De laude Cestrie - Lucian
Edited by Mark Faulkner
Excerpt 28
Vt autem nos ex manifesta re i utamur morali racione consequenter omnia occurrunt, quia Christum inuenit uerum orientem, qui recte tendit; qui declinat in dexteram contra scripturam prohibentem deuiasse ad ultimum se probabit; qui flectit in leuam, lesionem uitare non poterit. Errores autem contrarios hinc inde sic accipiamus, ut errantium dextera uideatur esse superba iusticia, leua autem segnis morum custodia et in qualibet harum deuius, a dextris mordeatur a draconibus, a sinistris spolietur a latronibus, ut experimento tactus in reliquum rectus discat incedere et pro sua salute deuia declinare. Legitur enim, inter uicia contraria, medius limes uirtus est (cf. Horace, Epistulae 1. 18. 9). Et noster Iohannes: dirigite uiam Domini, rectas facite inquit semitas Dei nostri (Luke 3:4) 1 , quia, qui ambulat simpliciter, ambulat confidenter. Et sepe felicius ac melius ualefacit humanis rebus simplex et innocens uita quam uersutus sensus et alta sapientia. Nam qui, per confidentiam meriti uel contumatiam sullimis ingenii, regiam inter errores medios uiam relinquit,Nota. superbos anfractus in gaudium non transmittit, qui ad dextram uel leuam temere declinauit. Vnde colligitur nichil utilius, nichil melius, quam in progressu uiarum uelut in porta urbium recte incedere ac recte uiuere, quia per linearum ductum itineris ad lucem tenditur orientis. 2
Excerpt 28
We may use this to show that everything happens as a consequence of a moral reason since he finds Christ to be the true east, who goes straightly; he who strays to the right in defiance of scripture will show himself to have strayed at the Day of Judgement; he who turns to the left, will not be able to avoid injury. We should admit two sources of error, in that to the right is excessive sternness and to the left is the lax preservation of morals and harmed whatever way he deviates, to the right bitten by dragons to the left robbed by thieves, the righteous man learns by practice to go straight ahead in the future and, for his health, to avoid detours. It is read, indeed, that between two evils the middle path is virtue. (cf. Horace, Epistulae 1. 18. 9) And John says in the scriptures make straight the way of the Lord, make straight his paths, (Luke 3:4) 1 because he who walks innocently, walks confidently. And often a life led simply and innocently will end more happily than one led in accordance with cunning and ambitious intelligence. For he who through an obstinate belief in his exalted understanding abandons the royal highway for the uncertainties either side,Note. straying to the left or the right, does not tread these proud diversions in joy. From this nothing more useful is learnt than to advance straight through streets and the gates of cities and to live rightly because one comes to the true east through a journey travelled straight. 2
Illud etiam omnimodis attendatur, quod uelut simplex et originale quoddam rei uocabulum lingua Saxonica, Cestria, ciuitas dicitur,Nomen. sicut euidenter et lucide claret intuentibus ex compositione. Sic enim teste historia Claudiocestriam appellamus, quam Romanus imperator Claudius exstruxit, Leircestriam quam Britonum rex Leirus constituit, Rofecestriam, quam teste BEDA, Rof quidam uir primarius antiquitus possedit ac tenuit. 3 Itaque prudenter aduertat saltim inter nos manens literatus habitator, non sine causa leuiter ac lusorie contigisse, cum cetere urbes ex loci situ uel memoria constructorum seu accidenti aliquo uocabulum sint sortitae ii , nostra Cestria nomen resonet maternum, magnificum, singulare. 4 Quod nos excellentie deputemus, quia cum potentissimos paradisi, pios seruatores habeamus, fauore illorum et precibus, custos est nostri capitis Christus. Tunc enim ueraciter ac uitaliter ciuitas deputatur, cum in omni tempore omnium Deus eam seruare ac saluare dignatur. Quod si non fouet per gratiam, frustra uigilat qui custodit eam. Et tunc lapsus suos per lacrimam loquitur, quam sibi deuotam Dominus perire non patitur.
Even the Saxon word for the place, which is Cestria, meaning city, should be heeded in every possible way,The name. since its etymology shines forth to the observant. We can cite from history the example of Gloucester which the Roman Emperor Claudius established, Leicester which Lear, king of the Britons, founded and Rochester, which, according to BEDE, a certain chieftain called Rof held in days of yore. 3 Therefore the learned inhabitant dwelling amongst us prudently directs his attention to notice how, not without significance, when various cities have taken their names from their location, in memory of their founder, or by some accident the name of our Chester resounds maternally, magnificently and uniquely. 4 We can consider ourselves excellent because we have those most powerful in paradise as faithful servants giving us goodwill and prayers, and Christ is the chief guardian. Indeed Chester is truly and vividly esteemed a city and the God of all deigns to protect and redeem it for all time. For if it were not kept warm by grace, whoever guards the city would watch in vain. And when the city tearfully confesses his sins the Lord does not suffer those devoted to him to perish.
Si quis autem petit, uel in pleno, uel in proximo, secundum habitionem iii morum prouinciales tangere,De moribus prouincialium. instar reliquorum uiuentium pro locis terrarum, ceteris Anglis in parte dissimiles in parte meliores, in parte inueniuntur equales. 5 Videntur autem in primis quod est optimum, secundum generale specimen morum, conuiuio comunes, cibo alacres, hospicio liberales, ira facilies, lingua labiles, subiectionis ac seruitutis impatientes, afflictis clementes, pauperibus compassibiles, cognatum sanguinem fouentes, labore parcentes, felle dupplicitatis immunes, edacitate nil graues, molimina nescientes, per usurpatum sepe licentiam aliena mutantes, siluis ac pascuis habundantes, carne ac pecore diuites, Britonibus ex uno latere confines et, per longam transfusionem morum, maxima parte consimiles. Illud eciam intuendum, qualiter Cestrie prouincia, Lime nemoris limite lateraliter clausa,De Lima nemore. quadam a ceteris Anglis priuilegii distinctione sit libera et per indulgentias regum atque excellentias comitum magis in cetu populi gladium principis quam coronam regni consueuit attendere¶Comiti paret regem non pauet. et in suis sinibus etiam maximas negociorum discussiones licenter ac liberius explicare. 6 Hec igitur Hibernis receptoria, Britannis uicina, Anglorum sumministratur annona iv , situ eleganti, portarum positione antiqua, duris experimentis exercitata, amne v pariter 7 et oculis decora, secundum nomen suum ciuitatis uocabulo digna, sanctorum uigili cincta custodia et per misericordiam Saluatoris diuinitatis semper auxilio communita.
If anyone should seek, either in full or the part, to compare the habits of the locals Concerning the habits of the locals. to those living elsewhere on earth they will be found somewhat dissimilar, somewhat better to other Englishmen, and somewhat the same. 5 When compared to usual habits, they seem particularly sociable in feasting, lively at table, generous in hospitality, quick to anger, eloquent, intolerant of servitude or subjection, kindly to the afflicted, compassionate to the poor, favourable to their kin, not working too hard, free from the gall of deceit, not at all greedy, honest, often borrowing other people's property without leave, richly supplied with woods and meadows and with meat and cattle, adjacent to the Welsh on one side and, through a long exchange of customs, for the most part similar. It should also be noticed that the county palatine of Chester, enclosed to the side by the Forest of Lyme,Concerning the Forest of Lyme. by privilege is set apart from the rest of the English and through the indulgence of its kings and the merits of its earls, and by popular opinion has been more accustomed to follow the sword of the earl rather than the crown of the king,¶The people obey the earl but do not fear the king. and within its bounds to disentangle great pleas on its own authority. 6 The city is a shelter for the Irish, an day trip for the Welsh and a provisioner for the English, with its handsome location, with the ancient position of the gates, with its experiences of difficult circumstances, and with its river, 7 glorious to behold, fitted by its very name to be a city, kept safe by the watchfullness of the saints, and always reinforced by the help of the heavenly Saviour.
Ista pro nostro modulo de Cestrie sinibus vi siue locis dicenda duximus, reponentes ei uel parua munuscula, que prima nobis ubera protulit et temporum contulit alimenta, sinceriter optantes aliquem beniuolum super alumpno loco maiora simul et meliora dicere et in laudem nominis Dei Cestriam uenerabiliter eminere.
We thought it worth saying these things about the places near Chester in our own little way to repay the small favours by which she offered her nourishment early in life and later, sincerely trying to say other greater and better things about the place itself and venerably to make Chester pre-eminent in the praise of God.
Apparatus Criticus
- i.
- manifesta re] manifestare ta Back to context...
- ii.
- sortitae] sortite ta Back to context...
- iii.
- habitionem] habitationem ta Back to context...
- iv.
- annonam] annona ta Back to context...
- v.
- amne] anime conj. ta Back to context...
- vi.
- sinibus] finibus ta Back to context...
Footnotes
- 1.
- The wording of the quotation conflates several of the Gospel accounts (cf. Matt 3:3, Mark 1:3 and John 1:23). Back to context...
- 2.
- This paragraph is an elaborate comparison of the geography of the area to the east of Chester and the correct trajectory of the Christian life. The lucem ... orientis, 'true east' is Christ. Back to context...
- 3.
- For Claudius and Lear, see Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia regum Britanniae (Thorpe 1966, 121, 81). For Rof, see Bede, Historia ecclesiastica, ii.3 (Colgrave and Mynors, 1969, 143. Back to context...
- 4.
- Lucian's point is that, while other cities took their names from their founders, Chester derives its name from Old English ceaster, meaning 'city'. In other words, Chester is the vey essence of a city. Back to context...
- 5.
- Several of the qualities Lucian lists are ambivalantly positive. despite his suggestion that they constitute quod est optimum . Back to context...
- 6.
- This is an early example of the discourse of 'Cestrian exceptionalism', discussed ably by Barrett 2009. Back to context...
- 7.
- Since Lucian elsewhere treats amnis, 'river' as feminine, Taylor's conjecture is unnecessary. Back to context...