E04487: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Martin (4.31), recounts how *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) made a spring flow at Nieul-lès-Saintes, near Saintes (western Gaul); AD 591. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 591/594.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Martin (Libri de virtutibus sancti Martini episcopi) 4.31

Exinde egressi, Sanctonicum terreturium ingressi sumus. Cumque in quodam convivio de beati Martini virtutibus fabularemur, haec mihi unus e civibus, adfirmantibus aliis vera esse, fideliter retulit. Naiogialo villa est in hoc terreturio sita, ad quam cum sanctus Martinus adhuc superstes in corpore adiret, obvium habuit virum exhibentem
aquam cum vasculo. Erat enim puteus ille, de quo haec exhibebat, situs in valle quasi mille passus a villa, ex eo incolae haustam deferebant aquam. Tunc ait vir Dei homini aquam ferenti: 'Quaeso, dilectissime, contene manum tuam et huic asello, quem sedeo, paululum aquae ad bibendura indulge'. Qui ait: 'Si necessarium ducis animal tuum adaquare, accede ad puteum et hauriens dabis ei. Nam ego quod cum labore detuli non praebebo'. Et haec dicens, praeteriit.

Quo discedente, veniens mulier et ipsa deferens aquam in ulnam; dixit ei similiter vir Dei. Quae acsi Rebecca condam audiens nuntium Dei: 'Et tibi praebeo', ait, 'et asino tuo potum, nec mihi labor est, ut iterum hauriam. Tantum voluntas tua fiat, qui iter pergens necessitatem pateris'. Et posito vasculo, dedit asino illi bibere. Quae, iterum haustam aquam, impleto vasculo, revertebatur ad villam. Quam prosequens sanctus, ait: 'Reddam tibi pro mercede beneficium, quia adaquasti asinum meum'. Et, positis genibus in terra, oravit ad Dominum, ut loco illi fontis ostenderet venam. Ac statim consummata oratione, disrupta terra, fontem inmensum populis admirantibus patefecit. Qui usque hodie beneficium praebet hominibus conmanentibus in agro illo. In huius enim fontis ore est lapis in testimonium, qui vestigium retenet aselli illius, super quem sanctus sedit antistis.


'I left Poitiers and entered the territory of Saintes. While I was talking about the miracles of the blessed Martin during a banquet, one of the citizens piously told me this story, which the others agreed was true. In this territory there is the village of Nieul-lès-Saintes. Saint Martin, while still alive in body, came to this village and met a man who was carrying water in a jar. The well from which the man was bringing this water was located in a valley about a thousand paces from the village, from which the inhabitants carried the water the water they drew. Then the man of God said to the man who was carrying the water: 'Most beloved, I ask you, extend your hand and offer a little water for this donkey that I am sitting on to drink.' The man replied: 'If you think it necessary to fetch water for your donkey, go to the well and give it the water you draw. For I will not offer the water that I have laboriously carried.' After saying this, the man continued on.

As he left, a woman came who was also carrying water in her arms. The man of God made a similar request of her. Like Rebecca in the past this woman listened to the messenger of God and said: 'I will offer you and your donkey a drink, and it is no problem for me to draw water again. Only let your will be done, because you are a traveller suffering from thirst.' She put down her jar and offered a drink to his donkey. Then she drew water again, filled her jar, and returned to the village. The saint followed her and said: 'Let me repay you with a blessing, because you have fetched water for my donkey.' He bent his knees to the ground and prayed to the Lord that he expose a flowing spring in that spot. And as soon as he finished his prayer, the ground was split and revealed a large spring to the people who were watching in wonder. Still today this spring offers its blessing to the people who live in that region. At the mouth of this spring as confirmation there is a stone that preserves the hoofprint of the donkey upon which the holy bishop sat.'

Text: Krusch 1969, 207-208. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 297-298 (= de Nie 2015, 827-829).