Excerpt 10

Habet preterea nostra Cestria ex Dei munere, ditantem atque decorantem amnem secus urbis muros pulchrum atque piscosum,De amne diua. et a meridiano latere receptorium nauium ab Aquitania, Hispania, Hibernia, Germania uenientium, qui remige Christo per laborem et prudentiam mercatorum bonis pluribus reparant et reficiunt urbis sinum, ut modis omnibus consolati per graciam Dei nostri, etiam frequenter uberius et profusius bibamus uinum, quam illa regionum loca quae gaudent prouentibus uinearum. Preterea reumate cotidiano non cessat eam reuisere maris patentissima plenitudo,De maris accessu et recessu. que apertis et opertis latissimis harenarum campis, indesinenter gratie uel ingrate aliquid mittere uel mutuare consueuit, et suo accessu uel recessu affere quippiam uel auferre. Unde nuper piscium copiam prouincialibus attulit et piscatoribus uitam ademit.Hoc uere contigit et habitator nouit. Qui auidi preter modum, aquam biberunt ultra modum et dum fretum exhaurire uolunt, fluctibus absorti sunt. 1 Adhuc eciam nostros serenat obtutus speciosissimum maris litus, mirabili Creatoris potencia, nunc existens aqua, nunc arida, ubi parente pelago Potentis imperio quantumlibet consuetis,De planicie harenarum. tamen ampla sensatis datur ammiratio, quod eodem die, eodem loco et aptissimum iter facit Deus uiatoribus ad gradiendum, et altissimum gurgitem aquatilibus ad natandum. Quod aliquis delicatus aut durus, nesciens naturam maris, credere fortasse contempneret, si non orbis astrueret, oculus comprobaret.

Excerpt 10

Meanwhile God has given our Chester an enriching river, which follows the line of the city walls and teems beautifully with fish,Concerning the estuary. and, in the south, a port for ships coming from Aquitaine, Spain, Ireland and Germany, which, with Christ as their helmsman, bring industrious merchants to replenish the city with a variety of goods, so that, consoled in all ways by the kindness of our God, we may often drink more and better wine, than those places in the region which glory in their success in viticulture. In addition, the daily tide does not cease to render a very generous bounty from the sea, Concerning the tides. which from ports both known and hidden ceaslessly grants or loans things both pleasant and unpleasant, and by its ebb and flow brings things forth and takes them away. In our own time it has brought a great catch of fish from neighbouring areas and took the lives of fishermen.The inhabitant knows this really happened. Insatiable beyond measure, they overdrained the sea and when they wanted to drain it further, they were engulfed by waves. 1 This most special shoreline still delights our gaze, now being wet, now dry, obeying the powerful Creator Concerning the estuary. giving rise to a marvellous wonder when in the same place and the same day God makes there both a very suitable crossing for travellers and a deep sea in which marine creatures might swim. Naive or seasoned, anyone ignorant of the nature of the sea may perhaps disdain to believe this, but their eyes will confirm it.

Habet eciam plateas duas equilineas et excellentes in modum benedicte crucis, per transuersum sibi obuias et se transeuntes,De plateis Cestrie. que deinceps fiant quattuor ex duabus, capita sua consummantes in quattuor portis, mistice ostendens atque magnifice, magni Regis inhabitantem graciam se habere, qui legem geminam noui ac ueteris testamenti per misterium sancte crucis impletam ostendit, in quattuor euangelistis. Quod non potest culpari, confictum, eo quod intus et interius ueritas rerum, pascit aspectum. Neque in hoc timemus iudicem iustum, quia debet esse ueritate solidum, quod traditur memorie literarum. At siquis alienus captat experimentum, accedens et probans, uno oculo uideat literam et altero locum. Michi multo amplius ex uoto feruido ad Deum uoluntatis incumbit, intimis ad eternum Patrem optare uisceribus, Lector commonetur. ut si homo compositus urbem dilectamintueri necne desiderat, ille qui simplex est Deus, tueri non desinat et ciuibus karissimis placidissimus protector sit, qui plateas eorum in modum gloriose crucis aptauit.

Chester also has two perfectly straight streets intersecting like the blessed cross,Concerning the streets of Chester which form four roads , culminating at the four gates, mystically revealling that the grace of the Great King dwells in the very city , who, through the four evangelists, showed the twin law of the old and new testaments to be completed through the mystery of the holy cross. The internal truth of this arrangement is consecrated and cannot be faulted; it nourishes the observer. Nor do we fear a fair appraisal, because what is committed to the memory of letters must already be perfect in its truth. But if any foreigner tests the account, confirming it, he may see the text with one eye and the city with the other. According to my burning desire, I thoroughly devote my innermost self to the will of the Eternal Father, The reader is reminded. so that a qualified observer may understand that the true God, who arranged these streets in the shape of the glorious cross, does not cease to be a most gentle protector to the lovely city and its dear citizens.

Hoc simul intuendum quam congrue in medio urbis, parili positione cunctorum, forum uoluit esse uenalium rerum,De foro. ubi, mercium copia complacente precipue uictualium, notus ueniat uel ignotus, precium porrigens, referens alimentum. Nimirum ad exemplum panis eterni de celo uenientis, qui natus secundum prophetas in medio orbis et umbilico terre 2 , omnibus mundi nationibus pari propinquitate uoluit apparere. Deus rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem in medio terre. Illud precipue prudens aliquis gaudenter attendat, quod Deus omnipotens paterna bonitate prospexit, et ad salutem ciuium, altius et eminentius ordinauit. Nam siquis stans in fori medio,Caritati sic est. Cauillationi aliquid deest. uultum uertat ad ortum solis, secundum ecclesiarum positiones, inueniet Iohannem Domini precursorem ab oriente, Petrum apostolum ab occidente, Werburgam uirginem ab aquilone, archangelum Michaelem a meridie. Nichil illa scriptura uerius: super muros tuos Ierusalem constitui custodes (Isa 62:6). Nichil hac euidentia dulcius cui tales Deus contulit seruatores ; sollempne munus, suaue misterium. Confortat animos et pascit intuitum.

It is also worth understanding how fittingly it is that, all things being equal, a marketplace for the selling of things should be placed in the middle of the city,Concerning the marketplace. where, with an abundance of merchandise, particularly food available, a native or a foreigner may come to buy provisions. Doubtlessly, as with the eternal bread which came from heaven which, according to the prophets, was formed in the centre of the earth 2 , God wanted to supply all nations of the world equally. God, our king, created before time our means of salvation in the middle of the earth. Let everyone wise observe this joyfully because almighty God provided for us with paternal goodness, and arranged fully and nobly for the prosperity of the citizens. For anyone standing in the middle of the marketplaceThis derives from my God's true kindness, not from my quibbling. may turn his face to the east and examine the position of the churches noting John, precursor of the Lord, to the east Peter the apostle to the west, Werburgh the virgin to the north, and Michael the Archangel to the south. There is nothing truer than this verse: Upon they walls, O Jersualem, I have appointed watchmen (Isa 62:6) . Nothing is sweeter than this evidence that God gave us such guardians : it is a sacred offering and a charming mystery. It comforts men's spirits and encourages contemplation.

Excerpt 11

Item nemo pacienter accipit, 3 si locus tesauri sui a uersutis et uulpibus frequentatur, si laceratur et leditur, si frequenter uertitur ac uersatur, quia si effoditur, arpagatur. Agnosce Cestria tesaurum gracie creditum caritati tue! Pelle grauis palpebras sompni!Utinam intime ducentur, quod intime dictur. Perpende collatum suaue munus Altissimi!

Excerpt 11

Indeed no-one is happy 3 if his treasure-house is surrounded by cunning foxes, if it is harassed and damaged, if it is frequently captured and recovered because if it is exposed, it will be stolen. Chester, recognise the treasure-house of grace which has been entrusted to your loving care! Lift your heavy eyelids from sleep!If only what is passionately advocated were passionately followed. Weigh carefully the sweet gift which the Highest One has given you!

Footnotes

1.
It is slightly obscure what happened: does Lucian mean the nearby waters were overfished and that the fisherman were killed fishing in more remote, dangerous waters? Back to context...
2.
The 'eternal bread which came from heaven' is Christ (see Jn 6:59). The prophets include Ez 5:5 and Ps 73:12. Back to context...
3.
Lucian urges Chester to appreciate God's generosity, and warns the city that he can relocate his treasure if Chester is ungrateful. Back to context...