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E07743: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (2.34), describes how a fire in the city of Vienne was miraculously extinguished by the prayers of *Mamertus (bishop of Vienne, southern Gaul, ob. c. 470, S02351). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.
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posted on 2019-08-23, 00:00 authored by dlambertGregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 2.34
Sed in ipsa gloriosae noctis vigilia, dum missarum celebrarentur sollemnia, subito palatium regale intramuraneum divino igne succenditur. Pavore omnibus perterritis et eclesiam egressis, credentibus, ne aut hoc incendio urbs tota consumeretur aut certe disrupta tellore degiscerit, sanctus sacerdus prostratus ante altare, cum gemitu et lacrimis Domini misericordiam inpraecatur. Quid plura? Penetravit excelsa poli oratio pontefecis incliti, restinxitque domus incendium flumen profluentium lacrimarum.
'However, on the very vigil of the holy night, when the rite of Mass was being celebrated, the royal palace inside the city walls was set ablaze by fire sent by God. The congregation was panic-stricken. They rushed out of the church, for they thought that the whole town would be destroyed by this fire, or else that the earth would open and swallow it up. The holy Bishop was prostrate before the altar, imploring God’s mercy with tears and lamentations. What more should I say? The prayers of this famous Bishop rose to heaven above and, so to speak, his floods of tears put out the fire in the palace.'
Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 83. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 149, adapted.
Sed in ipsa gloriosae noctis vigilia, dum missarum celebrarentur sollemnia, subito palatium regale intramuraneum divino igne succenditur. Pavore omnibus perterritis et eclesiam egressis, credentibus, ne aut hoc incendio urbs tota consumeretur aut certe disrupta tellore degiscerit, sanctus sacerdus prostratus ante altare, cum gemitu et lacrimis Domini misericordiam inpraecatur. Quid plura? Penetravit excelsa poli oratio pontefecis incliti, restinxitque domus incendium flumen profluentium lacrimarum.
'However, on the very vigil of the holy night, when the rite of Mass was being celebrated, the royal palace inside the city walls was set ablaze by fire sent by God. The congregation was panic-stricken. They rushed out of the church, for they thought that the whole town would be destroyed by this fire, or else that the earth would open and swallow it up. The holy Bishop was prostrate before the altar, imploring God’s mercy with tears and lamentations. What more should I say? The prayers of this famous Bishop rose to heaven above and, so to speak, his floods of tears put out the fire in the palace.'
Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 83. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 149, adapted.