Iacobus de Voragine: LEGENDA AUREA

Ambrosius, filius Ambrosii praefecti Romae, cum in cunabulis in atrio praetorii esset positus et dormiret, examen apum subito veniens faciem eius et os ita complevit, ut quasi in alveolum suum intrarent pariter et exirent. Quae postea evolantes in tantam aeris altitudinem sublevatae sunt, ut humanis oculis minime viderentur. Quo peracto territus pater ait: "Si vixerit infantulus iste, aliquid magni erit."

Ambrose, son of Ambrose, prefect of Rome, when he had been placed in his cradle in the atrium of the praetorium and was sleeping, a swarm of bees suddenly came and so filled his face and mouth that, as if into their little hive, they entered and departed together. Afterward, flying away, they were lifted into such a height of the air that they were not at all seen by human eyes. When this was done, the terrified father said: "If this little infant lives, he will be something great."

Postea cum adolevisset et videret matrem et sororem, sacrum virginem, manus sacerdotibus osculari, ipse ludens sorori dextram offerebat asserens et sibi id ab ea fieri oportere. Illa vero ut adolescentem et nescientem, quid diceret, respuebat.

Afterwards, when he had grown up and saw his mother and his sister, a sacred virgin, kiss the hands of the priests, he himself, jesting, offered his right hand to his sister, asserting that this ought to be done to himself by her as well. But she, regarding him as an adolescent and not knowing what he was saying, spurned it.

Romae igitur litteris eruditus cum causas praetorii splendide peroraret, a Valentiniano imperatore ad regendam Liguriam Emiliamque provinciam directus est. Cumque Mediolanum venisset et ibidem episcopus tunc deesset, convenit populus, ut sibi de episcopo provideret. Sed cum inter Arianos et catholicos de eligendo episcopo seditio non modica oriretur, illuc Ambrosius causa sedandae seditionis perrexit et statim vox infantis insonuit dicens Ambrosium episcopum.

Therefore at Rome, educated in letters, while he was splendidly perorating the cases of the praetorium, he was directed by Emperor Valentinian to govern the province of Liguria and Emilia. And when he had come to Milan and the bishop there was at that time lacking, the people convened to provide for themselves concerning a bishop. But when no small sedition arose between Arians and Catholics about choosing a bishop, Ambrose proceeded there for the purpose of quelling the sedition, and immediately the voice of an infant resounded, saying “Ambrose bishop.”

Cuius voci omnes unanimiter consenserunt Ambrosium episcopum acclamantes.

To which voice all unanimously consented, acclaiming Ambrose bishop.

Quo ille cognito, ut eos a se terroribus removeret, ecclesiam exiens tribunal conscendit et contra consuetudinem suam tormenta personis adhiberi iussit. Quod cum faceret, populus nihilominus acclamabat: "Peccatum tuum super nos."

This having been learned by him, in order to remove them from himself by terrors, going out from the church he mounted the tribunal and, contrary to his custom, ordered torments to be applied to persons. And when he did this, the people nonetheless kept acclaiming: "Your sin upon us."

Tunc ille turbatus domum rediit et philosophiam profiteri voluit. Quod ut nefaceret, revocatus est. Publicas mulieres publice ad se ingredi fecit, ut his visis ab eius electione populum revocaret.

Then he, disturbed, returned home and wished to profess philosophy. To the end that he might not do this, he was recalled. He caused public women to enter to him publicly, so that, these having been seen, he might recall the people from his election.

Sed cum nec sic proficeret, sed semper populum "peccatum tuum super nos" acclamare videret, fugam media nocte concepit.

But since he was not making progress even thus, but always saw the people acclaiming, "peccatum tuum super nos," he conceived flight in the middle of the night.

Cumque Ticinum se pergere putaret, mane ad portam civitatis Mediolanensis, quae Romana dicitur, invenitur. Qui inventus cum custodiretur a populo, missa relatio est ad clementissimum imperatorem Valentianum, qui summo gaudio accepit, quod iudices a se directi ad sacerdotium peterentur. Laetabatur enim Probus praefectus, quod verbum suum fuerat in eo adimpletum.

And when he thought that he was proceeding to Ticinum, in the morning he is found at the gate of the city of Milan, which is called the Roman [Gate]. He, having been found, while he was being guarded by the people, a report was sent to the most clement Emperor Valentinian, who received with the greatest joy that judges sent by himself were being sought for the priesthood. For Prefect Probus was rejoicing, because his word had been fulfilled in him.

Dixerat enim, cum proficisccenti mandata donaret: "Vade, age, non ut iudex, sed ut episcopus .

For he had said, when he was giving instructions to the one setting out: "Go, go on, not as a judge, but as a bishop ."

Pendente relatione iterum absconditur, sed inventus cum adhuc esset catechumenus, baptizatur et VIII die in eplscopalem cathedram sublimatur. Cum autem post IV annos Romam ivisset et soror sua, sacra virgo, eius dextram oscularetur, sibi ridens ait: "Ecce, ut dicebam tibi, sacerdotis manum oscularis. " [...]

With the report pending he is hidden again, but, found while he was still a catechumen, he is baptized and on the 8th day is elevated to the episcopal chair. And when, after 4 years, he had gone to Rome and his sister, a sacred virgin, was kissing his right hand, laughing to himself he said: "Behold, as I was telling you, you are kissing a priest’s hand. " [...]

Quadam vice, ut aiunt, cum beatus Ambrosius Romam pergeret et in quadam villa Tusciae apud quendam hominem nimium locupletem hospitatus fuisset, illum hominem super statu suo sollicite requisivit. Cui ille respondit: "Status meus, domine, semper felix exsistit et gloriosus. Ecce enim divitiis infinitis abundo, servos et famulos quam plures habeo et omnia semper ad vota habui nec umquam mihi aliquid adversum accidit vel, quod contristaret, evenit." Quod audiens Ambrosius vehementer obstupuit et his, qui erant secum in comitatu, dixit: "Surgite et hinc quantocius fugiamus, quia Dominus non est in loco isto.

On a certain occasion, as they say, when blessed Ambrose was proceeding to Rome and had lodged in a certain villa of Tuscia with a certain man exceedingly opulent, he inquired solicitously of that man about his status. To whom he replied: "My status, lord, always exists felicitous and glorious. Behold, indeed, I abound in infinite riches, I have very many slaves and servants, and I have always had all things according to my wishes, nor has anything ever adverse happened to me or, which might sadden, occurred." Hearing this, Ambrose was vehemently astonished and said to those who were with him in the retinue: "Arise, and let us flee from here as quickly as possible, because the Lord is not in this place."

Festinate, filii, festinate nec in fugiendo moram facite, ne nos hic divina ultio apprehendat et in peccatis illorum pariter nos involvat."

Make haste, sons, make haste, and do not make delay in fleeing, lest divine vengeance apprehend us here and involve us equally in their sins."

Cum ergo fugerent et aliquantulum processissent, subito se terra aperuit et hominem illum cum universis, qui ad illum pertinebant, ita absorbuit, ut nullum inde vestigium remaneret.

Therefore, when they were fleeing and had proceeded a little, suddenly the earth opened itself and absorbed that man along with all who pertained to him, such that no vestige thence remained.

Quod cernens Ambrosius dixit: "Ecce fratres, quam misencorditer Deus parcit, cum hic adversa tribuit, et quam severe irascitur, cum semper prospera elargitur." In eodem autem loco fovea quaedam profundissima remansisse dicitur, quae usque hodie in huius facti testimonium perseverat. [. . .]

Seeing this, Ambrose said: "Behold, brothers, how mercifully God spares, when here he grants adversities, and how severely he grows irate, when he ever lavishes prosperities." And in that same place a certain very deep pit is said to have remained, which persists to this day as a testimony of this deed. [. . .]