Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA LANGOBARDORUM

1. Septemtrionalis plaga quanto magis ab aestu solis remota est et nivali frigore gelida, tanto salubrior corporibus hominum et propagandis est gentibus coaptata; sicut econtra omnis meridiana regio, quo solis est fervori vicinior, eo semper morbis habundat et educandis minus est apta mortalibus. Unde fit, ut tantae populorum multitudines arctoo sub axe oriantur, ut non inmerito universa illa regio Tanai tenus usque ad occiduum, licet et propriis loca in ea singula nuncupentur nominibus, generali tamen vocabulo Germania vocitetur; quamvis et duas ultra Rhenum provincias Romani, cum ea loca occupassent, superiorem inferioremque Germaniam dixerint. Ab hac ergo populosa Germania saepe innumerabiles captivorum turmae abductae meridianis populis pretio distrahuntur.

1. The northern region, the more it is remote from the heat of the sun and frozen with snow-like cold, the more it is healthy for the bodies of men and fitted for propagating peoples; just as conversely every meridional region, the nearer it is to the sun’s fervor, always abounds in diseases and is less fit for nurturing mortals. Hence it comes about that such multitudes of peoples rise under the Arctic axis, that not without reason that whole region, even to the Tanai toward the west, although individual places in it are called by their own names, is nonetheless called Germania by the general word; although the Romans, when they occupied those lands, called the two provinces beyond the Rhine Upper and Lower Germany. From this therefore populous Germany countless bands of captives, once carried off, are often dispersed to the southern peoples for a price.

Multae quoque ex ea, pro eo quod tantos mortalium germinat, quantos alere vix sufficit, saepe gentes egressae sunt, quae nihilominus et partes Asiae, sed maxime sibi contiguam Europam afflixerunt. Testantur hoc ubique urbes erutae per totam Illyricum Galliamque, sed maxime miserae Italiae, quae paene omnium illarum est gentium experta saevitiam. Gothi siquidem Wandalique, Rugi, Heruli atque Turcilingi, necnon etiam et aliae feroces et barbarae nationes e Germania prodierunt.

Many also from that land, because it brings forth so great a number of mortals as scarcely suffices to nourish, have often gone out as peoples, who nevertheless afflicted parts of Asia, but most of all the Europe contiguous to them. Cities torn up throughout Illyricum and Gaul, and above all wretched Italy, which has experienced the savagery of almost all those peoples, testify to this everywhere. For the Goths and Vandals, the Rugii, Heruli and Turcilingi, and likewise other fierce and barbarous nations, proceeded from Germania.

Pari etiam modo et Winilorum, hoc est Langobardorum, gens, quae postea in Italia feliciter regnavit, a Germanorum populis originem ducens, licet et aliae causae egressionis eorum asseverentur, ab insula quae Scadinavia dicitur adventavit.

In like manner also the people of the Winili, that is the Langobards, who afterwards happily reigned in Italy, tracing their origin to the German peoples, although other causes of their exodus are asserted, came from the island which is called Scadinavia.

2. Cuius insulae etiam Plinius Secundus in libris quos De natura rerum conposuit, mentionem facit. Haec igitur insula, sicut retulerunt nobis qui eam lustraverunt, non tam in mari est posita, quam marinis fluctibus propter planitiem marginum terras ambientibus circumfusa. Intra hanc ergo constituti populi dum in tantam multitudinem pullulassent, ut iam simul habitare non valerent, in tres, ut fertur, omnem catervam partes dividentes, quae ex illis pars patriam relinquere novasque deberet sedes exquirere, sorte perquirunt.

2. Of which island Pliny the Second also makes mention in the books which he composed, On the Nature of Things. This island therefore, as those who circled it have reported to us, is situated not so much in the sea as drenched by the sea-waves because of the flatness of its shores surrounding lands. Within this, then, the peoples settled having thriven into so great a multitude that they could no longer dwell together, into three parts, as is said, they divided the entire throng, and by lot they sought which of those parts should leave the fatherland and seek new seats.

3. Igitur ea pars, cui sors dederat genitale solum excedere exteraque arva sectari, ordinatis super se duobus ducibus, Ibor scilicet et Aione, qui et germani erant et iuvenili aetate floridi et ceteris praestantiores, ad exquirendas quas possint incolere terras sedesque statuere, valedicentes suis simul et patriae, iter arripiunt. Horum erat ducum mater nomine Gambara, mulier quantum inter suos et ingenio acris et consiliis provida; de cuius in rebus dubiis prudentia non minimum confidebant.

3. Therefore that part, to which lot had given to leave the native soil and seek foreign fields, having placed over themselves two leaders, namely Ibor and Aione, who were brothers and vigorous in youthful age and superior to the others, to search out lands which they could inhabit and to establish seats, bidding farewell both to their own people and to their fatherland at once, took up the journey. Their leaders’ mother was named Gambara, a woman among her people both keen in wit and provident in counsel; in matters of doubt they trusted greatly in her prudence.

4. Haud ab re esse arbitror, paulisper narrandi ordinem postponere, et quia adhuc stilus in Germania vertitur, miraculum, quod illic apud omnes celebre habetur, sed et quaedam alia, breviter intimare. In extremis circium versus Germaniae finibus, in ipso Oceani litore, antrum sub eminenti rupe conspicitur, ubi septem viri, incertum ex quo tempore, longo sopiti sopore quiescunt, ita inlaesis non solum corporibus, sed etiam vestimentis, ut ex hoc ipso, quod sine ulla per tot annorum curricula corruptione perdurant, apud indociles easdem et barbaras nationes veneratione habeantur. Hi denique, quantum ad habitum spectat, Romani esse cernuntur.

4. I do not think it out of place to postpone the order of narration a little, and, because my pen is still turning in Germany, to intimate briefly a marvel, which is celebrated there among all, and some other matters. In the outermost circuit toward Germany’s borders, on the very shore of the Ocean, a cave is seen beneath a prominent cliff, where seven men, from what time uncertain, rest in a long deep sleep, so unhurt not only in their bodies but also in their garments, that from this very fact, that they endure without any corruption through the course of so many years, they are held in veneration among those untaught and barbarous nations. These, moreover, as to their attire, are seen to be Romans.

E quibus dum unum quidam cupiditate stimulatus vellet exuere, mox eius, ut dicitur, brachia aruerunt, poenaque sua ceteros perterruit, ne quis eos ulterius contingere auderet. Videris, ad quod eos profectum per tot tempora providentia divina conservet. Fortasse horum quandoque, quia non aliter nisi Christiani esse putantur, gentes illae praedicatione salvandae sunt.

Of these, while one man, stirred by desire, wished to strip himself, soon his arms, as is said, withered, and his punishment terrified the others, so that no one dared to touch them further. You will see to what purpose divine providence has preserved them through so many ages. Perhaps some day some of these, because they are thought to be nothing other than Christians, those peoples will be saved by preaching.

5. Huic loco Scritobini, sic enim gens illa nominatur, vicini sunt. Qui etiam aestatis tempore nivibus non carent, nec aliud, utpote feris ipsis ratione non dispares, quam crudis agrestium animantium carnibus vescuntur; de quorum etiam hirtis pellibus sibi indumenta coaptant. Hi a saliendo iuxta linguam barbaram ethimologiam ducunt.

5. To this place the Scritobini — for thus that people are named — are neighbors. They even in the season of summer are not without snows, nor lacking other fare; and, not unlike wild beasts in disposition, they feed on the raw flesh of wild animals; from whose rough skins they also stitch garments for themselves. These derive their name from saliendo according to the barbarian tongue’s etymology.

Saltibus enim utentes, arte quadam ligno incurvo ad arcus similitudinem feras assequuntur. Apud hos est animal cervo non satis absimile, de cuius ego corio, ut fuerat pilis hispidum, vestem in modum tunicae genu tenus aptatam conspexi, sicut iam fati, ut relatum est, Scritobini, utuntur. Quibus in locis circa aestivale solstitium per aliquot dies etiam noctu clarissima lux cernitur, diesque ibi multo maiores quam alibi habentur; sicut e contrario circa brumale solstitium, quamvis diei lux adsit, sol tamen ibi non videtur, diesque minimi, quam usquam alibi, noctes quoque longiores existunt; quia scilicet, quanto magis a sole longius disceditur, tanto sol ipse terrae vicinior apparet et umbrae longiores excrescunt.

For using the glades, by a certain art with bent wood fashioned to the likeness of bows they capture wild beasts. Among these is an animal not very unlike a stag, of whose hide I saw a garment, as it was bristling with hairs, fitted in the manner of a tunic down to the knee, as they of the Scritobini, it has been related, now use. In those places about the summer solstice for several days there is even at night a most clear light visible, and the days there are held much longer than elsewhere; just as conversely about the winter solstice, although there is daylight, the sun itself is not seen there, and the days are smallest, less than anywhere else, and the nights are longer; for, to be sure, the more one departs from the sun the nearer the sun appears to the earth itself and the longer do the shadows grow.

Denique in Italia, sicut et antiqui scripserunt, circa diem Natalis Domini novem pedes in umbra staturae humanae hora sexta metiuntur. Ego autem in Gallia Belgica in loco qui Totonis villa dicitur constitutus, status mei umbram metiens, decem et novem et semis pedes inveni. Sic quoque contrario modo, quanto propinquius meridiem versus ad solem acceditur, tantum semper umbrae breviores videntur, in tantum ut solstitio aestivali, respiciente sole de medio caeli, in Aegypto et Hierosolimis et in eorum vicinitate constitutis locis nullae videantur umbrae.

Finally, in Italy, as the ancients also wrote, about the day of the Nativity of the Lord nine feet of a human stature are measured in the shadow at the sixth hour. But I, in Belgic Gaul, in a place called Totonis villa, standing and measuring my shadow, found nineteen and a half feet. Likewise, conversely, the nearer one approaches southward toward the sun, the shorter shadows always appear, so much so that at the summer solstice, with the sun looking from the middle of the sky, in Egypt and Jerusalem and in places situated near them no shadows are seen.

In Arabia vero hoc ipso tempore sol supra medium caeli ad partem aquilonis cernitur, umbraeque versa vice contra meridiem videntur.

In Arabia, however, at this very time the sun is seen above the middle of the sky toward the north, and the shadows, on the contrary, are seen turned toward the south.

6. Nec satis procul ab hoc de quo praemisimus litore, contra occidentalem partem, qua sine fine Oceanum pelagus patet, profundissima aquarum illa vorago est, quam usitato nomine maris umbilicum vocamus. Quae bis in die fluctus absorbere et rursum evomere dicitur, sicut per universa illa litora accedentibus ac recedentibus fluctibus celeritate nimia fieri comprobatur. Huiusmodi vorago sive vertigo a poeta Virgilio Carybdis appellatur; quam ille in freto Siculo esse suo in carmine loquitur, hoc modo dicens : Dextrum Scylla latus, laevum implacata Carybdis Obsidet, atque imo baratri ter gurgite vastos Sorbet in abruptum fluctus, rursusque sub auras Erigit alternos, et sidera verberat unda.

6. Not far enough from that shore of which I spoke above, on the western side where the boundless Ocean opens, there is that very deep chasm of the waters which by the customary name of the sea we call the navel. It is said to swallow the waves twice in a day and to vomit them up again, as is proved by the excessive swiftness of the waves advancing and receding along all those shores. Such a chasm or eddy is called by the poet Virgil Carybdis; whom he speaks of in his song as being in the Sicilian strait, saying thus: The right side Scylla, the left the unappeased Carybdis besets, and three times with its deep whirl of the abyss it drinks in vast waves into the sheer, and again thrusts them up beneath the airs alternately, and the wave smites the stars.

Ab hac sane de qua diximus vertigine saepe naves raptim cursimque adtrahi adfirmantur tanta celeritate, ut sagittarum per aera lapsus imitari videantur; et nonnumquam in illo baratro horrendo nimis exitu pereunt. Saepe cum iam iamque mergendae sint, subitis undarum molibus retroactae, tanta rursus agilitate exinde elongantur, quanta prius adtractae sunt. Adfirmant, esse et aliam huiusmodi voraginem inter Brittaniam insulam Galliciamque provinciam; cui etiam rei adstipulantur Sequanicae Aquitaniaeque litora; quae bis in die tam subitis inundationibus opplentur, ut, qui fortasse aliquantulum introrsus a litore repertus fuerit, evadere vix possit.

From this vertigo indeed of which we spoke, ships are often asserted to be seized and drawn in swiftly and rapidly with such celerity that they seem to imitate the flight of arrows through the air; and sometimes in that dreadful chasm they perish by excessive destruction. Often when they are now on the point of sinking, driven back by sudden masses of waves, they are from there thrown away again with as great swiftness as they were previously drawn in. They assert that there is another whirlpool of this sort between the island of Britain and the Gallic province; to which the Sequanian and Aquitanian shores are also adduced; which twice a day are so filled by such sudden inundations that one who perhaps is found somewhat inward from the shore can scarcely escape.

Videas earum regionum flumina fontem versus cursu velocissimo relabi ac per multorum milium spatia dulces fluminum lymphas in amaritudinem verti. Triginta ferme a Sequanico litore Evodia insula milibus distat. In qua, sicut ab illius incolis adseveratur, vergentium in eandem Carybdin aquarum garrulitas auditur.

You see the rivers of those regions flow back toward their source with a very swift course and over stretches of many miles the sweet streams of the rivers are turned into bitterness. Evodia island lies about thirty miles from the Sequanic shore. In which, as is asserted by its inhabitants, the babbling of the waters leaning toward the same Carybdin is heard.

Audivi quendam nobilissimum Gallorum referentem, quod aliquantae naves prius tempestate convulsae, postmodum ab hac eadem Carybdi voratae sunt. Unus autem solummodo ex omnibus viris qui in navibus illis fuerant, morientibus ceteris, dum adhuc spirans fluctibus supernataret, vi aquarum labentium abductus, ad oram usque inmanissimi illius baratri pervenit. Qui cum iam profundissimum et sine fine patens chaos aspiceret, ipsoque pavore praemortuus se illuc ruiturum exspectaret, subito, quod sperare non poterat, saxo quodam superiectus insedit.

I heard a certain most noble Gaul relate that some ships, having first been tossed by a tempest, were afterwards swallowed by this same Charybdis. But only one of all the men who had been in those ships, the rest dying, while still breathing and floating on the waves, was carried off by the force of the sliding waters and reached the shore even of that vast chasm. And when he beheld the deepest and endless chaos lying open, and, half-dead beforehand with terror, expected that he would be hurled in, suddenly, what he could not have hoped for, he was cast upon and sat upon a certain rock.

Decursis siquidem iam omnibus quae sorbendae erant aquis, orae illius fuerant margines denu dati; dumque ibi inter tot angustias anxius vix ob metum palpitans resideret, dilatamque ad modicum mortem nihilominus opperiretur, conspicit ecce subito quasi magnos aquarum montes de profundo resilire navesque, quae absortae fuerant, primas emergere. Cumque una ex illis ei contigua fieret, ad eam se nisu quo potuit adprehendit; nec mora, celeri volatu prope litus advectus, metuendae necis casus evasit, proprii postmodum periculi relator exsistens. Nostrum quoque, id est Adriaticum, mare, quod licet minus, similiter tamen Venetiarum Histriaeque litora pervadit, credibile est, parvos huiusmodi occultosque habere meatus, quibus et recedentes aquae sorbeantur et rursum invasurae litora revomantur.

Decursis, indeed, when now all the waters which were to be sucked away had run off, the banks of that shore were again laid bare; and while there, amid so many narrows, anxious he sat down, scarcely palpitating for fear, and though stretched toward a brief death he nevertheless awaited it, behold suddenly he spies as if great mountains of waters springing back from the deep and the ships which had been swallowed first emerging. And when one of them became contiguous to him, he with a strain as he could laid hold upon it; nor was there delay, borne with swift flight near the shore, he escaped the hazard of dreadful death, afterward becoming the relator of his own peril. Our sea also, that is the Adriatic sea, which, although less, likewise pervades the shores of Venetia and Histria, it is credible that it has small and hidden meanders of this sort, by which both the receding waters are sucked in and again the waters about to invade are vomited back upon the shores.

His ita praelibatis, ad coeptam narrandi seriem redeamus.

With these things thus skimmed over, let us return to the begun series of narration.

7. Igitur egressi de Scadinavia Winili, cum Ibor et Aione ducibus, in regionem quae appellatur Scoringa venientes, per annos illic aliquot consederunt. Illo itaque tempore Ambri et Assi Wandalorum duces vicinas quasque provincias bello premebant. Hi iam multis elati victoriis, nuntios ad Winilos mittunt, ut aut tributa Wandalis persolverent, aut se ad belli certamina praepararent.

7. Therefore having departed from Scandinavia the Winili, with Ibor and Aione as leaders, coming into the region called Scoringa, dwelt there for several years. At that time the Ambri and Assi, leaders of the Vandals, were pressing upon the neighboring provinces with war. These men, already elated by many victories, sent envoys to the Winili that they should either pay tribute to the Vandals or prepare themselves for the contests of war.

Tunc Ibor et Aio, adnitente matre Gambara, deliberant, melius esse armis libertatem tueri, quam tributorum eandem solutione foedare. Mandant per legatos Wandalis, pugnaturos se potius quam servituros. Erant siquidem tunc Winili universi iuvenili aetate florentes, sed numero perexigui, quippe qui unius non nimiae amplitudinis insulae tertia solummodo particula fuerint.

Then Ibor and Aio, with their mother Gambara urging, resolved that it was better to defend liberty by arms than to profane the same by payment of tributes. They send messengers to the Vandals, declaring that they will fight rather than be servants. For indeed at that time the Winili were all flourishing in youthful age, but very few in number, since they were only the third small portion of a single island of not excessive size.

8. Refert hoc loco antiquitas ridiculam fabulam: quod accedentes Wandali ad Godan victoriam de Winilis postulaverint, illeque responderit, se illis victoriam daturum quos primum oriente sole conspexisset. Tunc accessisse Gambaram ad Fream, uxorem Godan, et Winilis victoriam postulasse, Freamque consilium dedisse, ut Winilorum mulieres solutos crines erga faciem ad barbae similitudinem componerent maneque primo cum viris adessent seseque a Godan videndas pariter e regione, qua ille per fenestram orientem versus erat solitus aspicere, collocarent. Atque ita factum fuisse.

8. Antiquity tells here a laughable tale: that the Vandals, approaching Godan, demanded victory over the Winili, and he answered that he would give victory to those whom he first saw with the rising sun. Then Gambara went to Frea, wife of Godan, and asked for victory for the Winili, and Frea gave the counsel that the Winili women should arrange their loose hair over their faces to the likeness of a beard and, early in the morning, stand alongside the men and place themselves to be seen by Godan from the quarter from which he was accustomed to look eastward through the window. And so it happened.

Quas cum Godan oriente sole conspiceret, dixisse: "Qui sunt isti longibarbi?". Tunc Fream subiunxisse, ut quibus nomen tribuerat victoriam condonaret. Sicque Winilis Godan victoriam concessisse. Haec risu digna sunt et pro nihilo habenda.

When Godan, at the rising sun, caught sight of them, he said: "Who are those long-beards?". Then Fream added that he should bestow victory on those to whom he had given the name. And so Godan granted victory to the Winili. These things are worthy of laughter and ought to be held as nothing.

Victoria enim non potestati est adtributa hominum, sed de caelo potius ministratur.

For victory is not attributed to the power of men, but is rather ministered from heaven.

9. Certum tamen est, Langobardos ab intactae ferro barbae longitudine, cum primitus Winili dicti fuerint, ita postmodum appellatos. Nam iuxta illorum linguam lang longam, bard barbam significat. Wotan sane, quem adiecta littera Godan dixerunt, ipse est qui apud Romanos Mercurius dicitur et ab universis Germaniae gentibus ut deus adoratur; qui non circa haec tempora, sed longe anterius, nec in Germania, sed in Grecia fuisse perhibetur.

9. It is certain, however, that the Langobards were so named from the untouched-iron length of their beard, having at first been called Winili and afterward so called. For in their language lang means long, and bard means beard. Wotan indeed, whom with an added letter they called Godan, is himself the one whom among the Romans they call Mercury and who is worshiped as a god by all the peoples of Germania; who is said to have lived not in these times but long before, and not in Germany but in Greece.

10. Winili igitur, qui et Langobardi, commisso cum Wandalis proelio, acriter, utpote pro libertatis gloria, decertantes, victoriam capiunt. Qui magnam postmodum famis penuriam in eadem Scoringa provincia perpessi, valde animo consternati sunt.

10. Therefore the Winili, who are also Langobards, having engaged in battle with the Vandals, fighting fiercely, as for the glory of freedom, won the victory. They afterwards endured a great famine and scarcity of provisions in the same province Scoringa, and were greatly dismayed in spirit.

11. De qua egredientes, dum in Mauringam transire disponerent, Assipitti eorum iter impediunt, denegantes eis omnimodis per suos terminos transitum. Porro Langobardi cum magnas hostium copias cernerent neque cum eis ob paucitatem exercitus congredi auderent, dumque quid agere deberent decernerent, tandem necessitas consilium repperit. Simulant, se in castris suis habere cynocephalos, id est canini capitis homines.

11. Departing from there, while they were preparing to cross into Mauringa, the Assipitti obstruct their march, denying them passage in every way through their borders. Moreover, the Langobards, when they caught sight of great masses of the enemy and, on account of the smallness of their army, did not dare to engage them, and while they were deciding what they ought to do, at last necessity found a plan. They pretend that they have cynocephali in their camp, that is, dog‑headed men.

Divulgant apud hostes, hos pertinaciter bella gerere, humanum sanguinem bibere et, si hostem adsequi non possint, proprium potare cruorem. Utque huic adsertioni fidem facerent, ampliant tentoria plurimosque in castris ignes accendunt. His hostes auditis visisque creduli effecti, bellum quod minabantur iam temptare non audent.

They spread among the enemies that these, pertinaciously waging war, drink human blood and, if they cannot overtake an enemy, drink their own blood. And to give credence to this assertion they extend their tents and kindle very many fires in the camps. The enemies, having heard and seen these things and made credulous, were terrified and no longer dared to attempt the war they had threatened.

12. Habebant tamen apud se virum fortissimum, de cuius fidebant viribus, posse se procul dubio obtinere quod vellent. Hunc solum pro omnibus pugnaturum obiciunt. Mandant Langobardis, unum quem vellent suorum mitterent, qui cum eo ad singulare certamen exiret, ea videlicet conditione, ut, si suus bellator victoriam caperet, Langobardi itinere quo venerant abirent; sin vero superaretur ab altero, tunc se Langobardis transitum per fines proprios non vetituros.

12. They nevertheless had among them a very brave man, in whose strength they trusted, able without doubt to secure for them what they wished. They set this one alone to fight on behalf of all. They command the Langobards to send one of their own whom they chose, who should go out with him to single combat, on the condition that, if their warrior won the victory, the Langobards would depart by the route by which they had come; but if he were overcome by the other, then they would not forbid the Langobards passage through their own frontiers.

Cumque Langobardi, quem e suis potius adversus virum bellicosissimum mitterent, ambigerent, quidam ex servili conditione sponte se optulit, promittit se provocanti hosti congressurum, ea ratione, ut, si de hoste victoriam caperet, a se suaque progenie servitutis naevum auferrent. Quid plura? Gratanter quae postularat sese facturos pollicentur.

And when the Langobards were uncertain whom of their men rather to send against the most warlike man, a certain one of servile condition of his own accord offered himself, promising that he would engage the challenging enemy, on this condition, namely, that if he should win victory over the enemy, they would remove from him and his progeny the stigma of servitude. What more? They gladly promised that they would do what he had demanded.

Adgressus hostem, pugnavit et vicit; Langobardis transeundi facultatem, sibi suisque, ut optaverat, iura libertatis indeptus est.

Having attacked the enemy, he fought and conquered; from the Langobards he obtained the faculty of crossing and the rights of liberty for himself and his own, as he had wished.

13. Igitur Langobardi tandem in Mauringam pervenientes, ut bellatorum possint ampliare numerum, plures a servili iugo ereptos ad libertatis statum perducunt. Utque rata eorum haberi possit ingenuitas, sanciunt more solito per sagittam, inmurmurantes nihilominus ob rei firmitatem quaedam patria verba. Egressi itaque Langobardi de Mauringa, applicuerunt in Golandam, ubi aliquanto tempore commorati, dicuntur post haec Anthab et Banthaib, pari modo et Vurgundaib, per annos aliquot possedisse; quae nos arbitrari possumus esse vocabula pagorum seu quorumcumque locorum.

13. Therefore the Langobards at last reaching Mauringa, that they might increase the number of their warriors, led many snatched from the servile yoke into the state of liberty. And so that their freedom might be held valid, they confirm it in the usual manner by an arrow, murmuring nevertheless, because of the solemnity of the affair, certain ancestral words. Having thus departed the Langobards from Mauringa, they landed in Golanda, where, after dwelling for some time, it is said that afterward Anthab and Banthaib, likewise Vurgundaib, possessed those places for several years; which we may suppose to be the names of pagi or of any such localities.

14. Mortuis interea Ibor et Agione ducibus, qui Langobardos a Scadinavia eduxerant et usque ad haec tempora rexerant, nolentes iam ultra Langobardi esse sub ducibus, regem sibi ad ceterarum instar gentium statuerunt. Regnavit igitur super eos primus Agelmund, filius Agionis, ex prosapia ducens originem Gungingorum, quae apud eos generosior habebatur. Hic, sicut a maioribus traditur, tribus et triginta annis Langobardorum tenuit regnum.

14. Meanwhile, with Ibor and Agion dead, the leaders who had led the Langobards out of Scandinavia and had governed them up to these times, the Langobards, no longer willing to remain under dukes, set a king for themselves like the other nations. Therefore Agelmund, son of Agion, reigned first over them, claiming his origin from the lineage of the Gungings, which among them was considered more noble. He, as is handed down by the elders, held the kingdom of the Langobards for 33 years.

15. His temporibus quaedam meretrix uno partu septem puerulos enixa, beluis omnibus mater crudelior in piscinam proiecit necandos. Hoc si cui impossibile videtur, relegat historias veterum, et inveniet, non solum septem infantulos, sed etiam novem unam mulierem semel peperisse. Et hoc certum est maxime apud Aegyptios fieri.

15. In those times a certain prostitute, having borne seven little boys in one birth, cast them all, more cruel as a mother than any beasts, into a fishpond to be destroyed. If this seems impossible to anyone, let him consult the histories of the ancients, and he will find that not only seven infants, but even nine were once borne by one woman at a single time. And this is held to be especially certain among the Egyptians.

Contigit itaque, ut rex Agelmund, dum iter carperet, ad eandem piscinam deveniret. Qui cum equo retento miserandos infantulos miraretur hastaque, quam manu gerebat, huc illucque eos inverteret, unus ex illis iniecta manu hastam regiam conprehendit. Rex misericordia motus factumque altius ammiratus, eum magnum futurum pronuntiat.

It so happened, therefore, that King Agelmund, while he was pursuing his journey, came down to the same pool. He, with his horse held back, marveled at the pitiable infants and, turning them this way and that with the spear which he carried in his hand, one of them, thrusting in his hand, seized the royal spear. The king, moved by pity and more astonished at the deed, declared that he would be great.

Moxque eum a piscina levari praecepit, atque nutrici traditum omni cum studio mandat alendum; et quia eum de piscina, quae eorum lingua lama dicitur, abstulit, Lamissio eidem nomen inposuit. Qui cum adolevisset, tam strenuus iuvenis effectus est, ut et bellicosissimus extiterit et post Agelmundi funus regni gubernacula rexerit. Ferunt hunc, dum Langobardi cum rege suo iter agentes ad quendam fluvium pervenissent et ab Amazonibus essent prohibiti ultra permeare, cum earum fortissima in fluvio natatu pugnasse eamque peremisse, sibique laudis gloriam, Langobardis quoque transitum paravisse.

Soon he ordered him lifted from the pool, and delivered to a nurse, entrusted to be nourished with all care; and because he had been taken from the pool, which in their tongue is called lama, he gave him the name Lamissio. When he had grown up he became so vigorous a youth that he proved most warlike and after Agelmund’s death held the reins of the kingdom. They say that he, when the Lombards with their king, journeying, had reached a certain river and were prevented by the Amazons from passing further, fought the bravest of them in the river by swimming and killed her, and thereby won for himself the glory of praise and also prepared a crossing for the Lombards.

Hoc siquidem inter utrasque acies prius constitisse, quatenus, si Amazon eadem Lamissionem superaret, Langobardi a flumine recederent; sin vero a Lamissione, ut et factum est, ipsa vinceretur, Langobardis eadem permeandi fluenta copia praeberetur. Constat sane, quia huius assertionis series minus veritate subnixa est. Omnibus etenim quibus veteres historiae notae sunt, patet, gentem Amazonum longe antea, quam haec fieri potuerint, esse deletam; nisi forte, quia loca eadem, ubi haec gesta feruntur, non satis historiographis nota fuerunt et vix ab aliquo eorum vulgata sunt, fieri potuerit, ut usque ad id tempus huiuscemodi inibi mulierum genus haberetur.

This, then, if it had been arranged beforehand between the two lines, namely that if the same Amazon should overcome Lamissio the Langobards would withdraw from the river; but if, on the other hand, Lamissio — as in fact happened — should overcome her, the same opportunity of crossing the flooded waters would be afforded to the Langobards. It is clear, however, that the sequence of this assertion is less grounded in truth. For to all who are acquainted with the ancient histories it is evident that the nation of the Amazons was destroyed long before these events could have taken place; unless perhaps, because the very places where these deeds are reported were not sufficiently known to the historiographers and were scarcely circulated by any of them, it could have happened that up to that time such a sort of female people was found there.

Nam et ego referri a quibusdam audivi, usque hodie in intimis Germaniae finibus gentem harum existere feminarum.

For I too have heard it reported by some that even to this day, in the innermost borders of Germany, a tribe of such women exists.

16. Igitur transmeato Langobardi de quo dixeramus flumine, cum ad ulteriores terras pervenissent, illic per tempus aliquod commorabantur. Interea cum nihil adversi suspicarentur et essent quiete longa minus solliciti, securitas, quae semper detrimentorum mater est, eis non modicam perniciem peperit. Noctu denique cum neglegentia resoluti cuncti quiescerent, subito super eos Vulgares inruentes, plures ex eis sauciant, multos prosternunt, et in tantum per eorum castra debacchati sunt, ut ipsum Agelmundum regem interficerent eiusque unicam filiam sorte captivitatis auferrent.

16. Therefore after the Langobards had crossed the river of which we spoke, and had arrived into more remote lands, they remained there for some time. Meanwhile, since they suspected no hostile thing and, being long at peace, were less solicitous, security, which is always the mother of losses, brought them not a little ruin. At night finally, relaxed by negligence, when all were asleep, suddenly the Bulgars rushing upon them wounded many, laid low many, and so ravaged their camp that they put King Agelmund himself to death and carried off his only daughter by lot into captivity.

17. Resumptis tamen post haec incommoda Langobardi viribus, Lamissionem, de quo superius dixeramus, sibi regem constituerunt. Qui, ut erat iuvenili aetate fervidus et ad belli certamina satis promptus, alumni sui Agelmundi necem ulcisci cupiens, in Vulgares arma convertit. Primoque mox proelio commisso, Langobardi hostibus terga dantes, ad castra refugiunt.

17. The Lombards, however, after these misfortunes were taken up again with renewed strength, made Lamissionem — of whom we spoke above — their king. He, being fervent in youthful age and fairly prompt for the contests of war, desiring to avenge the death of his foster-son Agelmund, turned his arms against the Vulgares. And at the first battle soon joined, the Lombards, giving their backs to the enemies, fled back to the camp.

Tunc rex Lamissio ista conspiciens, elevata altius voce, omni exercitui clamare coepit, ut obprobriorum quod pertulerunt meminissent revocarentque ante oculos dedecus, quomodo eorum regem hostes iugulaverint, quam miserabiliter eius natam, quam sibi reginam optaverant, captivam abduxerint. Postremo hortatur, ut se suosque armis defenderent, melius esse dicens, in bello animam ponere quam ut vilia mancipia hostium ludibriis subiacere. Haec et huiuscemodi dum vociferans diceret, et nunc minis nunc promissionibus ad toleranda eorum animos belli certamina roboraret; si quem etiam servilis conditionis pugnantem vidisset, libertate eum simul cum praemiis donaret: tandem hortatu exemplisque principis, qui primus ad bellum prosilierat, accensi, super hostes inruunt, pugnant atrociter, et magna adversarios clade prosternunt; tandemque de victoribus victoriam capientes, tam regis sui funus quam proprias iniurias ulciscuntur.

Then the king, beholding those things concerning Lamission, lifting his voice higher, began to cry aloud to the whole army that they should remember the insults they had endured and recall the disgrace before their eyes—how their king the enemies had slaughtered, how miserably they had carried off his daughter, whom they had chosen as queen for themselves, captive. At last he exhorts them to defend themselves and their own by arms, saying it is better in war to lay down one’s life than to succumb as cheap mancipia to the mockeries of the enemy. While crying out these and like words, now with threats, now with promises, he strengthened their spirits to endure the trials of war; if he saw anyone fighting in the condition of servitude, he would grant him liberty together with rewards: finally, by the urging and example of their prince, who first sprang forward to battle, inflamed, they rush upon the enemies, fight fiercely, and lay low the adversaries with great slaughter; and at length, the victors taking victory over the vanquished, they avenge both the funeral of their king and their own injuries.

Tunc magna de hostium exuviis praeda potiti, ex illo iam tempore ad expetendos belli labores audaciores effecti sunt.

Then, having obtained great booty from the spoils of the enemies, from that time onward they became more audacious in seeking the labors of war.

18. Defuncto post haec Lamissione, qui secundus regnaverat, tertius ad regni gubernacula Lethu ascendit. Qui cum quadraginta ferme annos regnasset, Hildehoc filium, qui quartus in numero fuit, regni successorem reliquit. Hoc quoque defuncto, quintus Godehoc regnum suscepit.

18. After the death of Lamissione, who had reigned as the second, the third, Lethu, ascended to the helm of the kingdom. He reigned for about forty years and left as his successor to the kingdom his son Hildehoc, who was fourth in order. Upon his death likewise, the fifth, Godehoc, took up the kingdom.

19. His temporibus inter Odoacar, qui in Italia per aliquot iam annos regnabat, et Feletheum, qui et Feba dictus est, Rugorum regem, magnarum inimicitiarum fomes exarsit. Qui Feletheus illis diebus ulteriorem Danubii ripam incolebat, quam a Norici finibus idem Danubius separat. In his Noricorum finibus beati tunc erat Severini coenobium.

19. In these times there burst into flame a fuel of great enmities between Odoacer, who had for some years already reigned in Italy, and Feletheus, who is also called Feba, king of the Rugii. That Feletheus in those days dwelt on the farther bank of the Danube, which the same Danube separates from the bounds of Noricum. In those Norican bounds there was then the coenobium of the Blessed Severinus.

Qui omni abstinentiae sanctitate praeditus, multis iam erat virtutibus clarus. Qui cum iisdem in locis ad vitae usque metas habitasset, nunc tamen eius corpusculum Neapolis retinet. Hic saepius hunc de quo diximus Feletheum eiusque coniugem, cui vocabulum Gisa fuit, ut ab iniquitate quiescerent, verbis coelestibus monuit.

Who, endowed with every sanctity of abstinence, was already famed for many virtues. Who, although he had dwelt with them in the same places up to the bounds of life, nevertheless his little body is now retained at Neapolis. He oftentimes admonished that Feletheus of whom we spoke and his wife, whose name was Gisa, with heavenly words, that they should desist from iniquity.

Quibus pia verba spernentibus, hoc quod eis postmodum contigit, longe antea futurum praedixit. Adunatis igitur Odoacar gentibus quae eius dicioni parebant, id est Turcilingis et Herolis Rugorumque parte, quos iam dudum possidebat, necnon etiam Italiae populis, venit in Rugiland pugnavitque cum Rugis, ultimaque eos clade conficiens, Feletheum insuper eorum regem extinxit; vastataque omni provincia, Italiam repetens, copiosam secum captivorum multitudinem abduxit. Tunc Langobardi de suis regionibus egressi, venerunt in Rugiland, quae latino eloquio Rugorum patria dicitur, atque in ea, quia erat solo fertilis, aliquantis commorati sunt annis.

To those who scorned his pious words he foretold that that which afterward befell them would have been long before destined. Therefore Odoacer, having mustered the peoples subject to his rule, that is the Turcilingi and Heruli and part of the Rugii, which he had long held, and also the peoples of Italy, came into Rugiland and fought with the Rugii, and finally, completing their destruction by a final slaughter, put out Feletheus their king; and having laid waste the whole province, returning to Italy he led away with him a plentiful multitude of captives. Then the Langobardi, having departed from their own regions, came into Rugiland, which in the Latin tongue is called the fatherland of the Rugii, and there, because the soil was fertile, they sojourned for several years.

20. Inter haec moritur Godehoc; cui successit Claffo, filius suus. Defuncto quoque Claffone, Tato, eiusdem filius, septimus ascendit ad regnum. Egressi quoque Langobardi de Rugiland, habitaverunt in campis patentibus, qui sermone barbarico feld appellantur.

20. Meanwhile Godehoc died; to him his son Claffo succeeded. When Claffo likewise had died, Tato, his son — the seventh — ascended to the kingdom. The Langobards also, having departed from Rugiland, dwelt on the open plains, which in the barbaric speech are called feld.

Quo in loco dum per trium annorum spatia morarentur, bellum exortum est inter Tatonem atque Rodulfum Herulorum regem. Qui cum prius foedera necterent, causa inter eos discordiae ista fuit. Germanus Rodulfi regis ad Tatonem serendae pacis gratia venerat.

While they in that place remained for the space of three years, a war arose between Tato and Rodulf, king of the Heruli. Although they had before bound treaties, that was the cause of discord between them. The brother of King Rodulf had come to Tato for the sake of securing peace.

Qui cum expleta legatione patriam repeteret, contigit, ut ante regis filiae domum, quae Rumetruda dicebatur, transitum haberet. Illa multitudinem virorum nobilemque comitatum aspiciens, interrogat, quis iste esse possit, qui tam sublime obsequium haberet. Dictumque illi est, Rodulfi regis germanum legatione perfuncta patriam regredi.

Who, when he had completed the legation and was making for his fatherland, happened to pass before the house of the king’s daughter, who was called Rumetruda. She, seeing the multitude of men and the noble company, asked who that could be who had so lofty an attendance. And it was told her that he was the brother of King Rodulf, after fulfilling the legation returning to his country.

Mittit puella, qui eum invitaret, ut vini poculum dignaretur accipere. Ille corde simplici, ut invitatus fuerat, venit; et quia erat statura pusillus, eum fastu superbiae puella despexit, verbaque adversus eum inrisoria protulit. At ille verecundia pariter et indignatione perfusus, talia rursus verba respondit, quae ampliorem puellae confusionem adferrent.

The girl sent someone to invite him to deign to accept a cup of wine. He, simple of heart, as he had been invited, came; and because he was very small in stature, the girl, with the arrogance of pride, looked down on him and uttered mocking words against him. But he, filled alike with modesty and with indignation, answered such words in return as brought greater confusion to the girl.

Tunc illa furore femineo succensa, dolorem cordis cohibere non valens, scelus quod mente conceperat explere contendit. Simulat patientiam, vultum exhilarat, eumque verbis iocundioribus demulcens, ad sedendum invitat, talique eum in loco sedere constituit, quo parietis fenestram ad scapulas haberet. Quam fenestram quasi ob hospitis honorem, re autem vera ne eum aliqua pulsaret suspicio, velamine texerat pretioso, praecipiens atrocissima belua propriis pueris, ut, cum ipsa quasi ad pincernam loquens " Misce" dixisset, illi eum a tergo lanceis perforarent.

Then she, inflamed with feminine fury and unable to restrain the pain of her heart, strove to accomplish the crime which she had conceived in her mind. She feigns patience, brightens her countenance, and soothing him with more pleasant words, invites him to sit, and sets him to sit in such a place that the window of the wall would be at his shoulders. Which window, as if for the honor of a guest, but in truth that no one might strike him by suspicion, she had covered with a precious veil, ordering a most atrocious beast to her own youths, so that, when she, as if speaking to the cupbearer, had said " Misce", they might pierce him from behind with lances.

Pactumque est; et, mox crudelis femina signum dedit, iniqua mandata perficiuntur, ipseque vulneribus transfixus in terram corruens expiravit. Ea cum Rodulfo regi nuntiata fuissent, tam crudele germani funus ingemuit, dolorisque inpatiens, ad ulciscendam fratris mortem exarsit. Foedusque quod cum Tatone pepigerat inrumpens, eidem bellum indixit.

And the pact was made; and, soon the cruel woman gave the signal, the unjust commands were carried out, and he himself, transfixed by wounds, falling to the ground, expired. When these things had been reported to King Rodulf, the brother bewailed so cruel a funeral, impatient with grief, and burned to avenge his brother’s death. And breaking in upon the compact which he had pledged with Tatone, he declared war against the same man.

Quid plura? Conveniunt utrorumque in campis patentibus acies. Rodulfus suos in pugnam dirigit; ipse in castris residens, de spe victoriae nihil ambigens, ad tabulam ludit.

What more? The battle-lines of both meet on the open plains. Rodulfus directs his men into the fight; he himself, remaining in the camp, caring nothing for the hope of victory, plays at the board.

Erant siquidem tunc Heruli bellorum usibus exerciti multorumque iam strage notissimi. Qui, sive ut expeditius bella gererent, sive ut inlatum ab hoste vulnus contempnerent, nudi pugnabant, operientes solummodo corporis verecunda. Horum itaque viribus rex indubitanter fidens, dum ipse securus ad tabulam luderet, unum e suis in arborem, quae forte aderat, ascendere iubet, quatenus ei suorum victoriam celerius referret, comminatus eius se caput abscisurum, si Herulorum aciem fugere nuntiaret.

For at that time the Heruli were indeed seasoned in the practices of war and already well known for many a slaughter. Who, whether that they might wage wars more swiftly, or despise a wound inflicted by the enemy, fought naked, covering only the shameful parts of the body. Therefore the king, doubtless trusting in the strength of these men, while he himself, secure, played at the board, ordered one of his men to climb a tree that happened to be near, so that he might more quickly report to him the victory of his people, threatening that he would cut off his head if he should announce that the Heruli line was fleeing.

Is cum Herulorum flecti acies et a Langobardis eos opprimi conspiceret, interrogatus a rege saepius, quid Heruli gererent, eos optime pugnare respondit. Nec prius malum quod cernebat, loqui non audens, aperuit, quam universae acies hostibus terga praeberent. Qui, licet sero, tandem in vocem erumpens: "Vae tibi", inquit "misera Herolia, quae caelestis Domini plecteris ira". Ad haec verba conmotus rex ait: "Numquid fugiunt Heruli mei?". At ille: "Non" inquit "hoc ego, sed tu rex ipse dixisti". Tunc, ut in talibus fieri adsolet, rex ipse et omnes perturbati, dum quid agerent haesitarent, supervenientibus Langobardis, graviter caeduntur.

And when he perceived that the lines of the Heruli were being bent and that they were being overwhelmed by the Lombards, having been asked again and again by the king what the Heruli were doing, he answered that they were fighting excellently. Nor did he reveal the disaster which he perceived, being afraid to speak, until the whole battle-line turned their backs to the enemies. He, although late, at last bursting into speech, said: "Woe to you," he said, "wretched Herulia, who will be punished by the heavenly Lord's anger." At these words the king, stirred, said: "Are my Heruli fleeing?" But he said: "No; this I do not say, but you yourself, king, have said it." Then, as is wont to happen in such cases, the king himself and all, troubled, while they hesitated what to do, were overtaken by the arriving Lombards and grievously cut down.

Rex quoque ipse nequicquam fortiter faciens, extinctus est. Herulorum vero exercitus dum hac illacque diffugeret, tanta super eos caelitus ira respexit, ut viridantia camporum lina cernentes, natatiles esse aquas putarent; dumque quasi nataturi brachia extenderent, crudeliter hostium feriebantur a gladiis. Tunc Langobardi, patrata victoria, ingentem, quam in castris reppererant, inter se praedam dividunt.

The king himself also, doing brave deeds in vain, was slain. But while the army of the Heruli fled here and there, such anger from heaven looked down upon them that, seeing the green swards of the fields, they supposed the waters to be swimable; and while, as if about to swim, they stretched out their arms, they were cruelly struck by the swords of the enemies. Then the Langobards, the victory having been won, divided among themselves the great plunder which they had found in the camp.

Tato vero Rodulfi vexillum, quod bandum appellant, eiusque galeam, quam in bello gestare consueverat, abstulit. Atque iam ex illo tempore ita omnis Herulorum virtus concidit, ut ultra super se regem omnimodo non haberent. Iam hinc Langobardi ditiores effecti, aucto de diversis gentibus, quas superave rant, exercitu, ultro coeperunt bella expetere et virtutis gloriam circumquaque protelare.

But Tato carried off Rodulf's vexillum, which they call the bandum, and his galea, which he had been wont to wear in war. And from that time all the valor of the Heruli so fell away that they no longer in any manner had a king over them. Now the Langobards, made richer thereby and with their army increased by various peoples whom they had overcome, of their own accord began to seek wars and to spread the glory of their virtue everywhere.

21. At vero Tato post haec de belli triumpho non diu laetatus est. Inruit namque super eum Wacho, filius germani sui Zuchilonis, et eum ab hac luce privavit. Conflixit quoque adversus Wachonem Ildichis, filius Tatonis; sed superante Wachone devictus, ad Gepidos confugit, ibique profugus ad vitae finem usque permansit.

21. But indeed Tato after these things did not long rejoice in the triumph of war. For Wacho, son of his brother Zuchilon, burst in upon him and deprived him of this light. Ildichis, son of Tato, also engaged in conflict against Wacho; but with Wacho prevailing and Ildichis defeated, he fled to the Gepids, and there as a refugee remained until the end of his life.

Quam ob causam Gepidi cum Langobardis extunc inimicitias contraxere. Eodemque tempore Wacho super Suavos inruit eosque suo dominio subiugavit. Hoc si quis mendacium et non rei existimat veritatem, relegat prologum edicti, quem rex Rothari de Langobardorum legibus conposuit, et pene in omnibus hoc codicibus, sicut nos in hac historiola inseruimus, scriptum repperiet.

For which reason the Gepids then contracted enmities with the Langobards. At the same time Wacho attacked the Suavi and subjected them to his dominion. If anyone thinks this a lie and not the truth of the matter, let him consult the prologue of the edict which King Rothari composed about the laws of the Langobards, and he will find it written in nearly all these codices, as we have inserted in this little history.

Habuit autem Wacho uxores tres, hoc est primam Ranicundam, filiam regis Turingorum; deinde duxit Austrigosam, filiam regis Gepidorum, de qua habuit filias duas: nomen uni Wisigarda, quam tradidit in matrimonium Theodeperto regi Francorum; secunda autem dicta est Walderada, quae sociata est Cusupald, alio regi Francorum, quam ipse odio habens, uni ex suis, qui dicebatur Garipald, in coniugium tradidit. Tertiam vero Wacho uxorem habuit Herulorum regis filiam nomine Salingam. Ex ipsa ei natus est filius, quem Waltari appellavit, quique, Wachone mortuo, super Langobardos iam octavus regnavit.

Wacho had three wives, namely first Ranicunda, daughter of the king of the Thuringians; then he took Austrigosam, daughter of the king of the Gepids, by whom he had two daughters: the name of one was Wisigarda, whom he handed in marriage to Theodepert, king of the Franks; the second was called Walderada, who, being allied to Cusupald, another Frankish noble, whom he himself, hating, gave in marriage to one of his own, who was called Garipald. Thirdly Wacho had as wife the daughter of the king of the Heruli, named Salinga. From her a son was born to him, whom he called Waltari, and who, Wacho having died, reigned as the eighth over the Lombards.

Hi omnes Lithingi fuerunt. Sic etenim apud eos quaedam nobilis prosapia vocabatur.

All these were Lithingi. For thus among them a certain noble prosapia was called.

22. Waltari ergo cum per septem annos regnum tenuisset, ab hac luce subtractus est. Post quem nonus Audoin regnum adeptus est. Qui non multo post tempore Langobardos in Pannoniam adduxit.

22. Waltari, therefore, having held the kingdom for seven years, was taken from this light. After him the ninth, Audoin, obtained the kingdom, who not long after led the Langobards into Pannonia.

23. Gepidi igitur ac Langobardi conceptam iam dudum rixam tandem parturiunt, bellumque ab utrisque partibus praeparatur. Commisso itaque proelio, dum ambae acies fortiter dimicarent et neutra alteri cederet, contigit, ut in ipso certamine Alboin, filius Audoin, et Turismodus, Turisindi filius, sibi obvii fierent. Quem Alboin spata percutiens, de equo praecipitatum extinxit.

23. The Gepids and the Langobards therefore at last bring to birth a quarrel long conceived, and war is prepared on both sides. When therefore the battle was joined, while both battle-lines fought fiercely and neither yielded to the other, it happened that in the very contest Alboin, son of Audoin, and Turismod, son of Turisind, met each other. Whom Alboin, striking with his spatha, cast headlong from his horse and put to death.

Cernentes Gepidi, regis filium, per quem magna ex parte bellum constiterat, interisse, mox dissolutis animis fugam ineunt. Quos Langobardi insequentes acriter sternunt. Caesisque quam plurimis, ad detrahenda occisorum spolia revertuntur.

Seeing that the Gepids’ king’s son, through whom the war had in great part stood, had perished, they soon, their spirits dissolved, take to flight. The Langobards, pursuing them, strike them down fiercely. And with as many as possible slain, they return to strip the spoils from the dead.

Cumque peracta Langobardi victoria ad sedes proprias remeassent, regi suo Audoin suggerunt, ut eius Alboin conviva fieret, cuius virtute in proelio victoriam cepissent; utque patri in periculo, ita et in convivio comes esset. Quibus Audoin respondit, se hoc facere minime posse, ne ritum gentis infringeret. "Scitis" inquit "non esse apud nos consuetudinem, ut regis cum patre filius prandeat, nisi prius a rege gentis exterae arma suscipiat."

And when, the Langobards' victory having been accomplished, they returned to their own seats, they suggest to their king Audoin that his Alboin be made a conviva, by whose valour in the battle they had won the victory; and as he had been a comrade to his father in danger, so too should he be a companion at the banquet. To this Audoin replied that he could by no means do this, lest he break the rite of the gens. "You know," he said, "that it is not our custom that the son should dine with the king together with his father, unless first he receive arms from the king of the people."

24. His Alboin a patre auditis, quadraginta solummodo secum iuvenes tollens, ad Turisindum, cum quo dudum bellum gesserat, regem Gepidorum, profectus est, causamque qua venerat intimavit. Qui eum benigne suscipiens, ad suum convivium invitavit atque ad suam dexteram, ubi Turismodus, eius quondam filius, sedere consueverat, collocavit. Inter haec dum varii apparatus epulas caperent, Turisindus iam dudum sessionem filii mente revolvens natique funus ad animum reducens praesentemque peremptorem eius loco residere conspiciens, alta trahens suspiria, sese continere non potuit, sed tandem dolor in vocem erupit: "Amabilis" inquit "mihi locus iste est, sed persona quae in eo residet satis ad videndum gravis". Tunc regis alter qui aderat filius, patris sermone stimulatus, Langobardos iniuriis lacessere coepit, asserens eos, quia a suris inferius candidis utebantur fasceolis, equabus quibus crure tenus pedes albi sunt similes esse, dicens: "Fetilae sunt equae, quas similatis". Tunc unus e Langobardis ad haec ita respondit: "Perge" ait "in campum Asfeld, ibique procul dubio poteris experiri, quam valide istae quas equas nominas praevalent calcitrare; ubi sic tui dispersa sunt ossa germani quemadmodum vilis iumenti in mediis pratis". His auditis, Gepidi confusionem ferre non valentes, vehementer in iram commoti sunt manifestasque iniurias vindicare nituntur; Langobardi econtra parati ad bellum, omnes ad gladiorum capulos manus iniciunt.

24. When Alboin had heard these things from his father, taking with him only forty young men, he set out to Turisind, with whom he had long before waged war, king of the Gepids, and declared the cause for which he had come. He, receiving him kindly, invited him to his banquet and placed him at his right hand, where Turismodus, his former son, had been accustomed to sit. Meanwhile, while various preparations for the feast were being made, Turisind, long turning over in his mind his son's seat and recalling the funeral of his son and perceiving the present slayer of him to be sitting in that place, drawing deep sighs, could not restrain himself, but at length grief burst into speech: "This place," he said, "is dear to me, but the person who sits in it is grievous to behold." Then another son of the king who was present, stirred by his father's words, began to provoke the Lombards with insults, asserting that they were like mares because they used little white bands below the shins, similar to mares whose feet are white up to the leg, saying: "They are fetid mares, which you liken." Then one of the Lombards answered to this: "Go," he said, "to the field of Asfeld, and there without doubt you will be able to test how strongly those whom you call mares can kick; where thus the bones of your kinsman were scattered, as of a base beast of burden in the middle of the meadows." When these things were heard, the Gepids, not able to endure the humiliation, were violently moved to anger and strove to vindicate the manifest injuries; the Lombards on the other hand, ready for battle, all laid hands to the hilts of their swords.

Tunc rex a mensa prosiliens, sese in medium obiecit suosque ab ira belloque conpescuit, interminans primitus eum puniri, qui primus pugnam commisisset; non esse victoriam Deo placitam, dicens, cum quis in domo propria hospitem perimit. Sic denique iurgio conpresso, iam deinceps laetis animis convivium peragunt. Sumensque Turisindus arma Turismodi filii sui, ea Alboin tradidit, eumque cum pace incolumem ad patris regnum remisit.

Then the king, springing up from the table, placed himself in the midst and checked his men from anger and from war, ordering at first that he who had first begun the fight be punished; saying that victory is not pleasing to God when a man slays a guest in his own house. Thus, the quarrel suppressed, they thenceforth passed the banquet with joyful spirits. And Turisind, taking up the arms of his son Turismodus, delivered them to Alboin, and sent him back safe and in peace to his father's kingdom.

Reversus ad patrem Alboin, eius dehinc conviva effectus est. Qui dum cum patre laetus regias delicias caperet, ordine cuncta retulit, quae illi apud Gepidos in Turisindi regia contigissent. Mirantur qui aderant et laudant audaciam Alboin, nec minus attollunt laudibus Turisindi maximam fidem.

Having returned to his father, Alboin thereafter became his guest. While he, joyful, enjoyed the royal delights with his father, he recounted in order all the things that had happened to him among the Gepids in Turisind's palace. Those who were present marvel and praise Alboin's audacity, and no less do they heap praises on Turisind's greatest fidelity.

25. Hac tempestate Iustinianus Augustus Romanum imperium felici sorte regebat. Qui et bella prospere gessit et in causis civilibus mirificus extitit. Nam per Belisarium patricium Persas fortiter devicit, perque ipsum Belisarium Wandalorum gentem, capto eorum rege Gelismero, usque ad internicionem delevit Africamque totam post annos nonaginta et sex Romano imperio restituit.

25. At this time Justinian Augustus ruled the Roman empire by fortunate lot. He both carried on wars successfully and proved wondrous in civil causes. For by Belisarius the patrician he bravely overcame the Persians, and by that same Belisarius he destroyed the nation of the Vandals, their king Gelimer captured, brought to extermination, and restored the whole of Africa to the Roman empire after ninety-six years.

Rursumque Belisarii viribus Gothorum in Italia gentem, capto Witichis eorum rege, superavit. Mauros quoque post haec Africam infestantes eorumque regem Amtalan per Iohannem exconsulem mirabili virtute protrivit. Pari etiam modo et alias gentes belli iure conpressit.

Again Belisarius, by his forces, overcame the Gothic people in Italy, having captured Witichis their king. He also routed the Moors afterwards, who were infesting Africa, and their king Amtalan through Iohannes the ex-consul with marvelous valour. In like manner he also crushed other peoples by the right of war.

Quam ob causam propter horum omnium victorias, ut Alamannicus, Gothicus, Francicus, Germanicus, Anticus, Alanicus, Wandalicus Africanusque diceretur, habere agnomina meruit. Leges quoque Romanorum, quarum prolixitas nimia erat et inutilis dissonantia, mirabili brevitate correxit. Nam omnes constitutiones principum, quae utique multis in voluminibus habebantur, intra duodecim libros coartavit idemque volumen Codicem Iustinianum appellari praecepit.

For this reason, on account of all these victories he deserved to have agnomina and to be called Alamannicus, Gothicus, Francicus, Germanicus, Anticus, Alanicus, Wandalicus and Africanus. He also corrected the laws of the Romans, whose excessive prolixity and useless dissonance he amended with remarkable brevity. For he compressed all the constitutiones of the princes, which were indeed contained in many volumes, into 12 books, and ordered that the same volume be called the Codex Justinianus.

Rursumque singulorum magistratuum sive iudicum leges, quae usque ad duo milia pene libros erant extensae, intra quinquaginta librorum numerum redegit, eumque Codicem Digestorum sive Pandectarum vocabulo nuncupavit. Quattuor etiam Institutionum libros, in quibus breviter universarum legum textus conprehenditur, noviter composuit. Novas quoque leges, quas ipse statuerat, in unum volumen redactas, eundem Codicem Novel larum nuncupari sancivit.

And again he reduced the laws of the individual magistrates or judges, which had been extended to nearly two thousand books, within the number of fifty books, and called that Codex the Digest or Pandects. He also newly composed four books of the Institutes, in which the texts of all the laws are briefly comprehended. He sanctioned likewise that the new laws which he himself had enacted, having been reduced into one volume, be called the same Codex of Novels.

Extruxit quoque idem princeps intra urbem Constantinopolim Christo domino, qui est sapientia Dei patris, templum, quod greco vocabulo Agian Sophian, id est sanctam sapientiam, nominavit. Cuius opus adeo cuncta aedificia excellit, ut in totis terrarum spatiis huic simile non possit inveniri. Erat enim hic princeps fide catholicus, in operibus rectus, in iudiciis iustus; ideoque ei omnia concurrebant in bonum.

The same prince also erected within the city of Constantinople a temple to Christ the Lord, who is the Wisdom of God the Father, which by the Greek word Agia Sophia, that is, Holy Wisdom, he named. The work of which so surpasses all buildings that in the whole expanse of the lands nothing like it can be found. For this prince was catholic in faith, upright in works, just in judgments; and therefore all things concurred to his good.

Huius temporibus Cassiodorus apud urbem Romam tam seculari quam divina scientia claruit. Qui inter cetera quae nobiliter scripsit psalmorum praecipue occulta potentissime reseravit. Hic primitus consul, deinde senator, ad postremum vero monachus extitit.

In these times Cassiodorus, at the city of Rome, shone in both secular and divine learning. He, among other things which he nobly wrote, most powerfully revealed the hidden meanings of the psalms. He first appeared as consul, then as senator, and finally as a monk.

Hoc etiam tempore Dionisius abba in urbe Roma constitutus paschale calculum miranda argumentatione composuit. Tunc quoque apud Constantinopolim Priscianus Caesariensis grammaticae artis, ut ita dixerim, profunda rimatus est. Tuncque nihilominus Arator, Romanae Ecclesiae subdiaconus, poeta mirabilis, Apostolorum actus versibus exametris exaravit.

At this same time Dionysius the abbot, established in the city of Rome, composed the paschal calculation with wondrous argumentation. Then also at Constantinople Priscianus of Caesarea, of the grammatical art, so to speak, searched its depths. And then nevertheless Arator, subdeacon of the Roman Church, a marvellous poet, wrote out the Acts of the Apostles in hexameter verses.

26. His quoque diebus beatissimus Benedictus pater et prius in loco qui Sublacus dicitur, qui ab urbe Roma quadraginta milibus abest, et postea in castro Casini, quod Arx appellatur, et magnae vitae meritis et apostolicis virtutibus effulsit. Cuius vitam, sicut notum est, beatus papa Gregorius in suis Dialogis suavi sermone composuit. Ego quoque pro parvitate ingenii mei ad honorem tanti patris singula eius miracula per singula distica elegiaco metro hoc modo contexui:

26. In these same days the most blessed Father Benedict shone first in the place called Sublacus, which is forty miles from the city of Rome, and afterwards in the castle of Casinum, which is called the Arx, by the merits of a great life and apostolic virtues. Whose life, as is well known, the blessed Pope Gregory composed in his Dialogues with sweet discourse. I also, on account of the smallness of my genius, for the honor of so great a father, wove together his several miracles, distich by distich, in elegiac metre in this manner:

Ordiar unde tuos, sacer o Benedicte, triumphos,
Virtutum cumulos ordiar unde tuos?
Euge, beate pater, meritum qui nomine prodis,
Fulgida lux secli, euge, beate pater!
Nursia, plaude satis tanto sublimis alumno;
Astra ferens mundo, Nursia, plaude satis!

Whence shall I begin your triumphs, O holy Benedict,
whence the heaps of your virtues shall I begin?
Hail, blessed father, you who appear by name as a merit,
shining light of the age, hail, blessed father!
Nursia, applaud enough for so exalted a pupil;
bearing stars to the world, Nursia, applaud enough!

O puerile decus, transcendens moribus annos
Exuperansque senes, o puerile decus!
Flos, paradise, tuus despexit florida mundi;
Sprevit opes Romae flos, paradise, tuus.
Vas pedagoga tulit diremptum pectore tristi;
Laeta reformatum vas pedagoga tulit;
Urbe vocamen habens tyronem cautibus abdit;
Fert pietatis opem Urbe vocamen habens.

O boyish honor, surpassing years in morals,
and outstripping old men, O boyish honor!
O flower of Paradise, your bloom looked down on the world's flowers;
the flower of your Paradise spurned the riches of Rome.
The pedagogue's vessel carried you, snatched from a sorrowful breast;
the joyful pedagogue's vessel carried the one made whole;
having a city-calling, it hides the novice in precautions;
it brings the aid of piety, having a vocation to the city.

Laudibus antra sonant mortalibus abdita cunctis;
Cognita, Christe, tibi laudibus antra sonant.
Frigora, flabra, nives perfers tribus impiger annis;
Tempnis amore Dei frigora, flabra, nives.
Fraus veneranda placet, pietatis furta probantur.

With praises the caves resound, hidden from all mortals;
Known, O Christ, to you the caves resound with praises.
You endure colds, winds, snows, tireless through three years;
By the love of God you endure the colds, winds, snows.
Venerable fraud pleases, the thefts of piety are commended.

Qua sacer altus erat, fraus veneranda placet.
Signat adesse dapes agapes, sed lividus obstat;
Nil minus alma fides signat adesse dapes.
Orgia rite colit, Christo qui accommodat aurem;
Abstemium pascens, orgia rite colit.

Where the sacred was exalted, venerable fraud pleases.
It signals the presence of dapes—agapes—but the envious one stands in the way;
No less does nurturing faith signal that the dapes are present.
He who lends his ear to Christ duly cultivates the orgia;
Nurturing the abstemious, he duly cultivates the orgia.

Pabula grata ferunt avidi ad spelea subulci;
Pectoribus laetis pabula grata ferunt.
Ignis ab igne perit, lacerant dum viscera sentes;
Carneus aethereo ignis ab igne perit.
Pestis iniqua latens procul est deprensa sagaci;
Non tulit arma crucis pestis iniqua latens.

Greedy ones bear pleasing fodder to the cave of the subulcus;
to joyful hearts they bring pleasing fodder.
Fire is undone by fire, while thorns rend the entrails;
the carnal, from the ethereal, the fire is undone by fire.
A hidden unjust plague from afar is caught by the sagacious;
the hidden unjust plague could not endure the arms of the cross.

Lenia flagra vagam sistunt moderamine mentem;
Excludunt pestem lenia flagra vagam.
Unda perennis aquae nativo e marmore manat;
Arida corda rigat unda perennis aquae.
Gurgitis ima, calibs capulo divulse, petisti;
Deseris alta petens gurgitis ima, calibs.

Gentle flames restrain the wandering mind by moderation;
Gentle flames exclude the wandering pest.
The perennial wave of water flows from native marble;
The perennial wave waters dry hearts.
You sought the lowest gulfs of the whirlpool, chalices torn from their handle;
Deserting the heights, seeking the lowest gulfs of the whirlpool, O chalices.

Iussa paterna gerens dilapsus vivit in aequor;
Currit vectus aquis iussa paterna gerens.
Praebuit unda viam prompto ad praecepta magistri;
Cursori ignaro praebuit unda viam.
Tu quoque, parve puer, raperis, nec occidis, undis;
Testis ades verax tu quoque, parve puer.

Bearing paternal orders, having slipped, he lives on the sea;
he runs, borne on the waters, bearing paternal orders.
The wave provided a way to the ready one toward the teacher’s precepts;
to the ignorant runner the wave provided a way.
You also, little boy, are swept away, nor do you perish in the waves;
be present as a truthful witness, you also, little boy.

Perfida corda gemunt stimulis agitata malignis;
Tartareis flammis perfida corda gemunt.
Fert alimenta corax digitis oblata benignis;
Dira procul iussus fert alimenta corax.
Pectora sacra dolent inimicum labe peremptum;
Discipuli excessum pectora sacra dolent.

perfidy hearts groan, stirred by malignant goads;
with Tartarean flames perfidy hearts groan.
the raven bears sustenance offered by kindly fingers;
the raven, commanded to be far off, bears dire sustenance.
sacred hearts grieve the enemy slain by stain;
the disciples lament the departure, sacred hearts grieve.

Lyris amoena petens ducibus comitaris opimis;
Caelitus adtraheris Lyris amoena petens.
Anguis inique, furis, luco spoliatus et aris;
Amissis populis, anguis inique, furis.
Improbe sessor, abi, sine dentur marmora muris!

Seeking the pleasant lyres, you accompany with opulent leaders;
From heaven you are drawn, seeking the pleasant lyres.
O unjust serpent, thief, despoiled of grove and of altars;
With peoples lost, O unjust serpent, thief.
Wicked magistrate, begone—let no marbles be granted to the walls!

Cogeris imperio; improbe sessor, abi!
Cernitur ignis edax falsis insurgere flammis,
Nec tibi, gemma micans, cernitur ignis edax.
Dum struitur paries, lacerantur viscera fratris;
Sospes adest frater, dum struitur paries.

You will be forced by command; wicked sessor, depart!
A devouring fire is seen to rise in false flames,
Nor is a devouring fire seen for you, gem flashing.
While the wall is being built, the entrails of the brother are torn;
The safe brother is present, while the wall is being built.

Abdita facta patent, patulo produntur edaces;
Muneris accepti abdita facta patent.
Saeve tyranne, tuae frustrantur retia fraudis;
Frena capis vitae, saeve tyranne, tuae.
Moenia celsa Numae nullo subruentur ab hoste;
Turbo, ait, evertet moenia celsa Numae.

Hidden deeds are laid open, the ravenous are brought forth into the open;
Hidden deeds of a received gift lie open.
Cruel tyrant, the nets of your fraud are thwarted;
You seize the reins of life, cruel tyrant, your own.
The lofty walls of Numa will not be undermined by any enemy;
Turbo, he says, will overthrow the lofty walls of Numa.

Plecteris hoste gravi, ne lites munus ad aram;
Munera fers aris; plecteris hoste gravi.
Omnia septa gregis praescitum est tradita genti;
Gens eadem reparat omnia septa gregis.
Fraudis amice puer, suado captaris ab ydro;
Ydro non caperis, fraudis amice puer.

You shall be punished by a grave enemy, do not make quarrels an offering to the altar;
You bear gifts to the altars; you shall be punished by a grave enemy.
All the enclosures of the flock have been foreknown and handed down to the people;
The same gens restores all the enclosures of the flock.
Friend of fraud, boy, by persuasion you are captured by Ydro;
You are not captured by Ydro, friend of fraud, boy.

Mens tumefacta, sile, tacita et ne carpe videntem!
Cuncta patent vati; mens tumefacta, sile!
Pellitur atra fames delatis caelitus escis;
Nilominus mentis pellitur atra fames.

Mind swollen, hold silence, be quiet, and do not assail the seer!
All things lie open to the poet; mind swollen, hold silence!
A black hunger is driven off by foods bestowed from heaven;
Nevertheless the dark hunger of the mind is driven away.

Pectora cuncta stupent, quod eras sine corpore praesens;
Quod per visa mones, pectora cuncta stupent.
Vocis ad imperium tempnunt dare frena loquelis;
E bustis fugiunt vocis ad imperium.
Vocis ad imperium sacris non esse sinuntur;
Intersunt sacris vocis ad imperium.

All hearts are stunned, because you were present without a body;
because you warn through visions, all hearts are stunned.
They strive to give the reins of speech to the rule of the voice;
from the pyres they flee to the command of the voice.
They are not permitted for the voice’s authority in the sacred rites;
they take part in the sacred rites at the command of the voice.

Tellus hiulca sinu corpus propellit humatum;
Iussa tenet corpus tellus hiulca sinu.
Perfidus ille draco mulcet properare fugacem;
Sistit iter vetitum perfidus ille draco.
Exitiale malum capitis decussit honorem;
It procul imperiis exitiale malum.

The hollow-bosomed Earth drives forth the buried body;
By orders the hollow earth holds the body in her hollow bosom.
That treacherous dragon soothes, urging the fugitive to hasten;
That treacherous dragon stops the forbidden journey.
A deadly evil has cut down the honor of the head;
That deadly evil lies far from commands.

Fulva metalla pius, nec habet, promittit egenti;
Caelitus excepit fulva metalla pius.
Tu miserande, cutem variant cui fella colubrae,
Incolumem recipis, tu miserande, cutem.
Aspera saxa vitrum rapiunt, nec frangere possunt;
Inlaesum servant aspera saxa vitrum.

Fulva, pious, has not, yet promises the mines to the needy;
From on high the pious Fulva received the mines.
You, pitiful one, whose skin the venom of a snake alters,
You receive the uninjured skin, you pitiful one.
Rough rocks seize the glass, and cannot break it;
Rough rocks keep the glass uninjured.

Cur, promoconde, times stillam praebere lechithi?
Dolia, cerne, fluunt; cur, promoconde, times?
Unde medela tibi, spes est cui nulla salutis?

Why, promoconde, do you fear to offer a drop to the leech?
See, the casks run; why, promoconde, do you fear?
Whence a remedy for you, you for whom there is no hope of salvation?

Qui semper perimis, unde medela tibi?
Ah lacrimande senex, hostili concidis ictu;
Ictu sed resipis, ah lacrimande senex.
Barbara lora manus ignaras criminis arcent;
Sponte sua fugiunt barbara lora manus.

You who always perish, whence a remedy for you?
Ah, old man to be wept, you are cut down by a hostile stroke;
but by the stroke you recover, ah, old man to be wept.
Barbarous reins keep back hands ignorant of crime;
of their own accord the barbarous reins flee the hands.

Ille superbus equo reboans clamore minaci,
Stratus humi recubat ille superbus equo.
Colla paterna ferunt extincti viscera nati;
Viventem natum colla paterna ferunt.
Omnia vincit amor, vinxit soror imbre beatum;
Somnus abest oculis; omnia vincit amor.

That proud one, on horseback, resounding with a menacing shout,
stretched on the ground he reclines, that proud one on his horse.
Paternal necks bear the entrails of the slain son;
paternal necks bear the living-born son.
Love conquers all; the sister bound the blessed with rain;
sleep is absent from the eyes; love conquers all.

Simplicitate placens instar petit alta columbae;
Regna poli penetrat simplicitate placens.
O nimis apte Deo, mundus cui panditur omnis,
Abdita qui lustras, o nimis apte Deo!
Flammeus orbis habet iustum super aethera nantem;
Quem pius ussit amor, flammeus orbis habet.

Pleasing in simplicity, like the semblance of a dove he seeks the heights;
He penetrates the realms of the sky, pleasing in simplicity.
O too aptly for God, to whom the whole world is opened,
who traversest hidden things, O too aptly for God!
The fiery orb holds the just one swimming above the ether;
Whom pious love commanded, the fiery orb holds.

Ter vocitatus adest testis novitatis habendus;
Carus amore patris ter vocitatus adest.
Dux bone, bella monens exemplis pectora firmas,
Primus in arma ruis, dux bone, bella monens.
Congrua signa dedit vitae consortia linquens
Ad vitam properans congrua signa dedit.

Called three times comes the witness to be regarded as new;
dear by the father’s love, called three times he is present.
Good leader, warning wars by examples, make hearts firm,
you rush first into arms, good leader, admonishing wars.
Leaving life’s consortia he gave fitting signs,
hastening to life, he gave fitting signs.

Psalmicen assiduus numquam dabat otia plectro;
Sacra canens obiit psalmicen assiduus.
Mens quibus una fuit, tumulo retinentur eodem;
Gloria par retinet, mens quibus una fuit.
Splendida visa via est facibus stipata coruscis;
Qua sacer ascendit splendida visa via est.

The constant psalmist never gave leisure to the plectrum;
singing sacred things, the constant psalmist died.
The minds which were one are retained in the same tomb;
equal glory retains the minds which were one.
The way appeared splendid, thronged with flashing torches;
by which the sacred one ascends, the way appeared splendid.

Rupea septa petens nancta est errore salutem;
Errorem evasit rupea septa petens.
Poemata parva dedit famulus pro munere supplex;
Exul, inops, tenuis poemata parva dedit.
Sint, precor, apta tibi, caelestis tramitis index;
O Benedicte pater, sint, precor, apta tibi!

Seeking rocky enclosures, he has found salvation by mistake;
He escaped error seeking rocky enclosures.
The attendant, a suppliant, gave small poems as a gift;
The exile, poor, needy, gave small, thin poems.
May they, I pray, be fitting for you, guide of the heavenly way;
O Blessed Father Benedict, may they, I pray, be fitting for you!

Ymnum quoque singula eiusdem patris miracula continentem metro iambico archiloico ita texuimus.

We likewise wove a hymn containing the several miracles of that same father in the iambic‑Archilochian meter.

Fratres, alacri pectore
Venite concentu pari,
Fruamur huius inclitae
Festivitatis gaudiis.
Hac Benedictus aurea
Ostensor arti tramitis
Ad regna conscendit pater,
Captans laborum praemia.
Effulsit ut sidus novum,
Mundana pellens nubila.

Brothers, with an alacritous heart
Come in equal concent,
Let us enjoy the joys
Of this renowned Festivity.
By this Blessed Benedictus, a golden
Ostensor of the art of the way,
To the kingdoms the father ascends,
Seizing the rewards of labors.
He shone as a new sidus,
Driving away the mundane clouds.

Aetatis ipso limine
Despexit aevi florida.
Miraculorum praepotens,
Afflatus Alti flamine,
Resplenduit prodigiis
Ventura seclo praecinens.
Laturus esum pluribus,
Panis reformat vasculum;
Artum petens ergastulum,
Extinxit ignes ignibus.

At the very threshold of life
He looked down upon the age’s flowers.
Mighty in miracles,
By the breath of the Most High’s wind,
He shone with prodigies
Foretelling the coming century.
About to bring food to many,
The bread transformed the little vessel;
Seeking the narrow workhouse,
He quenched fires with fires.

Fregit veneni baiulam
Crucis per arma cymbiam.
Coercuit mentem vagam
Leni flagello corporis.
Funduntur amnes rupibus.

She broke the bearer of poison
and steered the skiff through the arms of the Cross.
She restrained the wandering mind
with a gentle scourge of the body.
Rivers gush forth from the rocks.

Redit calybs e gurgite,
Currit per undas obsequens.
Peplo puer vitat necem.
Virus patescit abditum.

The cup returns from the abyss,
it runs obedient through the waves.
By the peplos the boy avoids death.
The poison discloses the hidden.

Mandata praepes efficit.
Hostem ruina conterit.
Cedit fremens leo grave.

The swift accomplishes commands.
He crushes the enemy with ruin.
The roaring, weighty lion yields.

Immota fit moles levis.
Rogus migrat fantasticus.
Fractum revisit sospitas.

A light mass stands unmoved.
A fantastical pyre migrates.
The broken thing revisits the saved.

Excessus absentum patet.
Rector vafer, deprenderis.
Inique possessor, fugis.

The departure of the absent is plain.
Cunning ruler, you will be caught.
Unjust possessor, you flee.

Futura praenoscimini;
Arcana, cor, non contegis.
Fundantur aedes somniis.
Tellus vomit cadavera.

You shall be foreknown of the future.
Secrets, O heart, you do not conceal.
Houses are founded on dreams.
The earth vomits corpses.

Dracone frenatur fugax.
Aether pluit nomismata.
Vitrum resistit cautibus.

The swift one is bridled by a dragon.
Aether rains coins.
Glass resists the crags.

Manant olivo dolia.
Vinctum resolvit visio.
Vitam receptant funera.

The jars run with olive oil.
The vision unbinds the bound.
Funerals reclaim life.

Tanti potestas luminis
Voto sororis vincitur
ðQuo plus amat quis, plus valet
Enare quam cernit polum.
Non ante seclis cognitum
Noctu iubar effulgorat,
Quo totus or bis cernitur
Flammisque subvehi pius.
Haec inter instar nectaris
Miranda plectro claruit.

So great the power of light
is overcome by a sister’s vow.
ðThe more one loves, the more one prevails;
he can sail beyond what he beholds of the heavens.
Not before in the ages known,
by night a radiance shone forth,
by which the whole orb is perceived,
and the pious are borne upward on flames.
This, among things like nectar,
marvelously shone with the plectrum.

Nam pinxit apte lineam
Vitae sacrae sequacibus.
Iam dux alumnis at potens,
Adsis gregis suspiriis,
Gliscat bonis ydrum cavens,
Sit callis ut sequax tui!

For he aptly drew the line
for the followers of the sacred life.
Now a leader to the pupils, and powerful,
be present to the flock’s sighs,
let the ydrum (water) increase, guarded by the good,
let the path be such, a follower of you!

Libet me breviter referre, quod beatus Gregorius papa minime in huius sanctissimi patris vita descripsit. Denique cum divina ammonitione a Sublacu in hunc, ubi requiescit, locum per quinquaginta ferme milia adventaret, tres eum corvi, quos alere solitus erat, sunt circumvolitantes secuti. Cui ad omne bivium, usque dum huc veniret, duo angeli in figura iuvenum apparentes, ostenderunt ei, quam viam arripere deberet. In loco autem isto quidam Dei servus tunc habitaculum habebat, ad quem divinitus ita dictum est:

It pleases me briefly to recount what Blessed Pope Gregory scarcely describes in the life of this most holy father. For when, by divine admonition, he was journeying from Sublacu to this place where he now rests, a distance of about fifty miles, three crows which he was wont to feed followed him, circling about him. To him, at every crossroad as he came hither, two angels appearing in the likeness of young men showed which way he ought to take. In that place, moreover, a certain servant of God then had a dwelling, to whom it was said divinely thus:

His tu parce locis, alter amicus adest.

Spare these places, you; another friend is present.

Huc autem, hoc est in Casini Arcem, perveniens, in magna se semper abstinentia coartavit. Sed praecipue quadragesimae tempore inclausus et remotus a mundi strepitu mansit. Haec omnia ex Marci poetae carmine sumpsi, qui ad eundem patrem huc veniens, aliquot versus in eius laudem composuit, quos in his libellis cavens nimiam longitudinem minime descripsi.

But coming to this place, that is to the Citadel of Cassino, he always curtailed himself by great abstinence. Yet especially in the time of Quadragesima he remained shut up and removed from the noise of the world. I have taken all these things from the poem of the poet Marcus, who, coming to the same father, composed several verses in his praise, which, in these little libelli and avoiding undue length, I have by no means set forth.

Certum tamen est, hunc egregium patrem vocatum caelitus ob hoc ad hunc fertilem locum et cui opima vallis subiacet advenisse, ut hic multorum monachorum, sicut et nunc Deo praesule facta est, congregatio fieret. His cursim, quae omittenda non erant, narratis, ad nostrae seriem revertamur historiae.

It is certain, however, that this illustrious father, heaven‑called, had come to this fertile place, beneath which a rich valley lies, so that here a congregation of many monks might be formed, as it has now been made with God presiding. These things having been briefly told, which were not to be omitted, we return to the sequence of our history.

27. Igitur Audoin, de quo praemiseramus, Langobardorum rex, Rodelindam in matrimonio habuit; quae ei Alboin, virum bellis aptum et per omnia strenuum, peperit. Mortuus itaque est Audoin, ac deinde regum iam decimus Alboin ad regendam patriam cunctorum votis accessit. Qui cum famosissimum et viribus clarum ubique nomen haberet, Chlotharius rex Francorum Chlotsuindam ei suam filiam in matrimonium sociavit.

27. Therefore Audoin, of whom we have sent forward, king of the Lombards, had Rodelinda in marriage; she bore him Alboin, a man fit for wars and vigorous in every respect. Audoin therefore died, and then Alboin, now the tenth of the kings, with the wishes of all undertook to govern the fatherland. He, since he everywhere bore a very famous name and was renowned for his strength, King Chlotharius of the Franks joined to him Chlotsuinda, his daughter, in marriage.

De qua unam tantum filiam Alpsuindam nomine genuit. Obiit interea Turisindus rex Gepidorum; cui successit Cunimundus in regno. Qui vindicare veteres Gepidorum iniurias cupiens, inrupto cum Langobardis foedere, bellum potius quam pacem elegit.

Of her he begot only one daughter, named Alpsuinda. Meanwhile Turisind, king of the Gepids, died; Cunimund succeeded him in the kingdom. He, desiring to vindicate the old injuries of the Gepids, the treaty with the Langobards having been broken, chose war rather than peace.

Alboin vero cum Avaribus, qui primum Hunni, postea de regis proprii nomine Avares appellati sunt, foedus perpetuum iniit. Dehinc ad praeparatum a Gepidis bellum profectus est. Qui cum adversus eum e diverso properarent, Avares, ut cum Alboin statuerant, eorum patriam invaserunt.

Alboin, however, made a perpetual treaty with the Avars, who at first were called Huns and afterwards, from the name of their own king, Avars. Thence he set out to the war prepared by the Gepids. When they were hastening against him from different quarters, the Avars, as they had arranged with Alboin, invaded their homeland.

Tristis ad Cunimundum nuntius veniens, invasisse Avares eius terminos edicit. Qui prostratus animo et utrimque in angustiis positus, hortatur tamen suos primum cum Langobardis confligere; quos si superare valerent, demum Hunnorum exercitum e patria pellerent. Committitur ergo proelium, pugnatum est totis viribus.

A sad messenger coming to Cunimundus announced that the Avars had invaded his frontiers. He, prostrated in spirit and placed in straits on both sides, nevertheless urges his men first to clash with the Lombards; whom, if they could overcome, then at last they would drive the Hunnic army from the fatherland. Therefore a battle was joined; it was fought with all their forces.

Langobardi victores effecti sunt, tanta in Gepidos ira saevientes, ut eos ad internicionem usque delerent atque ex copiosa multitudine vix nuntius superesset. In eo proelio Alboin Cunimundum occidit, caputque illius sublatum, ad bibendum ex eo poculum fecit. Quod genus poculi apud eos "scala" dicitur, lingua vero Latina patera vocitatur.

The Lombards were made victors, raging with such anger against the Gepids that they destroyed them unto annihilation, and from the abundant multitude scarcely a messenger remained. In that battle Alboin killed Cunimund, and having taken up his head, made of it a cup for drinking. That sort of cup among them is called "scala", in the Latin tongue however it is named patera.

Cuius filiam nomine Rosimundam cum magna simul multitudine diversi sexus et aetatis duxit captivam; quam, quia Chlotsuinda obierat, in suam, ut post patuit, perniciem, duxit uxorem. Tunc Langobardi tantam adepti sunt praedam, ut iam ad amplissimas pervenirent divitias. Gepidorum vero ita genus est deminutum, ut ex illo iam tempore ultra non habuerint regem; sed universi qui superesse bello poterant aut Langobardis subiecti sunt, aut usque hodie Hunnis eorum patriam possidentibus duro imperio subiecti gemunt.

He led away captive his daughter, named Rosimunda, with a great multitude at once of both sexes and of all ages; whom, since Chlotsuinda had died, he took as his wife to his own, as afterwards became clear, ruin. Then the Langobards obtained so great a booty that they now reached very vast riches. The stock of the Gepids, however, was so diminished that from that time forth they no longer had a king; but all who could survive the war were either subjected to the Langobards, or even to the Huns, who possess their homeland, and to this day groan, subjected to a harsh rule.

Alboin vero ita praeclarum longe lateque nomen percrebuit, ut hactenus etiam tam apud Baioariorum gentem quamque et Saxonum, sed et alios eiusdem linguae homines eius liberalitas et gloria bellorumque felicitas et virtus in eorum carminibus celebretur. Arma quoque praecipua sub eo fabricata fuisse, a multis hucusque narratur.

Alboin, moreover, acquired so illustrious a name far and wide that even to this day among the people of the Baiovarii and the Saxons, and also other men of the same tongue, his liberality and glory and the good fortune of his wars and his virtue are celebrated in their songs. It is also told by many hitherto that notable arms were forged under him.