Sulpicius Severus

SULPICI SEVERI VITA SANCTI MARTINI EPISCOPI ET CONFESSORIS

THE LIFE OF SAINT MARTIN OF TOURS, BY SULPICIUS SEVERUS

Source of the text: THE LATIN LIBRARY at Ad Fontes Academy with alterations based on the editions of Halm and Fontaine.

The notes below are intended to help students of Latin on matters of grammar, vocabulary, and Latin idiom. It is assumed that readers are using a good Latin dictionary, such as Cassell's, or Lewis and Short.

Reference Works

Blaise = A. Blaise, Dictionnaire latin-français des auteurs chrétiens (Turnhout: Brepols, 1967).

Fontaine = M. Fontaine, ed. Sulpice Sévère, Vie de Saint Martin, 3 vols. (Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1967).

Gildersleeve and Lodge = B.L. Gildersleeve and G. Lodge, Gildersleeve's Latin Grammar, 3rd ed. (London: Macmillan, 1895).

Halm = C. Halm, ed. Sulpicii Severi Opera (Vienna: Royal Academy of Letters, 1866), Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum vol. 1.

OLD = The Oxford Latin Dictionary

TLL = Thesaurus Linguae Latinae

Woodcock = E.C. Woodcock, A New Latin Syntax (London: Methuen, 1959).

Abbreviations

>: derived from

eccl.: words or senses of words peculiar to ecclesiastical or church Latin.

late Lat.: words or senses of words that appear mostly or wholly after ca. AD 150, not in classical Latin.

Text: Praefatio

Section 1

Severus Desiderio fratri carissimo.

sc. salutem dicit, "sends greetings to."

Ego quidem, frater unanimis, libellum quem de vita sancti Martini scripseram, scheda sua premere et intra domesticos parietes cohibere decreveram, quia, ut sum natura infirmissimus, iudicia humana vitabam, ne, quod fore arbitror, sermo incultior legentibus displiceret omniumque reprehensionis dignissimus iudicarer, qui materiem disertis merito scriptoribus reservandam impudens occupassem: sed petenti tibi saepius negare non potui.

ego . . . decreveram: 'I had decided to'

unanimis -e, of one mind (late Lat.)

scheda -ae, f., a leaf or sheet of paper

schedā suā premere: 'to suppress in it's own paper,' i.e. not publish.

decreveram: 'I had decided' (> decerno, decernere, decrevi, decretum)

quod fore arbitror: '[a thing] which I think will happen.' fore = futurum esse.

sermo -onis, f., style, language

qui materiem disertis merito scriptoribus reservandam impudens occupassem: 'because I had impudently usurped material that should rightly be reserved for learned writers.' The relative clause is causal (Woodcock sec. 156).

ocuppassem = occupavissem (plupf. subj., > occupo [1])

patenti: '(you) asking for (it)'

quid enim esset, quod non amori tuo vel cum detrimento mei pudoris impenderem?

quid enim esset, quod non . . . impenderem?: literally, 'what would there be that I would not spend for', i.e., 'I would expend any effort for'.

Section 2

verumtamen ea tibi fiducia libellum edidi, qua nulli a te prodendum reor, quia id spopondisti.

eā . . . fiduciā . . . quā: 'with the confidence that'.

prodendum (sc. esse): 'that it must be revealed' (OLD s.v. prodo 8).

spondeo, spondēre, spopondi, sponsum, promise.

Section 3

quod si acciderit et ab aliquibus eum legi videris, bona venia id a lectoribus postulabis, ut res potius quam verba perpendant et aequo animo ferant, si aures eorum vitiosus forsitan sermo perculerit, quia regnum Dei non in eloquentia, sed in fide constat.

eum legi: 'that it is being read'.

bonā veniā . . . postulabis: 'you must kindly ask', a colloquial use of the future tense (see Gildersleeve and Lodge sec. 243). For bonā veniā = 'with your indulgence', see OLD s.v. venia 3.

aequo animo ferant: 'bear it calmly'.

vitiosus sermo: 'faulty style'.

perculerit: 'strikes', fut. pf. in a future more vivid condition (> percello, percellere, perculi, perculsum).

Section 4

meminerint etiam, salutem saeculo non ab oratoribus, cum utique, si utile fuisset, id quoque Dominus praestare potuisset, sed a piscatoribus praedicatam esse.

meminerint: 'let them recall', pf. subj., jussive.

salus -utis, f., salvation (eccl.).

salutem . . . praedicatam esse: 'that salvation was proclaimed' (> praedico [1]).

saeculum -i, n., the world (eccl.).

utique (Adv.), doubtless.

Section 5

ego enim, cum primum animum ad scribendum appuli, quia nefas putarem tanti viri latere virtutes, apud me ipse decidi, ut soloecismis non erubescerem: quia nec magnam istarum umquam rerum scientiam contigissem, et si quid ex his studiis olim fortasse libassem, totum id desuetudine tanti temporis perdidissem.

appello, -ere, appuli, appulsum, to turn (one's mind to) (OLD s.v. 6).

decido, -ere, -cidi, -cisum, decide.

soloecismus -i, m., a mistake in grammar or usage.

libo (1), taste, sample (libassem = libavissem, plupf. subj.).

desuetudo, -inis, f., disuse.

Section 6

sed tamen ne nos maneat tam molesta defensio, suppresso, si tibi videtur, nomine libellus edatur.

suppresso . . . nomine: 'anonymously'.

videtur: 'it seems best'.

quod ut fieri valeat, titulum frontis erade, ut muta sit pagina et, quod sufficit, loquatur materiam, non loquatur auctorem.

quod ut fieri valeat: 'in order to do this'.

Main Text: Chapter 1

Section 1

Plerique mortales studio et gloriae saeculari inaniter dediti exinde perennem, ut putabant, memoriam nominis sui quaesierunt, si vitas clarorum virorum stilo illustrassent.

studio: '(literary) study', dative with dediti.

gloriae saeculari: 'worldly fame', dative with dediti.

inaniter (Adv.), pointlessly.

exinde: 'from that source', looking forward to the main verb, quaesierunt.

quaesierunt: 'sought' (> quaero, -ere, quaesii, quaesitum).

illustro (1), give glory or luster to (illustrassent = illustravissent, plupf. subj.).

This sentence is a pointed swipe at the famous preface to Sallust's Bellum Catilinae, in which he says, by way of justifying his decision to write history, "Since only a short span of life has been vouchsafed us, we must make ourselves remembered as long as may be by those who come after us" (trans. Handford).

Section 2

quae res utique non perennem quidem, sed aliquantulum tamen conceptae spei fructum afferebat, quia et suam memoriam, licet incassum, propagabant, et propositis magnorum virorum exemplis non parva aemulatio legentibus excitabatur.

utique (Adv.), certainly, without a doubt.

fructus -us, m., reward.

concipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum, conceive (a hope) (OLD s.v. 11).

et . . . et: both . . . and.

licet incassum: 'though to no purpose' (adverbial, modifying propagabant).

non parva aemulatio: 'no small desire to emulate' the deeds of great men--this is the conventional justification of biography among Roman writers.

sed tamen nihil ad beatam illam aeternamque vitam haec eorum cura pertinuit.

haec cura eorum: 'this study of theirs' (OLD s.v. cura 3b), i.e., the works of pagan biographers.

Section 3

quid enim aut ipsis occasura cum saeculo scriptorum suorum gloria profuit? aut quid posteritas emolumenti tulit legendo Hectorem pugnantem aut Socraten philosophantem?

aut . . . aut: 'on the one hand . . . on the other hand'

ipsis: dative with profuit.

occido, -cidere, -cidi, -casum, perish.

quid . . . emolumenti: 'what advantage' (emolumenti is partitive genitive).

tulit: 'deive (for itself)

legendo Hectorem: 'by reading (about) Hector'

Section 4

cum eos non solum imitari stultitia sit, sed non acerrime etiam impugnare dementia: quippe qui humanam vitam praesentibus tantum actibus aestimantes spes suas fabulis, animas sepulcris dederint: siquidem ad solam hominum memoriam se perpetuandos crediderunt, cum hominis officium sit, perennem potius vitam quam perennem memoriam quaerere, non scribendo aut pugnando vel philosophando, sed pie sancte religioseque vivendo.

cum: 'since'

sed non acerrime etiam impugnare dementia: 'but it is also madness not to fight against them very strenuously'

actus -us, m., action, deed.

praesens -ntis, present, this-worldly (as opposed to spiritual or heavenly) (eccl.).

quippe qui humanam vitam praesentibus tantum actibus aestimantes: 'in as much as they valued human life on the basis of worldly deeds alone'.

siquidem: 'seeing that' (OLD s.v. 3).

cum hominis officium sit: 'although it is the duty of a human being' (cum is concessive).

Section 5

qui quidem error humanus litteris traditus in tantum valuit, ut multos plane aemulos vel inanis philosophiae vel stultae illius virtutis invenerit.

in tantum valuit: 'has become so strong' (> valesco, -ere).

Section 6

unde facturus mihi operae pretium videor, si vitam sanctissimi viri, exemplo aliis mox futuram, perscripsero: quo utique ad veram sapientiam et caelestem militiam divinamque virtutem legentes incitabuntur.

unde facturus mihi operae pretium videor: 'and so I seem to myself to be about to do something worthwhile', an allusion to the famous opening of the preface to Livy's History of Rome, facturusne operae pretium sim si a primordio urbis . . . .

exemplo aliis mox futuram: 'which will serve as an example for others later'. exemplo is 'predicative' dative or dative of purpose (Woodcock sec. 68).

utique . . . incitabuntur: 'will certainly be roused'. The indicative mood of the verb marks this as a confident assertion.

in quo ita nostri quoque rationem commodi ducimus, ut non inanem ab hominibus memoriam, sed aeternum a Deo praemium exspectemus, quia etsi ipsi non ita viximus, ut exemplo aliis esse possimus, dedimus tamen operam, ne is lateret qui esset imitandus.

in quo ita nostri quoque rationem commodi ducimus, ut: 'in so doing I am taking into account my own advantage as well, in such a way that'. For rationem ducere = 'take account of', see OLD s.v. ratio 8b. The first person plurals here and below (expetemus, viximus, possimus, dedimus) refer to the author alone, but the tone is polite rather than pompous.

dedimus . . . operam: 'I have devoted myself to the task'.

Section 7

igitur sancti Martini vitam scribere exordiar, ut se vel ante episcopatum vel in episcopatu gesserit, quamvis nequaquam ad omnia illius potuerim pervenire: adeo ea, in quibus ipse tantum sibi conscius fuit, nesciuntur, quia laudem ab hominibus non requirens, quantum in ipso fuit, omnes virtutes suas latere voluisset.

ut se . . . gesserit: indirect question, 'how he conducted himself'.

ad omnia illius . . . pervenire: 'to include all of his deeds'

vel . . . vel: 'both . . . and' (late Lat.).

in quibus ipse tantum sibi conscius fuit: 'to which only he himself was privy'.

quantum in ipso fuit: 'as much as he could'

voluisset: subjunctive because is assumed to be true, rather than personally vouched for by the speaker. "No doubt because he wanted . . ."

Section 8

quamquam etiam ex his, quae comperta nobis erant, plura omisimus, quia sufficere credidimus, si tantum excellentia notarentur: simul et legentibus consulendum fuit, ne quod his pareret copia congesta fastidium.

nobis: 'by me' (dative of agent), plural for singular, as with omisimus and credidimus below.

si tantum excellentia notarentur: 'if outstanding deeds were merely pointed out' (OLD s.v. noto 11).

consulendum fuit: 'it was necessary to take thought for'.

ne quod his pareret copia congesta fastidium: literally, 'lest a heaped-up abundance (of material) produce any annoyance for them', i.e., in the readers. congesta > congero, -ere, -gessi, -gestum.

Section 9

obsecro autem eos qui lecturi sunt, ut fidem dictis adhibeant, neque me quicquam nisi compertum et probatum scripsisse arbitrentur: alioquin tacere quam falsa dicere maluissem.

fidem . . . adhibeant: 'trust, believe' + dat.

probatum: 'proven true'.

alioquin: 'otherwise'.

maluissem: 'I would have preferred'

Chapter 2

Section 1

Igitur Martinus Sabaria Pannoniarum oppido oriundus fuit, sed intra Italiam Ticini altus est, parentibus secundum saeculi dignitatem non infimis, gentilibus tamen.

Pannoniae, -arum f. pl.: Pannonia, a province of the Roman empire on the eastern coast of the Adriatic.

oriundus: 'born' (the date is c. 316-17 AD)

secundum (prep. + acc.): 'according to'

saeculi dignitatem: 'the social status of the secular world'

infimis > infimus -a -um 'lowest' (superlative of inferus)

gentilis -e, adj., heathen, pagan, non-Christian. The word is also found as a noun, gentilis -is m.

Section 2

pater eius miles primum, post tribunus militum fuit.

tribunus militum: 'commander', originally of a legion, but in this period of any active army detachment [Fontaine 2.437].

post: 'later' (Adv.)

ipse armatam militiam in adulescentia secutus inter scolares alas sub rege Constantio, deinde sub Iuliano Caesare militavit: non tamen sponte, quia a primis fere annis divinam potius servitutem sacra illustris pueri spiravit infantia.

sc(h)olares alas (nom. scholares alae, f. pl.): a mounted imperial guard. ala -ae f. = cavalry detachment

Constantio: Flavius Iulius Constantius, or Constantius II, second son of Constantine I, emperor AD 337-361.

Iuliano: Flavius Claudius Iulianus, or Julian the Apostate,emperor AD 361-3.

spiro (1) + acc.: 'to breath or express the spirit of' (OLD 6b). The subject is sacra . . . infantia.

Section 4

mox mirum in modum totus in Dei opere conversus, cum esset annorum duodecim, eremum concupivit, fecissetque votis satis, si aetatis infirmitas non obstitisset.

mirum in modum: 'in an amazing way, amazingly', a frequently used expression in this work.

conversus (w/ in + abl.): 'having (been) turned toward'. Classical Latin would use in or ad + acc. with this word.

eremus (sc. locus): 'wilderness, desert'

fecisset satis > satis facere + dat., 'satisfy, give satisfaction to'. Pluperfect subj. in a contrary to fact condition. 'He would have made good on his wishes'.

animus tamen aut circa monasteria aut circa ecclesiam semper intentus meditabatur adhuc in aetate puerili, quod postea devotus implevit.

meditabatur . . . quod . . . implevit: 'was rehearsing . . . that which . . . it carried out'.

devotus: 'when dedicated completely' (i.e. to God).

Section 5

sed cum edictum esset a regibus, ut veteranorum filii ad militiam scriberentur, prodente patre, qui felicibus eius actibus invidebat, cum esset annorum quindecim, captus et catenatus sacramentis militaribus implicatus est, uno tantum servo comite contentus, cui tamen versa vice dominus serviebat, adeo ut plerumque ei et calciamenta ipse detraheret et ipse detergeret, cibum una caperent, hic tamen saepius ministraret.

edictum esset (> edico): 'it had been decreed'.

regibus: 'the emperors'. Beginning in the late 3rd century there was usually more than one, sharing power.

scribo, -ere, enroll

actibus (> actus -us m.): 'actions'

comite (> comes -itis m.): 'as a companion'.

contentus -a -um + abl.: content with

tantum: Adv., 'only'.

adeo ut: 'so much so that' (a common way of introducing a result clause).

hic = Martin

Section 6

triennium fere ante baptismum in armis fuit, integer tamen ab iis vitiis, quibus illud hominum genus implicari solet.

in armis fuit: 'was under arms', i.e., served as a soldier

Section 7

multa illius circa commilitones benignitas, mira caritas, patientia vero adque humilitas ultra humanum modum.

multa illius . . . benignitas (sc. erat): 'he displayed much kindness'.

adque = atque (a common spelling in later Latin)

nam frugalitatem in eo laudari non est necesse, qua ita usus est, ut iam illo tempore non miles, sed monachus putaretur.

usus est > utor, uti, usus est + abl., 'have, possess'.

monachus -i m., monk.

pro quibus rebus ita sibi omnes commilitones devinxerat, ut eum miro affectu venerarentur.

devinxerat > devincio, -ire, 'bind'.

Section 8

necdum tamen regeneratus in Christo agebat quendam bonis operibus baptismi candidatum: assistere scilicet laborantibus, opem ferre miseris, alere egentes, vestire nudos, nihil sibi ex militiae stipendiis praeter cotidianum victum reservare: iam tum evangelii non surdus auditor de crastino non cogitabat.

regeneratus -a -um, 'born again'.

agebat quendam . . . baptismi candidatum: 'he was acting as a kind of candidate for baptism'. quendam > quidam.

laborantibus: 'the suffering'

Chapter 3

Section 1

Quodam itaque tempore, cum iam nihil praeter arma et simplicem militiae vestem haberet, media hieme, quae solito asperior inhorruerat, adeo ut plerosque vis algoris exstingueret, obvium habet in porta Ambianensium civitatis pauperem nudum: qui cum praetereuntes ut sui misererentur oraret omnesque miserum praeterirent, intellexit vir Deo plenus sibi illum, aliis misericordiam non praestantibus, reservari.

solitō asperior: 'harsher than usual'. solito is abl. of comparison.

inhorruerat: 'raged'

plerosque (> plerusque, -raque, -rumque): 'very many people'

obvium habet: 'he met' (the tense is 'historical present', often used by Latin writers for vivid narration).

civitas Ambianensium = Amiens, in France.

ut sui miseraret is a jussive noun clause. Start with oraret.

praeterirent (> praetereo, -ire): 'were passing by' (impf. subj. in a circumstantial cum-clause).

intellexit . . . sibi illum . . . reservari: 'understood that that man (the beggar) was being saved for himself (Martin).'

Deo: abl. with plenus, the regular construction with this adjective.

Section 2

quid tamen ageret?

Deliberative subjunctive in the past, expressing helplessness, 'But what could he do?' (Woodcock sec. 174.2(b)).

nihil praeter chlamydem, qua indutus erat, habebat: iam enim reliqua in opus simile consumpserat.

chlamys, chlamydis f., cloak.

indutus erat > induo, -ere

arrepto itaque ferro, quo accinctus erat, mediam dividit partemque eius pauperi tribuit, reliqua rursus induitur.

accinctus erat > accingo, -ere

interea de circumstantibus ridere nonnulli, quia deformis esse truncatus habitu videretur: multi tamen, quibus erat mens sanior, altius gemere, quod nihil simile fecissent, cum utique plus habentes vestire pauperem sine sui nuditate potuissent.

ridere (rideo, -ere): 'laughed', historic infinitive, often used by Latin writers in vivid narrative.

quia . . . videretur: 'because he seemed (to them)', subjunctive in a causal clause, where the reason cited is not the writer's own, but another's (Woodcock sec. 240).

truncatus habitu: lit. 'mutilated with respect to his clothing', i.e. because of his ripped clothing.

gemere: 'groaned', historic infinitive.

quod . . . fecissent: for the subjective, see note above on videretur.

utique: 'doubtless, naturally'

Section 3

nocte igitur insecuta, cum se sopori dedisset, vidit Christum chlamydis suae, qua pauperem texerat, parte vestitum.

nocte . . . insecuta (> insequor, insequi): 'during the following night', ablative of time when or within which.

chlamydis suae . . . parte: .in the part of his own cloak'.

qua: the antecedent is parte below.

mox ad angelorum circumstantium multitudinem audit Iesum clara voce dicentem: Martinus adhuc catechumenus hic me veste contexit.

catechumenus -i m., catechumen.

adhuc catechumenus: 'while still a catechumen'

Section 4

vere memor Dominus dictorum suorum, qui ante praedixerat: quamdiu fecistis uni ex minimis istis, mihi fecistis, se in paupere professus est fuisse vestitum: et ad confirmandum tam boni operis testimonium in eodem se habitu, quem pauper acceperat, est dignatus ostendere.

memor (sc. erat): 'was mindful of'.

Dominus = Iesus.

quamdiu . . . fecistis: 'whatever you have done to the least of these, you have done to me', a quotation from Matthew 25.40. quamdiu = 'whatever, that which' is late Latin.

in eodem se habitu: se is the direct object of ostendere, 'to show himself in the same garb'.

est dignatus (> dignor, -ari): 'he deigned, he saw fit.'

Section 5

quo viso vir beatissimus non in gloriam est elatus humanam, sed bonitatem Dei in suo opere cognoscens, cum esset annorum duodeviginti, ad baptismum convolavit.

quo viso: 'when this had been seen' (abl. absol.)

est elatus > effero, efferre, extuli, elatum, 'raise up'. The passive = 'to pride oneself, to be puffed up'.

convolo (1) + ad, 'to have recourse to (some expedient)', OLD 2.

nec tamen statim militiae renuntiavit, tribuni sui precibus evictus, cui contubernium familiare praestabat: etenim transacto tribunatus sui tempore renuntiaturum se saeculo pollicebatur.

militiae: dative with renuntiavit.

evictus (> evinco, -ere): 'having been won over by'.

cui contubernium . . . praestabat: 'to whom he was bound by ties of camaraderie and friendship' (Fontaine)

transacto tribunatus sui tempore: 'when the time of his tribunate had been completed'

saeculo: dative with renuntiaturum.

qua Martinus exspectatione suspensus per biennium fere posteaquam est baptismum consecutus, solo licet nomine, militavit.

est . . . consecutus > consequor.

solo licet nomine: 'albeit in name only'.

Chapter 4

Section 1

Interea irruentibus intra Gallias barbaris Iulianus Caesar coacto in unum exercitu apud Vangionum civitatem donativum coepit erogare militibus, et, ut est consuetudinis, singuli citabantur, donec ad Martinum ventum est.

irruentibus intra Gallias barbaris: the reference is to an invasion by Germans in 352; Julian's first counterattack came in 356 (Ammianus Marcellinus 16.2-3). He began at Autun in Alcase and then moved to the Rhine, eventually pushing the Germans all the way back to Cologne.

civitas Vangionum = Worms, on the Rhine in present day Germany, but then on the eastern frontier of Gaul.

coacto > cogo, -ere, -egi, -actum, bring together, collect.

erogo (1), pay out of the public treasury.

ventum est (> venio, -ire): 'they came', lit. 'it was come', impersonal passive.

ut est consuetundinis (> consuetudo, -inis, f.): 'as is customary' lit. 'as is of custom', a type of possessive genitive. This is a later Latin usage (Dig., Augustine).

Section 2

tum vero oportunum tempus existimans, quo peteret missionem - neque enim integrum sibi fore arbitrabatur, si donativum non militaturus acciperet -, "hactenus," inquit ad Caesarem, "militavi tibi:

missio, -onis f., discharge (from the army)

neque enim integrum sibi fore arbitrabatur: 'nor did he think that it would be honest for him'. fore = futurum esse.

Section 3

patere ut nunc militem Deo: donativum tuum pugnaturus accipiat, Christi ego miles sum: pugnare mihi non licet."

patere > patior, pati, passus sum, 2s imperative.

militem > milito (1), subjunctive in a jussive noun clause.

pugnaturus (>pugno [1]): '(the man) about to fight'. Substantival use of the participle.

Section 4

tum vero adversus hanc vocem tyrannus infremuit dicens, eum metu pugnae, quae postero die erat futura, non religionis gratia detractare militiam.

adversus hanc vocem: 'in response to this remark'

gratiā: 'for the sake of', ablative with a preceding genitive (religionis).

Section 5

at Martinus intrepidus, immo inlato sibi terrore constantior, si hoc, inquit, ignaviae adscribitur, non fidei, crastina die ante aciem inermis adstabo et in nomine Domini Iesu, signo crucis, non clipeo protectus aut galea, hostium cuneos penetrabo securus.

immo, Adv., 'on the contrary'.

inlato > infero, -ferre, -tuli, -latum: apply.

inlato sibi terrore: 'with intimidation having been applied to him' (abl. absol.)

inermis -e, adj., unarmed

Section 6

retrudi ergo in custodiam iubetur, facturus fidem dictis, ut inermis barbaris obiceretur.

retrudi . . . in custodiam: 'to be held under arrest'.

facturus fidem dictis: 'about to make good on his words'

Section 7

postero die hostes legatos de pace miserunt, sua omnia seque dedentes.

dedentes > dedo, -ere, surrender.

unde quis dubitet hanc vere beati viri fuisse victoriam, cui praestitum sit, ne inermis ad proelium mitteretur.

beati viri . . . fuisse: 'belonged to the blessed man' or 'was due to the blessed man' (possessive genitive).

praesto, -stare, -stiti, -stitum, furnish, provide.

praestitum sit, ne: 'it was provided that he not' (impersonal passive use of the verb).

Section 8

et quamvis pius Dominus servare militem suum licet inter hostium gladios et tela potuisset, tamen ne vel aliorum mortibus sancti violarentur obtutus, exemit pugnae necessitatem.

licet: 'even'

sancti . . . obtutūs: '(Martin's) sacred gaze', lit. 'gazes' (obtutus, -us m.).

vel aliorum martibus: 'even by the deaths of others'.

exemit > eximo, -ere, -emi, -emtpum, remove.

Section 9

neque enim aliam pro milite suo Christus debuit praestare victoriam, quam ut subactis sine sanguine hostibus nemo moreretur.

neque . . . aliam . . . victoriam, quam ut: 'no other (type of) victory than that'

subactis sine sanguine hostibus: 'since the enemy was subdued without bloodshed' (abl. abs.)

Chapter 5

Section 1

Exinde relicta militia sanctum Hilarium Pictavae episcopum civitatis, cuius tunc in Dei rebus spectata et cognita fides habebatur, expetiit et aliquamdiu apud eum commoratus est.

sanctum Hilarium Pictavae episcopum civitatis: St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers (c. 315-367/8), the leading and most respected Latin theologian of his age.

Section 2

temptavit autem idem Hilarius imposito diaconatus officio sibi eum artius implicare et ministerio vincire divino.

artius (> artus -a -um, comp. artior): 'more closely', comparative adverb.

imposito diaconatus offocio: 'by imposing on him the duty of being a deacon' (diaconatus -ūs m.).

sed cum saepissime restitisset, indignum se esse vociferans, intellexit vir altioris ingenii, uno eum modo posse constringi, si id ei officii imponeret, in quo quidam locus iniuriae videretur: itaque exorcistam eum esse praecepit.

vir altioris ingenii: 'a man of more noble character', genitive of description (or quality).

id . . . officii . . . in quo: 'that (kind) of duty in which. officii is partitive genitive.

praecepit > praecipio, -ere

quam ille ordinationem, ne despexisse tamquam humiliorem videretur, non repudiavit.

ne despexisse . . . videretur: 'lest he seem to have despised it'. videretur is subjunctive in a fear clause.

Section 3

nec multo post admonitus per soporem, ut patriam parentesque, quos adhuc gentilitas detinebat, religiosa sollicitudine visitaret, ex voluntate sancti Hilari profectus est, multis ab eo obstrictus precibus et lacrimis ut rediret.

gentilitas -tatis f.: paganism

ex voluntate: 'in accordance with the wishes of'

maestus, ut ferunt, peregrinationem illam ingressus est, contestatus fratribus, multa se adversa passurum: quod postea probavit eventus.

ut ferunt: 'as they say'. Ferre is often used of vaguely reported hearsay. Sulpicius had informants in Martin's circle, as emerges later.

contestatus fratribus: check TLL for the dative.

eventus -us m., the results, subsequent events. Here it is the subject of probavit.

Section 4

ac primum inter Alpes devia secutus incidit in latrones.

primum: 'first' in a series of events (contrast primo, 'at the start', followed by a later development).

devia (sc. loca): 'an unihabited region' (neut. pl. acc.)

cumque unus securi elevata in caput eius librasset ictum, ferientis dexteram sustinuit alter: vinctis tamen post tergum manibus uni asservandus et spoliandus traditur.

secūri > secūris -is f., axe, hatchet. (not to be confused with sēcurus -a -um, 'without care').

ferientis (> ferio -ire): 'of the one striking', substantival use of the participle.

uni (dat.): 'to one' (of the brigands)

qui cum eum ad remotiora duxisset, percontari ab eo coepit, quisnam esset.

quisnam: a somewhat more emphatic equivalent of quis, 'who'?

Section 5

tum vero constantissime profitetur, numquam se tam fuisse securum, quia sciret misericordiam Domini maxime in temptationibus adfuturam: se magis illi dolere, qui Christi misericordia utpote latrocinia exercens esset indignus.

quia sciret (impf. subj.): 'because he knew'; all subordinate clauses in indirect discourse have verbs in the subjunctive. The indirect statement begins at profitetur above and includes the infinitives fuisse and dolere.

utpote latrocinia exercens: 'as is to be expected when one is pursuing a life of brigandage'.

Section 6

quid longius morer?

quid longius morer?: 'why ought I delay longer?', i.e., 'to make a long story short.' The subjunctive morer (> moror, -ari) is deliberative.

latro credidit prosecutusque Martinum viae reddidit, orans ut pro se Dominum precaretur.

precaretur > precor, -ari, -atus sum, address entreaties to, supplicate, beseech, pray to. Subjunctive in a jussive noun clause.

idemque postea religiosam agens vitam visus est, adeo ut haec, quae supra rettulimus, ex ipso audita dicantur.

rettulimus (> refero): 'I (lit. we) have recounted'.

audita (sc. esse): 'to have been heard'.

Chapter 6

Section 1

Igitur Martinus inde progressus cum Mediolanum praeterisset, diabolus in itinere, humana specie assumpta, se ei obvium tulit, quo tenderet quaerens.

Mediolanum, -i n., mod. Milan, a city in N. Italy.

se ei obvium tulit: 'brought himself in the way for him', i.e., met him.

Section 2

cumque id a Martino responsi accepisset, se quo Dominus vocaret intendere, ait ad eum: quocumque ieris vel quaecumque temptaveris, diabolus tibi adversabitur.

id . . . responsi: 'the following response' (introducing indirect statement). The genitive is partitive.

ieris > eo, ire

statimque de conspectu eius inimicus evanuit.

evanuit > evanesco

Section 3

itaque ut animo ac mente conceperat, matrem a gentilitatis absolvit errore, patre in malis perseverante: plures tamen suo salvavit exemplo.

gentilitas, -tatis f., heathenism, paganism.

Section 4

Dehinc cum haeresis Arriana per totum orbem et maxime intra Illyricum pullulasset, cum adversus perfidiam sacerdotum solus paene acerrime repugnaret multisque suppliciis esset affectus - nam et publice virgis caesus est et ad extremum de civitate exire compulsus - Italiam repetens, cum intra Gallias quoque discessu sancti Hilari, quem ad exsilium haereticorum vis coegerat, turbatam ecclesiam comperisset, Mediolani sibi monasterium statuit.

haeresis Arriana: the Arrian heresy, the principal heresy which denied the divinity of Jesus Christ, so called after its author, Arius (d. 336). The controversy between it and its ultimately successful rival, the Orthodox version of Christianity, was the major political/theological struggle of the fourth century. Martin and Hilary, like most of the Western clergy, were staunchly Orthodox.

pullulasset = pullulavisset > pullulo (1) grow, spread.

solus paene: 'almost alone'. paene often modifies the word it follows.

esset adfectus > adficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, to visit with (death, torture, punishment, etc.) + abl.

caesus est > caedo

civitate: 'city' (a later Latin sense), presumably Sabaria in Illyricum, where Martin's parents lived.

cum . . . comperisset (>comperio, -ire): 'when he had learned'

coegerat (> cogo): had compelled

turbatam (sc. esse): 'had been thrown into confusion', infinitive in indirect statement.

Section 5

cedendum itaque tempori arbitratus ad insulam, cui Gallinaria nomen est, secessit comite quodam presbytero, magnarum virtutum viro.

cedendum itaque tempori arbitratus: 'and so, having decided that he should yield to circumstances'. cedendum (sc. esse) is impersonal passive.

hic aliquamdiu radicibus vixit herbarum: quo tempore helleborum, uenenatum, ut ferunt, gramen, in cibum sumpsit.

ut ferunt: 'so they say', parenthetical.

Section 6

sed cum vim veneni in se grassantis vicina iam morte sensisset, imminens periculum oratione repulit statimque omnis dolor fugatus est.

vicina iam morte: 'and death was already upon him', ablative absolute.

Section 7

nec multo post, cum sancto Hilario comperisset regis paenitentia potestatem indultam fuisse redeundi, Romae ei temptavit occurrere profectusque ad urbem est.

indultam fuisse > indulgeo, -dulgēre, -dulsi, -dultum, grant, allow.

Romae: locative

Chapter 7

Section 1

Cum iam Hilarius praeterisset, ita eum est vestigiis prosecutus: cumque ab eo gratissime fuisset susceptus, haud longe sibi ab oppido monasterium collocavit, quo tempore se ei quidam catechumenus iunxit, cupiens sanctissimi viri institui disciplinis: paucisque interpositis diebus languore correptus vi febrium laborabat.

est . . . prosecutus > prosequor.

vestigiis (vestigium -i n.): 'in his tracks, in his footsteps'.

fuisset susceptus > suscipio, -ere

quidam catechumenus: 'as a kind of catechumen'.

languore correptus (corripio, -ripere, -ripui, -reptum): 'having contracted an illness'. The antecedent is Hilary.

Section 2

ac tum Martinus forte discesserat: et cum per triduum defuisset, regressus exanime corpus invenit: ita subita mors fuerat, ut absque baptismate humanis rebus excederet.

forte (Adv.): 'by chance'.

absque = sine

baptisma -matis n., baptism.

corpus in medio positum tristi maerentium fratrum frequentabatur officio, cum Martinus flens et eiulans accurrit.

corpus . . . officio: lit. 'his body, placed in a central location, was crowded with the sad duty of the mourning brothers', i.e., the brothers were crowding around the body and mourning.

cum . . . accurrit: indicative in a 'inverted' cum-clause, indicating that this, rather than the apparently main verb, is the true point of the sentence. The historic present tense adds vividness.

Section 3

tum vero tota sanctum spiritum mente concipiens egredi cellulam, in qua corpus iacebat, ceteros iubet, ac foribus obseratis super exanimata defuncti fratris membra prosternitur.

egredi (> egredior): infinitive after iubet, which follows.

et cum aliquamdiu orationi incubuisset sensissetque per spiritum Domini adesse virtutem, erectus paululum et in defuncti ora defixus, orationis suae ac misericordiae Domini intrepidus exspectabat eventum: vixque duarum fere horarum spatium intercesserat, videt defunctum paulatim membris omnibus commoveri et laxatis in usum videndi palpitare luminibus.

virtutem: 'miracle-working power'. virtus = 'miracle' or 'miracle-working power' is common in Christian Latin.

defuncti (> defungor): 'of the dead man', substantival use of the participle.

defixus (> defigo, -ere) in: 'with his sight fixed upon'.

membris omnibus: abl. of respect, specifying the exact location of the action of the verb (commoveri). laxatis . . . luminibus fills the same function for palpitare, below.

videndi: 'seeing', a gerund.

Section 4

tum vero magna ad Dominum voce conversus gratias agens cellulam clamore compleverat: quo audito qui pro foribus adstiterant statim irruunt.

foribus > fores (f. pl.), doors.

Section 5

ita redditus vitae, statim baptismum consecutus plures postea vixit annos, primusque apud nos Martini virtutum vel materia vel testimonium fuit.

baptismum -i n., an alternate, Latinized form of baptisma, -atis n., 'baptism'.

virtutum: 'miracles'.

Section 6

idem tamen referre erat solitus, se corpore exutum ad tribunal iudicis ductum deputandumque obscuris locis et vulgaribus turbis tristem excepisse sententiam: tum per duos angelos iudici fuisse suggestum, hunc esse pro quo Martinus oraret: ita per eosdem angelos se iussum reduci, et Martino redditum vitaeque pristinae restitutum.

erat solitus > soleo, -ēre.

obscuris locis et vulgaribus turbis: dative with deputandum.

iudici fuisse suggestum: 'that it had been brought to the attention of the judge that'. suggero, -gerere, -gessi, -gestum + dat., supply (words, ideas, etc.) to someone (OLD 3c). iudici > iudex, iudicis m.

iussum . . . redditum . . . resitutum: these are all infinitives, with esse left out, in indirect statement after referre, above.

Section 7

ab hoc primum tempore beati viri nomen enituit, ut qui sanctus iam ab omnibus habebatur, potens etiam et vere apostolicus haberetur.

enituit > enitesco, -nitescere, -nitui, become well-known, 'shine'.

ut . . . haberetur: result clause.

Chapter 8

Section 1

Nec multo post, dum agrum Lupicini cuiusdam honorati secundum saeculum viri praeteriret, clamore et luctu turbae plangentis excipitur,

honorati secundum saeculum viri: 'an honored man, according to the standards of the secular world.'

Section 2

ad quam cum sollicitus adstitisset et quis esset hic fletus inquireret, indicatur unum ex familia servulum laqueo sibi vitam extorsisse.

quis esset hic fletus: 'what was the reason for this lamentation' (subj. in indirect qu.)

extorsisse > extorqueo

quo cognito cellulam, in qua corpus iacebat, ingreditur, exclusisque omnibus turbis superstratus corpori aliquantisper oravit.

supertratus (> supersterno): 'spread out on top of'

corpori: dat. with superstratus

Section 3

mox vivescente vultu, marcescentibus oculis in ora illius defunctus erigitur: lentoque conamine enisus adsurgere, apprehensa beati viri dextera in pedes constitit: adque ita cum eo usque ad vestibulum domus, turba omni inspectante, processit.

in ora illius: 'in(to) the face of that man', i.e. face to face with Martin.

enisus (>enitor): 'having struggled, struggling'

adque = atque

Chapter 9

Section 1

Sub idem fere tempus ad episcopatum Turonicae ecclesiae petebatur: sed cum erui monasterio suo non facile posset, Rusticius quidam, unus e civibus, uxoris languore simulato ad genua illius provolutus ut egrederetur obtinuit.

episcopatus -us m., episcopacy, office of a bishop.

Touronicus -a -um, 'of Tours' (ancient Caesarodunum), the main city of the region occupied by the Turoni, south of the river Loire in France.

petebatur: the subject is Martin

erui > eruo, -ere

Section 2

ita dispositis iam in itinere civium turbis, sub quadam custodia ad civitatem usque deducitur.

civitatem: 'the city,' i.e. Tours.

mirum in modum incredibilis multitudo non solum ex illo oppido, sed etiam ex vicinis urbibus ad suffragia ferenda convenerat.

ad suffragia ferenda: 'to cast their votes'.

Section 3

una omnium voluntas, eadem vota eademque sententia, Martinum episcopatus esse dignissimum: felicem fore tali ecclesiam sacerdote.

episcopatūs: genitive with dignissimum

fore = futurum esse

pauci tamen et nonnulli ex episcopis, qui ad constituendum antistitem fuerant evocati, impie repugnabant, dicentes scilicet, contemptibilem esse personam, indignum esse episcopatu hominem vultu despicabilem, veste sordidum, crine deformem.

antistes, -stitis m., priest, bishop

ad constituendum antistitem: 'to install the bishop'.

indignum esse episcopatu hominem vultu despicabilem: start with hominem, '(they said that) a man reprehensible in his appearance . . . was unworthy of the episcopacy'. (indignum takes the ablative).

despicabilis -e, reprehensible (check TLL).

Section 4

ita a populo sententiae sanioris haec illorum inrisa dementia est, qui illustrem virum dum vituperare cupiunt praedicabant.

sententiae sanioris: 'of sounder opinion', genitive of characteristic, with populo.

haec illorum inrisa dementia est: 'this madness of theirs was ridiculed' (inrisa est > inrideo).

qui: the antecedent is illorum.

nec vero aliud his facere licuit, quam quod populus Domino volente cogitabat.

his: i.e. the bishops hostile to Martin.

aliud . . . quam quod: 'something other than that which'.

inter episcopos tamen qui adfuerant praecipue Defensor quidam dicitur restitisse: unde animadversum est graviter illum lectione prophetica tum notatum.

unde animadversum est graviter illum lectione prophetica tum notatum: 'and for that reason (unde) it was observed (animadversum est > animadverto, impersonal passive) that that man was sternly rebuked (notatum [esse] > noto [1]) at that time in a prophetic public reading'.

Section 5

nam cum fortuito lector, cui legendi eo die officium erat, interclusus a populo defuisset, turbatis ministris, dum exspectatur qui non aderat, unus e circumstantibus sumpto psalterio, quem primum versum invenit, arripuit.

interclusi: 'having been shut out' (> intercludo).

ministris (> minister): servants of the church, an order lower than that of the deacons. Cp. Optat. 1.13, 2.14 [Blaise].

psalterium, -i n., psaltry, the Book of Psalms.

quem primum versum invenit, arripuit: 'the first verse he found, he sized upon (arripuit > adripio, -ere) it (and read it out)'. The anrecedent of quem is versum.

Section 6

psalmus autem hic erat: ex ore infantium et lactantium perfecisti laudem propter inimicos tuos, ut destruas inimicum et defensorem.

psalmus, -i m., psalm

ex ore . . . defensorem: a quotation from the Latin version of Psalm 8.3, "Your majesty is praised as high as the heavens, from the mouths of babes and infants at the breast. You have established a bulwark against your adversaries to restrain the enemy and the avenger" (Oxford Study Bible, from the Hebrew). The key word is the last, defensorem, which was taken as a fortuitous allusion to Martin's opponent Defensor.

lactantium: 'sucklings'.

propter = 'against' is late and vulgar Latin [check TLL].

quo lecto clamor populi tollitur, pars diversa confunditur.

pars diversa: 'the opposing faction'.

Section 7

atque ita habitum est, divino nutu psalmum hunc lectum fuisse, ut testimonium operis sui Defensor audiret, qui ex ore infantium atque lactantium, in Martino Domini laude perfecta, et ostensus pariter et destructus esset inimicus.

ita habitum est: 'it was thought that'.

et ostensus pariter et destructus esset inimicus: 'had been at the same time both revealed as the enemy and destroyed (as the enemy).'

Chapter 10

Section 1

Iam vero sumpto episcopatu qualem se quantumque praestiterit, non est nostrae facultatis evolvere.

qualem se quantumque praestiterit: 'what sort of person, and how great, he showed himself to be' (indirect question after evolvere, below).

idem enim constantissime perseverabat qui prius fuerat.

Start with the verb (perseverabat), 'he steadfastly continued (to be)'.

idem . . . qui: 'the same person that'.

Section 2

eadem in corde eius humilitas, eadem in vestitu eius vilitas erat: atque ita, plenus auctoritatis et gratiae, implebat episcopi dignitatem, ut non tamen propositum monachi virtutemque desereret.

ita . . . ut: 'in such a way that'. Ita modifies the verb, implebat.

Section 3

aliquamdiu ergo adhaerenti ad ecclesiam cellula usus est: dein cum inquietudinem se frequentantium ferre non posset, duobus fere extra civitatem milibus monasterium sibi statuit.

frequentantium: 'of the crowds of visitors' (lit., 'of the thronging ones', > frequento [1]).

Section 4

ex uno enim latere praecisa montis excelsi rupe ambiebatur, reliquam planitiem Liger fluvius reducto paululum sinu clauserat: una tantum eademque arta admodum via adiri poterat.

latere > latus, lateris n., side.

praecisus -a -um, steep, precipitous

reducto paululum sinu: 'in a slight bend' (lit., 'with a curve having been drawn back a little').

una tantum eademque arta admodum via: 'by only a single road, and quite a narrow one at that'.

Section 5

discipuli fere octoginta erant, qui ad exemplum beati magistri instituebantur.

ad: 'after, in accordance with'

instituo, -ere, train, educate.

Section 6

non emere aut vendere, ut plerisque monachis moris est, quicquam licebat, ars ibi exceptis scriptoribus nulla habebatur, cui tamen operi minor aetas deputabatur: maiores orationi vacabant.

ut plerisque monachis moris est: 'as is customary for very many monks'.

quisquam, quicquam, any (single) person, anything (at all)

ars nulla habebatur: 'no craft or trade (OLD s.v. ars 7) was practiced (OLD s.v. habeo 20a)'.

minor aetas . . . maiores: 'less time . . . the majority (of the time)'. [check TLL s.v. aetas]

Section 7

cibum una omnes post horam ieiunii accipiebant.

una (Adv.): 'together'.

vinum nemo noverat, nisi quem infirmitas coegisset.

noverat (> nosco, -ere, novi, notum): 'was acquainted with'.

coegisset > cogo, -ere, compel

Section 8

plerique camelorum saetis vestiebantur: mollior ibi habitus pro crimine erat.

pro crimine erat: 'was considered a serious offense'.

quod eo magis sit mirum necesse est, quod multi inter eos nobiles habebantur, qui longe aliter educati ad hanc se humilitatem et patientiam coegerant: pluresque ex eis postea episcopos vidimus.

eō (Adv. with a comparative): 'the more'

quod eo magis sit mirum necesse est, quod: 'a thing which must be all the more remarkable because'.

sit: necesse est + a subjunctive clause is common and classical.

longe aliter educati: 'though brought up in a far different manner' (concessive participial phrase).

Section 9

quae enim esset civitas aut ecclesia, quae non sibi de Martini monasterio cuperet sacerdotem?

quae enim esset civitas: 'for what city would there be?' Potential subjunctive.

Chapter 11

Section 1

Sed ut reliquas virtutes eius, quas in episcopatu egit, adgrediar; erat haud longe ab oppido proximus monasterio locus, quem falsa hominum opinio, velut consepultis ibi martyribus, sacraverat:

sed ut . . . adgrediar: 'But to come to' (introducing a new topic), lit. 'so that I might deal with'.

virtutes: 'miracles'

consepelio, (no perf.), consepultus, 'bury with' (later Latin only)

Section 2

nam et altare ibi a superioribus episcopis constitutum habebatur.

superioribus: 'previous'

sed Martinus non temere adhibens incertis fidem, ab his, qui maiores natu erant, presbyteris vel clericis flagitabat nomen sibi martyris, tempus passionis ostendi: grandi se scrupulo permoveri, quod nihil certi constans sibi maiorum memoria tradidisset.

non temere: 'not lightly, not easily'.

nihil certi constans sibi: 'nothing certain and consistent', lit. 'nothing of certain (gen. of the whole) consistent with itself' (OLD s.v. consto 10a).

Section 3

cum aliquamdiu ergo a loco illo se abstinuisset, nec derogans religioni, quia incertus erat, nec auctoritatem suam vulgo accommodans, ne superstitio convalesceret, quodam die paucis secum adhibitis fratribus ad locum pergit.

aliquamdiu: 'for some time'.

derogo (1) + dat., detract from.

religio, -onis f., sanctity (OLD s.v. 7).

Section 4

dehinc super sepulcrum ipsum adstans oravit ad Dominum, ut quis esset vel cuius meriti esset sepultus ostenderet.

ut quis esset . . . ostendere: 'that he reveal who was buried there or of what worth he was'. cuius meriti is gen. of characteristic. Cp. Ambrose, De paenitentia 1.9: non quicumque de vulgo, nec plebeiae vilitatis aliquis, sed vitae egregiae singularisque meriti.

meritum, -i n. = 'good action, benefit, service'; the sense 'worth, value' is poetic and post-classical (LS). The use just below, meritum loqueretur, combines both senses.

sepultus esset > sepelio, -ire, -ivi, sepultum, bury.

nomen edicit, de crimine confitetur: latronem se fuisse, ob scelera percussum, vulgi errore celebratum: sibi nihil cum martyribus esse commune, cum illos gloria, se poena retineret.

celebratum: 'honored with ceremonies, crowds, etc.' (OLD s.v. celebro 4).

retineret: 'was keeping' (in place or in memory).

Chapter 12

Section 1

Accidit autem insequenti tempore, dum iter ageret, ut gentilis cuiusdam corpus, quod ad sepulcrum cum superstitioso funere deferebatur, obvium haberet: conspicatusque eminus venientium turbam, quidnam id esset ignarus, paululum stetit: nam fere quingentorum passuum intervallum erat, ut difficile fuerit dinoscere quid videret.

quingentorum passuum: 'of 500 paces' (> passus -ūs, m.), i.e. half a Roman mile.

Section 2

tamen quia rusticam manum cerneret et agente vento lintea corpori superiecta volitarent, profanos sacrificiorum ritus agi credidit: quia esset haec Gallorum rusticis consuetudo, simulacra daemonum candido tecta velamine misera per agros suos circumferre dementia.

manum: 'band, group, company' (OLD s.v. manus 22c).

agente vento: 'throught the action of the wind'

daemonum (gen. pl.) > daemon, -monis, m., evil spirit, demon (=daemonium -i,n., the more usual form).

misera . . . dementia: abl. of manner.

Section 3

levato ergo in adversos signo crucis imperat turbae non moveri loco onusque deponere.

turbae: dative with imperat.

hic vero mirum in modum videres miseros primum velut saxa riguisse.

riguisse (> rigeo or rigesco): 'become stiff, freeze'.

Section 4

dein, cum promovere se summo conamine niterentur, ultra accedere non valentes ridiculam in vertiginem rotabantur, donec victi corporis onus ponunt: attoniti et semet invicem aspicientes, quidnam sibi accidisset, taciti cogitabant.

victi (nom. pl.): 'having been overcome'.

invicem (Adv.): 'reciprocally, mutually' (OLD s.v. 3).

semet invicem aspicientes: 'looking at each other'.

Section 5

ita eos et cum voluit, stare compulit, et cum libuit, abire permisit.

compulit > compello

Chapter 13

Section 1

Item, cum in vico quodam templum antiquissimum diruisset et arborem pinum, quae fano erat proxima, esset adgressus excidere, tum vero antistes loci illius ceteraque gentilium turba coepit obsistere.

esset adgressus: 'had begun to' (> adgredior, adgredi, adgressus sum, begin, attempt [to]).

Section 2

et cum idem illi, dum templum evertitur, imperante Domino quievissent, succidi arborem non patiebantur.

quievissent: 'had grown quiet' (> quiesco).

ille eos sedulo commonere, nihil esse religionis in stipite: Deum potius, cui serviret ipse, sequerentur: arborem illam succidi oportere, quia esset daemoni dedicata.

commonere: historical infinitive, introducing indirect statement, 'he earnestly impressed on them that . . .'.

sequerentur: jussive subjunctive in indirect statement, 'that they should follow'.

daemoni > daemon, -monis, m., evil spirit, demon (daemonium -i, n., is the more usual form).

Section 3

tum unus ex illis qui erat audacior ceteris: si habes, inquit, aliquam de Deo tuo, quem dicis te colere, fiduciam, nosmet ipsi succidemus hanc arborem, tu ruentem excipe: et si tecum est tuus, ut dicis, Dominus, evades.

ceteris: abl. of comparison.

aliquam de Deo tuo . . . fiduciam: 'any confidence in your God.'

evado, -ere, survive, escape.

Section 4

tum ille intrepide confisus in Domino facturum se pollicetur.

confisus: 'trusting' (> confido, ere, confisus sum, semi-deponent).

hic vero ad istius modi condicionem omnis illa gentilium turba consensit, facilemque arboris suae habuere iacturam, si inimicum sacrorum suorum casu illius obruissent.

hīc (Adv.): 'at this point' (OLD s.v. 6).

facilemque arboris suae habuere iacturam: 'and they considered the loss of their tree easy (to bear)'.

Section 5

itaque cum unam in partem pinus illa esset acclinis, ut non esset dubium, quam in partem succisa corrueret, eo loci vinctus statuitur pro arbitrio rusticorum, quo arborem esse casuram nemo dubitabat.

eo loci . . . quo: 'in that place where' (loci is partitive genitive).

vinctus (> vincio, -ire): 'tied up'.

Section 8

at ille confisus in Domino intrepidus opperiens, cum iam fragorem sui pinus concidens edidisset, iam cadenti, iam super se ruenti, elevata obviam manu, signum salutis opponit.

edidisset > edo

cadenti . . . ruenti: dative with opponit.

signum salutis: 'the sign of salvation', i.e. the cross.

tum vero - velut turbinis modo retro actam putares - diversam in partem ruit, adeo ut rusticos, qui toto in loco steterant, paene prostraverit.

velut turbinis modo retro actam (sc. esse) putares: 'you would think it had been driven back by a kind of whirlwind.' (a vivid appeal to the reader in the generalizing 2nd person singular).

prostraverit (>prosterno): 'flattened' (pf. subj. in a result clause).

Section 9

tum vero in caelum clamore sublato gentiles stupere miraculo, monachi flere prae gaudio, Christi nomen in commune ab omnibus praedicari: satisque constitit eo die salutem illi venisse regioni.

stupere . . . flere . . . praedicari: historic infinitives, 'were amazed at . . . wept . . . was praised'.

satisque constitit (> consto -are): 'and it was generally agreed that'.

nam nemo fere ex immani illa multitudine gentilium fuit, qui non impositione manus desiderata Dominum Iesum, relicto impietatis errore, crediderit.

nemo fere . . . fuit, qui non . . . crediderit: 'there was almost no one who did not believe in' (+ acc.).

impositione manus desiderata: 'with the laying on of hands having been asked for'. The pagans asked for the laying on of hands, abandoned their errors, and believed.

et vere ante Martinum pauci admodum, immo paene nulli in illis regionibus Christi nomen receperant: quod adeo virtutibus illius exemploque convaluit, ut iam ibi nullos locus sit, qui non aut ecclesiis frequentissimis aut monasteriis sit repletus.

convaluit: 'became strong' (> convalesco).

sit repletus: 'has been filled' (> repleo).

Chapter 14

Section 1

Nec minorem sub idem fere tempus eodem in opere virtutem edidit.

eodem in opere: 'in the same task', i.e., destroying pagan shrines and converting the peasants.

nam cum in vico quodam fano antiquissimo et celeberrimo ignem immisisset, in proximam, immo adhaerentem domum agente vento flammarum globi ferebantur.

agente vento: 'through the action of the wind'.

Section 2

tum vero mirum in modum cerneres contra vim venti ignem retorqueri, ut compugnantium inter se elementorum quidam conflictus videretur.

cerneres: 'you would see' (i.e., if you were there, more vivid appeal to the reader).

quidam conflictus videretur: 'there seemed to be a kind of collision'.

ita virtute Martini ibi tantum ignis est operatus, ubi iussus est.

ibi tantum . . . ubi: 'only at that place where'.

Section 3

In vico autem, cui Leprosum nomen est, cum itidem templum opulentissimum superstitione religionis voluisset evertere, restitit ei multitudo gentilium, adeo ut non absque iniuria sit repulsus.

absque: 'without'.

Section 4

itaque secessit ad proxima loca, ibique per triduum cilicio tectus et cinere, ieiunans semper atque orans, precabatur ad Dominum, ut, quia templum illud evertere humana manus non potuisset, virtus illud divina dirueret.

ad proxima loca: 'to a nearby region' (loca -orum n. pl.).

cilicium -i n., a rug or blanket of goat's hair, a rough material suggestive of austerity.

Section 5

tum subito ei duo angeli hastati atque scutati instar militiae caelestis se obtulerunt, dicentes missos se a Domino, ut rusticam multitudinem fugarent praesidiumque Martino ferrent, ne quis, dum templum dirueretur, obsisteret: rediret ergo et opus coeptum devotus impleret.

instar, n. nom./acc., equivalent to, equal to, + genitive

instar militiae caelestis: 'like a heavenly soldiery'.

rediret . . . impleret: 'he should go back and complete',jussive subjunctive in indirect statement, representing the angels' instructions.

devotus: adverbial, 'zealously, piously'.

Section 6

ita regressus ad vicum, inspectantibus gentilium turbis et quiescentibus, dum profanam aedem usque ad fundamenta dirueret, aras omnes atque simulacra redegit in pulverem.

redegit (> redigo, -ere): 'reduced (to), turned (into)'.

Section 7

quo viso rustici, cum se intellegerent divino nutu obstupefactos atque perterritos, ne episcopo repugnarent, omnes fere Iesum Dominum crediderunt, clamantes palam et confitentes, Deum Martini colendum, idola autem neglegenda, quae nec sibi nec aliis adesse possent.

colendum (sc. esse): 'should be worshipped' (> colo -ere). Passive periphrastic in indirect statement after confitentes.

neglegenda: sc. esse

adesse: 'aid' (> adsum + dat.)

Chapter 15

Section 1

Quid etiam in pago Aeduorum gestum sit, referam.

Aedui -orum, m. pl., the Aedui, a large and important Gallic tribe occupying the territory between the Saone and the Loire rivers.

cumque unus audacior ceteris stricto eum gladio peteret, reiecto pallio nudam cervicem percussuro praebuit.

stricto . . . gladio: 'with his sword drawn' (> stringo, -ere, strinxi, strictum).

peteret: 'was going for, was attacking' (OLD s.v. peto 2).

reiecto pallio: 'with his cloak having been cast aside' (OLD s.v. reicio 6a).

percussuro: 'to the one about to strike' (> percutio, -ere, percussi, percussum).

Section 2

nec cunctatus ferire gentilis, sed cum dexteram altius extulisset, resupinus ruit, consternatusque divino metu veniam precabatur.

gentilis: 'the heathen (man)'.

venia -ae f., pardon, mercy.

Section 3

nec dissimile huic fuit illud.

huic . . . illud: 'this (just mentioned) . . . the following'.

cum eum idola destruentem cultro quidam ferire voluisset, in ipso ictu ferrum ei de manibus excussum non comparuit.

non comparuit (> compareo): 'disappeared'.

Section 4

plerumque autem contra dicentibus sibi rusticis, ne eorum fana destrueret, ita praedicatione sancta gentiles animos mitigabat, ut luce eis veritatis ostensa ipsi sua templa subverterent.

plerumque: 'generally, on many occasions'.

contra (Adv.): 'in opposition' (OLD 6).

sibi: 'to him' (dative with dicentibus, cp. OLD s.v. dico 1b).

praedicatio -onis f., 'preaching' (an ecclesiastical sense).

gentilis -e, adj.: heathen, pagan.

Chapter 16

Section 1

Curationum vero tam potens in eo gratia erat, ut nullus fere ad eum aegrotus accesserit, qui non continuo receperit sanitatem: quod vel ex consequenti liquebit exemplo.

gratia -ae f., 'gift (of God)'.

curationum . . . gratia: 'the divine gift of healing'.

continuo (Adv.): immediately.

Section 2

Treveris puella quaedam dira paralysis aegritudine tenebatur, [ita] ut iam per multum tempus nullo ad humanos usus corporis officio fungeretur: omni ex parte praemortua vix tenui spiritu palpitabat.

Treveris (abl. of place where): 'among the Treveri', a large and important Gallic tribe inhabiting the country between the Moselle and the Ardennes, with its chief settlement at modern Trier.

dira parlysis aegritudine: 'with a dreadful sickness of paralysis', i.e., with a dreadful sickness that left her paralyzed.

nullo ad humanos usus corporis officio fungeretur: 'she executed no bodily function for human uses', i.e. she had no use of her body. fungor takes the ablative.

palpito (1), quiver.

Section 3

tristes ad solam funeris exspectationem adstabant propinqui, cum subito ad civitatem illam Martinum venisse nuntiatur.

ad solam funeris expectationem: 'expecting only her death'.

cum . . . nuntiatur: 'when it was announced', historical present and indicative in an inverted cum-clause for extra vividness.

Section 4

et forte Martinus iam ecclesiam fuerat ingressus.

fuerat ingressus (> ingredior): 'had entered'.

ibi inspectante populo multisque aliis praesentibus episcopis, eiulans senex genua eius amplectitur dicens: filia mea moritur misero genere languoris, et quod ipsa est morte crudelius, solo spiritu vivit, iam carne praemortua.

ipsa morte: abl. of comparison with crudelius.

praemorior, -iri, -rtuus sum, to die beforehand, esp. of parts of the body or faculties that cease to function before the death of a person.

rogo ut eam adeas atque benedicas: confido enim quod per te reddenda sit sanitati.

confido quod: 'I am certain that...' Quod introducing indirect statement with a subjuncive verb is late Latin (cp. Blaise s.v. quod 3).

Section 5

qua ille voce confusus obstipuit et refugit dicens, hoc suae non esse virtutis: senem errare iudicio, non esse se dignum, per quem Dominus signum virtutis ostenderet.

hoc suae non esse virtutis: 'that this was not within his power'. What kind of genitive?

Section 6

perstare vehementius flens pater et orare ut exanimem visitaret: postremo a circumstantibus episcopis ire compulsus descendit ad domum puellae.

perstare . . . orare: historical infinitives, 'persisted and begged'.

ingens turba pro foribus exspectabat, quidnam Dei servus esset facturus.

expectabat: 'was waiting (to see)'.

Section 7

ac primum quae erant illius familiaria in istius modi rebus arma, solo prostratus oravit.

quae: the antecedent must be supplied from what follows.

familiaria . . . arma: 'his usual weapons', i.e., his usual method, prayer. This looks forward to the main verb, oravit.

solo (> solum -i n.): 'on the ground'

prostratus (> prosterno): 'prostrate'.

Section 8

tunc paulatim singula contactu eius coeperunt membra vivescere, donec firmatis gressibus populo teste surrexit.

populo teste: 'as the people watched', lit. 'with the people being a witness' (abl. absol.). Cp. Augustine, City of God 22.8 (of the miraculous cure of a blind man) immenso populo teste res gesta est. The presence of spectators guarantees the reliability of the account.

Chapter 17

Section 1

Eodem tempore Taetradii cuiusdam proconsularis viri servus daemonio correptus dolendo exitu cruciabatur: rogatus ergo Martinus, ut ei manum imponeret, deduci eum ad se iubet: sed nequam spiritus nullo proferri modo de cellula, in qua erat, potuit: ita in advenientes rabidis dentibus saeviebat.

Taetradii cuiusdam proconsularis viri: 'of a certain Taetradius, a man of proconsular rank'--evidently a very important personage, though nothing more is known of him. A proconsul was a distinguished former consul and governor of a province. Perhaps Taetradius had governed a province like Africa, then returned to his estates in Gaul. Gaul itself was not governed by a proconsul.

daemonium -i, n., an evil spirit, a demon (eccl.).

dolendo exitu: 'a lamentable death' (exitus -us m.).

ei: 'upon him' (dative with imponere).

nequam (adj. indeclinable): wicked, bad.

nullo . . . modo: 'in no way'.

Section 2

tum Taetradius ad genua beati viri advolvitur, orans ut ad domum, in qua daemoniacus habebatur, ipse descenderet.

daemoniacus -i m., a person possessed by an evil spirit, a demoniac.

Section 3

tum vero Martinus negare se profani et gentilis domum adire posse: nam Taetradius eo tempore adhuc gentilitatis errore implicitus tenebatur.

negare: 'denied' (historical infinitive).

spondet ergo se, si de puero daemon fuisset exactus, Christianum fore.

fuisset exactus (> exigo, -ere): 'has been driven out'. This so-called 'shifted' pluperfect subjunctive is typical of later and vulgar Latin (L-H-S ii.321).

fore (= futurum esse): 'would become'.

Section 4

quo viso Taetradius Dominum Iesum credidit: statimque catechumenus factus nec multo post baptizatus est, semperque Martinum salutis suae auctorem miro coluit affectu.

baptizo (1): baptize.

Martinum . . . auctorem . . . coluit (> colo -ere): 'paid great respect to Martin as the author of'.

Section 5

Per idem tempus in eodem oppido ingressus patris familias cuiusdam domum, in limine ipso restitit dicens, horribile in atrio domus daemonium se videre.

daemonium -i, n.: an evil spirit, a demon.

paterfamilias, gen. patrisfamilias (sometimes written as two words): head of household, property owner.

cui cum ut discederet imperaret et patrem familias, qui in interiore parte aedium morabatur, arripuisset, saevire dentibus miser coepit, et obvios quosque laniare.

cui cum ut discederet imperaret: 'when it (the demon) ordered him (Martin) to leave'.

aedium (> aedes -ium f. pl.): 'house'.

miser: 'the wretched man' (= the pater familias).

obvios quosque (> quisque): 'each person he met'.

commota domus, familia turbata, populus in fugam versus: Martinus se furenti obiecit, ac primum stare ei imperat.

commota . . . turbata . . . versus: supply est with all three participles.

obiecit > obicio, -ere

Section 6

sed cum dentibus fremeret hiantique ore morsum minaretur, digitos ei Martinus in os intulit: si habes, inquit, aliquid potestatis, hos devora.

hianti (> hio [1]) ore: 'with gaping mouth'.

ei: 'his', i.e. the demoniac's. For this dative of possession (colloquial) see Woodcock sec. 63.

Section 7

tum vero, ac si candens ferrum faucibus accepisset, longe reductis dentibus digitos beati viri vitabat attingere: et cum fugere de obsesso corpore poenis et cruciatibus cogeretur nec tamen exire ei per os liceret, foeda relinquens vestigia fluxu ventris egestus est.

ac si: 'as if'.

candens: 'white hot'.

obsesso: 'possessed' (> obsideo, -ēre, -ēdi, -essum, occupy, besiege, assail).

ei: dative with liceret.

fluxu ventris: 'through the evacuation of the man's bowels'.

egestus est: 'was expelled' (> egero, -gerere, -gessi, -gestum).

Chapter 18

Section 1

Interea cum de motu atque impetu barbarorum subita civitatem fama turbasset, daemoniacum ad se exhiberi iubet: imperat ut, an verus esset hic nuntius, fateretur.

motu: 'revolt, rising' (OLD s.v. motus 9b).

civitatem: presumably Trier, where the previous two episodes were set (Fontaine ii.854).

Section 2

tum confessus est decem daemonas secum fuisse, qui rumorem hunc per populum dispersissent, ut hoc saltim metu ex illo Martinus oppido fugaretur: barbaros nihil minus quam de irruptione cogitare.

dispersissent: 'had scattered' (> dispergo, -spergere, -spersi, -spersum).

hoc saltim metu: 'by this fear, at any rate', i.e. rather than by direct attacks by demons, thus far ineffective.

nihil minus quam: 'merely'.

irruptione: 'incursion, raid' (> irruptio -onis, f.).

Section 3

Apud Parisios vero, dum portam civitatis illius magnis secum turbis euntibus introiret, leprosum miserabili facie horrentibus cunctis osculatus est atque benedixit, statimque omni malo emundatus.

Parisios: mod. Paris.

leprosus -i, m.: leper (late Lat.)

osculor, -ari, -atus sum, kiss.

malo: 'disease' (OLD s.v. malum 7b).

emundo (1), cleanse.

Section 4

postero die ad ecclesiam veniens nitenti cute gratias pro sanitate, quam receperat, agebat.

nitenti: 'shining, glistening' (> niteo, -ēre).

nec praetereundum est, quod fimbriae vestimento eius cilicioque detractae crebras super infirmantibus egere virtutes.

nec praetereundum est, quod: 'and I must not pass over the fact that'. praetereundum est (> praetereo, -ire) is impersonal passive, lit., 'it must not be passed by that'.

finbriae: 'fringes'.

crebras . . . egere (> ago) virtutes: 'performed frequent miracles'.

Section 5

nam digitis illigatae aut collo inditae saepe ab aegrotantibus morbos fugaverunt.

indo, indere, indidi, inditum, place upon.

digitis illigatae aut collo inditae: 'tied on the fingers or placed upon the neck'. The antecedent is fimbriae.

Chapter 19

Section 1

Arborius autem, vir praefectorius, sancti admodum et fidelis ingenii, cum filia eius gravissimis quartanae febribus ureretur, epistulam Martini, quae casu ad eum delata fuerat, pectori puellae in ipso accessu ardoris inseruit, statimque fugata febris est.

vir praefectorius: 'a former prefect', commander of a legion or detachment of a legion (Jones, Later Roman Empire i.640).

gravissimis quartanae febribus: 'by very serious attacks of quartan fever' (quartana -ae, f.), technically one that recurs every third day; perhaps a form of malaria.

delata fuerat: 'had been delivered' (> defero, the so-called 'shifted' pluperfect, typical of later Lat.)

Section 2

quae res apud Arborium in tantum valuit, ut statim puellam Deo voverit et perpetuae virginitati dicarit: profectusque ad Martinum puellam ei, praesens virtutum eius testimonium, quae per absentem licet curata esset, obtulit, neque ab alio eam quam a Martino habitu virginitatis imposito passus est consecrari.

in tantum valuit, ut: 'had such an effect that'

dicarit: 'dedicated' (> dico [1], syncopated pf. subj., = dicaverit).

praesens virtutum eius testimonium: parenthetical, 'a potent testimony to his miracle working powers'.

per absentem licet: 'through him even when he was not there' (> absum, abesse).

neque ab alio . . . quam: 'by no one other than'.

Section 3

Paulinus magni vir postmodum futurus exempli, cum oculum graviter dolere coepisset et iam pupillam eius crassior nubes superducta texisset, oculum ei Martinus penicillo contigit pristinamque ei sanitatem sublato omni dolore restituit.

Paulinus magni vir postmodum futurus exempli: 'Paulinus, a man who later would set such a fine example', i.e., by giving up his considerable wealth and devoting himself to the church. This is Paulinus of Nola, the poet; see below, 26.4.

oculum ei . . . dolere: 'to have pain in his (Paulinus') eye' (oculum is acc. of respect, ei is dative of possession).

Section 4

ipse autem cum casu quodam esset de cenaculo devolutus et per confragosos scalae gradus decidens multis vulneribus esset affectus, cum exanimis iaceret in cellula et immodicis doloribus cruciaretur, nocte ei angelus visus est eluere vulnera et salubri unguedine contusi corporis superlinire livores: atque ita postero die restitutus est sanitati, ut nihil umquam pertulisse incommodi putaretur.

esset . . . devolutus: 'had fallen down' (> devolvo).

per confragosos scalae gradus decidens: 'tumbling through the treacherous steps of a flight of stairs', or else 'falling through the broken rungs of a ladder'. The Latin could mean either.

unguedo unguedinis, f., ointment, unguent.

contusi: 'battered' (> contundo).

superlinire: 'annoint'.

nihil umquam . . . incommodi: 'no injury at all' (incommodi is partitive genitive).

Section 5

sed longum est ire per singula: sufficiant haec vel pauca de plurimis, satisque sit, nos et in excellentibus non subtrahere veritatem et in multis vitare fastidium.

longum est: 'it is a long task'.

sufficiant haec . . . satisque sit: 'let these things suffice . . . and let it be enough' (jussive subj.).

nos et in excellentibus non subtrahere veritatem et in multis vitare fastidium: 'that in describing outstanding deeds I do not detract from their believability, and in describing many deeds I avoid annoying the reader'. Supply a gerundive like dicendis after excellentibus and multis.

Chapter 20

Section 1

Atque ut minora tantis inseram - quamvis, ut est nostrorum aetas temporum, quibus iam depravata omnia atque corrupta sunt, paene praecipuum sit, adulationi regiae sacerdotalem non cessisse constantiam -, cum ad imperatorem Maximum, ferocis ingenii virum et bellorum civilium victoria elatum, plures ei diversis orbis partibus episcopi convenissent et foeda circa principem omnium adulatio notaretur seque degenere inconstantia regiae clientelae sacerdotalis dignitas subdidisset, in solo Martino apostolica auctoritas permanebat.

ut minora tantis inseram: parenthetical, 'to include smaller matters with such great feats'.

quamvis . . . paene praecipuum sit: 'although it is almost a chief virtue'

regius -a -um: royal, relating to the emperor.

adulationi regiae: 'flattery toward the emperor', dative with cessisse, 'to have yielded to' (> cedo, cedere, cessi, cessum).

imperatorem Maximum: Magnus Maximus, Roman emperor AD 383-8.

elatum: 'puffed up, arrogant' (> effero).

notaretur: 'was observed' (OLD s.v. noto 13).

seque degenere inconstantia regiae clientelae sacerdotalis dignitas subdidisset: 'and priestly dignity had shamefully degraded itself through the inconstancy of royal clientage'. As he describes in more detail in the Chronica, Sulpicius saw clerics of this period sometimes flatter and manipulate emperors into persecuting rival Christian sects and factions. In his view the church should be separate from and above the state, but many bishops became entangled in imperial politics. Martin set a good example by staying true to his principles and not flattering the emperors for his own personal advantage.

apostolicus -a -um, relating to an apostle, apostolic.

Section 2

nam et si pro aliquibus regi supplicandum fuit, imperavit potius quam rogavit, et a convivio eius frequenter rogatus abstinuit, dicens se mensae eius participem esse non posse, qui imperatores unum regno, alterum vita expulisset.

et si pro aliquibus regi supplicandum fuit: 'even if it was necessary to petition the emperor on somebody's behalf'. As a bishop Martin might have to intercede with the emperor on behalf of a member of his flock.

mensae eius . . . qui: 'the table of that man who', i.e., Maximus.

imperatores unum regno, alterum vita expulisset: 'had expelled one emperor from office, another from life'. In his rise to power Maximus had killed the western emperor Gratian and later invaded Italy, displacing Valentinian II.[1]

Section 3

postremo, cum Maximus se non sponte sumpsisse imperium affirmaret, sed impositam sibi a militibus divino nutu regni necessitatem armis defendisse, et non alienam ab eo Dei voluntatem videri, penes quem tam incredibili eventu victoria fuisset, nullumque ex adversariis nisi in acie occubuisse, tandem victus vel ratione vel precibus ad convivium venit, mirum in modum gaudente rege, quod id impetrasset.

divino nutu: 'with divine approval' (nutus, -us, m., nod).

penes quem . . . victoria fuisset: 'to whom his victory had been due'.

tandem victus: 'won over at last' (the antecedent is Martin).

impetrasset: 'had obtained' (> impetro [1], syncopated pluperf. subj., = impetravisset).

Section 4

convivae autem aderant, velut ad diem festum evocati, summi atque illustres viri, praefectus idemque consul Euodius, vir quo nihil umquam iustius fuit, comites duo summa potestate praediti, frater regis et patruus: medius inter hos Martini presbyter accubuerat, ipse autem in sellula iuxta regem posita consederat.

convivae autem aderant: 'Moreover, there were present as his fellow diners . . . ' There follows a list of notables, some of the most powerful men of that time.

Euodius: Flavius Euodius, consul 386.

vir quo nihil umquam iustius fuit: 'a man than whom no one (lit. nothing) was ever more just'.

presbyter -eri, m., priest.

Section 5

ad medium fere convivium, ut moris est, pateram regi minister obtulit.

ut moris est: 'as is customary' (> mos moris, f.).

patera -ae, f., a broad, shallow bowl or dish, used in making libations.

ille sancto admodum episcopo potius dari iubet, exspectans atque ambiens, ut ab illius dextera poculum sumeret.

ambiens: 'seeking' (OLD s.v. ambio 3b).

ut ab illius dextera poculum sumeret: 'that he (Maximus) would receive the drinking vessel from that man's (Martin's) right hand'--which would be a sign of honor for Maximus.

Section 6

sed Martinus ubi ebibit, pateram presbytero suo tradidit, nullum scilicet existimans digniorem, qui post se prior biberet, nec integrum sibi fore, si aut regem ipsum aut eos, qui a rege erant proximi, presbytero praetulisset.

nec integrum sibi fore: 'and (thinking) that it would not be morally upright for him' (OLD s.v. integer 13).

fore = futurum esse, indirect statement after existimans.

Section 7

quod factum imperator omnesque qui tunc aderant ita admirati sunt, ut hoc ipsum eis, in quo contempti fuerant, placeret.

contempti fuerant: 'they had been scorned' (> contemno).

celeberrimumque per omne palatium fuit, fecisse Martinum in regis prandio, quod in infimorum iudicum conviviis nemo episcoporum fecisset.

celeberrimum . . . fuit: 'it was much talked about that' (OLD s.v. celeber 4).

Section 8

eidemque Maximo longe ante praedixit futurum ut, si ad Italiam pergeret, quo ire cupiebat, bellum Valentiniano imperatori inferens, sciret se primo quidem impetu futurum esse victorem, sed parvo post tempore esse periturum.

periturum > pereo, -ire, die.

Chapter 21

Section 1

Constat autem etiam angelos ab eo plerumque visos, ita ut conserto apud eum invicem sermone loquerentur: diabolum vero ita conspicabilem et subiectum oculis habebat, ut sive se in propria substantia contineret, sive in diversas figuras spiritalis nequitiae transtulisset, qualibet ab eo sub imagine videretur.

conserto . . . loquerentur: 'engaging in conversation before him they spoke in turn.'

conspicabilis, -e, visible (eccl.)

subiectum: 'exposed to' + dat. (> subicio, -icere, -ieci, -iectm).

spiritalis -e, spiritual (late Lat.)

qualibet . . . sub imagine: 'in any manifestation whatsoever'.

Section 2

quodam autem tempore cornu bovis cruentum in manu tenens cum ingenti fremitu cellulam eius irrupit, cruentamque ostendens dexteram et admisso recens scelere gaudens 'ubi est' inquit, 'Martine, virtus tua?

cornu: neter accusative singular.

admisso recens scelere gaudens: ' rejoicing in the crime he had just committed'. admisso scelere is abl. with gaudens.

unum de tuis modo interfeci'.

modo (Adv.): 'just now'

Section 3

tunc ille convocatis fratribus refert quid diabolus indicasset: sollicitos ire praecipit per cellulas singulorum, quisnam hoc casu affectus fuisset.

indica(vi)sset > indico (1).

sollicitos: adverbial, 'carefully'.

affectus fuisset: 'had been afflicted with' (> afficio, -ere + abl.).

neminem quidem deesse de monachis, sed unum rusticum mercede conductum, ut vehiculo ligna deferret, isse ad silvam nuntiant.

neminem: accusative in indeirect statement, after nuntiant, below.

deesse: 'was missing' (> desum, deesse).

rusticum mercede conductum ut: 'peasant hired to' (> merces, mercedis f., reward; conduco, -ere, hire).

isse > eo, ire

Section 4

extremum tamen spiritum trahens indicat fratribus causam mortis et vulneris: iunctis scilicet bubus dum dissoluta artius lora constringit, bovem sibi excusso capite inter inguina cornu adegisse.

iuncits scilicet bubus: 'when his oxen were yoked together' (> bos, bovis, m.).

dum dissoluta artius lora constringit: 'while he was tying more tightly the straps that had come undone'. Dum meaning 'while' (indicating a situation in the course of which a punctual event occurs) sometimes introduces a clause with a present indicative verb, regardless of the tense of the main clause (OLD s.v. dum 3a).

excusso > excutio, -ere

adegisse: 'had driven' (> adigo, -ere).

nec multo post vitam reddidit.

post: adverbial, 'later'.

vitam reddere = 'die'

videris, quo iudicio Domini diabolo data fuerit haec potestas.

videris: 'it is for you to decide' (fut. pf. indic., see OLD s.v. video 18b).

data fuerit: 'has been given' ('shifted' pf. subj. [ = data sit] in indirect question).

Section 5

in Martino illud mirabile erat, quod non solum hoc, quod supra rettulimus, sed multa istius modi, si quotiens accidissent, longe antea praevidebat aut sibi nuntiata fratribus indicabat.

rettulimus > refero

si quotiens: 'if ever, whenever' (= quotiens, apparently a mannerism of Sulpicius, cp. Dial. 3.6).

Chapter 22

Section 1

Frequenter autem diabolus, dum mille nocendi artibus sanctum virum conabatur illudere, visibilem se ei formis diversissimis ingerebat.

artibus: 'cunning methods' (> ars artis, f.)

visibilem se ei formis diversissimis ingerebat: 'used to make himself visible to him in a great variety of forms'.

nam interdum in Iovis personam, plerumque Mercuri, saepe etiam se Veneris ac Minervae transfiguratum vultibus offerebat: adversus quem semper interritus signo se crucis et orationis auxilio protegebat.

se . . . offerebat: 'he used to present himself'.

vultibus: 'with respect to his appearance' (> vultus, -ūs m.).

Section 2

audiebantur plerumque convicia, quibus illum turba daemonum protervis vocibus increpabat: sed omnia falsa et vana cognoscens non movebatur obiectis.

increpo (1), exclaim loudly against a person (+ acc.), rebuke, reprove.

obiectis: 'charges, accusations' (> obicio, -icere, -ieci, -iectum, bring up as a reproach, throw in a person's teeth).

Section 3

testabantur etiam aliqui ex fratribus, audisse se daemonem protervis Martinum vocibus increpantem, cur intra monasterium aliquos ex fratribus, qui olim baptismum diversis erroribus perdidissent, conversos postea recepisset, exponentem crimina singulorum:

cur . . . recepisset: 'because he had received'. cur = 'because' is rare, but classical. See below, 23.4.

aliquos: direct object of recepisset, below.

conversos: 'after they had repented' (> convertor, -verti, -versus sum, return, repent, convert [eccl.]).

exponentem: the antecedent is the demon, parallel to increpantem above.

Section 4

Martinum diabolo repugnantem respondisse constanter, antiqua delicta melioris vitae conversatione purgari, et per misericordiam Domini absolvendos esse peccatis, qui peccare desierint.

Martinum . . . respondisse: the indirect statement continues, 'they say that Martin responded'.

delicta . . . purgari: this is further indirect statement, representing Martin's words, 'that sins were cleansed'.

conversatio -onis, f., transformation, conversion (eccl.)

desierint > desino, -sinere, -sii, cease.

Section 5

contra dicente diabolo, non pertinere ad veniam criminosos, et semel lapsis nullam a Domino praestari posse clementiam, tunc in hanc vocem fertur exclamasse Martinus: si tu ipse, miserabilis, ab hominum insectatione desisteres et te factorum tuorum vel hoc tempore, cum dies iudicii in proximo est, paeniteret, ego tibi vere confisus in Domino Iesu Christo misericordiam pollicerer.

criminosus -i, m., a guilty man (late Lat.).

non pertinere ad veniam criminosos: 'that guilty men had nothing to do with mercy'. pertineo, -ere = apply to, be suitable to a person or thing.

lapsis: 'to those who had fallen' (i.e., into sin after baptism; > labor, labi, lapsus sum, to slip).

in hanc vocem: 'in these words'.

te . . . paeniteret: 'you would repent' (> paeniteo, impersonal construction, standard with this verb, with accusative of person regretting and genitive of the thing causing regret, also standard with this verb).

in proximo: 'at hand'.

o quam sancta de Domini pietate praesumptio, in qua etsi auctoritatem praestare non potuit, ostendit affectum.

praesumptio -onis, f., a taking beforehand, a using or enjoying in advance, anticipation.

auctoritas -tatis, f., guarantee.

in qua etsi auctoritatem praestare non potuit, ostendit affectum: 'in which, even if he could not provide a guarantee, he did show his feelings' (affectus -ūs, m.).

Section 6

et quia de diabolo eiusdemque artibus sermo exortus est, non ab re videtur, licet extrinsecus, referre quod gestum est, quia et quaedam in eo Martini virtutum portio est et res digna miraculo recte memoriae mandabitur, in exemplum cavendi, si quid deinceps uspiam tale contigerit.

non ab re videtur: 'it does not seem out of place' (impersonal construction).

licet extrisecus: 'though it is not directly relevant' (lit. 'though it is exterior').

in eo: 'in this', i.e. in the incident about to be related.

in exemplum cavendi: 'as a cautionary example' (lit., 'for an example of taking care').

contigerit > contingo, -tingere, -tigi, happen.

Chapter 23

Section 1

Clarus quidam, adulescens nobilissimus, mox presbyter, nunc felici beatus excessu, cum relictis omnibus se ad Martinum contulisset, brevi tempore ad summum fidei virtutumque omnium culmen enituit.

felici . . . excessu: 'as a result of his fortunate death'.

se . . . contulisset: 'had gone'.

eniteo, -nitēre, -nitui, to become conspicuous for merit, 'shine'.

Section 2

itaque cum haud longe sibi ab episcopi monasterio tabernaculum constituisset multique apud eum fratres commorarentur, iuvenis quidam ad eum Anatolius nomine, sub professione monachi omnem humilitatem atque innocentiam mentitus, accessit habitavitque aliquamdiu in commune cum ceteris.

mentior, -iri, -itus, feign, fabricate

Section 3

dein procedente tempore angelos apud se loqui solere dicebat.

dicebat: the subject is Anatolius.

cum fidem nullus adhiberet, signis quibusdam plerosque ad credendum coartabat.

fidem adhibere = to lend credence (to), believe.

coarto (1), compel (a late Latin sense).

postremo eo usque processit, ut inter se ac Deum nuntios discurrere praedicaret, iamque se unum ex profetis haberi volebat.

eo usque . . . ut . . . praedicaret: 'so far as to declare' (result clause).

propheta -ae, m., prophet. profeta is an alternate spelling.

Section 4

ille ei iram Domini et praesentes plagas, cur sancto non crederet, comminari.

ille = Anatolius

ei = Clarus

comminari: 'thretened' (historic infin.).

cur sancto non crederet: 'because he was not trusting a holy man'. Cur = 'because' is rare but classical; cp. OLD s.v. 4.

Section 5

postremum in hanc vocem erupisse fertur: ecce hac nocte vestem mihi candidam Dominus de caelo dabit, qua indutus in medio vestrum diversabor: idque vobis signum erit, in me Dei esse virtutem, qui Dei veste donatus sim.

erumpo -ere -upi -uptum, to break silence, to utter violently or unexpectedly (OLD s.v. 5b).

qua indutus: 'clothed in which' (> induo, -ere, -ui, -utus + abl.).

deversor, -ari, -atus sum, dwell (check TLL)

dono (1) + abl., endow with.

Section 6

tum vero grandis omnium ad hanc professionem exspectatio.

professio -onis, f., declaration.

itaque ad mediam fere noctem fremitu terram insultantium commoveri omne monasterium loco visum est: cellulam autem, qua idem adulescens continebatur, crebris cerneres micare luminibus, fremitusque in ea discurrentium et murmur quoddam multarum vocum audiebatur.

fremitus -us, m., rumble, hubbub, low roar.

fremitu terram insultantium: 'with a rumble of people trampling on the ground'

commoveri omne monasterium loco visum est: ' the whole monestery seemed to be being jolted from its place'

Section 7

erat autem summa mollitie, candore eximio, micanti purpura, nec tamen, cuius esset generis aut velleris, poterat agnosci: curiosis tamen oculis aut digitis attrectata non aliud quam vestis videbatur.

non aliud quam: 'nothing other than'.

summa mollitie, candore eximio, micanti purpura: abl. of description.

vellus -eris, n.: wool, fleece.

cuius esset generis aut velleris: 'of what type or (what kind of) wool it was', indirect question after agnosci.

interea Clarus fratres admonet orationi insistere, ut manifestius eis Dominus quidnam id esset ostenderet.

quidnam id esset: indirect question after ostenderet.

Section 9

ubi illuxit dies, apprehensum dextera ad Martinum trahere volebat, bene conscius illudi illum diaboli arte non posse.

apprehensum dextera: 'having been taken by the hand'; the antecedent is Anatolius.

arte: 'trick'.

volebat: the subject is Clarus.

Section 10

tum vero reniti ac reclamare miser coepit, interdictumque sibi esse dicebat, ne se Martino ostenderet.

renitor, -niti, -nisus sum, resist.

interdictum sibi esse . . . ne: 'that it was forbidden for him to' (> interdico, -ere, forbid).

unde quis dubitet hanc etiam Martini fuisse virtutem, ut fantasiam suam diabolus, cum erat Martini oculis ingerenda, dissimulare diutius aut tegere non posset.

fantasiam (= phantasiam): 'deception', lit. 'phantom, specter, apparition' (late Lat.), i.e. the garment.

cum erat . . . ingerenda: 'when it was about to be put before' (ingero, -ere).

Chapter 24

Section 1

Animadversum est tamen, eodem fere tempore fuisse in Hispania iuvenem, qui cum sibi multis signis auctoritatem paravisset, eo usque elatus est, ut se Heliam profiteretur.

animadversum est: 'it was noticed' (> animadverto, -ere; impersonal passive).

Heliam: Elijah

Section 2

quod cum plerique temere credidissent, addidit ut se Christum esse diceret: in quo etiam adeo illusit, ut eum quidam episcopus Rufus nomine ut Deum adoraret: propter quod eum postea ab episcopatu deiectum vidimus.

adeo inlusit: 'he was so successful in his deception' (inludo, -ere, -lusi, -lusum).

Section 3

plerique etiam ex fratribus nobis rettulerunt, eodem tempore in Oriente quendam exstitisse, qui se Iohannen esse iactitaverit, ex quo conicere possumus, istius modi pseudoprofetis existentibus, Antichristi adventum imminere, qui iam in istis mysterium iniquitatis operatur.

plerique ... ex fratribus: 'several of the brothers'.

istius modi pseudoprofetis existentibus: 'since false prophets of this type are appearing' (exsto, -stare, -stiti, -stitum, appear, come into being).

operor, -ari, atus sum, carry on.

mysterium iniquitatis operatur: 'carries on the secret ways of his wickedness', a phrase borrowed from Paul (2 Thess. 2.7 nam [qui adversatur, i.e. the antichrist] mysterium iam operatur iniquitatis). Matthew 4.23 predicts the rise of pseudoprophets who will mislead even the chosen at the end of time.

Section 4

Non praetereundum autem videtur, quanta Martinum sub isdem diebus diabolus arte temptaverit.

Non praetereundum autem videtur: 'Moreover, it see, that it ought not to be passed over', i.e., I should not fail to mention.

quanta . . . arte: 'with what great trickery' (indirect question).

quodam enim die praemissa prae se et circumiectus ipse luce purpurea, quo facilius claritate assumpti fulgoris illuderet, veste etiam regia indutus, diademate ex gemmis auroque redimitus, calceis auro illitis, sereno ore, laeta facie, ut nihil minus quam diabolus putaretur, oranti in cellula adstitit.

purpueus -a -um, radiant, glowing (OLD 3a).

praemissa prae se et circumiectus ipse luce purpurea: 'with a glowing light having been sent ahead of himself, and surrounded by it himself'.

claritate assumpti fulgoris: 'thanks to the brilliance of his acquired splendor'.

quo . . . illuderet: 'by which he might deceive'.

illitis: 'coated with' (illino, -ere, -evi, -itum).

Section 5

cumque Martinus primo aspectu eius fuisset hebetatus, diu multum silentium ambo tenuerunt.

fuisset hebetatus: 'had been stunned' (= hebetatus esset, > hebeto [1]).

Section 7

tum ille, revelante sibi spiritu, ut intellegeret diabolum esse, non Dominum; 'non se' inquit 'Iesus Dominus purpuratum nec diademate renidentem venturum esse praedixit: ego Christum nisi in eo habitu formaque, qua passus est, nisi crucis stigmata praeferentem venisse non credam'.

crux crucis, f., cross.

stigma stigmatis, n., mark, wound, scar.

Section 8

ad hanc ille vocem statim ut fumus evanuit et cellulam tanto foetore complevit, ut indubia indicia relinqueret diabolum se fuisse.

evanuit: 'vanished' (> evanesco).

foetor -oris, m., foul smell, stench.

hoc itaque gestum, ut supra rettuli, ex ipsius Martini ore cognovi, ne quis forte existimet fabulosum.

hoc itaque gestum (sc. esse): 'that this incident happened in this way' (indirect statement after cognovi).

Chapter 25

Section 1

Nam cum olim, audita fide eius vita atque virtute, desiderio illius aestuaremus, gratam nobis ad eum videndum suscepimus peregrinationem: simul quia iam ardebat animus vitam illius scribere, partim ab ipso, in quantum ille interrogari potuit, sciscitati sumus, partim ab his, qui interfuerant vel sciebant, cognovimus.

olim audita fide eius vita atque virtute: 'having heard long ago of his faith, his life, and his virtue'.

aestuaremus: 'I was burning'. The first person plural here, as in suscepimus, nobis, sciscitati sumus and cognovimus below, refer to Sulpicius alone. The 'royal we' is not so pompous in Latin as it is in English.

in quantum: 'in so far as'.

sciscitor, -ari, -tatus sum, inquire thoroughly.

intersum, -esse, -fui, be present, take part in.

Section 2

quo quidem tempore credi non potest, qua me humilitate, qua benignitate susceperit, congratulatus plurimum et gavisus in Domino, quod tanti esset habitus a nobis, quem peregrinatione suscepta expeteremus.

credi non potest: 'it cannot be believed', i.e., it is incredible.

tanti: 'of such worth' (genitive of value).

quem . . . expeteremus: 'that I sought him out' (subjunctive in a relative clause of result, after tanti above).

Section 3

miserum me - paene non audeo confiteri - cum me sancto convivio suo dignatus esset adhibere, aquam manibus nostris ipse obtulit, ad vesperum autem pedes ipse nobis abluit.

dignor, -ari, -atus sum, consider worthy.

adhibeo, -ēre, -ui, -itum, invite (as a guest), summon (to a feast, etc.), have present (OLD 4).

cum me sancto convivio suo dignatus esset adhibere: 'when he considered me worthy of being a guest at his holy feast', i.e. a dinner.

nec reniti aut contra ire constantia fuit: ita auctoritate illius oppressus sum, ut nefas putarem, si non adquievissem.

nec . . . constantia fuit (sc. mihi): 'nor did I have the strength of will'.

adquievissem > adquiesco, -ere, -evi (acq-), consent to, obey, acquiesce (Blaise 3).

Section 4

sermo autem illius non alius apud nos fuit, quam mundi illecebras et saeculi onera relinquenda, ut Dominum Iesum liberi expeditique sequeremur: praestantissimumque nobis praesentium temporum illustris viri Paulini, cuius supra fecimus mentionem, exemplum ingerebat, qui summis opibus abiectis Christum secutus solus paene his temporibus evangelica praecepta complesset:

ingero, -ere, to din into a person's ears, say repeatedly (OLD 4).

praesentissimum . . . exemplum ingerebat: 'he repeatedly brought up the most outstanding example'.

Paulini: Paulinus of Nola, a wealthy man who sold his possessions and devoted himself to the life of the church; also a friend of Sulpicius, and one of the most prominent poets of this period.

abicio, -ere, -iēci, -iectum, discard, abandon.

evalngelicus -a -um, of the gospel.

Section 5

illum nobis sequendum, illum clamabat imitandum: beatumque esse praesens saeculum tantae fidei virtutisque documento, cum secundum sententiam Domini dives et possidens multa vendendo omnia et dando pauperibus, quod erat factu impossibile, possibile fecisset exemplo.

documentum -i, n., an example (serving as a precedent, warning, instruction, etc.). documento is abl. after beatum, 'blessed in an example'.

secundum (preposition), in accordance with.

dives et possidens multa: 'a rich man and one possessing much' (i.e., Paulinus).

factu (supine): 'in the doing', 'to do'.

Section 6

iam vero in verbis et confabulatione eius quanta gravitas, quanta dignitas erat!

confabulatio -onis, f., conversation (late Lat.).

quam acer, quam efficax erat, quam in absolvendis scripturarum quaestionibus promptus et facilis!

scripturae -arum, f. pl., the scriptures, the Bible.

facilis -e, accommodating (OLD 9).

Section 7

et quia multos ad hanc partem incredulos scio, quippe quos viderim me ipso etiam referente non credere, Iesum testor spemque communem me ex nullius umquam ore tantum scientiae, tantum [ingenii] boni et tam puri sermonis audisse.

ad hanc partem: 'on this point' (OLD s.v. pars 14).

quippe: 'indeed, why' (introducing a statement offered in confirmation of an assertion).

quos = aliquos

viderim: subj. in a causal relative clause (Woodcock sec. 156).

quippe quos viderim me ipso etiam referente non credere: 'since, indeed, I have seen some people fail to believe even when I was telling them myself'.

tantum [ingenii] boni: The editor Halm believed that ingenii was a gloss, not by Sulpicius, intended to explain boni. He would suppose that Sulp. wrote tanutm boni, 'so much good'. The more recent editor Fontaine (i.312) accepts an emendation to make the whole passage read tantum scientiae, tantum ingenii tantum tam boni et tam puri sermonis: 'so much knowledge, so much natural ability, so much excellent and pure speech.'

ingenium -i, n., mental powers, natural ability, talent (OLD 4a).

Section 8

nisi quod mirum est homini illitterato ne hanc quidem gratiam defuisse.

illiteratus -a -um, uneducated. A soldier at 15, Martin did not receive the advanced training in literature and rhetoric that would have been typical for a man of his position. He was definitely literate, as emerges below, 26.3 lectioni.

homini illiterato: dative of person, regular with desum.

Chapter 26

Section 1

Sed iam finem liber postulat, sermo claudendus est, non quod omnia, quae de Martino fuerint dicenda, defecerint, sed quia nos, ut inertes poetae, extremo in opere neglegentes, victi materiae mole succumbimus.

non quod omnia . . . defecerint: 'not because all the things have run out.' defecerint is pf. subjunctive in a causal relative clause (> deficio, -ere, -feci, -fectum).

fuerint dicenda: 'needed to be said'.

Section 2

nam etsi facta illius explicari verbis utcumque potuerunt, interiorem vitam illius et conversationem cotidianam et animum caelo semper intentum nulla umquam - vere profiteor - nulla explicabit oratio.

utcumque, somehow or other.

oratio -onis, f., language, discourse.

Section 3

illam scilicet perseverantiam et temperamentum in abstinentia et in ieiuniis, potentiam in vigiliis et orationibus, noctesque ab eo perinde ac dies actas nullumque vacuum ab opere Dei tempus, quo vel otio indulserit vel negotio, sed ne cibo quidem aut somno, nisi quantum naturae necessitas cogebat, vere fatebor, non si ipse, ut aiunt, ab inferis Homerus emergeret, posset exponere: adeo omnia, maiora in Martino sunt, quam ut verbis concipi queant.

The subject of this long sentence is Homerus, the main verb posset: 'not if, as they say, Homer himself should emerge from the underworld, would he be able to express (exponere) . . . .' The series of accusatives at the beginning are direct objects of exponere. But the syntax breaks down somewhat at quo vel otio (relative clause after tempus).

orationibus > oratio -onis f., prayer.

perinde ac: 'just as'

indulgeo, -ēre, -si, -tum, indulge in, devote oneself to, + dat. (OLD 4).

quo vel otio indulserit vel negotio, sed ne cibo quidem aut somno, nisi quantum naturae necessitas cogebat: '(time) in which he devoted himself either to leisure or to business--but (he devoted himself) not even to food or sleep, except to the extent that the necessity of nature compelled him.'

vere fatebor: parenthetical, 'I will tell you truly'.

Section 4

nimirum ut fabris ferrariis moris est, qui inter operandum pro quodam laboris levamine incudem suam feriunt, ita Martinus etiam, dum aliud agere videretur, semper orabat.

faber ferrarius: 'blacksmith'.

moris: 'customary' (> mos moris, m.).

incus incudis, f., anvil.

Section 5

o vere vir beatus, in quo dolus non fuit: neminem iudicans, neminem damnans, nulli malum pro malo reddens.

dolus -i, m.: guile.

tantam quippe adversum omnes iniurias patientiam assumpserat, ut, cum esset summus sacerdos, impune etiam ab infimis clericis laederetur, nec propter id eos aut loco umquam amoverit aut a sua, quantum in ipso fuit, caritate reppulerit.

assumo, -ere, -psi, -ptum, acquire, take on (qualities, attributes, etc.).

iniuria -ae, f., insult, affront (OLD 4b).

clericus -i, m., clergyman, priest.

laedo, -ere, -si, -sum, harm, injure, offend.

loco . . . amoverit: 'removed from his position'. As bishop Martin had the authority to dismiss priests with whom he had differences.

quantum in ipso fuit: 'was much as was in him', i.e., as much as he could.

caritas -tatis, f., friendship, affection

repello, -ere, reppuli, repulsum, exclude.

Chapter 27

Section 1

Nemo umquam illum vidit iratum, nemo commotum, nemo maerentem, nemo ridentem: unus idemque fuit semper, caelestem quodammodo laetitiam vultu praeferens extra naturam hominis videbatur.

commotum: agitated, worked-up.

quodammodo: 'in a certain way', 'a kind of'.

extra naturam hominis videbatur: 'he seemed above human nature'.

Section 2

numquam in illius ore nisi Christus, numquam in illius corde nisi pietas, nisi pax, nisi misericordia inerat.

numquam . . . nisi: 'never (anything) but'.

plerumque etiam pro eorum, qui illius obtrectatores videbantur, solebat flere peccatis, qui remotum et quietum venenatis linguis et vipereo ore carpebant.

pro eorum . . . peccatis: 'for the sins of those'.

obtrectator -oris, m., critic, detractor.

remotum et quietum: substantival, 'a secluded and quiet man', i.e. Martin.

Section 3

et vere nonnullos experti sumus invidos virtutis vitaeque eius, qui in illo oderant, quod in se non videbant et quod imitari non valebant.

quod: 'that which'.

atque, o nefas dolendum et ingemescendum, non alii fere insectatores eius, licet pauci admodum, non alii tamen quam episcopi ferebantur.

ingemescendum: 'lamentable'.

non alii . . . non alii . . . quam: 'none other than' (repeated for emphasis).

fere (Adv.): 'for the most part, mostly'.

ferebantur: 'were said (to be)'.

Section 4

nec vero quemquam nominari necesse est, licet nosmet ipsos plerique circumlatrent: sufficiet ut, si qui ex his haec legerit et agnoverit, erubescat.

circumlatro (1), bark all around (at).

licet nosmet ipsos plerique circumlatrent: 'although quite a few are barking at me myself', a reference to Sulpicius' critics, who claimed that he exaggerated Martin's abilities.

sufficiet ut: 'it will be sufficient that'.

ex his: 'of these men', i.e., from among the critics.

nam si irascitur, de se dictum fatebitur, cum fortasse nos de aliis senserimus.

dictum (sc. esse): 'that it has been said' (indirect statement after fatebitur).

Section 5

non refugimus autem, ut, si qui eius modi sunt, nos quoque cum tali viro oderint.

non refugimus . . . ut: 'I do not mind that'.

nos quoque: 'me too', another 'royal we', referring to Sulpicius himself.

Section 6

illud facile confido, omnibus sanctis opusculum istud gratum fore.

opusculum istud: 'the present work'. Opusculum is diminutive of opus, used here for modesty.

de cetero si qui haec infideliter legerit, ipse peccabit.

de cetero: 'for the rest, otherwise'.

Section 7

ego mihi conscius sum me, rerum fide et amore Christi impulsum ut scriberem, manifesta exposuisse, vera dixisse: paratumque, ut spero, habebit a Deo praemium, non quicumque legerit, sed quicumque crediderit.

ego mihi conscius sum me: 'I am conscious in myself that I', introducing indirect statement.

habebit: the subject is contained in what follows, quicumque . . . quicumque.