Iacobus de Voragine: LEGENDA AUREA

Septem dormientes in civitate Ephesi orti sunt. Decius autem imperator persequens Christianos cum venisset Ephesum, iussit aedificari templa in medio civitatis, ut omnes cum eo miscerentur sacrificiis idolorum. Cum ergo omnes Christianos inquiri iussisset et vinctos aut sacrificare aut mori compelleret, tantus poenarum terror cunctis inerat, quod amicus amicum et filium pater et patrem filius abnegabat.

The Seven Sleepers had their origin in the city of Ephesus. But the emperor Decius, persecuting Christians, when he had come to Ephesus, ordered temples to be built in the midst of the city, so that all might mingle with him in the sacrifices of idols. Therefore, when he had ordered that all Christians be inquired after and, once bound, be compelled either to sacrifice or to die, so great a terror of punishments was upon all that a friend denied a friend, and a father a son, and a son a father.

Tunc in illa urbe inventi sunt Christiani septem: Maximianus, Malchus, Marcianus, Dionysius, Iohannes, Serapion et Constantinus, qui hoc videntes nimis dolebant. Et cum essent primi palatii, sacrificia idolorum spernentes in domo sua se celabant et ieiuniis et orationibus vacabant. Accusati igitur ante Decium statuuntur et comprobati veraciter Christiani dato iis resipiscendi spatio usque ad reditum Decii dimittuntur.

Then in that city there were found seven Christians: Maximian, Malchus, Marcian, Dionysius, John, Serapion, and Constantine, who, seeing this, were grieving greatly. And since they were the foremost of the palace, spurning the sacrifices of idols, they hid themselves in their house and devoted themselves to fastings and prayers. Accused, therefore, they are set before Decius, and, proven to be truly Christians, with a period of coming-to-their-senses granted to them until the return of Decius, they are dismissed.

At illi patrimonium suum interim inter pauperos expendentes inito consilio in montem Celion secesserunt et ibi esse secretius decreverunt. Diu ergo sic latentes unus eorum semper ministrabat, et quoties intrabat urbem, figura se mendici et habitu vestiebat. Cum ergo Decius in urbem rediisset et eos ad sacrificandum perquiri iussisset, Malchus minister eorum territus ad socios rediit et iis furorem imperatoris indicavit.

But they, expending their patrimony meanwhile among the poor, after counsel having been taken withdrew to Mount Celion and decreed to be there more secretly. Therefore, long lying hidden thus, one of them was always ministering, and as often as he entered the city, he would clothe himself in the figure and habit of a beggar. When therefore Decius had returned into the city and had ordered them to be thoroughly sought out for sacrificing, Malchus, their minister, terrified, returned to his companions and made known to them the emperor’s fury.

Qui cum graviter terrerentur, Malchus allatos panes iis apposuit, ut cibo confortati fortiores ad proelium redderentur. Postquam autem cenabant sedentes et colloquentes in luctu et lacrimis, subito, sicut Deus voluit, dormiverunt.

And as they were being gravely terrified, Malchus set before them the loaves he had brought, so that, fortified by food, they might be rendered stronger for battle. But after they were dining, seated and conversing in grief and tears, suddenly, as God willed, they fell asleep.

Mane facto cum quaesiti fuissent et inveniri non possent et Decius doleret, quod tales iuvenes perdidisset, accusati sunt, quod hucusque in monte Celion latuissent et sua Christianis pauperibus erogantes in suo proposito permanerent. Iussit ergo Decius, ut parentes eorum adessent, et comminatus est iis mortem, nisi de iis dicerent, quidquid scirent. Illi autem eos similiter accusaverunt et divitias suas pauperibus expendisse conquesti sunt.

When morning had come, as they had been sought and could not be found, and Decius lamented that he had lost such youths, they were accused of having up to now hidden on the Caelian Mount, and of persevering in their purpose while disbursing their own goods to Christian paupers. Decius therefore ordered that their parents be present, and threatened them with death unless they said about them whatever they knew. But they likewise accused them, and complained that they had expended their riches on the paupers.

Tunc cogitans, quid de iis faceret, nutu Dei iussit os speluncae lapidibus obstrui, ut ibi morerentur fame et inopia circumclusi. Quod ministri quidem fecerunt et duo Christiani, Theodorus et Rufinus, eorum martyrium describentes caute inter lapides posuerunt.

Then, pondering what he should do about them, at the nod of God he ordered the mouth of the cave to be blocked with stones, so that there they might die, shut in by hunger and want. This the ministers indeed did, and two Christians, Theodorus and Rufinus, setting down an account of their martyrdom, placed it cautiously among the stones.

Mortuo igitur Decio et tota illa generatione post annos CCCLXXII anno XXX imperii Theodosii pullulavit haeresis eorum, qui negabant resurrectionem mortuorum. Unde contristatus Theodosius Christianissimus imperator, quia fidem tam impie agitari videbat, indutus cilicio sedens in interiori loco per singulos dies nebat. Quod videns misericors Deus consolari lugentes et confirmare spem de resurrectione voluit mortuorum et thesaurum suae pietatis aperiens ita praedictos martyres suscitavit.

With Decius therefore dead and that whole generation, after 372 years, in the 30th year of the reign of Theodosius, there sprang up a heresy of those who denied the resurrection of the dead. Wherefore Theodosius, the most Christian emperor, being saddened because he saw the faith being so impiously agitated, clothed in a cilice, sitting in an inner place, day by day was weeping. Seeing this, the merciful God, wishing to console those who mourn and to confirm the hope concerning the resurrection of the dead, opening the treasury of his piety, thus raised up the aforesaid martyrs.

Misit siquidem in cor cuiusdam civis Ephesi, ut in illo monte aedificaret stabula pastoribus suis.Caementariis speluncam aperientibus surrexerunt sancti et se invicem salutantes putabant se tantum una nocte dormivisse. Et praedianam tristitiam recordantes interrogaverunt Malchum, qui iis ministraverat, quid de iis Decius decrevisset. At ille respondit, sicut dixit in sero: "Quaesiti fuimus, ut idolis immolemus.

Indeed, He sent into the heart of a certain citizen of Ephesus that on that mountain he should build stables for his shepherds.Caementariis opening the cave, the saints rose up and, greeting one another, thought that they had slept only one night. And recalling the previous day’s sorrow, they asked Malchus, who had ministered to them, what Decius had decreed concerning them. But he replied, as he said in the evening: "We were sought out, to immolate to idols."

Ecce, quod de nobis cogitat imperator." Respondit Maximianus: "Et Deus scit, quod non sacnficabimus." Cumque socios confortasset, iussit Malcho, ut empturus panes ad urbem descenderet et plures quam heri afferens panes, quae iussisset imperator, rediens nuntiaret. Tollens ergo Malchus quinque solidos de spelunca exit et videns lapides miratus est, sed aliud cogitans parum de lapidus cogitavit. Veniens igitur timidus ad portam urbis valde miratus est videns suppositum signum crucis.

Behold, what the emperor is thinking about us." Maximianus answered: "And God knows that we will not sacrifice." And when he had comforted his companions, he ordered Malchus to go down to the city to buy loaves and, bringing more loaves than yesterday, on returning to report what the emperor had ordered. Therefore, taking five solidi, Malchus goes out from the cave, and seeing the stones he was amazed; but thinking of other matters, he gave little thought to the stones. Coming then timidly to the gate of the city, he was very much amazed, seeing the sign of the cross set up.

Unde pergens ad alteram portam, dum idem signum invenit, ultra modum miratus est videns omnes portas signo crucis apposito et mutatam civitatem. Signansque se ad primam portam rediit existimans se somniare. Unde se confirmans et vultum operiens urbem ingreditur et veniens ad venditores panum audivit homines loquentes de Christo et amplius stupefactus ait: "Quid est", inquit, "quod heri nemo Christum audebat nominare, et tunc omnes Christum confitentur!

Whence going on to the other gate, while he found the same sign, he marveled beyond measure, seeing all the gates with the sign of the cross affixed and the city changed. And signing himself, he returned to the first gate, supposing himself to be dreaming. Whence, steadying himself and covering his countenance, he enters the city, and coming to the vendors of bread he heard men speaking of Christ; and, more astonished, he said: "What is this," he says, "that yesterday no one dared to name Christ, and now all confess Christ!"

Puto, quod haec non est Ephesorum civitas, quia aliter aedificata est, sed aliam civitatem nescio talem." Et cum interrogans audivisset hanc esse Ephesum, errare veraciter se putavit et redire ad socios cogitavit.

"I think that this is not the city of the Ephesians, because it is built otherwise, but I do not know another city such as this." And when, upon inquiring, he had heard that this was Ephesus, he truly thought himself to be erring and considered returning to his companions.

Accessit tamen ad eos, qui panem vendebant, et cum argenteos protulisset, mirati venditores dicebant ad invicem, quod ille iuvenis antiquum thesaurum invenisset. Malchus vero eos ad invicem loquentes videns putabat, quod vellent eum trahere ad imperatorem, et territus rogavit eos, ut se dimitterent et panes et argenteos retinerent. At illi tenentes eum dixerunt ei: "Unde es tu! Quia thesauros antiquorum imperatorum invenisti, indica nobis et erimus socii tecum et celabimus te, quia aliter celari non potes." Malchus vero non inveniebat, quid diceret illis, prae timore.

Nevertheless he approached those who were selling bread, and when he had brought forth silver pieces, the astonished vendors were saying to one another that that young man had found an ancient treasure. But Malchus, seeing them speaking with one another, supposed that they wanted to drag him to the emperor, and, terrified, he begged them to dismiss him and to keep the loaves and the silver pieces. But they, seizing him, said to him: "Where are you from! Since you have found the treasures of the emperors of old, reveal them to us and we will be partners with you and we will conceal you, because otherwise you cannot be concealed." But Malchus, for fear, could not find what he should say to them.

Illi vero videntes eum tacentem misso fune in collo eius trahebant per vicos usque in medium civitatis. Et exiit rumor ad omnes, quod quidam iuvenis thesauros invenisset. Congregatis ergo ad eum universis et eum mirantibus volebat iis satisfacere, quod nihil invenerat.

But they, seeing him silent, with a rope cast around his neck, were dragging him through the streets all the way to the middle of the city. And a rumor went out to everyone that a certain young man had found treasures. Therefore, with all assembled to him and marveling at him, he wanted to satisfy them that he had found nothing.

Et circumspiciens omnes a nemine cognosci poterat et prospiciens in populum volebat cognoscere aliquem de consanguineis suis, quos veraciter vivere putabat, et nullum inveniens stabat quasi insanus in medio populi civitatis. Quod cum audiisset sanctus Martinus episcopus et Antipater proconsul, qui nuper in urbem advenerat, mandaverunt civibus, ut eum caute adducerent et argenteos eius. Cumque a ministris traheretur ad ecclesiam, putabat, quod duceretur ad imperatorem.

And looking around at all, he could be recognized by no one, and looking out into the people he wished to recognize someone of his consanguine relatives, whom he supposed to be truly living; and finding no one, he stood as if insane in the midst of the people of the city. When Saint Martin the bishop heard this, and Antipater the proconsul, who had lately arrived in the city, they commanded the citizens to bring him cautiously, and his silver coins. And when he was being dragged by the attendants to the church, he thought that he was being led to the emperor.

Episcopus igitur et proconsul mirantes argenteos interrogaverunt eum, ubi thesaurum incognitum invenisset. At ille respondit se nihil penitus invenisse, sed de sacculo parentum suorum eosdem denarios habuisse. Et interrogatus, cuius civitatis esset, respondit: "Bene scio, quod huius civitatis sum, si tantum haec est civitas Ephesorum." Proconsul dixit: "Fac venire parentes tuos, ut testentur pro te. " Quos cum nominasset et nullus eos cognosceret, dicebant eum se fingere, ut aliquo modo evaderet.

The bishop therefore and the proconsul, marveling at the silver coins, asked him where he had found the unknown treasure. But he answered that he had found nothing at all, but had had those same denarii from the purse of his parents. And when asked of what city he was, he replied: "I know well that I am of this city, if only this is the city of the Ephesians." The proconsul said: "Have your parents come, that they may testify for you. " When he had named them and no one recognized them, they said that he was feigning himself, so that he might somehow escape.

Et ait proconsul: "Quomodo credimus tibi, quod hoc argentum parentum tuorum fuerit, cum scriptura eius habeat plus quam trecentos septuaginta septem annos et sit primorum dierum Decii imperatoris et in nullo similes sint argenteis nostris? Et quomodo parentes tui ante tantum tempus fuerunt! Tu vero iuvenis vis decipere sapientes et senes Ephesi.

And the proconsul said: "How are we to believe you, that this silver was your parents’, since its inscription bears more than 377 years and is of the first days of Emperor Decius, and in no respect are they like our silver coins? And how could your parents have been so long ago! You, indeed, a young man, wish to deceive the wise and the elders at Ephesus.

Idcirco iubebo te legibus tradi, donec confiteans, quid invenisti." Tunc procidens Malchus ante eos dixit: "Pro Deo, domini, dicite mihi, quod vos interrogo, et ego dicam vobis, quod est in corde meo. Decius imperator, qui fuit in hac civitate, ubi nunc est!" Episcopus dixit: "Fili, non est hodie in terra, qui Decius nominatur, imperator autem fuit ante longum tempus." Malchus autem dixit: "In hoc, domine, ita stupeo et nemo credit mihi, sed sequimini me et ostendam vobis socios meos, qui sunt in monte Celio, et ipsis credite. Hoc enim scio, quod a facie Decii imperatoris nos fugimus et ego sero vidi, quod ingressus est Decius in hanc urbem, si tantum haec est civitas Ephesi."

Therefore I shall order you to be handed over to the laws, until you confess what you have found." Then, falling prostrate before them, Malchus said: "By God, my lords, tell me what I ask you, and I will tell you what is in my heart. The emperor Decius, who was in this city—where is he now!" The bishop said: "Son, there is today on earth no one named Decius; rather, he was an emperor a long time ago." But Malchus said: "At this, lord, I am thus astonished, and no one believes me; but follow me and I will show you my companions, who are on Mount Celius, and believe them. For this I know: that we fled from the face of Emperor Decius, and late I saw that Decius had entered into this city, if indeed this is the city of Ephesus."

Tunc episcopus cogitans in semet ipso dixit proconsuli, quia visio est, quam Deus vult ostendere in iuvene isto. Perrexerunt ergo cum eo et civitatis plurima multitudo. Et ingressus est primo Malchus ad socios suos et post eum episcopus ingrediens invenit inter lapides litteras sigillatas duobus sigillis argenteis.

Then the bishop, thinking within himself, said to the proconsul that it is a vision which God wills to show in this youth. They therefore went forth with him, and a very great multitude of the city. And Malchus entered first to his companions, and after him, the bishop, entering, found among the stones a letter sealed with two silver seals.

Et convocato populo legit eas et audientibus et admirantibus cunctis. Et videntes sanctos Dei sedentes in spelunca et facies eorum tamquam rosas florentes procidentes glorificaverunt Deum. Statimque episcopus et proconsul miserunt ad Theodosium imperatorem rogantes, ut cito veniret et miracula Dei nuper ostensa videret.

And the people having been convoked, he read them, with all listening and marveling. And seeing the saints of God sitting in the cave, and their faces blooming like roses, falling prostrate they glorified God. And immediately the bishop and the proconsul sent to Emperor Theodosius, beseeching that he come quickly and see the miracles of God newly shown.

Qui protinus surgens de humo et desacco, in quo lugebat. Glorificans Deum venit a Constantinopoli Ephesum et obviantibus ei cunctis adscenderunt simul omnes ad speluncam. Et mox ut sancti viderunt imperatorem, resplenduerunt facies eorum sicut sol.

Who immediately, rising from the ground and from the sackcloth in which he was mourning, glorifying God came from Constantinople to Ephesus; and as all were meeting him, they all together ascended to the cave. And as soon as the saints saw the emperor, their faces shone resplendent like the sun.

Et ingressus imperator procidit ante eos glorificans Deum et surgens amplexatus est eos et super singulos flevit dicens: "Sic video vos, tamquam si viderem Dominum resuscitantem Lazarum." Tunc dixit sanctus Maximianus ad eum: "Crede nobis, quod propter te resuscitavit nos Deus ante diem magnae resurrectionis, ut credas indubitanter, quod resurrectio mortuorum est. Vere enim resurreximus et vivimus, et sicut infans est in utero matris non sentiens laesionem et vivit, sic fuimus viventes, iacentes et dormientes et non sentientes." Et his dictis videntibus cunctis inclinantes capita sua in terram obdormierunt et tradiderunt spiritus suos secundum Dei imperium. Surgens autem imperator cecidit super eos flens et deosculans eos.

And the emperor, entering, fell down before them, glorifying God; and rising, he embraced them and wept over each one, saying: “Thus I behold you, as if I were seeing the Lord resuscitating Lazarus.” Then Saint Maximian said to him: “Believe us, that for your sake God resuscitated us before the day of the great Resurrection, that you may believe indubitably that there is a resurrection of the dead. For truly we have risen and we live; and just as an infant is in the womb of its mother, not sensing injury, and lives, so were we living, lying and sleeping and not sensing.” And with these things said, while all were witnessing, bowing their heads to the earth they fell asleep and handed over their spirits according to the command of God. But the emperor, rising, fell upon them, weeping and kissing them.

Et cum iussisset fieri loculos aureos, in quibus mitterentur, in ipsa nocte apparuerunt imperatori dicentes, ut, sicut hactenus in terra iacuerunt et ex terra resurrexerant, ita eos dimitteret donec Dominus iterum eos resuscitaret. Iussit ergo imperator locum illum inauratis lapidibus adornari et omnes episcopos resurrectionem confidentes absolvi.

And when he had ordered golden coffins to be made, into which they should be placed, that very night they appeared to the emperor, saying that, just as they had hitherto lain in the earth and had risen from the earth, so he should leave them until the Lord should raise them again. Therefore the emperor ordered that place to be adorned with gilded stones, and that all the bishops, confident in the resurrection, be absolved.

Quod CCCLXXII annis dormiisse dicuntur, dubium esse potest, quia anno Domini CCCCXLVIII surrexerant, Decius autem regnavit uno tantum anno et tribus mensibus, scilicet anno Domini CCLII. Et ita non dormierunt nisi CXCVI annis.

That they are said to have slept for 372 years can be doubtful, because in the year of the Lord 448 they had risen, but Decius reigned for only one year and three months, namely in the year of the Lord 252. And thus they slept only 196 years.