandri fuisset quaesitus et tandem captus, et Alexandro praesentatus, eum interrogavit dicens: "Quare mare habet te infestum?" Ille statim respondit: "Quare te orbis terrarum? Sed quia ego hoc ago una galea, latro vocor, tu vero mundum opprimens navium multitudine magna, diceris imperator; sed si circa me fortuna mansuesceret, fierem melior; e converso tu quanto fortunatior, tanto deterior."

Augustine relates in "On the City of God" that Dionides the pirate, with one galley, for a long time on the sea despoiled and seized men. When he had been sought with many ships by the order of Alexander and at length captured, and presented to Alexander, he questioned him, saying: "Why do you infest the sea?" He immediately replied: "Why do you infest the orb of lands? But because I do this with one galley, I am called a robber; you, however, oppressing the world with a great multitude of ships, are called emperor. Yet if Fortune grew gentle toward me, I would become better; conversely, the more fortunate you are, the worse you become."

Alexander respondit: "Fortunam tibi mutabo, ne malitia tuae fortunae, sed meritis ascribatur." Sicque ditatus est per eum et de latrone factus est princeps et zelator iustitiae.

Alexander responded: "I will change your fortune, so that it may be ascribed, not to the malice of your fortune, but to your merits." And thus he was enriched by him, and from a robber he was made a prince and a zealot of justice.

De anima peccatrice per peccati lepram infecta quomodo curatur (151)

On the sinning soul, infected through the leprosy of sin, how it is cured (151)

Quidam rex nobilis in regno suo habuit duos milites; unus erat avarus et alter invidus. Avarus pulchram uxorem habuit, oculis omnium gratiosam, invidus vero uxorem valde turpem et omnibus odiosam, et quandam terram annexam militi avaro habuit, quam miles cupidus per omnia habere desiderabat. Saepius ad eum accessit et multa ei obtulit, si terram suam ei vendere vellet; miles vero invidus respondit se non velle vendere hereditatem suam pro auro vel argento.

A certain noble king in his kingdom had two knights; one was avaricious and the other envious. The avaricious man had a beautiful wife, pleasing to the eyes of all; the envious, however, had a very ugly wife and hateful to all, and he had a certain land annexed to the avaricious knight, which the covetous knight in every way desired to possess. He often approached him and offered him many things, if he were willing to sell his land to him; but the envious knight replied that he did not wish to sell his inheritance for gold or silver.

Attamen ex invidia coepit cogitare, quomodo pulchritudinem uxoris militi avaro posset denigrare, et dixit militi avaro: "Si desideras terram meam habere, nihil pro pretio desidero, nisi quod uxor tua mecum sit una nocte."

Nevertheless out of envy he began to cogitate how he could denigrate the pulchritude of the wife of the avaricious soldier, and he said to the avaricious soldier: "If you desire to have my land, I desire nothing for a price, except that your wife be with me for one night."

Qui ei annuit et uxori dixit, quae repulsam dedit primo, sed tandem per virum inducta consensit.

He assented to him and told his wife, who at first gave a refusal, but at length, induced by her husband, consented.

At ille miles invidus, antequam ei condormiret, cum leprosa commiscuit, hoc facto ad dominam accessit et eam cognovit, quotiens voluit. Quo facto eidem intimavit, quod lepram incurreret, dicens, quomodo invidiam de hoc habuisset, quod uxor sua tam turpis esset et ipsa tam pulchra. Ideo eam sic deturpavit.

But that envious soldier, before he lay with her, commixed with a leprous woman; this done, he approached the lady and knew her, as often as he wished. When this had been done, he intimated to the same woman that she would incur leprosy, saying how he had had envy on this account, that his own wife was so foul and she herself so beautiful. Therefore he thus disfigured her.

Quod audiens tristis facta est et flens amare marito suo intimavit, qui valde tristis factus dixit uxori suae: "Do tibi consilium: Adhuc nullum signum leprae in te apparet, hic prope extra regnum est magna civitas, in qua est universitas, ad illam pergas et omnibus venientibus sis communis, et qui prius ad te accessit, infirmitatem recipiet et ab omni lepra curaberis."

Hearing this, she became sad and, weeping bitterly, intimated it to her husband, who, having become very sad, said to his wife: "I give you counsel: As yet no sign of leprosy appears in you, here near, outside the kingdom, there is a great city, in which there is a university; go to it and be common to all who come, and the one who first comes to you will receive the infirmity, and you will be cured from all leprosy."

Quod factum est. Venit filius imperatoris adamando eam fecitque eam venire ad se et eam rogavit, ut ei consentiret. Quae negavit dicens: "Absit a me, ut ego paupercula sim concubina filii imperatoris!" At ille magis ac magis eam propulsavit, ut ei consentiret.

This was done. The emperor’s son came, being enamored of her, and made her come to him and asked her to consent to him. She refused, saying: "Far be it from me that I, a poor little woman, should be the concubine of the emperor’s son!" But he pressed her more and more to consent to him.

Illa cogitavit: "Hic filius imperatoris si lepram incurreret, magnum damnum esset." Et ei proposuit, quomodo incideret in lepram, si eam cognosceret. At ille nolens desistere eam cognovit et lepram incurrit.

She thought: "If this son of the emperor were to incur leprosy, it would be a great loss." And she proposed to him how he would fall into leprosy if he were to "know" her. But he, unwilling to desist, knew her and incurred leprosy.

Altera die sentiens se liberatam ad patriam perrexit dicens ei: "Si vos contingat lepram incurrere, ad me declinate, et ego vobis in quantum possum de necessariis providebo."

On the next day, perceiving herself freed, she went to her homeland, saying to him: "If it should befall you to incur leprosy, turn aside to me, and I will provide for you with the necessities, insofar as I am able."

Post hoc non diu filius imperatoris leprosus factus est et tantum verecundabatur, quod nocte nullo sciente ad dominam ivit, ubi manebat. Hoc domina percipiens dixit marito suo: "Ille est, qui per me infectus est, et ego a lepra liberata sum." Qui videns eum turpiter infectum flevit amare, cameram sibi ordinavit, in qua solitarius manebat, et domina personaliter ei ministrabat et in eodem loco septem annis manebat.

After this, not long after, the son of the emperor became leprous, and he was so abashed that by night, with no one knowing, he went to the lady where she was staying. The lady, perceiving this, said to her husband: "He is the one who through me was infected, and I have been liberated from leprosy." He, seeing him shamefully infected, wept bitterly, had a chamber prepared for him, in which he lived solitary, and the lady personally ministered to him; and in the same place he remained for 7 years.

Accidit, quod in septimo anno erat calor intolerabilis et leprosus vas magnum cum vino pro refocillatione habebat, et quidam serpens in horto exsistens vas intravit et se balneavit et in profundum post lotionem iacuit. Leprosus cito a somno expergefactus multum sitiebat, vas cum vino accipiens ipso ignorante serpentem inbibit. Post hoc serpens omnia interiora eius coepit rodere tam graviter, quod leprosus gemitus et suspiria dabat.

It happened that in the seventh year there was intolerable heat, and the leprous man had a great vessel with wine for refreshment; and a certain serpent, being in the garden, entered the vessel and bathed itself, and after its washing lay at the bottom. Quickly roused from sleep, the leprous man was very thirsty; taking the vessel with wine, he, not knowing it, imbibed the serpent. After this, the serpent began to gnaw all his inner parts so grievously that the leprous man was giving forth groans and sighs.

Domina ei maxime compatiebatur, et passio illa durabat per tres dies continue.

The lady had the greatest compassion for him, and that suffering lasted for three days continuously.

Quarto die vomitum fecit, et cum vomitu et veneno interiori serpentem proiecit. Statim dolor cessabat; de die in diem paullatim species leprae ab eo recessit, et post septem dies caro eius ab omni lepra est curata, sicut caro pueri, de quo domina multum est gavisa, et vestimentis pretiosis ipsum induebat, dextrarium optimum ei dedit, et ad imperium perrexit, ubi cum honore est receptus, et post mortem patris regnavit et vitam in pace finivit.

On the fourth day he made a vomit, and with the vomit and the inner venom he cast out the serpent. At once the pain was ceasing; from day to day gradually the species (appearance) of leprosy withdrew from him, and after seven days his flesh was cured of all leprosy, like the flesh of a boy, at which the lady rejoiced much, and she was clothing him with precious garments, and she gave him an excellent destrier, and he went on to the Empire, where he was received with honor, and after the death of his father he reigned and finished his life in peace.

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Lucius in Roma regnavit prudens valde; qui habebat filiam pulcherrimam, quam multum dilexit. Erat quidam miles in curia, qui puellam miro modo dilexit, et cum eam solam vidisset, ait ei: "Carissima, miro modo te diligo. Quid tibi dabo, quod possum una nocte tecum dormire?" Quae ait: "Mille marcas florenas." Ille vero concessit et ei dedit.

Lucius reigned in Rome, exceedingly prudent; who had a most beautiful daughter, whom he loved much. There was a certain soldier in the curia, who loved the girl in a wondrous manner, and when he had seen her alone, he said to her: "Dearest, I love you in a wondrous manner. What shall I give you, that I may be able to sleep with you for one night?" She said: "A thousand florin marks." He indeed conceded and gave it to her.

Cum nox adesset, miles lectum intravit et statim dormire coepit, puella vero simili modo post eum. Miles per totam noctem dormivit nec a somno excitatus est. Mane vero cum sol oriretur, puella se vestimentis induit et eum a somno excitavit.

When night had come, the soldier entered the bed and immediately began to sleep, but the girl likewise thereafter. The soldier slept through the whole night and was not roused from sleep. In the morning, indeed, when the sun was rising, the girl put on her clothes and woke him from sleep.

Et ille: "O bona puella, intra lectum!" Quae ait: "Non facio tibi, carissime, iniuriam, tecum conveni pro mille marcis florenis, ut tecum tota nocte dormirem; hoc fideliter implevi. Sed tu fuisti ita ruralis, quod semel faciem tuam ad me non vertisti, et ideo de incurialitate te comprendo." At ille: "Somnum cepi et per hoc deceptus fui; sed rogo, ut ad me iam intres." At illa: "Certe non faciam."

And he: "O good girl, get into the bed!" She said: "I am not doing you, dearest, an injustice; I agreed with you for a thousand marks in florins, to sleep with you the whole night; this I have faithfully fulfilled. But you were so rural that you did not once turn your face to me, and therefore I apprehend you for incourtliness." And he: "I fell asleep and through this I was deceived; but I beg that you now come in to me." And she: "Surely I will not do it."

Ait miles: "Quid tibi dabo, ut secunda vice possum tecum dormire?" Quae ait: "Tantum sicut prius." Ille vero concessit.

The soldier said: "What shall I give you, that I may be able to sleep with you a second time?" She said: "Only as before." He indeed conceded.

Cum vero nox adesset, miles lectum intravit et statim dormivit et per omnia fecit sicut prius. Miles vero ultra quam credi potest dolens dixit puellae: "Dic mihi, bona puella, quomodo tecum dormiam tertia nocte!" Quae ait: "Certe pro mille marcis florenis." Ille assensit. Miles intra se cogitabat: "Primo perdidi mille marcas florenas, secundo terras meas obligavi pro aliis milibus, iam vero oportet me acquirere per aliquam viam, si debeo habere puellam."

But when night had come, the knight entered the bed and immediately fell asleep, and in all respects did as before. But the knight, grieving beyond what can be believed, said to the girl: "Tell me, good girl, how may I sleep with you on the third night?" She said: "Certainly, for a thousand marks of florins." He assented. The knight was thinking within himself: "First I lost a thousand marks of florins; second, I pledged my lands for other thousands; now indeed I must acquire by some way, if I am to have the girl."

Perrexit ad quandam civitatem et obviavit uni mercatori et ait ei: "Domine, potes mihi mille marcis florenis commodare in necessitate?" Qui ait: "Quam securitatem mihi praestabis?" Et ille: "Quidquid vis." Cui mercator: "Volo, ut chartam de proprio sanguine tuo facias sub tuo sigillo, quod, si unum diem constitutum inter nos frangas, sine condicione potestatem habeam tantum de carnibus tuis scindere ac a corpore vellere, ubicumque mihi placeat in tuo corpore, ita tamen, quod carnes tuae pecuniam meam ponderent." At ille: "Mihi bene placet." Statim fecit sibi chartam de proprio sanguine suo sigillatam cum suo sigillo. Hoc facto tradidit mercatori chartam et recepit pecuniam.

He proceeded to a certain city and met a certain merchant and said to him: "Sir, can you lend me one thousand florin-marks in necessity?" He said: "What security will you furnish me?" And he: "Whatever you wish." To whom the merchant: "I will that you make a charter from your own blood under your seal, to the effect that, if you break one day appointed between us, without condition I may have the power to cut from your flesh and tear from your body just so much, wherever it may please me in your body, yet in such wise that your flesh weigh out my money." But he: "It pleases me well." At once he made a charter for himself from his own blood, sealed with his seal. This done he handed the charter to the merchant and received the money.

Miles cum pecuniam accepisset, intra se cogitabat: "Si illam pecuniam perdidero sicut priorem, ero pauper perpetuo."

When the knight had received the money, he was thinking within himself: "If I lose that money as the prior, I shall be poor perpetually."

Perrexit ad quendam philosophum et ait ei: "Bone magister, tibi habeo secretum pandere quoddam, et filiam imperatoris diligo et cum ea conveni, ut mecum una nocte dormiret pro mille marcis florenis. Et prima nocte et secunda dormivi et sic voluntatem in nullo implevi. Iam pecuniam a quodam mercatore mutuavi et, si illam sicut prius perdidero, confusus sum ego.

He proceeded to a certain philosopher and said to him: "Good master, I have to unfold to you a certain secret, and I love the emperor’s daughter, and I made an agreement with her that she would sleep with me for one night for a thousand marks of florins. And on the first night and on the second I slept, and thus I fulfilled my desire in nothing. Now I have borrowed money from a certain merchant, and, if I lose it as before, I am confounded."

Iam ad te veni, ut sciam, quomodo possim me ipsum salvare a dormitione, ne tam leviter amittam, quod tam care mutuavi."

I have now come to you, that I may know how I can save myself from sleep, lest I so lightly lose that which I borrowed so dearly."

Ait philosophus: "Inter coopertorium puellae et linteamen, dico tibi, iacet una charta habens illam virtutem, quod, quicumque intrat lectum, statim oppressus sit somno, donec a puella excitetur. De hoc sum expertus, quia chartam ordinavi. Sed dicam tibi, quomodo habeas puellam.

The philosopher said: "Between the girl’s coverlet and the linen, I tell you, there lies a paper having that virtue (power), that whoever enters the bed is immediately oppressed by sleep, until he is roused by the girl. Of this I am experienced, because I ordained the paper. But I will tell you how you may have the girl.

Antequam ascendas lectum, chartam diligenter quaeras private, et cum inveneris, longe a lecto proicias et tunc audacter intra et voluptatem tuam obtinebis."

"Before you ascend the bed, diligently seek the paper privately, and when you have found it, cast it far from the bed, and then enter audaciously, and you will obtain your pleasure."

Miles vero perrexit ad puellam, tradidit ei pecuniam. Cum vero nox adesset, miles vestimenta deposuit et, antequam lectum ascenderit, inter coopertorium et linteamen chartam invenit, quam longe a lecto proiecit. Hoc facto lectum ascendit et se finxit dormire.

The soldier, however, proceeded to the girl and handed her the money. But when night was at hand, the soldier laid aside his garments and, before he ascended the bed, found a paper between the coverlet and the linen, which he threw far from the bed. This done, he ascended the bed and feigned sleep.

Puella vero simili modo vestimenta deposuit et ignorans, quod charta fuisset ablata. Statim autem cum lectum ascendisset, miles manum ad eam posuit. Puella autem ait: "O domine, decepta sum, totam pecuniam, quam mihi dedisti, tibi reddam, et me illaesam permittas abire!" Qui ait: "In vanum loqueris." Quae ait: "Tibi pecuniam duplicabo." Ait miles: "Et si imperium patris tui mihi dares, tibi non concedam." Fecit cum ea voluntatem suam.

The girl likewise laid aside her garments, not knowing that the paper had been removed. But immediately, when she had climbed onto the bed, the soldier put his hand upon her. But the girl said: "O lord, I have been deceived; I will return to you all the money which you gave me, and permit me to depart unharmed!" He said: "You speak in vain." She said: "I will double the money for you." The soldier said: "Even if you were to give me your father's imperium, I will not grant it to you." He did his will with her.

Statim conglutinata est anima puellae cum eo et ultra modum eum dilexit, miles vero in tantum eam adamavit, quod transiit unam quindenam ultra diem constitutum inter illum et mercatorem et tradidit oblivioni, quomodo mercatori esset obligatus.

At once the soul of the girl was glued to him and she loved him beyond measure, but the soldier indeed loved her to such an extent that he passed one fortnight beyond the day appointed between him and the merchant and consigned to oblivion how he was bound to the merchant.

Cum autem semel in lecto suo iacuisset, ad memoriam reduxit, quomodo mercatori obligatus esset. Suspiria, gemitus et fletus misit. Audiens haec puella ait: "O domine, quid est tibi?

But when once he had lain on his own bed, he brought back to memory how he was obligated to the merchant. He sent forth sighs, groans, and weeping. Hearing these things, the girl said: "O lord, what is the matter with you?"

Cur tantum affligitur anima tua?" Qui ait: "Heu mihi, tantum te dilexi, quod pro tuo amore filius mortis sum!" At illa: "Dic, quomodo!"

"Why is your soul so afflicted?" He said: "Alas for me, I have loved you so much that, for your love, I am a son of death!" But she: "Say, how!"

Respondit miles: "Obligatus sum uni mercatori in tali forma: Defecit mihi pecunia, ut tibi solverem, mutuavi ab uno mercatore mille marcas auri, ita quod, si non solverem die assignata, ipse potestatem haberet, ubicumque vellet, in toto corpore meo tantum pondus de carnibus meis abscidere. Quindena iam transiit de conventione, propter nimium amorem, quem habeo ad te, oblitus fui et haec est causa doloris mei." At illa: "Noli tantum contristari, ad illum perge et pecuniam eius ei duplica! Si vero ei non placuerit, quaere, quidquid ei placeat, et hoc ego tibi dabo."

The knight replied: "I am bound to a certain merchant in such a form: Money failed me, that I might pay you, I borrowed from one merchant a thousand marks of gold, on this condition: that, if I should not pay on the assigned day, he would have the power, wherever he wished, to cut off from my entire body so much weight of my flesh. A fortnight has already passed since the agreement; on account of the excessive love which I have for you, I forgot, and this is the cause of my sorrow." But she: "Do not be so downcast; go to him and repay his money to him twofold! But if it shall not please him, ask whatever may please him, and this I will give you."

Miles hoc audiens ad mercatorem perrexit et eum satis honorifice salutavit dixitque ei: "Domine, diem meum non tenui, igitur graviter deliqui et pro delicto tibi pecuniam duplicabo." Ait mercator: "Carissime, scire debes, quod conventionem meam servare volo, quam per litteras es mihi obligatus." Qui ait: "Si ergo ad hoc non vis assentire, pete a me, quantum volueris, et obtinebis." Ait mercator: "Quid verba multiplicias? Iam dixi tibi, crede mihi, conventionem asscriptam inter nos habere volo." Statim fecit eum capi et ad iudicium duci. Lex autem erat, quod, sicut homo voluntarie se obligaret, ita et iudicium reciperet.

Hearing this, the soldier proceeded to the merchant and greeted him quite honorifically and said to him: "Lord, I did not keep my day; therefore I have gravely delinquented, and for the delinquency I will double the money to you." The merchant said: "Dearest, you must know that I wish to keep my convention (agreement), to which by letters you are obligated to me." He said: "If therefore you do not wish to assent to this, ask of me as much as you will, and you shall obtain it." The merchant said: "Why do you multiply words? I have already told you—believe me—I wish to have the convention ascribed (written) between us." Immediately he had him seized and led to judgment. But the law was that, just as a man voluntarily obligated himself, so also he received judgment.

Interim puella exploratores habebat, quomodo de amasio suo tractaretur. Exploratores revertentes nuntiaverunt ei, quod ad iudicium ductus fuerit. Puella hoc audiens ait intra se: "Si ille morietur, ego ero rea; non fiet ita." Statim crines capitis sui perscidit ad modum viri, vestes mulieris mutavit et sicut vir per omnia se praeparavit ascendensque dextrarium ad iudicium equitavit.

Meanwhile the girl had scouts as to how her lover was being treated. The scouts returning announced to her that he had been led to judgment. Hearing this, the girl said within herself: "If he dies, I shall be the accused; it shall not be so." Immediately she cut the hair of her head in the manner of a man, changed her woman’s garments, and prepared herself in all respects like a man; and mounting a destrier, she rode to the court.

Cum autem iudex eam vidisset, notitiam eius in nullo habebat, quia credebat eam esse virum. Et dixit ei: "Carissime, unde venis?" Quae ait: "De partibus marinis venio a causa, per istam civitatem transitum feci et a viris fide dignis audivi, quod quidam miles hic inter vos per quendam mercatorem male sit tractatus, et ideo iudicium intravi, ut militem a morte liberarem."

When however the judge had seen her, he had no recognition of her at all, because he believed her to be a man. And he said to her: "Dearest, whence do you come?" She said: "From the maritime parts I come for a cause; through this city I made a transit, and from men worthy of faith I have heard that a certain soldier here among you has been ill treated by a certain merchant, and therefore I have entered the judgment, that I might liberate the soldier from death."

Ait iudex: "Carissime, illum iuvare non potes, quia lex huius regni dictat, quod, sicut homo se voluntarie obligaverit, sic sine contradictione iudicium recipiat, si conventionem non impleverit. Miles iste convenit cum mercatore illo pro quadam summa pecuniae, quod, si non solveret die statuto, habeat potestatem plenariam in toto corpore, ubicumque ei placuerit, tantum pondus, quantum sit de pecunia, abscidere, et ideo hoc nullo modo potest fieri, nisi occidatur."

The judge said: "Dearest, you cannot aid him, because the law of this realm dictates that, just as a man has voluntarily obligated himself, so, without contradiction, he should receive judgment if he has not fulfilled the convention. This soldier made a compact with that merchant for a certain sum of money, that if he did not pay on the appointed day, he should have plenary power over his whole body, to cut off, wherever it pleased him, as much weight as corresponds to the money; and therefore this can in no way be done without his being killed."

At illa: "Domine, si mercator hoc tantum concederet, ut vita eius redimi posset, numquid tibi placeret?" Qui ait: "Peroptime."

But she: "Lord, if the merchant would only concede this, that his life could be redeemed, would it please you?" He said: "Very well indeed."

Conversa puella ad mercatorem ait: "Care, quid prodest tibi, si occidatur ille? Nonne melius est tibi, aurum et argentum recipere pro eo pro tua voluntate, quam mortem eius videre?" Ait mercator: "Bone domine, si posses mihi totum imperium dare, vitam eius non concederem." Quae ait: "O bone mercator, ex quo iudex vitam eius desiderat, fac tu similiter!" At ille: "Quod dixi, dixi et hoc in corde meo affirmavi." Quae ait: "Domine iudex, ex quo ita est, quod nec prece nec pretio iste mercator potest flecti, peto instanter, ut legem exerceas tam pro milite quam pro mercatore." Dixit iudex: "Quidquid lex iubet, hoc implebo."

The girl, turning to the merchant, said: "Dear, what does it profit you, if he be killed? Is it not better for you to receive gold and silver for him according to your will, than to see his death?" The merchant said: "Good lord, even if you could give me the whole imperium, I would not concede his life." She said: "O good merchant, since the judge desires his life, do you likewise!" But he: "What I have said, I have said, and this I have affirmed in my heart." She said: "Lord judge, since it is thus, that by neither prayer nor price this merchant can be bent, I ask urgently that you exercise the law as much for the soldier as for the merchant." The judge said: "Whatever the law commands, this I will fulfill."

Ait illa mercatori: "Dic mihi, in qua parte corporis carnes eius velis abscidere!" Et ille: "In pectore, ubi cor iacet." Quae dixit iudici: "Domine mi, coram omnibus dixisti, quod iustitiam velis tenere pro milite sicut pro mercatore. Ex quo ita est, peto instanter beneficium legis. Rex dicit, quod, quicumque sanguinem alicuius effuderit, sanguis eius pro eo effundatur.

She said to the merchant: "Tell me, in what part of the body you would wish to cut off his flesh!" And he: "In the breast, where the heart lies." She said to the judge: "My lord, in the presence of all you said that you wish to hold justice for the soldier just as for the merchant. Since it is so, I urgently request the benefit of the law. The king says that, whoever has shed someone’s blood, his blood be shed for him.

Miles iste tantum conventionem fecerat de carnibus abscindendis, non de effusione sanguinis. Tu ergo mercator impleas conventionem tuam, ubicumque volueris in toto corpore eius, sed videas, ne sanguinem eius effundas, quia, si hoc feceris, beneficium legis recipies."

This soldier had only made a convention about the cutting-off of flesh, not about the effusion of blood. You therefore, merchant, fulfill your convention, wherever you wish in his whole body, but see that you do not shed his blood, because, if you do this, you will receive the benefit of the law."

Dicit ei mercator: "Ex quo ita est, da mihi pecuniam meam, et tibi remitto omnem actionem, quam contra te habebo." Quae ait: "Dico tibi, quia non denarium ab eo obtinebis. Coram omnibus tibi obtuli et renuisti." Et conversa ad iudicem ait: "Carissime, da iudicium!" Qui ait: "Vita est salvata militis; numquam evelli potest sine sanguinis effusione, de mentionem fecit in conventione; et quia mercator renuit, quod suum erat, transeat ergo sine solutione."

The merchant says to her: "Since it is thus, give me my money, and I remit to you every action which I shall have against you." She said: "I tell you that you will not obtain even a denarius from him. In the presence of all I offered to you and you refused." And turning to the judge she said: "Dearest, give judgment!" Who said: "The soldier’s life is saved; it can never be plucked out without a shedding of blood, of which he made no mention in the convention; and because the merchant refused what was his, let it therefore pass without payment."

Illa cum hoc audisset, gratias iudici reddidit et ait: "Domine, ad dominum te recommendo", exivit et equum ascendit et domum equitavit. Omnes autem iuxta iudicem sedentes dixerunt: "Miles iste recendens miro modo et sapienter militem illum salvavit, et omnes credebant eam esse virum. Finito autem iudicio omnes recesserunt et mercator ad domum suam confusus abiit.

She, when she had heard this, rendered thanks to the judge and said: "Lord, I commend you to the Lord," went out and mounted a horse and rode home. But all who were sitting next to the judge said: "This soldier, by reasoning, in a wondrous way and wisely saved that soldier, and all believed her to be a man. When the judgment was finished, all departed, and the merchant went to his home abashed.

Miles autem ad domum puellae ivit.

The soldier, however, went to the girl's house.

Illa autem interim ornavit se sicut prius ad modum mulieris et amplexatus est eum et ait: "Carissime, quomodo evasisti hodie?" Qui ait: "Ego eram adiudicatus morti et subito intravit quidam miles iuvenis valde et sapiens et generosus et eloquens, qui per sapientiam suam me liberavit et hoc non obstante ita sapienter loquebatur, quod etiam nihil mercatori teneor solvere, quia iudex pro me sententiam dedit et mercator sine solutione abiit." Dixit puella: "Ex quo te deus per sapientiam huius militis salvavit, quare ipsum ad prandium non vocasti?" Respondit miles: "Subito intravit et finito iudicio exivit nec postea potui ipsum videre." Respondit iuvencula: "Si eum videres, numquid notitiam eius haberes?" Qui dixit: "Optime." Illa cameram intravit et sicut prius se ornavit; quo facto exivit. Miles cum eam vidisset, ultra quam credi potest gaudebat et osculatus est eam et ait: "Benedicatur hora, in qua fuisti nata." Post hoc cum magno iubilo eam in uxorem duxit et in pace dies suos finierunt.

But she meanwhile adorned herself as before in the fashion of a woman, embraced him, and said: "Dearest, how did you escape today?" He said: "I had been adjudged to death, and suddenly there entered a certain very young knight, most wise and noble and eloquent, who by his wisdom freed me; and, notwithstanding this, he spoke so wisely that I owe the merchant nothing to pay, because the judge gave judgment for me, and the merchant went away without payment." The girl said: "Since God has saved you through the wisdom of this knight, why did you not invite him to dinner?" The knight replied: "He entered suddenly, and, the judgment finished, went out, nor afterwards could I see him." The young maiden answered: "If you were to see him, would you recognize him?" He said: "Very well." She entered the chamber and adorned herself as before; this done, she came out. When the knight saw her, he rejoiced beyond what can be believed, kissed her, and said: "Blessed be the hour in which you were born." After this, with great jubilation he took her as his wife, and in peace they finished their days.

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Theodosius in civitate Romana regnavit prudens valde et potens; qui tres filias pulchras habebat, dixitque filiae seniori: "Quantum diligis me?" At illa: "Certe plus quam me ipsam." Ait ei pater: "Et te ad magnas divitias promovebo." Statim ipsam dedit uni regi opulento et potenti in uxorem.

Theodosius reigned in the city of Rome, very prudent and powerful; who had three beautiful daughters, and he said to the elder daughter: "How much do you love me?" And she: "Certainly more than myself." The father said to her: "And I will promote you to great riches." Immediately he gave her as a wife to one king, opulent and powerful.

Post haec venit ad secundam filiam et ait ei: "Quantum diligis me?" At illa: "Tantum sicut me ipsam." Imperator vero eam cuidam duci tradidit in uxorem.

After these things he came to the second daughter and said to her: "How much do you love me?" But she: "As much as myself." The emperor indeed handed her over to a certain duke in marriage.

Et post haec venit ad tertiam filiam et ait ei: "Quantum me diligis?" At illa: "Tantum sicut vales et non plus neque minus." Ait ei pater: "Ex quo ita est, non ita opulenter ero maritare sicut et sorores tuae." Tradidit eam cuidam comiti in uxorem.

And after this he came to the third daughter and said to her: "How much do you love me?" But she: "As much as you are worth, and no more nor less." The father said to her: "Since it is so, I will not marry you so opulently as your sisters." He gave her to a certain count as a wife.

Accidit cito post haec, quod imperator bellum contra regem Aegypti habebat. Rex vero imperatorem de imperio fugabat, unde bonum refugii habere non poterat. Scripsit litteras anulo suo signatas ad primam filiam suam, quae dixit, quod patrem suum plus quam se ipsam dilexit, ut ei succurreret in sua necessitate, eo quod de imperio expulsus erat.

It happened soon after these things, that the emperor had war against the king of Egypt. But the king was driving the emperor from the empire, whence he could not have a good refuge. He wrote letters sealed with his ring to his first daughter, who had said that she loved her father more than herself, that she might succor him in his necessity, for he had been expelled from the empire.

Filia cum has litteras eius legisset, viro suo regi casum primo narrabat. Ait rex: "Bonum est, ut succurramus ei in hac sua magna necessitate. Colligam exercitum meum et cum toto posse meo adiuvabo eum." Ait illa: "Istud non potest fieri sine magnis expensis.

The daughter, when she had read his letters, was first recounting the plight to her husband the king. The king said: "It is good that we succor him in this his great necessity. I will gather my army and with all my power I will aid him." She said: "That cannot be done without great expenses."

Sufficit, quod ei concedatis, quamdiu est extra imperium suum, quinque milites, qui ei associentur." Et sic factum est. Filia patri rescripsit, quod aliud auxilium ab ea habere non posset nisi quinque milites de sumptibus regis in societate sua.

"It suffices that you concede to him, so long as he is outside his own empire, five soldiers who may associate with him." And so it was done. The daughter wrote back to her father that he could have no other aid from her except five soldiers at the king’s expense in his company.

Imperator cum hoc audisset, contristatus est valde et infra se dicebat: "Heu mihi, tota spes mea erat in seniore filia mea, eo quod dixit, quod plus me dilexit quam se ipsam, et propter hoc ad magnam dignitatem ipsam promovi." Scripsit statim secundae filiae, quae dixit "Tantum te diligo quantum me ipsam", quod succurreret ei in tanta necessitate. At illa cum audisset, viro suo denuntiabat et ipsi consiliavit, ut nihil aliud ei concederet nisi victum et vestitum, quamdiu viveret, honeste pro tali rege, et super hoc litteras patri suo rescripsit.

When the emperor had heard this, he was very saddened and said to himself: "Alas for me, my whole hope was in my elder daughter, because she said that she loved me more than herself, and on account of this I promoted her to great dignity." He wrote at once to his second daughter, who had said "I love you as much as myself," that she should come to his aid in so great a necessity. But when she had heard, she gave notice to her husband and advised him to grant him nothing else except sustenance and clothing, as long as he should live, honorably for such a king; and upon this she wrote back a letter to her father.

Imperator cum hoc audisset, contristatus est valde, dicens: "Deceptus sum per duas filias. Iam temptabo tertiam, quae mihi dixit 'Tantum te diligo, quantum vales.'" Litteras scripsit ei, ut ei succurreret in tanta necessitate, et quomodo sorores suae ei respondebant. Tertia filia cum vidisset inopiam patris sui, ad virum suum dixit: "Domine mi reverende, mihi succurre in hac necessitate!

When the Emperor had heard this, he was very saddened, saying: "I have been deceived by my two daughters. Now I will try the third, who said to me 'I love you as much as you are worth'." He wrote letters to her, that she might succor him in so great a necessity, and how her sisters were responding to him. The third daughter, when she had seen her father's want, said to her husband: "My reverend lord, succor me in this necessity!

Iam pater meus expulsus est ab hereditate sua." Ait ei vir eius: "Quid vis tu, ut ei faciam?" At illa: "Exercitum colligas et ad debellandum inimicum suum pergas cum eo!" Ait comes: "Voluntatem tuam adimplebo."

"Now my father has been expelled from his inheritance." Her husband said to her: "What do you want me to do for him?" But she said: "Assemble an army and go with him to vanquish his enemy!" The count said: "I will fulfill your will."

Statim collegit magnum exercitum et sumptibus suis propriis cum imperatore perrexit ad bellum. Victoriam obtinuit et imperatorem in imperio suo posuit. Tunc ait imperator: "Benedicta hora, in qua genui filiam meam iuniorem.

Immediately he collected a great army and, at his own expense, went forth with the emperor to war. He obtained victory and set the emperor in his empire. Then the emperor said: "Blessed the hour in which I begot my younger daughter.

Ipsam minus aliis filiabus dilexi et mihi in magna necessitate succurrit, et aliae filiae meae defecerunt, propter quod totum imperium reliquero post decessum meum filiae meae iuniori." Et sic factum est. Post decessum patris filia iunior regnavit et in pace vitam finivit.

"Her I loved less than my other daughters, and in great necessity she succored me, and my other daughters failed me, for which reason I have left all the empire, after my decease, to my younger daughter." And so it was done. After the father's decease the younger daughter reigned and finished her life in peace.