Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA LANGOBARDORUM

1. Confirmato itaque Grimuald regno aput Ticinum, non multo post tempore iam dudum pactam sibi Ariperti regis filiam, cuius germanum Godepertum extinxerat, duxit uxorem. Beneventanum vero exercitum, cuius auxilio regnum adeptus erat, multis dotatum muneribus remisit ad propria. Aliquantos tamen ex eis secum habitaturos retenuit, largissimas eis tribuens possessiones.

1. With Grimoald’s kingship therefore confirmed at Ticinum, not long afterward he took to wife the daughter of King Aripert, long since betrothed to him, whose brother Godepert he had slain. But the Beneventan army, by whose help he had obtained the kingdom, he sent back to their own places, endowed with many gifts. Yet he retained some of them to dwell with him, bestowing upon them the most lavish possessions.

2. Qui postquam conperit Perctarit profugum Scithiam appetisse et aput Cacanum demorari, eidem Cacano Avarum regi per legatos mandavit, ut, si Perctarit in suo regno detineret, cum Langobardis et secum pacem, quam hactenus habuerat, deinceps habere non possit. Haec Avarum rex audiens, adscito Perctarit, dixit ei ut in quam partem vellet pergeret, ne propter eum Avares cum Langobardis inimicitias contraherent. Perctarit vero haec audiens, Italiam ad Grimualdum reversurus repetiit; audierat enim eum clementissimum esse.

2. When he learned that Perctarit, as a fugitive, had sought Scythia and was staying with Cacanus, he sent word by legates to that same Cacanus, king of the Avars, that, if he should detain Perctarit in his realm, he would henceforth be unable to have the peace which he had had up to now with the Langobards and with him. Hearing this, the king of the Avars, having summoned Perctarit, told him to go in whatever direction he wished, lest on his account the Avars contract enmities with the Langobards. But Perctarit, on hearing this, set out to return to Italy to Grimoald; for he had heard that he was most clement.

Igitur cum ad Laudensem civitatem venisset, misit ante se ad Grimualdum . regem Unulfum sibi fidelissimum virum, qui suum ei adventum nuntiaret. Unulfus vero ad regem veniens, Perctarit in eius fide adventare nuntiavit. Haec ille audiens, fidenter promisit, in sua eum fide venientem nihil mali passurum fore.

Therefore, when he had come to the city of Lodi, he sent ahead to Grimoald the king Unulf, a man most faithful to him, to announce his arrival to him. But Unulf, coming to the king, announced that Perctarit was approaching under his faith. Hearing this, he confidently promised that he, coming in his faith, would suffer no harm.

Inter haec Perctarit adveniens, ad Grimualdum ingressus, cum eius se vestigiis advolvere conatus esset, rex eum clementer retenuit atque ad suum osculum erexit. Ad quem Perctarit: "Servus tuus sum;" inquit "sciens te christianissimum et pium esse, cum possim inter paganos vivere, fretus de tua clementia ad tua vestigia veni". Cui rex, ut solebat, iureiurando ita repromisit dicens: ."Per eum qui me nasci fecit, postquam in meam fidem ad me venisti, nihil in aliquo mali patieris, sed ita te ordinabo, ut decenter vivere possis". Tunc ei in spatiosa domo hospitium praebens, eum post viae laborem habere requiem iussit; praecipiens eidem ex publico victum et quaeque essent necessaria largius ministrari. Perctarit vero cum ad hospitium sibi a rege praeparatum venisset, mox ad eum Ticinensium civium coeperunt turmae concurrere, ut eum vel viderent vel pristina notitia cognitum salutarent.

Meanwhile Perctarit arriving, having entered to Grimuald, when he had tried to roll himself to his footsteps, the king clemently held him back and raised him to his kiss. To whom Perctarit said: “I am your servant; knowing you to be most Christian and pious, though I could live among pagans, trusting in your clemency I have come to your footsteps.” To whom the king, as he was wont, by oath thus re-promised, saying: “By him who caused me to be born, after you have come to me into my pledge, you will suffer nothing of evil in any respect, but I will so order you, that you may be able to live decently.” Then, offering him hospitality in a spacious house, he ordered that after the labor of the road he should have rest; instructing that for him from the public stores provisions and whatever things were necessary be supplied more liberally. But when Perctarit had come to the lodging prepared for him by the king, at once troops of the citizens of the Ticinenses began to run together to him, that they might either see him, or salute him, known from former acquaintance.

V erum quid non mala lingua inrumpere potest? Mox namque venientes ad regem quidam maligni adulatores, regi denuntiant, quia, nisi Perctarit citius vita privaret, ipse regnum protinus cum vita perderet; adseverantes, ob hoc ad eum totam concurrere civitatem. His auditis Grimuald nimium credulus effectus, et quod promiserat oblitus, in innocentis Perctarit statim necem accenditur, consiliumque iniit, qualiter eum, quia iam hora tardior erat, in crastino vita privaret.

B ut what can a wicked tongue not break into? For soon certain malignant adulators, coming to the king, announce to the king that, unless Perctarit were more quickly deprived of life, he himself would straightway lose the kingdom together with his life; asserting that for this cause the whole city was running together to him. Grimuald, having heard these things, made overly credulous and forgetful of what he had promised, is inflamed at once for the death of the innocent Perctarit, and he entered counsel how he might, because the hour was already rather late, on the morrow deprive him of life.

Cui denique ad vesperam diversos cibos, vina quoque praecipua variaque potionum genera transmisit, ut eum inebriare posset, quatenus multa eadem nocte potatione resolutus vinoque sepultus, de sua nihil salute cogitare valeret. Tunc unus qui de eius patris obsequio fuerat, cum eidem Perctarit ferculum regium adtulisset, quasi eum salutaturus sub mensam caput mittens, eidem secrete, quia rex eum occidere disponeret, nuntiavit. Perctarit vero statim suo pincernae praecepit, ut sibi in fiala argentea non aliud quam ali quantulum aquae propinaret.

To whom at last, toward evening, he sent over diverse foods, and choice wines as well and various kinds of potions, so that he might be able to inebriate him, to the end that, loosened by much drinking that same night and buried in wine, he would be able to think nothing of his own safety. Then one who had been of his father’s service, when he had brought to that same Perctarit the royal course, as if to salute him, putting his head under the table, secretly announced to him that the king was disposing to kill him. But Perctarit straightway commanded his own cupbearer to proffer to him in a silver phial nothing other than some small amount of water.

Cumque ii qui diversi generis potiones ei a rege deferebant de verbo regis eum rogarent, ut totam fialam biberet, ille in honorem regis se totam bibere promittens, parum aquae libabat d e argenteo calice. Qui ministri dum haec regi nuntiarent, quod ille avidissime biberet, rex laetus respondit: "Bibat ebriosus ille; cras enim pariter eadem vina mixta cum sanguine refundet". Perctarit vero Unulfum citius ad se adscitum, de sua morte ei regis consilium nuntiavit. Qui statim ad domum suam puerum misit, ut Sibi lectisternia deferret, lectumque sibi iuxta stratum Perctarit fieri praecepit.

And when those who were bringing him potions of diverse kinds from the king, by the king’s word, were asking him to drink the whole phial, he, promising in honor of the king that he would drink it all, was sipping a little water from the silver chalice. When the ministers reported these things to the king—that he was drinking most greedily—the king, glad, replied: "Let that drunkard drink; for tomorrow likewise he will pour back the same wines mixed with blood." Perctarit, however, having quickly summoned Unulf to himself, announced to him the king’s counsel concerning his death. He immediately sent a boy to his house to bring for him lectisternia (bed-spreads), and he ordered a bed to be made for himself next to Perctarit’s couch.

Nec mora, rex Grimuald suos satellites direxit, qui domum, in qua Perctarit quiescebat, ne aliquo modo effugere posset, custodire deberent. Cumque coena finita esset, et egressis omnibus Perctarit tantum ed Unulfus ac vestiarius Perctarit remansissent, qui utique eidem satis erant fideles, consilium ei aperiunt et obsecrant eum, ut, cum Perctarit fugeret, ipse eum quamdiu possit intra eundem cubiculum quiescere simularet. Cumque se ille hoc facturum spopondisset, Unulfus pannos suos lectaricios et culcitram ursinamque pellem supra dorsum ac cervicem Perctarit inposuit, eumque ex consilio quasi rusticanum servum extra ianuam inpellere coepit, multasque ei iniurias faciens, fuste eum insuper percutere desuper et urguere non cessabat, ita ut inpulsus atque ictus saepius ad terram corrueret.

Without delay, King Grimoald sent his guards to keep watch over the house in which Perctarit was resting, so that he might not be able to escape in any way. And when dinner had been finished, and with all having gone out only Perctarit and Unulfus and Perctarit’s wardrobe-keeper remained, who indeed were quite faithful to him, they open their plan to him and beseech him that, when Perctarit should flee, he himself would pretend for as long as he could that he (Perctarit) was resting within the same bedchamber. And when he had pledged that he would do this, Unulfus placed his bedding-cloths and a mattress and a bearskin upon Perctarit’s back and neck, and, according to the counsel, began to push him out the door as if a rustic servant, and, inflicting many indignities on him, he did not cease moreover to strike him from above with a club and to press him, so that, pushed and smitten, he would often fall to the ground.

Cumque eundem Unulfum regii satellites, qui ad custodiam positi erant, requirerent, quid hoc esset: "Servus iste" inquit "nequam lectum mihi in cubiculo ebriosi istius Perctarit statuit, qui in tantum vino plenus est, ut quasi mortuus ita cubet. Sed satis est, quod eius nunc usque amentiam secutus sum, iam deinceps in vita domni regis in domo propria manebo". Haec illi audientes et vera quae audierant esse credentes, laeti effecti sunt, et eum pariterque Perctarit, quem putabant servum et qui opertum, ne agnosceretur, habebat caput, locum illis dantes, abire permiserunt. Illis autem abeuntibus, vestiarius ille fidelissimus, obserato diligenter ostio, remansit intrinsecus solus.

And when the royal bodyguards, who had been set for guard, asked that same Unulfus what this was: “This worthless servant,” he says, “set up the bed for me in the chamber of that drunkard Perctarit, who is so full of wine that he lies as if dead. But it is enough that up to now I have followed his amentia; henceforth, by the life of my lord the king, I will remain in my own house.” Hearing these things and believing that what they had heard was true, they became glad, and they allowed him and likewise Perctarit—whom they thought a servant, and who had his head covered, lest he be recognized—giving them room, to depart. But as they were going away, that most faithful wardrobe-keeper, with the door carefully barred, remained inside alone.

Unulfus vero Perctarit de muro anguli, qui est a parte Ticini fluminis, per funem deposuit eique quos potuit socios coniunxit. Qui, arreptis quos in pastu invenerant equis, eadem nocte ad Astensem properant civitatem, in qua Perctarit amici manebant et qui adhuc Grimualdo rebelles extabant. Deinde quantocius Perctarit Taurinensem urbem petens, ac post claustra Italiae transgressus, Francorum ad patriam pervenit.

Unulf indeed lowered Perctarit by a rope from the corner wall which is on the side of the river Ticinus, and to him he joined such companions as he could. Seizing the horses which they had found at pasture, they hastened that same night to the city of Asti, where Perctarit’s friends were staying, and who still stood forth as rebels against Grimoald. Then, as quickly as possible, Perctarit making for the city of Turin, and after crossing the barriers of Italy, came to the fatherland of the Franks.

Sicque Deus omnipotens dispositione misericordiae et innocentem a morte eripuit et regem ex animo bona facere cupientem ab offensione servavit.

And thus the Omnipotent God, by a disposition of mercy, both delivered the innocent from death and preserved the king, desiring from the heart to do good, from offense.

3. At vero rex Grimoald dum Perctarit in hospitio suo quiescere putaret, ab eodem hospitio usque ad palatium suum acies hominum hinc et inde adstare fecit, ut per eorum medium Perctarit deduceretur, quatenus effugere minime posset. Cumque a rege missi venissent, qui Perctarit ad palatium evocarent, et ad ostium [cubiculi, in] quo eum quiescere putabant, pulsassent, vestiarius ille qui introrsus erat rogabat eos dicens: "Misericordiam cum eo facite eumque paululum quiescere sinite, quia adhuc de itinere lassus gravissimo.somno deprimitur". Quod cum illi adquievissent, hoc ipsum regi nuntiaverunt, quia adhuc Perctarit gravi somno quiesceret. Tunc ille: "Sic" inquit "hesterna sera se vino opplevit, ut adhuc vigilare non possit?". Quibus tamen praecepit, ut mox eum excitatum ad palatium deducerent.

3. But indeed King Grimoald, while he supposed that Perctarit was resting in his hospitium, caused ranks of men to stand on this side and that from that same lodging all the way to his palace, so that Perctarit might be led through their midst, in order that he might by no means be able to escape. And when those sent by the king had come to summon Perctarit to the palace, and had knocked at the door [of the chamber, in] which they supposed he was resting, the vestiary who was inside was asking them, saying: "Do mercy with him and allow him to rest a little, because still from the journey, weary, he is pressed down by a very heavy sleep." When they had assented to this, they reported this same thing to the king, that Perctarit was still resting in a heavy sleep. Then he: "So," he said, "did he last evening fill himself up with wine, that he still cannot keep awake?" Yet he ordered them to lead him, once roused, at once to the palace.

Qui venientes ad ianuam cubiculi, in quo Perctarit sperabant quiescere, coeperunt acrius pulsare. Tunc vestiarius ille rursum eos rogare coepit, ut quasi eundem Perctarit aliquantulum adhuc dormire permitterent. Qui irati vociferantes, iam satis ebriosum illum quievisse, mox calcibus eiusdem cubiculi ostium confringunt, ingressique Perctarit in lectulo requirunt.

They, coming to the door of the bedchamber in which they were hoping Perctarit was resting, began to knock the more sharply. Then that wardrobe-keeper again began to beg them, that, as it were, they would permit that same Perctarit to sleep a little longer. They, angered, vociferating that that inebriated fellow had already rested enough, straightway with kicks break down the door of that same bedchamber, and, having entered, they look for Perctarit on the little bed.

Quem cum non invenissent, ad requisita eum naturae residere suspicati sunt. Quem cum nec ibi repperissent, vestiarium illum interrogant, quid de Perctarit factum fuisset. Quibus ille fugisse eum respondit.

When they had not found him, they suspected he was sitting at the requisites of nature. When they had not found him there either, they question that wardrobe-keeper what had become of Perctarit. To them he replied that he had fled.

Quem statim capillis adprehensum, furentes eumque verberantes, ad palatium pertrahunt. Eumque in regis praesentiam perducentes, fugae Perctarit hunc esse conscium ideoque morte dignissimum dicunt. Quem rex dimitti praecepit eumque per ordinem, qualiter Perctarit effugisset, inquisivit.

Whom, immediately seized by the hair, they—raging and beating him—drag to the palace. And bringing him into the king’s presence, they say that he is privy to Perctarit’s flight and therefore most worthy of death. The king ordered him to be dismissed and, in due order, inquired how Perctarit had escaped.

Ille regi universa sicut acta fuerant retulit. Tunc rex a circumstantibus requisivit dicens: "Quid vobis de homine isto videtur, qui talia perpetravit?". Tunc omnes una voce responderunt, esse eum dignum multis suppliciis excruciatum interire. At rex: "Per (eum) qui me nasci fecit" inquit "dignus est homo iste bene habere, qui se pro fide sui domini morti tradere non recusavit". Eumque mox inter suos vestiarios esse praecepit, ammonens eum, ut sibi eandem fidem quam Perctarit habuerat servaret; multa se ei commoda largiturum promittens.

He reported to the king all things just as they had been done. Then the king asked of those standing around, saying: "What seems to you about this man, who has perpetrated such things?" Then all with one voice answered that he was worthy to perish, excruciated by many punishments. But the king said: "By (Him) who made me to be born, this man is worthy to fare well, who did not refuse to hand himself over to death for the faith of his own lord." And he straightway ordered him to be among his own wardrobe-attendants, admonishing him to keep toward himself the same loyalty which he had had toward Perctarit; promising to bestow many benefits upon him.

Cumque rex requireret, quid de Unulfum factum fuisset, nuntiatum est ei, quod in beati archangeli Michahelis basilicam confugium fecisset. Qui mox ad eum misit, sponte promittens quod nihil pateretur mali, tantum in sua fide veniret. Unulfus vero talem regis promissionem audiens, mox ad palatium venit, atque ad regis vestigia provolutus, interrogatus ab eo est, quomodo [aut qualiter] Perctarit evadere potuisset.

And when the king inquired what had been done about Unulfus, it was announced to him that he had taken refuge in the basilica of the blessed archangel Michael. He at once sent to him, freely promising that he would suffer nothing of evil, only that he should come on his faith. But Unulfus, hearing such a royal promise, soon came to the palace, and, prostrated at the king’s footsteps, was asked by him how [or in what manner] Perctarit had been able to escape.

At ille cum ei cuncta ex ordine retulisset, rex eius fidem et prudentiam conlaudans, omnes eius facultates et quicquid habere poterat eidem clementer concessit.

But when he had related to him all things in order, the king, lauding his faith and prudence, graciously granted to him all his possessions and whatever he might be able to have.

4. Cumque post aliquot tempus rex Unulfum inquireret, utrum vellet ipsis diebus cum Perctarit esse, ille iureiurando ait, prius se vellet cum Perctarit mori, quam usquam alibi in summis deliciis vivere. Tunc rex etiam vestiarium illum requisivit dicens utrum melius ei esset secum in palatium manere, an cum Perctarit in peregrinatione degere. Qui cum ei similia sicut et Unulfus respondisset, rex eorum verba benigne suscipiens eorumque fidem conlaudans, praecepit Unulfo, ut quicquid vellet de domo sua tolleret, pueros scilicet et equos et diversam supellectilem, et ad Perctarit inlaesus properaret.

4. And when after some time the king inquired of Unulfus whether he wished in those very days to be with Perctarit, he said on oath that he would sooner wish to die with Perctarit than to live anywhere else in the highest delights. Then the king also questioned that wardrobe-keeper, saying whether it would be better for him to remain with him in the palace, or to pass his life with Perctarit in peregrination. And when he had answered him things similar, just as Unulfus also had, the king, benignly receiving their words and praising their fidelity, ordered Unulfus to take from his house whatever he wished—namely the boys and the horses and diverse household-furnishings—and to hasten unharmed to Perctarit.

Pari etiam modo et vestiarium illum absolvit. Qui omnia sua secundum benignitatem regis sufficienter tollentes, cum eiusdem regis adiutorio Francorum in patriam ad suum dilectum Perctarit sunt profecti.

In a like manner also he absolved that vestiary. They, amply taking all their belongings according to the king’s benignity, with the aid of that same king of the Franks set out into their fatherland to their beloved Perctarit.

5. Hac tempestate Francorum exercitus de Provincia egrediens, in Italiam introivit. Contra quos Grimuald cum Langobardis progressus, hac eos arte decepit. Fugere quippe se eorum impetum simulans, castra sua simul cum tentoriis et diversis pariter referta bonis praecipueque vini optimi copia hominibus omnino vacua reliquit.

5. At this time the army of the Franks, setting out from Provence, entered into Italy. Against them Grimoald advanced with the Langobards, and by this artifice he deceived them: feigning to flee their assault, he left behind his camp, together with the tents and various goods likewise crammed, and especially a supply of the finest wine, utterly empty of men.

Quo dum Francorum acies advenissent, existimantes Grimualdum cum Langobardis pavore deterritos castra integra reliquisse, mox laeti effecti certatim cuncta invadunt coenamque affluentissimam instruunt. Qui dum diversis epulis multoque degravati vino somnoque quievissent, Grimuald super eos post noctis medium inruens, tanta eos caede prostravit, ut vix pauci ex eis elapsi patriam valuerint reppedare. Qui locus, ubi hoc gestum est proelium, Francorum usque hodie Rivus appellatur, nec longe distat ab Astensis civitatis liminibus.

When the battle line of the Franks had arrived there, supposing that Grimuald with the Langobards, deterred by fear, had left the camp intact, they soon became glad and, vying with one another, seize everything and set out a most affluent supper. And when, weighed down with diverse courses and with much wine, they had sunk into sleep, Grimuald, rushing upon them after midnight, laid them low with such a slaughter that scarcely a few of them, having slipped away, managed to creep back to their homeland. The place where this battle was done is called to this day the Brook of the Franks, and it is not far from the bounds of the city of Asti.

6. His diebus Constantinus Augustus, qui et Constans est appellatus, Italiam a Langobardorum manu eruere cupiens, Constantinopoli egressus, per litoralia iter habens, Athenas venit, indeque mare transgressus, Tarentum applicuit. Qui tamen prius ad solitarium quendam, qui prophetiae spiritum habere dicebatur, adiit, studiose ab eo sciscitans, utrum gentem Langobardorum, quae in Italia habitabat, superare et optinere possit. A quo cum servus Dei spatium unius noctis expetisset, ut pro hoc ipso Dominum supplicaret, facto mane ita eidem Augusto respondit: "Gens Langobardorum superari modo ab aliquo non potest, quia regina quaedam ex alia provincia veniens basilicam beati Iohannis baptistae in Langobardorum finibus construxit, et propter hoc ipse beatus Iohannes pro Langobardorum gente continue intercedit.

6. In these days Constantine Augustus, who was also called Constans, desiring to rescue Italy from the hand of the Langobards, having set out from Constantinople and taking his way along the littorals, came to Athens, and from there, having crossed the sea, made landfall at Tarentum. Yet first he went to a certain solitary, who was said to have the spirit of prophecy, diligently inquiring of him whether he could overcome and obtain possession of the nation of the Langobards which was dwelling in Italy. And when the servant of God had requested the space of one night, that for this very thing he might supplicate the Lord, when morning had come he thus answered the same Augustus: "The nation of the Langobards cannot at present be overcome by anyone, because a certain queen coming from another province constructed a basilica of blessed John the Baptist within the borders of the Langobards, and on account of this the blessed John himself is continually interceding for the nation of the Langobards.

Veniet autem tempus, quando ipsum oraculum habebitur despectui, et tunc gens ipsa peribit". Quod nos ita factum esse probavimus, qui ante Langobardorum perditionem eandem beati Iohannis basilicam, quae utique in loco qui Modicia dicitur est constituta, per viles personas ordinari conspeximus, ita ut indignis et adulteris non pro vitae merito, sed praemiorum datione, isdem locus venerabilis largiretur.

"But a time will come, when that very oracle will be held in contempt, and then that nation itself will perish". And we proved that this came to pass in just this way, for before the perdition of the Langobards we beheld that same basilica of the blessed John, which indeed is established in the place that is called Modicia, being administered by base persons, such that to the unworthy and to adulterers, not for the merit of life but by the giving of rewards, that same venerable place was being bestowed.

7. Igitur cum, ut diximus, Constans Augustus Tarentum venisset, egressus exinde, Beneventanorum fines invasit omnesque pene per quas venerat Langobardorum civitates cepit. Luceriam quoque, opulentam Apuliae civitatem, expugnatam fortius invadens diruit, ad solum usque prostravit. Agerentia sane propter munitissimam loci positionem capere minime potuit.

7. Therefore, as we have said, when Constans Augustus had come to Tarentum, departing from there, he invaded the territories of the Beneventans and captured nearly all the Lombard cities through which he had come. Luceria also, an opulent city of Apulia, having been taken by storm, he, attacking it more forcefully, demolished and leveled to the ground. Agerentia, to be sure, on account of the most fortified position of the place, he was by no means able to take.

Deinde cum omni suo exercitu Beneventum circumdedit et eam vehementer expugnare coepit; ubi tunc Rumuald, Grimualdi filius adhuc iuvenulus, ducatum tenebat. Qui statim ut imperatoris adventum cognovit, nutricium suum nomine Sesualdum ad patrem Grimualdum trans Padum direxit, obsecrans, ut quantocius veniret filioque suo ac Beneventanis, quos ipse nutrierat, potenter succurreret. Quod Grimuald rex audiens, statim cum exercitu filio laturus auxilium Beneventum pergere coepit.

Then with all his army he surrounded Beneventum and began to storm it vehemently; where at that time Rumuald, Grimuald’s son, still a youth, was holding the duchy. Who, as soon as he learned of the emperor’s advent, sent his foster‑father by name Sesuald to his father Grimuald across the Po, beseeching that he come as quickly as possible and might powerfully succor his son and the Beneventans, whom he himself had nurtured. Which, when King Grimuald heard, at once with an army, to bring aid to his son, he began to proceed to Beneventum.

Quem plures ex Langobardis in itinere relinquentes, ad propria remearunt, dicentes, quia expoliasset palatium et iam non reversurus repeteret Beneventum. Interim imperatoris exercitus Beneventum diversis machinis vehementer expugnabat, econtra Romuald cum Langobardis fortiter resistebat. Qui quamvis cum tanta multitudine congredi manu ad manum propter paucitatem exercitus non auderet, frequenter tamen cum expeditis iuvenibus hostium castra inrumpens, magnas eisdem inferebat undique clades.

Whom many of the Langobards, leaving behind on the journey, returned to their own homes, saying that he had despoiled the palace and, now not about to return, was making again for Beneventum. Meanwhile the emperor’s army was vigorously assaulting Beneventum with various engines, and conversely Romuald with the Langobards was stoutly resisting. Although he did not dare to engage hand to hand with so great a multitude because of the smallness of his force, yet often, bursting into the enemy camp with picked youths, he was inflicting great disasters upon them on every side.

Cumque Grimuald, eius pater, iamque properaret, eundem nutricium eius, de quo praemisimus, ad filium misit, qui ei suum adventum nuntiaret. Qui cum prope Beneventum venisset, a Grecis captus imperatori delatus est. Qui ab eo unde adveniret requirens, ille se a Grimualdo rege venire dixit eundemque regem citius adventare nuntiavit.

And when Grimuald, his father, was now hastening, he sent that same foster-father of his, about whom we have mentioned above, to his son, to announce to him his advent. When he had come near Beneventum, he was seized by the Greeks and delivered to the emperor. The latter, inquiring from him whence he had come, he said that he came from King Grimuald and announced that that same king was coming quickly.

Statimque imperator exterritus, consilium cum suis iniit, quatenus cum Romualdo pacisceretur, ut Neapolim possit reverti.

And immediately the emperor, terrified, entered into counsel with his own, to the end that he might make peace with Romuald, so that he could return to Naples.

8. Acceptaque obside Romualdi sororem, cui nomen Gisa fuit, cum eodem pacem fecit. Eius vero nutricium Sesualdum ad muros duci praecepit, mortem eidem minatus, si aliquid Romualdo aut civibus de Grimualdi adventu nuntiaret, sed potius asseveraret, eundem venire minime posse. Quod ille ita se facturum ut ei praecipiebatur promisit; sed cum prope muros advenisset, velle se Romualdum videre dixit.

8. And, having received as a hostage Romuald’s sister, whose name was Gisa, he made peace with him. But he ordered Romuald’s foster-father Sesuald to be led to the walls, threatening him with death if he should announce anything to Romuald or to the citizens about the advent of Grimuald, but rather should asseverate that the same was by no means able to come. This he promised that he would do as it was enjoined upon him; but when he had come near the walls, he said that he wished to see Romuald.

Quo cum Romuald citius advenisset, sic ad eum locutus est: "Constans esto, domine Romuald, et habens fiduciam noli turbari, quia tuus genitor citius tibi auxilium praebiturus aderit. Nam scias, eum hac nocte iuxta Sangrum fluvium cum valido exercitu manere. Tantum obsecro, ut misericordiam exhibeas cum mea uxore et filiis, quia gens ista perfida me vivere non sinebit". Cumque hoc dixisset, iussu imperatoris caput eius abscisum atque cum belli machina quam petrariam vocant in urbem proiectum est.

When Romuald had come more quickly, he spoke to him thus: "Be constant, lord Romuald, and, having confidence, do not be disturbed, because your father will soon be present to provide you help. For know that this night he is staying near the Sangrus River with a strong army. Only, I beseech, that you show mercy to my wife and children, because that perfidious nation will not permit me to live." And when he had said this, by order of the emperor his head was cut off and, with the war-machine which they call a petrary, it was projected into the city.

Quod caput Romuald sibi deferri iussit idque lacrimans obsculatus est dignoque in loculo tumulari praecepit.

That head Romuald ordered to be brought to him, and, weeping, he kissed it, and he commanded that it be interred in a worthy casket.

9. Metuens igitur imperator subitum Grimualdi regis adventum, dimissa Beneventi obsidione, Neapolim proficiscitur. Cuius tamen exercitum Mitola Capuanus comes iuxta fluenta Caloris fluminis in loco qui usque hodie Pugna dicitur vehementer adtrivit.

9. Therefore, the emperor, fearing the sudden advent of King Grimoald, the siege of Benevento having been dismissed, proceeds to Naples. Yet Mitola, the Capuan count, near the currents of the river Calor, in a place which to this day is called “Pugna,” severely wore down his army.

10. Postquam vero imperator Neapolim pervenit, unus ex eius optimatibus, cui nomen Saburrus erat, ab Augusto, ut fertur, viginti milia militum expetiit, seque cum Romualdo pugnaturum victoremque spopondit. Qui cum accepto exercitu ad locum cui Forinus nomen est advenisset ibique castra posuisset, Grimuald, qui i .am Beneventum advenerat, haec audiens, contra eum proficisci voluit. Cui filius Romuald: "Non est opus;" inquit "sed tantum partem nobis de exercitu vestro tribuite.

10. After the emperor had reached Naples, one of his optimates, whose name was Saburrus, at the bidding of the Augustus, as it is said, requested twenty thousand soldiers, and pledged that he would fight with Romuald and would be the victor. When he, with the army received, had come to the place whose name is Forinus and had there pitched camp, Grimuald, who had already come to Beneventum, hearing these things, wished to set out against him. To whom his son Romuald said: "There is no need;" he says "but only grant to us a part of your army.

Ego Deo favente cum eo pugnabo; et cum vicero, maior utique gloria vestrae potentiae adscribetur". Factumque est; et accepta aliqua parte de patris exercitu, pariterque cum suis hominibus contra Saburrum proficiscitur. Qui priusquam bellum cum eo iniret, a quattuor partibus tubas insonare praecepit moxque super eos audenter inrupit. Cumque utraeque acies forti intentione pugnarent, tunc unus de regis exercitu nomine Amalongus, qui regium contum ferre erat solitus, quendam Greculum eodem conto utrisque manibus fortiter percutiens, de sella super quam equitabat sustulit eumque in aera super caput suum levavit.

"I, with God favoring, will fight with him; and when I have conquered, assuredly greater glory will be ascribed to your power." And so it was done; and, having received some part of his father’s army, he set out together with his own men against Saburrus. He, before he engaged in battle with him, ordered the trumpets to sound from four quarters, and soon boldly burst in upon them. And as both battle-lines were fighting with strong intent, then one from the king’s army named Amalongus, who was accustomed to carry the royal contus (lance), striking a certain little Greek with the same spear mightily with both hands, lifted him from the saddle on which he was riding and raised him into the air above his head.

Quod cernens Grecorum exercitus, mox inmenso pavore perterritus in fugam convertitur, ultimaque pernicie caesus, sibi fugiens mortem, Romualdo et Langobardis victoriam peperit. Ita Saburrus, qui se imperatori suo victoriae tropaeum de Langobardis promiserat patrare, ad eum cum paucis remeans, ignominiam deportavit; Romuald vero, patrata de inimicis victoria, Beneventum triumphans reversus est patrique gaudium et cunctis securitatem, sublato hostium timore, convexit.

Seeing this, the army of the Greeks, straightway terrified with immense panic, turns to flight, and, cut down with utter ruin, in fleeing brought death upon themselves, and procured victory for Romuald and the Langobards. Thus Saburrus, who had promised his emperor to accomplish a trophy of victory over the Langobards, returning to him with a few, carried back ignominy; but Romuald, victory accomplished over the enemies, returned to Beneventum in triumph and brought joy to his father and security to all, the fear of the foes having been lifted.

11. At vero Constans Augustus cum nihil se contra Langobardos gessisse conspiceret, omnes saevitiae suae minas contra suos, hoc est Romanos, retorsit. Nam egressus Neapoli, Romam perrexit. Cui sexto ab urbe miliario Vitalianus papa cum sacerdotibus et Romano populo occurrit.

11. But indeed Constans Augustus, when he perceived that he had done nothing against the Langobards, turned all the menaces of his own savagery against his own, that is, the Romans. For, having departed from Naples, he proceeded to Rome. At the sixth milestone from the city, Pope Vitalian met him with the priests and the Roman people.

Qui Augustus cum ad beati Petri limina pervenisset, optulit ibi pallium auro textile; et manens aput Romam diebus duodecim, omnia quae fuerant antiquitus instituta ex aere in ornamentum civitatis deposuit, in tantum ut etiam basilicam beatae Mariae, quae aliquando Pantheum vocabatur et conditum fuerat in honore omnium deorum, et iam ibi per concessionem superiorum principum locus erat omnium martyrum, discooperiret tegulasque aereas exinde auferret easque simul cum aliis omnibus ornamentis Constantinopolim transmitteret. Deinde reversus imperator Neapolim, itinere terreno perrexit civitatem Regium. Ingressusque Siciliam per indictionem septimam, habitavit in Syracusa, et tales afflictiones inposuit populo seu habitatoribus vel possessoribus Calabriae, Siciliae, Africae atque Sardiniae, quales antea numquam auditae sunt, ita ut etiam uxores a maritis vel filii a parentibus separarentur.

When the Augustus had reached the thresholds of blessed Peter, he offered there a pallium woven with gold; and staying at Rome for twelve days, he took down all the things which had been established of old in bronze for the ornament of the city, to such an extent that he even unroofed the basilica of Blessed Mary, which was once called the Pantheon and had been founded in honor of all the gods, and where already by the concession of earlier princes there was a place of all the martyrs, and he removed the bronze tiles from there and sent them, together with all the other ornaments, to Constantinople. Then the emperor, having returned to Naples, by a land route went on to the city of Rhegium. And having entered Sicily in the seventh indiction, he dwelt in Syracuse, and he imposed such afflictions upon the people, that is, the inhabitants and the possessors, of Calabria, Sicily, Africa, and Sardinia as had never before been heard, so that even wives were separated from husbands and sons from parents.

Sed et alia multa et inaudita harum regionum populi sunt perpessi, ita ut alicui spes vitae non remaneret. Nam et vasa sacrata vel cimelia sanctarum Dei ecclesiarum imperiali iussu et Grecorum avaricia sublata sunt. Mansit autem imperator in Sicilia ab indictione septima usque in duodecimam; sed tandem tantarum iniquitatum poenas luit, atque dum se in balneo lavaret, a suis extinctus est.

But the peoples of these regions also endured many other unheard-of things, such that no hope of life remained to anyone. For even the sacred vessels and the cimelia, the treasures of the holy churches of God, were carried off by imperial command and by the avarice of the Greeks. The emperor, moreover, remained in Sicily from the seventh indiction up to the twelfth; but at last he paid the penalties for such great iniquities, and, while he was bathing in the bath, he was killed by his own.

12. Interfecto igitur aput Siracusas Constante imperatore, Mecetius in Sicilia regnum arripuit, sed absque orientalis exercitus voluntate. Contra quem Italiae milites alii per Histriam, alii per partes Campaniae, alii vero a partibus Africae et Sardiniae venientes in Siracusas, eum vita privarunt. Multique ex iudicibus eius detruncati Constantinopolim perducti sunt; cum quibus pariter et falsi imperatoris caput est deportatum.

12. Therefore, with Emperor Constans slain at Syracuse, Mezetius in Sicily seized the kingship, but without the will of the eastern army. Against him the soldiers of Italy—some through Histria, others through parts of Campania, and others indeed coming from the parts of Africa and Sardinia—came to Syracuse and deprived him of life. And many of his judges, beheaded, were led to Constantinople; together with them likewise the head of the false emperor was carried off.

13. Haec audiens gens Sarracenorum, quae iam Alexandriam et Aegyptum pervaserat, subito cum multis navibus venientes, Siciliam invadunt, Siracusas ingrediuntur multamque stragem faciunt populorum, vix paucis evadentibus, qui per munitissima castra et iuga confugerant montium, auferentes quoque praedam nimiam et omne illud quod Constans Augustus a Roma abstulerat ornatum in aere et diversis speciebus; sicque Alexandriam reversi sunt.

13. Hearing these things, the nation of the Saracens, which had already overrun Alexandria and Egypt, suddenly coming with many ships, invade Sicily, enter Syracuse, and make much slaughter of the peoples, with scarcely a few escaping, who had fled to the most strongly fortified camps and the ridges of the mountains, also carrying off excessive prey and all that ornament in bronze and in diverse kinds which Constans Augustus had removed from Rome; and thus they returned to Alexandria.

14. Porro regis filia, quam de Benevento obsidis nomine sublatam diximus, Siciliam veniens, diem clausit extremum.

14. Furthermore, the king's daughter, whom we said had been taken from Beneventum under the name of hostage, coming to Sicily, closed her last day.

15. Hoc tempore tantae pluviae tantaque tonitrua fuerunt, quanta ante nullus meminerat hominum, ita ut innumera hominum et animantium milia fulminibus essent perempta. Eo anno legumina, quae propter pluvias colligi nequiverunt, iterum renata et ad maturitatem usque perducta sunt.

15. At this time there were rains so great and thunders so great as no man had remembered before, such that countless thousands of men and of living creatures were struck down by lightnings. In that year the legumes, which because of the rains had not been able to be gathered, sprouted again and were brought through to maturity.

16. At vero rex Grimuald, ereptis Beneventanis et eorum provinciis a Graecis, ad palatium suum aput Ticinum repedare disponens, Transamundum, qui dudum Capuae comes fuerat et ei ad percipiendum regnum strenuissime paruerat, data ei in matrimonium sua filia, Romualdi altera sorore, eum post Attonem, de quo superius diximus, aput Spoletium ductorem effecit, indeque Ticinum reversus est.

16. But indeed King Grimoald, the Beneventans and their provinces having been snatched from the Greeks, intending to march back to his palace at Ticinum, made Transamund—who some time ago had been count at Capua and had most strenuously obeyed him for obtaining the kingdom—his own daughter having been given to him in matrimony, the other sister of Romuald, after Atto (of whom we spoke above) duke at Spoleto; and from there he returned to Ticinum.

17. Siquidem, ut superius praemiseramus, Grasulfo Foroiulanorum duce defuncto, successor ei in ducatu Ago datus, de cuius nomine usque hodie domus quaedam intra Foroiuli constituta domus Agonis appellatur. Quo Agone mortuo, Foroiulanorum ductor Lupus efficitur. Hic Lupus in Grados insulam, quae non longe ab Aquileia est, cum equestri exercitu per stratam quae antiquitus per mare facta fuerat introivit, et depraedata ipsa civitate, Aquileiensis ecclesiae thesauros exinde auferens, reportavit.

17. Indeed, as we had premised above, with Grasulf, duke of the Foroiulans, deceased, a successor to him in the duchy was given, Ago, from whose name even to this day a certain house established within Forum Iulii is called the House of Ago. When this Ago died, Lupus is made duke of the Foroiulans. This Lupus entered the island of Grado, which is not far from Aquileia, with a cavalry army, by the road which in ancient times had been made through the sea; and, the city itself having been plundered, carrying off from there the treasures of the Church of Aquileia, he brought them back.

Huic Lupo, quando Grimuald Beneventum perrexit, suum palatium commendavit.

To this Lupus, when Grimuald went to Benevento, he entrusted his palace.

18. Qui Lupus dum rege absente multa insolenter aput Ticinum egisset, quippe quem reversurum non aestimaret: revertente rege, sciens, eidem ea quae non recte gesserat displicere, Forumiuli petens, contra eundem regem suae nequitiae conscius rebellavit.

18. This Lupus, while the king was absent, did many things insolently at Ticinum, since he did not reckon him to return; when the king returned, knowing that the same was displeased by the things he had not conducted rightly, making for Forumiuli, conscious of his own iniquity, he rebelled against that same king.

19. Tum Grimuald, nolens civile bellum inter Langobardos excitare, regi Avarum Cacano mandavit, ut in Forumiuli contra Lupum ducem cum exercitu veniret eumque bello protereret. Quod et factum est. Nam veniente Cacano cum magno exercitu, in loco qui Flovius dicitur, sicut nobis retulerunt seniores viri qui in ipso bello fuerunt, per tres dies Lupus dux cum Foroiulanis adversus Cacani exercitum conflixit.

19. Then Grimuald, not wishing to arouse civil war among the Langobards, ordered the king of the Avars, the Cacan, to come with an army into Forum Iulii against Duke Lupus and to crush him in war. And so it was done. For when the Cacan came with a great army, in the place which is called Flovius, as the elder men who were in that very war have reported to us, for three days Duke Lupus with the men of Forum Iulii fought against the Cacan’s army.

Et prima quidem die validum eius exercitum, paucis suis vulneratis, prostravit. Secunda vero die, iam aliquantis e suis vulneratis et mortuis, pari modo multos ex Avaribus extinxit. Tertia vero die, iam pluribus ex suis sauciatis sive peremptis, nihilominus magnum Cacani exercitum delevit praedamque copiosam invasit.

And indeed on the first day he laid low that strong army of his, with few of his own wounded. But on the second day, with now some of his men wounded and dead, in like manner he extinguished many of the Avars. And on the third day, with more of his men now wounded or slain, nonetheless he destroyed the great army of the Khagan and seized copious booty.

At vero die quarto tantam super se multitudinem conspexerunt venientem, ut vix per fugam evadere possent.

But indeed on the fourth day they beheld so great a multitude coming upon them that they could scarcely escape by flight.

20. Ibi itaque Lupo duce perempto, reliqui qui remanse rant sese per castella communiunt. Avares vero per omnes eorum fines discurrentes, cuncta rapinis invadunt vel sub posito igni conburunt. Qui cum per aliquot dies hoc face rent, a Grimualdo eis mandatum est, ut iam a devastatio ne quiescerent.

20. There therefore, with Duke Lupus slain, the rest who had remained fortify themselves within the castles. The Avars, however, coursing through all their borders, assail everything with rapine or burn it with fire set beneath. When they were doing this for several days, it was commanded to them by Grimoald to now cease from devastation.

Qui legatos ad Grimualdum mittunt, di centes Foroiuli se minime relicturos, quam armis propriis conquisissent.

They send legates to Grimoald, saying that they would by no means leave Foroiuli until they had won it by their own arms.

21. Tunc Grimuald necessitate conpulsus exercitum coa dunari praecepit, quatenus Avares de suis finibus exturbaret. In medio itaque campo sua castra et Avarum hospi tium conponens, cum exercitus partem exiguam haberet, eosdem ipsos quos habebat diverso habitu variisque in structos armis ante oculos legatorum per dies aliquot, quasi novus iugiter exercitus adventaret, frequenter trans ire fecit. Avarum vero legati dum eundem ipsum exerci tum aliis et aliis modis praeterire conspiciunt, inmensam Langobardorum multitudinem esse, crediderunt.

21. Then Grimuald, compelled by necessity, ordered the army to be mustered, so that he might exturbate the Avars from his borders. Therefore, setting his own camp and the Avars’ quarters in the midst of the plain, since he had but a scant portion of an army, he had those very men whom he possessed, in different garb and equipped with various arms, pass repeatedly before the eyes of the legates for several days, as though a new army were continually arriving. But the envoys of the Avars, as they observed this same army passing by now in one fashion and now in another, believed there to be an immense multitude of the Langobards.

Quibus Grimuald ita dixit: "Cum omni hac quam vidistis exercitus multitudine statim super Cacanum inruam et Avares, nisi de Foroiulanorum finibus velociter exierint". His visis et auditis legati Avarum cum haec suo regi nuntiassent, mox cum omni suo exercitu ad proprium reversus est regnum.

To whom Grimuald thus said: "With all this multitude of army which you have seen I will straightway rush upon the Khagan and the Avars, unless they have swiftly gone out from the borders of the Foroiulians." With these things seen and heard, when the legates of the Avars had reported this to their king, soon he, with all his army, returned to his own kingdom.

22. Denique Lupo hoc modo ut praemisimus interempto, Arnefrit, eius filius, voluit in loco patris aput Foroiuli optinere ducatum. Sed metuens Grimualdi regis vires, fugit ad Sclavorum gentem in Carnuntum, quod corrupte vocitant Carantanum. Qui postea cum Sclavis adveniens, quasi ducatum eorum viribus resumpturus, aput Nemas castrum, quod non longe a Foroiuli distat, inruentibus super se Foroiulanis, extinctus est.

22. Finally, with Lupus in the manner we have premised interempted, Arnefrit, his son, wished in his father’s place at Foroiuli to obtain the dukedom. But fearing the forces of King Grimuald, he fled to the nation of the Slavs in Carnuntum, which they corruptly call Carantanum. He afterwards, arriving with the Slavs, as though about to resume the dukedom by their forces, at the fortress of Nemas, which is not far from Foroiuli, with the Foroiulians rushing upon him, was extinguished.

23. Deinde ordinatus est aput Foroiuli dux Wechtari, qui fuit oriundus de Vincentina civitate, vir benignus et populum suaviter regens. Hunc cum audisset Sclavorum gens Ticinum profectum esse, congregata valida multitudine, voluerunt super Foroiulanum castrum inruere; et venientes castrametati sunt in loco qui Broxas dicitur, non longe a Foroiuli. Secundum divinam autem dispositionem contigit, ut dux Wechtari superiori vespere a Ticino reverteretur nescientibus Sclavis.

23. Then at Foroiuli the duke Wechtari was appointed, who was sprung from the Vicentine city, a benign man and suavely ruling the people. When the nation of the Slavs had heard that he had set out to Ticinum, gathering a strong multitude, they wished to rush upon the Foroiulan fortress; and coming, they encamped in the place which is called Broxas, not far from Foroiuli. But according to divine disposition it befell that Duke Wechtari on the previous evening returned from Ticinum, the Slavs not knowing.

Cuius comites cum ad propria, ut adsolet fieri, remeassent, ipse hoc nuntium de Sclavis audiens, cum paucis viris, hoc est viginti quinque, contra eos progressus est. Quem Sclavi cum tam paucis venire conspicientes, inriserunt, dicentes, patriarcham contra se cum clericis adventare. Qui cum ad pontem Natisionis fluminis, qui ibidem est ubi Sclavi residebant, propinquasset, cassidem sibi de capite auferens, vultum suum Sclavis ostendit; erat enim calvo capite.

His companions having returned to their own places, as is wont to happen, he himself, hearing this news about the Slavs, with a few men, that is, 25, advanced against them. The Slavs, seeing him come with so few, mocked, saying that the patriarch was approaching against them with clerics. When he had drawn near to the bridge of the river Natiso, which is there where the Slavs were residing, removing the helmet from his head, he showed his face to the Slavs; for he was bald-headed.

Quem dum Sclavi, quia ipse esset Wechtari, cognovissent, mox perturbati, Wechtari adesse clamitant, Deoque eos exterrente, plus de fuga quam de proelio cogitant. Tunc super eos Wechtari cum paucis quos habebat inruens, tanta eos strage prostravit, ut ex quinque milibus viris vix pauci qui evaderent remanerent.

When the Slavs, having recognized that it was Wechtari himself, were at once perturbed, they cry out that Wechtari is present, and with God terrifying them, they think more about flight than about battle. Then Wechtari, rushing upon them with the few he had, laid them low with such a slaughter that, out of five thousand men, scarcely a few remained to escape.

24. Post hunc Wechtari Laudari aput Foroiuli ducatum tenuit. Quo defuncto, ei Rodoald in ducatu successit.

24. After this Wechtari, Laudari held the dukedom at Forum Iulii. With him deceased, Rodoald succeeded him in the duchy.

25. Mortuo igitur, ut diximus, Lupo duce, Grimualdus rex filiam eius nomine Theuderadam suo filio Romualdo, qui Beneventum regebat, in matrimonium tradidit. Ex qua inde tres filios, hoc est Grimualdum, Gisulfum necnon et Arichis, genuit.

25. Therefore, with Duke Lupus dead, as we have said, King Grimuald gave his daughter, by name Theuderada, in matrimony to his son Romuald, who was ruling Benevento. From her thereafter he begot three sons, that is, Grimuald, Gisulf, and also Arichis.

26. Rex quoque Grimuald de omnibus illis, qui eum, quando Beneventum profectus fuerat, deseruerunt, suas iniurias ultus est.

26. King Grimuald also, upon all those who had deserted him when he had set out to Beneventum, avenged his injuries.

27. Sed et Forum Populi, Romanorum civitatem, cuius cives eidem adversa quaedam intulerant Beneventum proficiscenti missosque illius euntes et redeuntes a Benevento saepius laeserant, hoc modo delevit. Quadragesimorum tempore per Alpem Bardonis Tusciam ingressus, nescientibus omnino Romanis, in ipso sacratissimo sabbato paschali super eandem civitatem, ea hora qua baptismum fiebat, inopinate inruit, tantamque occisorum stragem fecit, ut etiam diacones ipsos, qui infantulos baptizabant, in ipso sacro fonte perimeret. Sicque eandem urbem deiecit, ut usque hodie paucissimi in ea commaneant habitatores.

27. But also Forum Populi, a city of the Romans, whose citizens had brought certain adversities against him as he was setting out to Beneventum, and had often injured his envoys going to and returning from Beneventum, he destroyed in this manner. In the time of Lent, having entered Tuscany through the Bardonis Alp, the Romans being wholly unaware, on that very most sacred Paschal Sabbath, at the very hour when baptism was being performed, he unexpectedly rushed upon that same city, and made so great a slaughter of the slain that he even killed the deacons themselves, who were baptizing little infants, at the sacred font itself. And thus he cast down that same city, so that up to this day very few inhabitants dwell together in it.

28. Erat quidem Grimualdo contra Romanos non mediocre odium, pro eo quod eius quondam germanos Tasonem et Cacconem in sua fide decepissent. Quam ob causam Opitergium civitatem, ubi ipsi extincti sunt, funditus destruxit eorumque qui ibi habitaverant fines Foroiulanis Tarvisianisque et Cenetensibus divisit.

28. Indeed Grimoald had no mediocre hatred against the Romans, because they had once deceived his own brothers Taso and Cacco under their pledge of good faith. For which cause he razed from the foundations the city of Opitergium, where they themselves were slain, and he divided the territories of those who had dwelt there among the Foroiulani, the Tarvisiani, and the Cenetenses.

29. Per haec tempora Vulgarum dux Alzeco nomine, incertum quam ob causam, a sua gente digressus, Italiam pacifice introiens, cum omni sui ducatus exercitu ad regem Grimuald venit, ei se serviturum atque in eius patria habitaturum promittens. Quem ille ad Romualdum filium Beneventum dirigens, ut ei cum suo populo loca ad habitandum concedere deberet, praecepit. Quos Romualdus dux gratanter excipiens, eisdem spatiosa ad habitandum loca, quae usque ad illud tempus deserta erant, contribuit, scilicet Sepinum, Bovianum et Iserniam et alias cum suis territoriis civitates, ipsumque Alzeconem, mutato dignitatis nomine, de duce gastaldium vocitari praecepit.

29. During these times the leader of the Bulgars, by the name Alzeco, for a cause uncertain, having departed from his own people, entering Italy peacefully, came with all the army of his duchy to King Grimoald, promising that he would serve him and dwell in his fatherland. He, sending him to Beneventum to his son Romuald, ordered that he should concede to him, together with his people, places to inhabit. Whom Romuald the duke, gladly receiving, granted spacious places to inhabit, which up to that time had been deserted, namely Sepinum, Bovianum, and Isernia, and other cities with their territories; and he ordered that Alzeco himself, the name of his dignity having been changed, be called from duke a gastald.

Qui usque hodie in his ut diximus locis habitantes, quamquam et Latine loquantur, linguae tamen propriae usum minime amiserunt.

who, dwelling even to this day in these places, as we have said, although they also speak Latin, have by no means lost the use of their own language.

30. Igitur extincto, ut diximus, aput Siciliam Constante Augusto, punitoque qui ei successerat Mezetio tyranno, Romanorum regnum Constantinus, Constantii Augusti filius, suscepit regendum, Romanisque principatus est annis decem et septem. Constanti sane temporibus Theodorus archiepiscopus et Adrianus abbas, vir aeque doctissimus, a Vitaliano papa missi in Brittaniam, plurimas ecclesias Anglorum doctrinae ecclesiasticae fruge fecundarunt. E quibus Theodorus archiepiscopus peccantium iudicia, quantis scilicet annis pro unoquoque peccato quis poenitere debeat, mirabili et discreta consideratione descripsit.

30. Therefore, when, as we said, Constans the Augustus had been slain in Sicily, and the tyrant Mezezius, who had succeeded him, had been punished, Constantine, son of the Augustus Constantius, took up the kingdom of the Romans to govern, and exercised the principate over the Romans for 17 years. In the times of Constantine indeed, Theodore the archbishop and Adrian the abbot, a man equally most learned, sent by Pope Vitalian into Britain, made very many churches of the English fruitful with the fruit of ecclesiastical doctrine. Of whom Archbishop Theodore set down the judgments of sinners—namely, for how many years for each sin one ought to do penance—with a wonderful and discreet consideration.

31. Insequenti post tempore mense augusto a parte orientis stella cometis apparuit nimis fulgentibus radiis, quae post semet ipsam reversa disparuit. Nec mora, gravis pestilentia ab eadem parte orientis secuta, Romanum populum devastavit. His diebus Domnus papa Romanae ecclesiae locum qui Paradisus dicitur ante basilicam beati apostoli Petri candidis et magnis marmoribus mirifice stravit.

31. In the following time thereafter, in the month of August, from the part of the Orient a comet-star appeared with exceedingly shining rays, which, having turned back upon itself, disappeared. Nor was there delay: a grave pestilence, following from that same quarter of the Orient, devastated the Roman people. In these days Domnus, pope of the Roman Church, wondrously paved with white and great marbles the place which is called Paradise before the basilica of the blessed apostle Peter.

32. Hac tempestate Francorum regnum aput Gallias Dagipertus regebat, cum quo rex Grimuald pacis firmissimae foedus inierat. Cuius Grimualdi vires Perctarit etiam aput Francorum patriam constitutus metuens, egressus e Gallia, ad Brittaniam insulam Saxonumque regem properare disponit.

32. At this time the kingdom of the Franks in Gaul was being ruled by Dagipertus, with whom King Grimuald had entered a treaty of most firm peace. Fearing the forces of this Grimuald even while established in the land of the Franks, Perctarit, having gone out from Gaul, resolves to hasten to the island of Britain and to the king of the Saxons.

33. At vero Grimuald nono die post flevotomum in suo palatio constitutus, accepto arcu cum columbam sagitta percutere nisus esset, eius brachii vena dirupta est. Cui, ut ferunt, medici venenata medicamina supponentes, eum ab hac funditus privarunt luce. Hic in edicto, quod Rothari rex conposuerat, aliqua capitula legis, quae ei utilia visa sunt, adiecit.

33. But indeed Grimuald, on the ninth day after phlebotomy, being in his own palace, having taken up a bow, when he was trying to strike a dove with an arrow, the vein of his arm was ruptured. To whom, as they say, the physicians, applying poisoned medicaments, utterly deprived him of this light. He added to the edict which King Rothari had composed some chapters of law which seemed useful to him.

Fuit autem corpore praevalidus, audacia primus, calvo capite, barba prominenti, non minus consilio quam viribus decoratus. Sepultum autem est corpus eius in basilica beati Ambrosii confessoris, quam dudum ipse intra Ticinensem construxerat civitatem. Hic, post mortem Ariperti regis expleto iam anno uno et mensibus tribus, Langobardorum regnum invasit, regnavitque ipse annis novem, relicto Garibald, filio suo, quem ei Ariperti regis filia genuerat, rege adhuc puerilis aetatis.

He was, moreover, very strong in body, first in audacity, with a bald head and a prominent beard, adorned no less with counsel than with strength. But his body was buried in the basilica of the blessed Ambrose the confessor, which he himself long ago had constructed within the city of Ticinum. He, after the death of King Aripert, when one year and three months had now been completed, invaded the kingdom of the Langobards, and he himself reigned for nine years, leaving Garibald, his son—whom the daughter of King Aripert had borne to him—as king, still of boyish age.

Igitur, ut dicere coeperamus, Perctarit egressus de Gallia, navem ascendit, ut ad Brittaniam insulam ad regnum Saxonum transmearet. Cumque iam aliquantum per pelagus navigasset, vox a litore audita est inquirentis, utrum Perctarit in eadem nave consisteret. Cui cum responsum esset, quod Perctarit ibi esset, ille qui clamabat subiunxit: "Dicite illi, revertatur in patriam suam, quia tertia die est hodie, quod Grimualdus ab hac subtractus est luce". Quo audito, Perctarit statim post se reversus est, veniensque ad litus, invenire personam non potuit, quae ei de Grimualdi morte nuntiavit; unde arbitratus est, non hunc hominem, sed divinum nuntium fuisse.

Therefore, as we had begun to say, Perctarit, having gone out from Gaul, boarded a ship to cross over to the island of Britain to the kingdom of the Saxons. And when he had already sailed somewhat over the sea, a voice was heard from the shore asking whether Perctarit was on that same ship. When it was answered to him that Perctarit was there, the one who was shouting added: “Say to him, let him return to his fatherland, because today is the third day that Grimuald has been withdrawn from this light.” On hearing this, Perctarit immediately turned back, and coming to the shore he could not find the person who had announced to him the death of Grimuald; whence he judged that it had been not this man, but a divine messenger.

Exindeque ad patriam tendens, cum ad claustra Italiae venisset, iam ibi omnia obsequia palatina omnemque regiam dignitatem cum magna Langobardorum multitudine praeparatam, se repperit expectari. Itaque Ticinum reversus, exturbato Garibaldo puerulo a regno, ab universis Langobardis mense tertio post mortem Grimualdi in regnum levatus est. Erat autem vir pius, fide catholicus, iustitiae tenax pauperumque largissimus nutritor.

Thence, tending toward his fatherland, when he had come to the passes of Italy, he found that there already all the palatine services and all the royal dignity, with a great multitude of Langobards, had been prepared and were awaiting him. And so, having returned to Ticinum, with the little boy Garibald driven out from the kingdom, he was raised to the kingship by all the Langobards in the third month after the death of Grimuald. He was, moreover, a pious man, catholic in faith, tenacious of justice, and a most bountiful nourisher of the poor.

Qui statim Beneventum misit exindeque Rodelindam suam coniugem et Cunincpertum filium suum revocavit.

Who immediately sent to Beneventum, and from there recalled Rodelinda, his wife, and Cunincpert, his son.

34. Qui ut regni iura suscepit, in loco illo qui a parte fluminis Ticini est, unde ipse olim fugerat, monasterium quod Novum appellatur Domino et liberatori suo in honore sanctae virginis et martyris Agathae construxit. In quo multas virgines adgregavit rebusque et diversis pariter eundem locum ornamentis ditavit. Regina vero eius Rodelinda basilicam sanctae Dei genitricis extra muros eiusdem civitatis Ticinensis, quae Ad Perticas appellatur, opere mirabili condidit ornamentisque mirificis decoravit.

34. Who, when he took up the rights of the kingdom, in that place which is on the side of the river Ticino, whence he had once fled, built a monastery, which is called Novum, to the Lord, his liberator, in honor of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr. In it he assembled many virgins, and he enriched that same place equally with resources and with diverse ornaments. But his queen Rodelinda founded, outside the walls of that same city of Ticinum, a basilica of the holy Mother of God, which is called Ad Perticas, with wondrous workmanship, and adorned it with marvelous ornaments.

Ad Perticas autem locus ipse ideo dicitur, quia ibi olim perticae, id est trabes, erectae steterant, quae ob hanc causam iuxta morem Langobardorum poni solebant: si quis enim in aliqua parte aut in bello aut quomodocumque extinctus fuisset, consanguinei eius intra sepulchra sua perticam figebant, in cuius summitate columbam ex ligno factam ponebant, quae illuc versa esset, ubi illorum dilectus obisset, scilicet ut sciri possit, in quam partem is qui defunctus fuerat quiesceret.

But the place itself is called Ad Perticas for this reason: because there once stood there perticae, that is, beams, set upright, which were accustomed to be placed for this cause according to the custom of the Langobards. For if someone in any place either in war or in any way had perished, his consanguine kinsmen would plant a pole within their sepulchres, on the summit of which they would place a dove made of wood, turned toward the spot where their beloved had died, namely so that it might be known in what direction he who had deceased was at rest.

35. Igitur Perctarit, cum solus per annos septem regnasset, octavo iam anno Cunincpert filium suum in regno consortem adscivit, cum quo pariter per decem annos regnavit.

35. Therefore Perctarit, when he had reigned alone for seven years, in the eighth year already he admitted his son Cunincpert as partner in the kingdom, with whom he reigned together for ten years.

36. Cumque in magna pace degerent et ex omni parte in circuitu tranquillitatem haberent, surrexit contra eos filius iniquitatis Alahis nomine, per quem in regno Langobardorum, perturbata pace, maximae populorum factae sunt strages. Hic dum dux esset in Tridentina civitate, cum comite Baioariorum, quem illi gravionem dicunt, qui Bauzanum et reliqua castella regebat, conflixit eumque mirifice superavit. Qua de causa elatus, etiam contra regem suum Perctarit manum levavit atque se intra Tridentinum castellum rebellans communivit.

36. And when they were living in great peace and had tranquility on every side in the circuit, there rose up against them a son of iniquity, by name Alahis, through whom, the peace being perturbed, very great slaughters of peoples were wrought in the kingdom of the Langobards. This man, while he was duke in the Tridentine city, clashed with the count of the Bavarians—whom they call a gravio—who governed Bauzanum and the remaining castles, and he wondrously overcame him. For which cause, puffed up, he even raised his hand against his own king Perctarit and, rebelling, fortified himself within the Tridentine castle.

Contra quem rex Perctarit progressus, cum eum extrinsecus obsideret, inopinate subito Alahis cum suis civitate egressus, regis castra protrivit regemque ipsum fugam petere conpulit. Qui tamen postmodum, faciente Cunincperto, regis filio, qui eum iam olim diligebat, in regis Perctarit gratiam reversus est. Qui rex cum eum interficere aliquotiens vellet, Cunincpertus, eius filius, hoc fieri semper proibuit, reputans eum de reliquo fidelem existere; nec destitit patrem optinere, quin etiam ei ducatum Brexiae contribueret; reclamante saepius patre, quod in suam hoc Cunincpert perniciem faceret, qui hosti suo ad regnandum vires praeberet.

Against whom King Perctarit advanced; and when he was besieging him from the outside, unexpectedly Alahis with his men suddenly went out from the city, overran the king’s camp, and compelled the king himself to seek flight. Yet afterward, through the agency of Cunincpert, the king’s son, who had long loved him, he returned into King Perctarit’s favor. And when the king several times wished to kill him, Cunincpert, his son, always prohibited this from being done, reckoning that he would henceforth be faithful; nor did he cease to prevail upon his father, nay even that he should grant to him the duchy of Brescia; the father often protesting that Cunincpert was doing this to his own ruin, in that he furnished strength to his enemy for reigning.

Brexiana denique civitas magnam semper nobilium Langobardorum multitudinem habuit, quorum auxilio metuebat Perctarit Alahis potentiorem fore. His diebus rex Perctarit in civitate Ticinensi portam contiguam palatio, quae et Palatinensis dicitur, opere mirifico construxit. 37. Qui cum decem et octo annos, et primum solus et post cum filio, regnum tenuisset, ab hac luce subtractus est, corpusque illius iuxta basilicam domini Salvatoris, quam Aripert, eius genitor, construxerat, sepultum est.

The city of Brescia, finally, always had a great multitude of Langobard nobles, by whose help Perctarit feared that Alahis would be more powerful. In these days King Perctarit in the city of Ticinum constructed with wondrous workmanship a gate adjoining the palace, which is also called the Palatine. 37. He, after he had held the kingdom for eighteen years, first alone and afterward with his son, was withdrawn from this light; and his body was buried beside the basilica of the Lord Savior, which Aripert, his begetter, had constructed.

Fuit autem statura decens, corpore pleno, mitis per omnia et suavis. At vero Cunincpert rex Hermelindam ex Saxonum Anglorum genere duxit uxorem. Quae cum in balneo Theodotem, puellam ex nobilissimo Romanorum genere ortam, eleganti corpore et flavis prolixisque capillis pene usque ad pedes decoratam vidisset, eius pulchritudinem suo viro Cunincperto regi laudavit.

He was, moreover, of comely stature, full in body, gentle in all things and pleasant. But indeed King Cunincpert took Hermelinda, from the Anglo-Saxon stock, as wife. And when, in the bath, she had seen Theodota, a girl sprung from the most noble stock of the Romans, adorned with an elegant body and with blond and long hair almost down to her feet, she praised her beauty to her husband, King Cunincpert.

Qui ab uxore hoc libenter audire dissimulans, in magnum tamen puellae exarsit amorem; nec mora, venatum in silvam quam Urbem appellant perrexit secumque suam coniugem Hermelindam venire praecepit. Qui exinde noctu egrediens, Ticinum venit, et ad se Theodotem puellam venire faciens, cum ea concubuit. Quam tamen postea in monasterium, quod de illius nomine intra Ticinum appellatum est, misit.

Feigning to hear this gladly from his wife, he nevertheless blazed into a great love for the girl; and without delay he proceeded to the forest which they call Urbem to hunt, and he ordered his spouse Hermelinda to come with him. Then, going out from there by night, he came to Ticinum, and, causing the girl Theodote to come to him, he lay with her. Yet afterwards he sent her into a monastery which, within Ticinum, was named from her own name.

38. Alahis vero iam dudum conceptam iniquitatem parturiens, adnitentibus Aldone et Grausone Brexianis civibus, sed et aliis multis ex Langobardis, oblitus tantorum beneficiorum quae in eum rex Cunincpert inpenderat, oblitus etiam iusiurandum quo ei se fidelissimum esse spoponderat, cum Cunincpert abesset, regnum eius et palatium intra Ticinum positum invasit. Quod Cunincpert ubi erat audiens, statim ad insulam, quae intra lacum Larium non longe a Como est, confugit ibique se fortiter communivit. Facta est autem magna tribulatio omnibus qui eum diligebant, et maxime sacerdotibus et clericis, quos omnes Alahis exosos habebat.

38. But Alahis, bringing to birth the iniquity long since conceived, with Aldo and Grauso, citizens of Brixia, striving on his behalf, and also many others from among the Langobards, forgetful of so many benefactions which King Cunincpert had expended upon him, forgetful also of the oath by which he had promised to be most faithful to him, when Cunincpert was absent, invaded his realm and the palace situated within Ticinum. Which, when Cunincpert heard where he was, he immediately fled to the island which is within Lake Larius, not far from Como, and there he strongly fortified himself. Moreover, great tribulation arose for all who loved him, and especially for the priests and clerics, whom Alahis held all as odious.

Erat autem eo tempore Ticinensis ecclesiae episcopus vir Domini Damianus, sanctitate praecipuus, liberalibus artibus sufficienter instructus. Is cum Alahis palatium invasisse respiceret, ne quid ab eo ipse vel sua ecclesia adversi perpeteretur, Thomam diaconem suum, sapientem scilicet et religiosum virum, ad eum misit perque eum ei dem Alahis benedictionem sanctae suae ecclesiae transmisit. Nuntiatum est Alahis, Thomam diaconem ante fores adstare benedictionemque ab episcopo detulisse.

At that time the bishop of the church of Ticinum was Damianus, a man of the Lord, preeminent in sanctity, sufficiently instructed in the liberal arts. When he observed that Alahis had invaded the palace, lest he himself or his church should suffer anything adverse from him, he sent his deacon Thomas—a wise and religious man—to him, and through him transmitted to that same Alahis the benediction of his holy church. It was announced to Alahis that the deacon Thomas was standing before the doors and had brought the benediction from the bishop.

Tunc Alahis, qui, ut diximus, omnes clericos odio habebat, ita inquit ad suos: "Ite, dicite illi, si munda femoralia habet, intret; sin autem aliter, foris contineat pedem". Thomas vero cum hos sermones audisset, ita respondit: "Nuntiate ei, quia munda femoralia habeo, quippe qui ea hodie lota indutus sum". Cui Alahis ita iterato mandavit: "Ego non dico de femoralibus, sed de his quae intra femoralia habentur". Ad haec Thomas ita respondit: "Ite, dicite illi: "Deus solus potest in me in his causis reprehensionem invenire; nam ille nullatenus potest". Cumque eundem diaconem Alahis ad se ingredi fecisset, aspere satis et obiurgando cum eo locutus est. Tunc omnes clericos et sacerdotes pavor et odium tyranni invasit, aestimantes se eius feritatem tolerare omnino non posse. Coeperuntque tanto amplius Cunincpertum desiderare, quanto pervasorem regni superbum execrationi haberent.

Then Alahis, who, as we have said, had all clerics in hatred, thus says to his own: "Go, tell that man: if he has clean breeches, let him enter; but if otherwise, let him keep his foot outside." But Thomas, when he had heard these words, thus replied: "Announce to him that I have clean breeches, since I have put on those washed today." To this Alahis thus again sent word: "I do not speak of the breeches, but of the things that are held within the breeches." To these Thomas thus replied: "Go, tell him: "God alone can find a reproach in me in these matters; for that man by no means can"." And when Alahis had caused that same deacon to enter to himself, he spoke with him quite harshly and rebukingly. Then fear of the tyrant and hatred seized all the clerics and priests, supposing that they could in no wise endure his ferocity. And they began to desire Cunincpert all the more, in proportion as they held the proud usurper of the kingdom in execration.

Sed non diutius feritas et cruda barbaries pervasum regnum optinuit.

But ferocity and crude barbarity did not for long hold the usurped kingdom.

39. Denique cum die quadam solidos super mensam numeraret, unus ei tremisses de eadem mensa cecidit, quem filius Aldonis adhuc puerulus de terra colligens, eidem Alahis reddidit. Ad quem Alahis, sperans puerulum parum intellegere, ita locutus est: "Multos ex his genitor tuus habet, quos mihi in proximo, si Deus voluerit, daturus est". Qui puer cum vespere domum ad patrem regressus esset, cum suus genitor requisivit, si quid ei illo die rex locutus fuisset, ille patri omnia ut facta fuerant et quid sibi rex dixerat nuntiavit. Audiens haec Aldo vehementer pertimuit, fratremque suum Grausonem adscitum, ei omnia quae rex maligne locutus fuerat nuntiavit.

39. Finally, when on a certain day he was counting solidi upon the table, one tremissis fell from that same table for him; the son of Aldo, still a little boy, picking it up from the ground, returned it to that same Alahis. To him Alahis, hoping the little boy understood little, spoke thus: "Your father has many of these, which, soon, if God shall have willed, he will give to me." When the boy had returned home in the evening to his father, and his own father inquired whether the king had said anything to him that day, he announced to his father everything as it had happened, and what the king had said to him. Hearing these things, Aldo was greatly afraid, and, having summoned his brother Grauson, he reported to him all that the king had spoken malignantly.

Qui mox cum amicis et iis quibus credere poterant consilium ineunt, qualiter Alahis tyrannum regno privarent, priusquam ipse eis aliquam laesionem facere posset. Qui maturius ad palatium profecti, ita Alahis dixerunt: "Quid dignaris in civitate residere? Ecce omnis civitas et universus populus tibi fidelis existit, et ebriosus ille Cunincpert ita dissolutus est, ut iam ultra nullas possit habere vires.

They soon, with friends and those in whom they could trust, entered into counsel how they might deprive Alahis the tyrant of the kingdom, before he himself could inflict any injury upon them. Proceeding more promptly to the palace, they thus said to Alahis: "Why do you deign to reside in the city? Behold, the whole city and the entire people stand faithful to you, and that drunken Cunincpert is so dissolute that he can no longer have any strength."

Egredere et vade in venationem et exerce te cum iuvenibus tuis, nos autem cum reliquis fidelibus tuis defendemus tibi hanc civitatem. Sed et ita tibi repromittimus, ut in proximo inimici tui Cunincperti caput adferamus". Qui eorum verbis persuasus, [extra] civitatem egressus atque ad Urbem vastissimam silvam profectus est ibique se iocis et venationibus exercere coepit. Aldo vero et Grauso euntes ad lacum Comacinum ingressique navem, ad Cunincpertum profecti sunt.

“Go forth and go to the hunt, and exercise yourself with your youths; but we, with the rest of your faithful, will defend this city for you. And we also thus repromise to you, that very soon we will bring the head of your enemy Cunincpert.” He, persuaded by their words, having gone out [outside] of the city and having set out to the Urbem, a most vast forest, there began to exercise himself with sports and hunts. But Aldo and Grauso, going to the Comacinus lake and having entered a ship, set out to Cunincpert.

Ad quem venientes, eius pedibus provoluti, se contra eum nequiter egisse professi sunt, eique, quid Alahis malitiose contra eos locutus fuerit, vel quale ipsi ad eius perditionem consilium eidem dederint, nuntiarunt. Quid plura? Pleverunt pariter et inter se sacramenta dederunt, diem statuentes, in quo Cunincpert veniret, ut ipsi ei civitatem Ticinensem contraderent.

Coming to him, and prostrated at his feet, they professed that they had acted wickedly against him, and they announced to him what Alahis had maliciously spoken against them, and what sort of counsel they themselves had given to him for his perdition. Why say more? They wept together and exchanged oaths among themselves, appointing a day on which Cunincpert would come, that they themselves might hand over to him the city of Ticinum.

Quod et factum est. Nam die statuto Cunincpert Ticinum adveniens, ab eis libentissime susceptus palatium suum ingressus est. Tunc omnes cives, et praecipue episcopus, sacerdotes quoque et clerici, iuvenes et senes, certatim ad eum concurrentes, omnesque eum cum lacrimis amplexantes, Deo gratias de eius reversione, inaestimabili gaudio repleti, conclamabant; quos ille omnes prout potuit osculatus est.

And so it was done. For on the appointed day Cunincpert, arriving at Ticinum, was most gladly received by them and entered his palace. Then all the citizens, and especially the bishop, and likewise priests and clerics, youths and old men, vying with one another to run together to him, and all embracing him with tears, giving thanks to God for his return, filled with inestimable joy, cried aloud; and he kissed them all as far as he could.

Nuntius subito ad Alahis pervenit, adimplesse Aldonem et Grausonem quod ei promiserant: et caput Cunincperti attulisse, et non solum caput, sed et totum corpus, eumque adfirmans in palatio consedere. Quod ille audiens, animo consternatus est, multaque contra Aldonem et Grausonem furibundus et frendens comminans, exinde egressus, per Placentiam ad Austriam rediit singulasque civitates partim blanditiis partim viribus sibi socians adscivit. Nam Vincentiam veniens, contra eum eius cives egressi, bellum paraverunt; sed mox victi, eius socii effecti sunt.

A messenger suddenly came to Alahis, that Aldo and Grauso had fulfilled what they had promised him: and that they had brought the head of Cunincpert, and not only the head, but the whole body, and affirming that he sits in the palace. Hearing this, he was confounded in spirit, and, raging and gnashing his teeth, threatening many things against Aldo and Grauso, he then went out from there, returned through Placentia to Austria, and enrolled the several cities, attaching them to himself partly by blandishments, partly by forces. For, coming to Vicentia, its citizens went out against him and prepared for war; but soon, conquered, they became his allies.

Inde exiens, Tarvisium pervasit, pari modo etiam et reliquas civitates. Cumque contra eum Cunincpert exercitum colligeret, et Foroiulani in eius auxilium iuxta fidelitatem suam vellent proficisci: ipse Alahis ad pontem Liquentiae fluminis, quod a Foroiuli quadraginta et octo milibus distat et est in itinere Ticinum pergentibus, in silvam quae Capulanus dicitur latens, cum Foroiulanorum exercitus sparsim veniret, omnes eos, sicut veniebant, iurare sibi conpulit, diligenter cavens, ne aliquis ex his retro reversus venientibus hoc aliis nuntiaret; sicque omnes a Foroiuli venientes eius sunt sacramentis adstricti. Quid plura?

Thence going out, he overran Tarvisium, and in like manner also the remaining cities. And when Cunincpert was gathering an army against him, and the Foroiulani, according to their fidelity, wished to set out to his aid, Alahis himself, at the bridge of the river Liquentia, which is distant 48 miles from Foroiuli and is on the route for those proceeding to Ticinum, lurking in the forest which is called Capulanus, when the army of the Foroiulani was coming scattered, compelled them all, as they came, to swear to him, carefully taking heed lest any of these, having turned back, should report this to others coming; and so all who were coming from Foroiuli were bound by his sacraments. What more?

Cum omni Alahis Austria, econtra Cunincpert cum suis venientes, in campo cui Coronate nomen est castra posuere.

Alahis, with all Austria, and, on the other side, Cunincpert coming with his own, pitched camp in the field which is called Coronate.

40. Ad quem Cunincpert nuntium misit, mandans ei, ut cum eo singulare certamen iniret, nec opus esset utrorumque exercitum fatigare. Ad quae verba Alahis minime consensit. Cui cum unus e suis, genere Tuscus, ei persuaderet, virum bellicosum fortemque eum appellans, ut contra Cunincpertum audenter exiret, Alahis ad haec verba respondit: "Cunincpert, quamvis ebriosus sit et stupidi cordis, tamen satis est audax et mirae fortitudinis.

40. To whom Cunincpert sent a message, mandating him to enter into single combat with him, nor would there be need to fatigue the armies of both sides. To these words Alahis by no means consented. And when one of his own, a Tuscan by race, persuaded him—calling him a bellicose and strong man—to go out boldly against Cunincpert, Alahis to these words responded: "Cunincpert, although he is a drunkard and of a stupid heart, nevertheless is quite audacious and of wondrous fortitude."

Nam tempore patris eius quando nos erabamus iuvenculi, habebantur in palatio berbices mirae magnitudinis, quos ille supra dorsum eorum lanam adprehendens, extenso eos brachio a terra levabat; quod quidem ego facere non poteram". Haec ille Tuscus audiens, dixit ad eum: "Si tu cum Cunincperto pugnam inire singulari certamine non audes, me iam in tuo adiutorio socium non habebis". Et haec dicens, proripuit se et statim ad Cunincpertum confugiit et haec ipsa illi nuntiavit. Convenerunt itaque, ut diximus, utraeque acies in campo Coronate. Cumque iam prope essent, ut se coniungere deberent, Seno diaconus Ticinensis ecclesiae, qui custus erat basilicae beati Iohannis baptistae, quae intra eandem sita est civitatem, quam quondam Gundiperga regina construxerat, cum nimium diligeret regem et metueret, ne rex in bello periret, ait ad regem: "Domine rex, omnis vita nostra in tua salute consistit; si tu in bello perieris, omnes nos iste tyrannus Alahis per diversa supplicia extinguet.

For in the time of his father, when we ourselves were youngsters, there were kept in the palace wethers of wondrous size, which he, grasping the wool upon their back, with arm outstretched would lift from the ground; which indeed I was not able to do." Hearing this, that Tuscan said to him: "If you do not dare to enter a fight with Cunincpert in single combat, you will no longer have me as a partner in your aid." And saying this, he rushed forth and straightway fled for refuge to Cunincpert and announced these very things to him. Therefore, as we said, both battle-lines assembled in the field Coronate. And when they were now near, so that they ought to join, Seno, deacon of the church of Ticinum, who was the custos of the basilica of blessed John the Baptist, which is situated within that same city, which once Queen Gundiperga had built, since he loved the king exceedingly and feared lest the king should perish in the war, said to the king: "Lord king, our whole life consists in your safety; if you perish in war, that tyrant Alahis will destroy us all through diverse torments.

Placeat itaque tibi consilium meum. Da mihi apparatum armorum tuorum, et ego vadam et pugnabo cum isto tyranno. Si ego obiero, tu recuperabis causam tuam; si vero vicero, maior tibi, quia per servum viceris, gloria adscribetur". Cumque rex hoc se facturum esse denegaret, coeperunt eum pauci qui aderant eius fideles cum lacrimis deposcere, ut ad ea quae diaconus dixerat adsensum praeberet.

"Let my counsel, then, be pleasing to you. Give me the apparatus of your arms, and I will go and fight with that tyrant. If I shall die, you will recover your cause; but if I shall conquer, greater glory will be ascribed to you, because you will have conquered through a servant". And when the king refused that he would do this, the few faithful of his who were present began with tears to beseech him to grant assent to the things which the deacon had said.

Victus tandem, ut erat pii cordis, eorum precibus et lacrimis, loricam suam, galeam atque ocres et cetera arma diacono praebuit in suaque persona eum ad proelium direxit. Erat enim ipse diaconus eiusdem staturae et habitus, ita ut, cum fuisset de tentorio armatus egressus, rex Cunincpert ab omnibus esse putaretur. Commissum itaque est proelium et totis viribus decertatum.

Overcome at length, as he was of a pious heart, by their prayers and tears, he supplied the deacon with his cuirass, helmet, and greaves, and the other arms, and sent him to the battle in his own person. For the deacon himself was of the same stature and bearing, so that, when he had come forth armed from the tent, King Cunincpert was thought by all to be present. Therefore the battle was joined and it was contested with all strength.

Cumque Alahis ibi magis intenderet, ubi regem esse putaret, Cunincpertum se extinxisse putans, Senonem diaconem interfecit. Cumque caput eius amputari praecepisset, ut, levato eo in conto, "Deo gratias" adclamarent, sublata casside, clericum se occidisse cognovit. Tunc furibundus exclamans: "Heu me!" inquit "nihil egimus, quando ad hoc proelium gessimus, ut clericum occideremus!

And when Alahis pressed in more there, where he supposed the king to be, thinking that he had extinguished Cunincpert himself, he killed Senone the deacon. And when he had ordered his head to be cut off, so that, with it raised on a pike, they might acclaim, "Thanks be to God," the helmet having been removed, he recognized he had slain a cleric. Then, frenzied, crying out: "Alas for me!" he said, "we have accomplished nothing, when we have waged this battle to this end, that we should kill a cleric!"

Tale itaque nunc facio votum, ut, si mihi Deus victoriam iterum dederit, quod unum puteum de testiculis impleam clericorum".

Such a vow therefore I now make, that, if God gives me victory again, that I may fill one pit with the testicles of clerics".

41. Igitur Cunincpert perdidisse suos conspiciens, statim se eis ostendit omniumque corda, sublato pavore, ad sperandam victoriam confortavit. Instruuntur iterum acies, et hinc Cunincpert, inde Alahis ad belli certamina praeparantur. Cumque iam prope essent, ut se utraeque acies ad pugnandum coniungerent, Cunincpert ad Alahis iterato in haec verba mandavit: "Ecce, quantus populus ex utraque parte consistit!

41. Therefore, Cunincpert, seeing that he had lost his men, immediately showed himself to them, and, fear having been lifted away, strengthened the hearts of all to hope for victory. The battle-lines are again arrayed, and on this side Cunincpert, on that side Alahis are prepared for the contests of war. And when they were now near, so that both battle-lines might join for fighting, Cunincpert sent word again to Alahis in these words: "Behold, how great a people stands on either side!"

Quid opus est, ut tanta multitudo pereat? Coniungamus nos ego et ille singulari certamine, et cui voluerit Dominus de nobis donare victoriam, omnem hunc populum salvum et incolomem ipse possideat". Cumque Alahis sui hortarentur, ut faceret quod Cunincpert illi mandavit, ipse respondit: "Hoc facere ego non possum, quia inter contos suos sancti archangeli Michaelis, ubi ego illi iuravi, imaginem conspicio". Tunc unus ex illis: "Prae pavore" inquit "cernis quod non est; et tibi iam tarde est modo ista meditari". Conseruntur itaque acies perstrepentibus bucinis, et neutra parte locum dante, maxima populorum facta est strages. Tandem crudelis tyrannus Alahis interiit, et Cunincpert, adiuvante [se] Domino, victoriam cepit.

“What need is there that so great a multitude perish? Let us join, I and that man, in single combat; and to whichever of us the Lord shall have willed to grant the victory, let him himself possess all this people safe and unharmed.” And when Alahis’s men were urging him to do what Cunincpert had enjoined upon him, he replied: “This I cannot do, because among his standards of Saint Michael the Archangel—where I swore to him—I perceive the image.” Then one of them said: “Out of terror you discern what is not; and for you it is now late to be musing on these things.” Therefore the battle-lines are joined, with the trumpets resounding, and with neither side giving ground, a very great slaughter of the peoples was made. At length the cruel tyrant Alahis perished, and Cunincpert, with the Lord aiding [himself], took the victory.

Exercitus quoque Alahis, conperta eius morte, fugae subsidium arripuit. E quibus quem mucro non perculit, Addua fluvius interemit. Caput quoque Alahis detruncatum cruraque eius succisa sunt, informeque tantum truncumque cadaver remansit.

Also the army of Alahis, his death having been ascertained, seized the resort of flight. Of them, whom the sword-point did not smite, the Adda river carried off. The head of Alahis too was cut off and his legs were hewn away, and only a shapeless corpse, a mere trunk, remained.

In hoc bello Foroiulanorum exercitus minime fuit, quia, cum invitus Alahis iurasset, propter hoc nec regi Cunincperto nec Alahis auxilium tulit, sed cum illi bellum commisissent, ipsi ad propria sunt reversi. Igitur Alahis hoc modo defuncto, rex Cunincpert corpus Senoni diaconi ante fores basilicae beati Iohannis, quam ipse rexerat, mirifice sepelire mandavit; ipse vero regnator cum omnium exultatione et triumpho victoriae Ticinum reversus est.

In this war the army of the Foroiulians was not at all present, because, since Alahis had sworn unwillingly, on account of this it brought help neither to King Cunincpert nor to Alahis; but when they had engaged battle, they themselves returned to their own homes. Therefore, with Alahis having in this way been slain, King Cunincpert ordered the body of Senon the deacon to be wondrously buried before the doors of the basilica of blessed John, which he himself had governed; but the ruler himself, with the exultation of all and the triumph of victory, returned to Ticinum.