De laude Cestrie - Lucian
Edited by Mark Faulkner
Excerpt 7
Igitur ex usu longo et Dei dono tripliciter se ostendit Cestria, quia prestat et preminet probitate procerum, pietate ciuium,Probitas procerum, pietas ciuium, religio monacorum. religione monacorum. Venerabilis comes Hugo uocauit, uitalis Anselmus archiepiscopus affuit, et ad reparandam senectutem morum religio uiruit atque conualuit. Si probitas non fuisset, improbitas obfuisset; si pietas dormisset, impietas deleuisset; et precipue si religio non fuisset, ciuitas interisset. Set Deus omnipotens et inuisibilis in sua maiestate, eciam uisibiliter et uenerabiliter operatur ex sua bonitate, ut cum locus idem collimitetur liuidis hostibus, euidenter et excellenter muniatur a cladibus. Qui cum habeat patronos plures et precipuos de potentissimis paradisi, qui aerem salutis et diem pacis impetrent ciuitati; unam tamen de infirmo sexu, firmissimam sanctitate,De beatissima Wereburga. laudabiliter et letissime prouidit ex suo munere, que puellari uirtute et preclara uirginitate refulgens, ciuem tuendo, ciuitatem tenendo, contra aduersa omnia suis sufficiat meritis incolas obumbrare. Nam regis filia et sponsa Regis regionem secundum nomen suum 1 tuetur ab emulis, quia conuirginalis Virginis Matris uotis suis dulciter inclinat uiscera Saluatoris. Et ideo facile tuetur urbem, quia sponsum habet orbis Auctorem. Cui nichil arduum uel difficile, saluam et incolumem gloriosis precibus asseruare, et supplicem familiam gregis sui et humilem fidem simplicis populi. Quod si prauitas nostra prouocat ulcionem, ad prima flagella penitentibus nobis sanctitas illius auertet sentenciam Iudicis. Igitur hec secunda interpretacio, si sedet animo, concedatur, et si placet adici, etiam tercia connectatur.
Excerpt 7
Accordingly, enjoying the long advantage of divine favour, Chester exhibits herself triply: she excels in the honesty of her nobles, the faith of her citizens The honesty of her nobles, the faith of her citizens, the religion of her monks. and the religion of her monks. Venerable Earl Hugh summoned, Archbishop Anselm came to kindle life, and religion grew and flourished, restoring ancient customs. If their honesty had not flourished, dishonesty might have been a nuisance; if their piety had slept, impiety might have threatened; and ultimately, if religion had not grown, the city might have been ruined. But God, omnipotent and invisible in his majesty, augustly works visible deeds through his goodness, so that when this place was surrounded by spiteful enemies, it was manifestly, inviolably protected from calamities. While Chester has many especial patrons from amongst those most powerful in Heaven, who obtain clean air and peaceful daylight for the city; God graciously provided a member of the weaker sex,Concerning the most blessed Werburgh. most firm in her sancity, who shining with virtue and splendid virginity from her youth, to protect the citizen, and to preserve the city, whose merits suffice to defend the inhabitants against all adversaries. This daughter of a king and bride of the King protects her province from enemies in accordance with her name, 1 because she, a co-virgin of the Virgin Mother, sweetly offers prayers to the Saviour. And therefore she easily protects the city, because her husband is the creator of the world. Indeed it is not at all hard or difficult for her to protect safe and unharmed with her glorious prayers both her suppliant flock and the humble faith of her simple people. If our depravity provokes vengeance, her sanctity averts the judge's sentence before the first scourges if we are penitent. Though it lingers in my mind, this second interpretation will be set aside and, if it pleases, a third interpretation may be advanced.
Ita tamen ut liceat pauca premittere et ad supplementum precedentium, que animum pungunt, liberius non tacere. Nam si per frigus inertiae proceres languent, ciues lugent, monachorum oraciones latent; si terret et turbat hostis incursio, urbis impressio, plebis euersio, amputabit risum nostrum rota temporis et dierum malorum, et non dabit iocum et cachinnum, set profundum gemitum et lamentum, ut Iesu uiscera deprecemur ex sinu misericordie sue, quo liceat afflictus aliquantulum respirare. Quod si malum nobis optatur ab alienis et malum ingeritur indesinenter a nostris,Hec i sepe experimentis tenemus. et illi non cessant destruere, qui tenentur ex iure construere, non imputetur istud monachis segniter orantibus, uel sanctis in amenitate celi et regno Dei cum requie dormitantibus; set ascribatur eisdem ciuibus ab ingenua consuetudine recedentibus, et eorum aridis atque arefactis ab elemosinarum impensione uisceribus.
Indeed, since it is possible to offer a few words which prick the spirit as a supplement to the preceding interpretation, it is not possible to be silent. For if the nobles wilt though frosty indolence, if the citizens lament and if the prayers of the monks go unnoticed; if invasion by enemies, an assault on the city, or the expulsion of the people terrifies and confuses, the wheel of fortune and the evil of the times will cut short our laughter, and give rise not to joking or guffawing, but to deep groaning and grieving, so that we will implore Jesus himself for his mercy, through whom the afflicted are permitted to breathe a little. If enemies intend evil for us and we indiscriminately heap evil on ourselves,These things we know by frequent experience. and those who by law are placed in power do not cease to destroy us, and this is not mitigated by the feeble prayers of monks, or by saints sleeping peacefully in comfort in God's heavenly kingdom; it should be recorded that the same citizens, their hearts desiccated, will retreat from natural customs and from the expense of alms.
Excerpt 9
Hiis per digresionem transeunter explicitis, ad terciam interpretacionem nostre Cestrie ueniamus.
Excerpt 9
Having explained these things in passing in a digression, we come to the third interpretation of the name of our Chester.
Apparatus Criticus
- i.
- Hec] Hoc ta Back to context...
Footnotes
- 1.
- Lucian subsequently describes how Werburgh prevented a major fire damaging Chester, stating that ibi necessario innotescit eius nominis euidentia, 'there she lived up to her name', alluding to its Old English etymology. Back to context...