Language:

De laude Cestrie - Lucian

Edited by Mark Faulkner

Excerpt 16

Tantus igitur et tam mirabilis noster Iohannes, diues in Dei lumine, et dignior omni laude, potens in aula Regis, pius et misericors ad incolas pulueris, precursor aeterni Principis, preclarus excellentibus meritis; De porta Iohannis. ipse dignatus est Cestriam in sua sorte suscipere et suauissimus gratie ac tutele sue sinibus confouere.

Excerpt 16

Our John, so marvellously wonderful, well-endowed with divine enlightenment and worthy of everyone's praise; powerful in the King's palace, affectionate and merciful to those who live in the dust, the precursor of the everlasting Lord, excellent in his magnificent virtues, Concerning John's Gate. is fit to defend Chester from his position and sweetly keep her safe and sound.

Excerpt 17

Ne enim ad tuicionem nostram, uelut fidens sanctitati sue, uideretur sibi solus sufficere, uel dedignans socium de consortio non curare, ad pacem pupillorum qui reuera secundum Ionam nesciunt quid sit inter dexteram et sinistram (Jon 4:11), 1 et ad maiorem diligentiam tutamenti Petrum Apostolum assumpsit portarium paradisi; ut pro suscepto ministerio coram Dei iudiciaria sede, facilius ambo simul infirmas actiones ciuium excusarent, fortius ulciones auerterent, fecundius gratiam impetrarent. Itaque probantes se ministros Christi et dispensationis misteriorum Dei, unus in specula, altus in cathedra, 2 tanquam se inuicem hortantur sociali gaudio.

Excerpt 17

Worrying that he could not ensure our safety through his own sanctity, or not wanting to spurn his comrade, he summoned Peter the Apostle, the gatekeeper of paradise, to ensure peace and safety for the orphans who, according to Jonah, know not how to distinguish between their right hand and their left hand (Jonah 4:11), 1 so that they might more easily excuse the unfortunate actions of the citizens, more forcibly avert retribution and circulate grace more freely in accordance with the vows they made before God's throne. Proving themselves to be Christ's agents in the management of the mysteries of God - one on the watchtower, the other in the bishop's throne 2 - each encourages the other with confederate joy.

Excerpt 18

Michi obtigit ad custodiam porta solis, 3 tibi credita est porta maris, quem marinis fluctibus incumbentem, maris conditor misericorditer euocauit et ministerium tuum mirabiliter permutauit, ut succederet tibi pro captura piscium conuersio populorum, 4 et deinceps foret studio et amori pro salo aquarum salus animarum.

Excerpt 18

It falls to me to guard the sun's gate 3 , to you is entrusted the water gate, to you whom the creator of the sea mercifully called forth to control the prevailing tides, marvellously altering your role, so that instead of catching fish, you convert people 4 and instead of facing the billow of the sea, you heal souls with love and devotion.

Excerpt 19

Itaque diues in genere, 5 noli esse pauper in specie, set institutus ab eterno Domino, ut saluti tocius orbis inuigiles, bonitati tue creditam Cestriam, uelut Dei castra custodias. 6 Tuta maneat te habens uigilem contra nocentium impetum, et noctis horrorem.

Excerpt 19

Therefore, noble born man, 5 do not be ashamed to be noble in your appearance; established by the eternal Lord to watch over the health of the entire globe and guard Chester, as if it were God's fortress, with your goodness. 6 She remains safe with you as a watchman against harmful attacks and nocturnal terrors.

Footnotes

1.
Lucian implicitly compares Chester and Nineveh, a city destroyed by God for its pride. Back to context...
2.
John the Baptist, who first acknowledged Christ, must be the 'one on the watchtower', obliging us to identify St Peter as 'the one on the bishop's throne', alluding to his status as the first pope. This is awkward since the cathedral in Chester, the seat of the bishop of Coventry, was actually dedicated to St John. Back to context...
3.
Lucian imagines a dialogue between John the Baptist and Peter. John the Baptist is speaking here. Back to context...
4.
For this commonplace, see Lk 5:10, Back to context...
5.
i. e. St Peter. Back to context...
6.
Lucian alludes to another etymology of Cestria, namely castra, 'camp'. Back to context...