E07839: At the beginning of his Miracles of Hilary, written in Latin, Venantius Fortunatus explains that he recorded the contemporary miracles of *Hilary (bishop of Poitiers, ob. 367, S00183) to prevent them being forgotten, as Hilary's past miracles had been. Written in Poitiers (western Gaul), AD 567/568.

Venantius Fortunatus, Miracles of Hilary (Libri de virtutibus sancti Hilarii) 1-2 (3-5)

(3) ... Praesertim ubi diversa diversarum partium videtur esse causa mercedum, quod gentiles fructum laboris sui in inanitatum favore voluerunt consistere, nos autem oporteat in beatorum virorum intercessione plantare, quibus hic verba si solvimus, illic gaudia comparamus. (4) Idcirco reddat illi mobilis lingua praeconium, a quo prius pectora conceperunt affectum; nam bonis eius aperte credetur invideri, si quae de illo cognovimus, silentio videantur abscondi. merito itaque cum ceteris et me de se loqui compellit, qui etiam mutos ut loquantur absolvit. (5) Sed quam plura superstis in corpore fecerit vel quanta operatus sit, postquam aeterna in requie plaudentibus angelis ad Christum victor de mundi certamine transmigravit, etsi non potui annorum vetustate subripiente contingere, attamen vel quae praesenti tempore miracula misericors praebuit, cupio indigenti memoriae non fraudare: ut quisquis haec fideli sicut condecet auditu perceperit. et praeterita recognoscere gaudeat et similia fieri virtute confessoris in futuro confidat.

'(3.) ... Distinctions between the different factions seem especially to be the reason for [different] rewards: while pagans have preferred to entrust the fruit of their labor to the support of ineffective men, it is necessary to entrust ourselves to the intercession of the blessed men whose joy we share there [in heaven] if we address words to them here [on earth]. (4.) Therefore let the nimble tongue of heralds again speak about that [Hilary] for whom my heart previously developed an affection; for he is clearly believed to be envied for his good deeds [even] if what I know about him seems to be concealed in silence. As a result he who healed the mute so that they might speak has in addition deservedly compelled me to speak about himself. (5.) But the passage of the years was a thief, and I was unable to discover his many deeds while he was alive in his body and his great accomplishments after he migrated to Christ and the angels who applaud him in eternal rest as a victor from the struggles of this world. Therefore I do not wish to cheat our impoverished memory of the miracles that [Hilary] in his mercy has displayed during the present time. Then everyone who listens to these miracles as is proper with trusting ears either may rejoice in recognizing past events or may believe that similar miracles will happen in the future through the confessor’s power.'

Text: Krusch 1885. Translation: Van Dam 1993.