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E02988: Gildas, in his treatise On the Destruction of Britain, refers to *Basil (bishop of Caesarea, ob. 379, S00780), and quotes him. Written in Latin in Britain, c. 480/c. 550.
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posted on 2017-06-13, 00:00 authored by dlambertGildas, On the Destruction of Britain 75
Unum adhuc praeter magnam verbis volans sanctorum silvam exempli gratia ponam, Basilium scilicet Caesariensem episcopum, qui, cum ab iniquo principe minae huiuscemodi intentarentur, quod, nisi in crastinum Arriano caeno, ut ceteri, macularetur esset omnino moriturus, dixisse fertur: 'Ego sane ero cras, qui hodie sum: tu te utinam non mutares'. Et iterum : 'Utinam haberem aliquid digni muneris quod offerrem huic qui maturius Basilium de nodo follis huius absolveret'.
'My words must fly past a great abundance of saints: but I shall put forward one by way of example, Basil, bishop of Caesarea. He was threatened with certain death by an unjust emperor if he did not, like the rest, stain himself by the next day with the filth of the Arians. But he is said to have replied: "Tomorrow I shall be what I am today: let us hope you do not change". And again: "If only I had a proper present to offer the man who would free Basil more quickly from the bond of this body".'
Text and translation: Winterbottom 1978; translation adapted.
Unum adhuc praeter magnam verbis volans sanctorum silvam exempli gratia ponam, Basilium scilicet Caesariensem episcopum, qui, cum ab iniquo principe minae huiuscemodi intentarentur, quod, nisi in crastinum Arriano caeno, ut ceteri, macularetur esset omnino moriturus, dixisse fertur: 'Ego sane ero cras, qui hodie sum: tu te utinam non mutares'. Et iterum : 'Utinam haberem aliquid digni muneris quod offerrem huic qui maturius Basilium de nodo follis huius absolveret'.
'My words must fly past a great abundance of saints: but I shall put forward one by way of example, Basil, bishop of Caesarea. He was threatened with certain death by an unjust emperor if he did not, like the rest, stain himself by the next day with the filth of the Arians. But he is said to have replied: "Tomorrow I shall be what I am today: let us hope you do not change". And again: "If only I had a proper present to offer the man who would free Basil more quickly from the bond of this body".'
Text and translation: Winterbottom 1978; translation adapted.