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E00982: The Life of *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411) emphasises that its hero gained both the crown of priesthood and martyrdom; written in Latin at Carthage, possibly by his deacon Pontius, and certainly before 359.
online resource
posted on 2015-12-13, 00:00 authored by robertPontius of Carthage, Life of Cyprian 19
1. Sic consummata passione perfectum est, ut Cyprianus, qui bonorum omnium fuerat exemplum, exemplum etiam sacerdotalis coronae in Africa primus inbueret, quia et talis esse post apostolos prior coeperat. Ex quo enim Carthagini episcopatus ordo numeratur, numquam aliquis quamvis et bonus et ex sacerdotibus ad passionem venisse memoratur. 2. Licet semper Deo mancipata devotio dicatis hominibus pro martyrio deputetur, Cyprianus tamen etiam ad perfectam coronam Domino consummante profecit, ut in civitate ipsa, in qua taliter vixerat et in qua prior fecerat multa praeclara, prior et sacerdotii caelestis insignia glorioso cruore decoraret. 3. Quid hoc loco faciam? Inter gaudium passionis et remanendi dolorem in partes divisus animus, et angustum nimis pectus adfectus duplices onerant. Dolebo quod non comes fuerim? Sed illius victoria triumphanda est. De victoria triumphabo? Sed doleo quod comes non sim. 4. Verum vobis tamen et simpliciter confitendum est, quod et vos scitis, in hac me fuisse sententia: multum ac nimis multum de gloria eius exsulto, plus tamen doleo quod remansi.
'(1.) His passion being thus accomplished, it resulted that Cyprian, who had been an example to all good men, was also the first who in Africa imbued his priestly crown with blood of martyrdom, because he was the first who began to be such after the apostles. For from the time at which the episcopal order is enumerated at Carthage, not one is ever recorded, even of good men and priests, to have come to suffering. (2.) Although devotion surrendered to God is always in consecrated men reckoned instead of martyrdom; yet Cyprian attained even to the perfect crown by the consummation of the Lord; so that in that very city in which he had in such wise lived, and in which he had been the first to do many noble deeds, he also was the first to decorate the insignia of his heavenly priesthood with glorious gore. (3.) What shall I do now? Between joy at his passion, and grief at still remaining, my mind is divided in different directions, and twofold affections are burdening a heart too limited for them. Shall I grieve that I was not his associate? But yet I must triumph in his victory. Shall I triumph at his victory? Still I grieve that I am not his companion. (4.) Yet still to you I must in simplicity confess, what you also are aware of, that it was my intention to be his companion. Much and excessively I exult at his glory; but still more do I grieve that I remained behind.'
Text: Bastiaensen 1975, 46-48. Translation: Wallis 1886.
1. Sic consummata passione perfectum est, ut Cyprianus, qui bonorum omnium fuerat exemplum, exemplum etiam sacerdotalis coronae in Africa primus inbueret, quia et talis esse post apostolos prior coeperat. Ex quo enim Carthagini episcopatus ordo numeratur, numquam aliquis quamvis et bonus et ex sacerdotibus ad passionem venisse memoratur. 2. Licet semper Deo mancipata devotio dicatis hominibus pro martyrio deputetur, Cyprianus tamen etiam ad perfectam coronam Domino consummante profecit, ut in civitate ipsa, in qua taliter vixerat et in qua prior fecerat multa praeclara, prior et sacerdotii caelestis insignia glorioso cruore decoraret. 3. Quid hoc loco faciam? Inter gaudium passionis et remanendi dolorem in partes divisus animus, et angustum nimis pectus adfectus duplices onerant. Dolebo quod non comes fuerim? Sed illius victoria triumphanda est. De victoria triumphabo? Sed doleo quod comes non sim. 4. Verum vobis tamen et simpliciter confitendum est, quod et vos scitis, in hac me fuisse sententia: multum ac nimis multum de gloria eius exsulto, plus tamen doleo quod remansi.
'(1.) His passion being thus accomplished, it resulted that Cyprian, who had been an example to all good men, was also the first who in Africa imbued his priestly crown with blood of martyrdom, because he was the first who began to be such after the apostles. For from the time at which the episcopal order is enumerated at Carthage, not one is ever recorded, even of good men and priests, to have come to suffering. (2.) Although devotion surrendered to God is always in consecrated men reckoned instead of martyrdom; yet Cyprian attained even to the perfect crown by the consummation of the Lord; so that in that very city in which he had in such wise lived, and in which he had been the first to do many noble deeds, he also was the first to decorate the insignia of his heavenly priesthood with glorious gore. (3.) What shall I do now? Between joy at his passion, and grief at still remaining, my mind is divided in different directions, and twofold affections are burdening a heart too limited for them. Shall I grieve that I was not his associate? But yet I must triumph in his victory. Shall I triumph at his victory? Still I grieve that I am not his companion. (4.) Yet still to you I must in simplicity confess, what you also are aware of, that it was my intention to be his companion. Much and excessively I exult at his glory; but still more do I grieve that I remained behind.'
Text: Bastiaensen 1975, 46-48. Translation: Wallis 1886.
History
Evidence ID
E00982Saint Name
Cyprian, bishop of Carthage (Africa) and martyr, ob. 258 : S00411Saint Name in Source
CyprianusRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Lives of saintLanguage
- Latin