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E07039: Constantius of Lyon, in his Life of *Germanus (bishop of Auxerre, ob. c. 448, S00455), written in Latin at Lyon (central Gaul) between c. 460 and c. 480, describes how Germanus restored the ability of a farmer's cocks to crow by giving them corn he had blessed.
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posted on 2018-11-02, 00:00 authored by dlambertConstantius of Lyon, Life of Germanus of Auxerre 11
For a full account of Constantius' Life of Germanus, see $E05841. This passage follows the one discussed in $E07552.
Neque illud omittendum uidetur, quod in eodem itinere, post dies aliquot, noctis caecitate conpulsus, mediocrium personarum successit hospitio; nam id maxime, ambitum refugiens, requirebat. Cumque in diuino opere solito pernoctasset officio, lux orta est nullis gallorum cantibus nuntiata, cum earum auium copia in hisdem domibus non deesset. Causam nouitatis explorat; agnoscit multum esse iam tempus, quo tristis taciturnitas naturale gallicinium damnauisset. Ab omnibus exoratus, mercedem mansionis exsoluit. Acceptum enim triticum benedictione condiuit, quo pastae auiculae auditus habitantium usque ad molestiam frequentatis cantibus fatigabant. Ita uirtus diuina etiam in rebus minimis maxima praeeminebat.
'Another incident deserves to be recounted that took place some days later on the same journey. Oncoming darkness had compelled the Bishop to seek hospitality, and his hosts were quite humble people, a thing which he greatly preferred, as he shunned ostentation. When he had spent the night according to his custom in the recitation of the divine office, the sun rose, but no crowing of cocks heralded it, although there were numbers of these birds about the place. He enquired the cause of this novelty and was told that for a long time now, the natural habits of the cocks had given way to a melancholy silence. Everybody asked for his help, so he made return for their hospitality. He took some corn and seasoned it with a blessing and when the birds had eaten it they wearied the ears of the household almost to distraction by their constant crowing. Thus the power of God reveals its greatness even in the smallest things.'
This passage concludes Constantius' narrative of miracles local to Arles. It is followed by his account of Germanus' first visit to Britain (§§ 12-18), in which the first miraculous event occurs during Germanus' crossing of the Channel: E06024.
Text: Borius 1965. Translation: Hoare 1954.
For a full account of Constantius' Life of Germanus, see $E05841. This passage follows the one discussed in $E07552.
Neque illud omittendum uidetur, quod in eodem itinere, post dies aliquot, noctis caecitate conpulsus, mediocrium personarum successit hospitio; nam id maxime, ambitum refugiens, requirebat. Cumque in diuino opere solito pernoctasset officio, lux orta est nullis gallorum cantibus nuntiata, cum earum auium copia in hisdem domibus non deesset. Causam nouitatis explorat; agnoscit multum esse iam tempus, quo tristis taciturnitas naturale gallicinium damnauisset. Ab omnibus exoratus, mercedem mansionis exsoluit. Acceptum enim triticum benedictione condiuit, quo pastae auiculae auditus habitantium usque ad molestiam frequentatis cantibus fatigabant. Ita uirtus diuina etiam in rebus minimis maxima praeeminebat.
'Another incident deserves to be recounted that took place some days later on the same journey. Oncoming darkness had compelled the Bishop to seek hospitality, and his hosts were quite humble people, a thing which he greatly preferred, as he shunned ostentation. When he had spent the night according to his custom in the recitation of the divine office, the sun rose, but no crowing of cocks heralded it, although there were numbers of these birds about the place. He enquired the cause of this novelty and was told that for a long time now, the natural habits of the cocks had given way to a melancholy silence. Everybody asked for his help, so he made return for their hospitality. He took some corn and seasoned it with a blessing and when the birds had eaten it they wearied the ears of the household almost to distraction by their constant crowing. Thus the power of God reveals its greatness even in the smallest things.'
This passage concludes Constantius' narrative of miracles local to Arles. It is followed by his account of Germanus' first visit to Britain (§§ 12-18), in which the first miraculous event occurs during Germanus' crossing of the Channel: E06024.
Text: Borius 1965. Translation: Hoare 1954.