Stephanus de Varda: ORATIO STEPHANI DE VARDA

Sequitur harenga facta coram domino nostro francorum rege, Karolo VIImo huius nominis pro parte regis Hungariae Laudilao apud Turonis. Quod iamdiu supremis precibus et votis querebamus, serenissime princeps et christianissime rex, pro benignitate tua consecuti sumus, qui tuam mayestatem christianissimam maxima cum leticia et ardentissimo studio comptemplavij. Quid omnium maius, quid acceptius a te, christianissimo rege nobis expetendum erat, quam ut serenissimam virginem, filiam tuam Magdalenam regi nostro inclito coniugiam traderes?

What follows is an address made before our lord the king of the Franks, Charles VII of that name, on behalf of Laudilao, king of Hungary, at Tours. Which thing, which we had long sought by highest prayers and vows, most serene prince and most Christian king, by your kindness we have obtained; for we have beheld your most Christian majesty with the greatest joy and most ardent zeal. What greater thing, what more acceptable from you, most Christian king, could be asked by us than that you would consign the most serene maiden, your daughter Magdalena, in marriage to our renowned king?

Habemus certe totum id, quod petebamus. Quippe divina clemencia diem providencie duos potentissimos reges evocat virtutis et dignitatis merito omnium regum facile principes, quibus genus, imperium, animi magnitudo, gloria equalia essent. Evocat, inquam, ut rem publicam Christianam restituerent, restitutam componerent, compositam perpetuis regerent imperiis.

We certainly have all that which we sought. For by divine clemency of Providence it summons on the day two most powerful kings, by merit princes most easily foremost among all kings, to whom lineage, empire, greatness of spirit, and glory were equal. It summons, I say, that they restore the Christian commonwealth, having restored compose it, and composed, rule it with perpetual imperia.

Quorum quidem nonnullaslaudes silentio preterire non fuit consilium. Extatque imprimis, quis adeo pectoris obscuri est rerumque ignarus omnium, cui christianissimi regis Karoli mayestatis splendor et gloria inaudita sint? Quis non admiretur pariter et obstupescat ipsius in agitando ingenium, in operando diligentiam in aggrediendo consilium, in efficiendo perseverantiam in perficiendo magnifficentiam, in exercitu ducendo sapientiam, in bello gerendo fortitudinem, in victoria mansuetudinem et misericordiam, in pace iusticiam et equitatem, que habundanti testimonio auxerunt patruum regnum magna virtute recuperactum fractis omnium viribus inimicorum tuorum, qui olim contempta etatis tue hoc regnum interceperant et tue dignitatis insidias moliebantur, non modo vetustatem dominationemque sustulisti, sed eciam tuum lacte propagasti imperium tuum et fecisti illud tranquillitatis et vite salutis portum magna laus maioribus tuis tam amplum, tam magnifficum peperisse imperium; non minor tua illud virtute fuisse consummatum esse.

It was not our design to pass over in silence some of whose praises. And foremost stands: who is so dark of heart and ignorant of all things that the splendor and unheard-of glory of the most Christian King Charles’s majesty would be unknown to him? Who does not equally admire and stand astonished at his genius in undertaking, his diligence in executing, his counsel in attacking, his perseverance in accomplishing, his magnificence in perfecting, his wisdom in leading the army, his fortitude in conducting war, his meekness and mercy in victory, his justice and equity in peace — all of which by abundant testimony have shown that the paternal kingdom was recovered with great virtue, the strength of all your enemies having been broken, who once, contemning your youth, had seized this kingdom and plotted traps against your dignity; not only did you remove its age-old domination, but also you propagated your empire from your milk and made it — great praise to your forebears — so ample, so magnificent an empire, and that it was consummated by no less virtue of yours.

Illud fortune, hoc nisi virtuti tue tribuendum esse dixerim, nec tum illis industriam, nec tibi fortitudinem deffuisse dixerim. Sed quanto illorum opera miror, tante virtutis tua illustrior et quanto difficilius est tueri quam querere, tanto virtutum laudem esse maiorem, quibus in rebus non minus sapientiam tuam admiramur, quam humanitatem tuam colimus et pietatem. Omnibus enim, qui a tua mayestate metu belli deffecerant, indulcisti recte existimans indultum se debere, quitquid multi peccaverint.

I would say that that [success] belongs to Fortune, this to your virtue, nor would I then say that industry was lacking in those men, nor fortitude in you. But insofar as I admire the work of those men, so much the more illustrious is your virtue; and insofar as it is more difficult to guard than to seek, so much greater is the praise of those virtues, in which we admire your wisdom no less than we revere your humanity and piety. For to all who had failed from your majesty through fear of war you granted clemency, rightly judging that a pardon is owed, however greatly many have sinned.

Et preterea iudicium, pietas, liberalitas ectiam iudicium tanta, ut tue benignitati benefacere ex consuetudine venerit, gaude igitu, rex Karole, et fruere tanto bono nosque vehementer gaudemus et tue mayestati gratulamur, quod tibi serenissimum principem, innocentissimum adolescentem Laudilaum regem nostrum coniunxisti tuo sublimari genere probitate et modestia parem, de cuius vetusta nobilitate silere nagis, quam pauca dicere, nec enim unius hore, sed et multorum dierum lugubracionem consumerem, dicam autem, quod eius proprium dici potest. Id ut primam per etatem sapere cepit, animadvertit illustrium maiorum suorum vestigia veluti quoddam legatum proculcari, imitari, non dubitans virtutem animi tanto esse clariorem, quanto qui illam exercet, clarior haberetur, cernas illas egregias corporis et animi dotes: Natura ingenuitas ad dignitates et amplitudinem quasu ad consummationem et perfectionem tocius vite degende studio et industria ita expoluit, ut quidquid diceret aut faceret non modo non esset reprehentione dignum sed ectiam admirationem habeat pariter et gloriam. Quod autem prematura ingenuitas teneris supervenerit annis, omnes scimus in iuvenili etate maturitatem sedere et cotidie videmus.

And moreover judgment, piety, liberality — even a judgment so great that by custom it has become to do good to your benignity — rejoice therefore, King Charles, and enjoy so great a good; and we very greatly rejoice and congratulate your majesty that you have united to yourself as a most serene prince the most innocent youth Laudilaus, our king, equal to you in loftiness of birth, probity, and modesty. Concerning whose ancient nobility one would rather be silent than say a few things; for I would not consume one hour, but many days, in doleful discourse. I will say, however, what may be called his own. When he first began to show wisdom through his age, he perceived that the footsteps of his illustrious forebears should be followed forthwith as a kind of legacy and imitated, not doubting that the virtue of the mind is all the more illustrious the more the man who exercises it is held illustrious. See those outstanding gifts of body and mind: nature and noble birth, as if toward dignity and amplitude, even to the consummation and perfection of a whole life to be lived, she so polished by zeal and industry, that whatever he said or did would not only be unworthy of blame but would also merit equal admiration and glory. And that precocious ingenuousness has come upon him in tender years — we all know that maturity sits in youthful age, and we see it daily.

Nec minus misericordiam et pietatem eius experti sumus in afflictos opem et protectionem, in oppressos gratitudinem, in benemeritos iusticiam et clemenciam, in omnes consilium et animi magnitudinem, ad cunctos rerum eventus non fortune succumbere, nec delicto obnoxium fore. Hec cum ita sint, quid modo utilius, quid subditis comodius, quam horum duorum potentissimorum regum coniunctio, quorum humerum salus publica fulcitur et quiescit? Hodie enim virgo Magdalena ex hoc parente veluti de sole luna radiens, regi Laudilauo copulatur, qui singulari in Deum pietate, morum sanctimonia, prudencia, severitate, mansuetudine, honestate et humanitate christianissime regine genitrici carissime probe resplandet.

Nor have we experienced any less his mercy and piety: help and protection for the afflicted, gratitude toward the oppressed, justice and clemency for the well‑deserving, counsel and greatness of spirit for all, so that they should not succumb to the events of things by fortune, nor be liable to guilt. Since these things are so, what now could be more useful, what more comfortable for the subjects, than the union of these two most powerful kings, on whose shoulder the public safety is supported and rests? For today the maiden Magdalena, from this parent like the moon shining from the sun, is joined in marriage to King Laudilauus, who, singular in piety toward God, in sanctity of manners, prudence, severity, mildness, honesty and humanity, shines forth most Christianly and most excellently as the dear son of the queen‑mother.

O fortunatum regem, qui tuo generi parem habiturus es coniugem! O felicem puellam, que tantum regem tuo habiturus es thalamo! Ornaris certe et quantum viro ornamenti est allatura sodalicia!

O fortunate king, who will have a consort equal to your son-in-law! O happy maiden, who shalt have so great a king in thy bridal chamber! Thou art certainly adorned, and the companionships that will bring as much ornament to the man!

(O) tempora nostra quibus tantorum regum prestina florescit affinitas! O felix coniugium, quo subditorum comoda, rerum incrementa, pax ecclesie, leticia orbis oritur, atque ut mea eo redeat unde profectum est, quod apprehandetum; hec dies quam fecit Deus, exultemus et letemur in ea! Hic dies inter alios quos in vita letissimos habuimus, celebrandus est, quo duo clarissima mundi luminaria unita universo populo christiano optima spe perlucent. Hodie duabus fidei columpnis fundamenta iactantur, quibus omnis procella hostilis frangitur.

(O) our times in which so great a kin-affinity of kings blossoms forth! O fortunate marriage, by which the subjects’ comforts, the incrementa of affairs, the peace of the church, the joy of the world arise, and that my own may return to that whence it departed, which it will seize; this is the day which God has made, let us exult and rejoice in it! This day, among others which in life we held most joyful, must be celebrated, on which two most illustrious lights of the world, joined together, shine forth for the whole Christian people with the best hope. Today the foundations are laid for two pillars of the faith, by which every hostile storm is broken.

Hodie enim nostrorum quietis et tranquillitatis est inicium. Exultet fidele Christianorum genus sed audiat per reges ipsos mundo salutem allatam! Paveat gens inimica nobis atque illorum corda trepident!

For today is the beginning of our quiet and tranquillity. Let the faithful race of Christians exult, but let them hear that through the kings themselves salvation has been brought to the world! Let the inimical nation be afraid of us, and let their hearts quake!

Letentur subditi nostri pacem, ocium et quietam longevam accepturi! Formident ostes fidei et suum repriment ferocem animum! Gaudeant orbis terrarum (!) quia dominus vere pius noster misericors et misereator graves gentis labores tanto regum federe finem calamitatum est daturus.

May our subjects rejoice, about to receive peace, otium, and a long quiet life! Let the enemies of the faith be afraid and restrain their ferocious spirit! Let the whole orb of lands rejoice (!) because the Lord, truly pious, our merciful and compassionate one, is about to give an end to the grievous labors of the people by so great a federation of kings.

Utinam dudum vel illustre precessisset coniugium! Non tantas cedes mortalium direptiones civitatum, strages regnorum nostra vidisset etas! Nec ego cum nostro humano sed divino agitari videam consilio.

Would that long ago at least the illustrious marriage had gone before! May our age not have seen so great deaths of mortals, plunderings of cities, devastations of kingdoms! Nor do I see myself to be stirred by our counsel — human, not divine.

Incertus sum, fateor, regibus ne ipsis an mundo gratuler? Non sum nescius quanta mundo quanta ve rei publice christiane ventura essent incrementa. Adhuc ipse letor quod tanta virtus et mayestas simul coniugatur an ut francia, hungaria, bohemia, austria hoc precio animis et voluntatibus strictius in dies vivantur.

I am uncertain, I confess, whether to congratulate the kings themselves or the world. I am not ignorant how great for the world, how great for the Christian res publica the increases about to come would be. Still I myself rejoice that so great virtue and majesty are united together, so that France, Hungary, Bohemia, Austria, by this price, may live more closely in minds and wills day by day.

ceteras finem dicendi faciam, sed prius huic honorificentissimo coniugio propicium et faventem dominum Deum supplex adorans invocavero. Deus igitur omnipotens hanc felicissimam creationem matrimonii, hoc tam immensum gaudium, celeste donum sub diversis perpetuum, nostre vere christianissime mayestati efficiat gloriosum. Cui nos ectiam atque ectiam commendamus.

I will make an end of the rest of my saying, but first I will suppliantly adore and invoke to this most honorable marriage a propitious and favoring Lord God. Therefore Almighty God grant that this most blessed creation of matrimony, this so immense joy, this heavenly gift, perpetual under diverse forms, may become glorious for our truly most Christian Majesty. To whom we likewise and yet again commend ourselves.

Explicit harenga.

Here ends the harangue.