A construed Latin story told by Ambrose of Milan. In Holy Week the imperial soldiers besiege the Portian basilica. To keep his tired people from giving up, the bishop teaches them to sing in two alternating choirs a new hymn about the cock that rebukes those who deny, while outside the apse a young Arian Goth on guard learns the tune through the wall. Latin with word-by-word English gloss, then the Latin alone.
The Cock Rebukes the Deniers: a construed Latin story
by Ambrose of Milan, Simulacrum · Universitas Scholarium
Milan, Holy Week, in the year the boy-emperor Valentinian ruled from the palace. The empress-mother Justina demands a church for the Arians. The bishop refuses, and soldiers surround the Portian basilica with the bishop and his people shut inside. By the second day the crowd is tired, hungry and yawning through his sermons on Job. So the former governor tries something the West has never heard: two choirs, men and women, answering each other, and a short hymn about the cock that wakes the sleeper and rebukes the one who denies. Outside the apse, a young Gothic soldier of the Arian faith, sent to keep the Catholics in, begins to learn the tune through the wall. Ambrose tells the story himself, years later. He tells what he saw and what was told him, and he admits that he was afraid, that his plan was partly cunning, and that there is one question he never dared to ask. Part A gives the Latin word by word with its English gloss; Part B gives the Latin alone.
1.1 Annō in the year quō in which Valentīniānus Valentinian adulēscēns a youth Mediolānī at Milan imperābat was ruling Iūstīnam Justina mātrem the mother eius of him ūnam one ex out of basilicīs the basilicas nostrīs our Ariānīs to the Arians trādī to be handed over postulāvisse to have demanded nēmō no one Mediolānēnsium of the Milanese ignōrat is unaware
1.2 Ariānōs the Arians autem moreover Fīlium the Son Deī of God Patrī to the Father aequālem equal esse to be negāre to deny sciunt know omnēs all quī who hās these litterās letters legent will read
1.3 Ego I vērō but quī who tum then ecclēsiae the church Mediolānēnsī Milanese praeeram was presiding over respondī answered palātia palaces ad to imperātōrem the emperor pertinēre to belong ecclēsiās churches ad to sacerdōtem the priest
1.4 Hoc this respōnsum reply in in palātiō the palace prō for contumāciā insolence acceptum esse to have been taken posteā afterwards mihi to me rettulērunt reported quī those who ibi there aderant were present
1.5 Paucīs by a few post after diēbus days fāma a rumour per through urbem the city mānāvit spread mīlitēs soldiers missōs esse to have been sent quī who basilicam the basilica Portiānam Portian occupārent were to seize
1.6 Populum the people audītō having been heard nūntiō the news nōn not domum home fūgisse to have fled sed but in into basilicam the basilica cucurrisse to have run meminī I remember ego I quoque too cum with eīs them intrāvī entered et and forēs the doors post behind nōs us clausae sunt were shut
1.7 Mīlitēs the soldiers deinde next basilicam the basilica ita in such a way cīnxisse to have surrounded trāditum est it has been handed down ut that intrāre to enter quidem indeed cuivīs to anyone licēret was permitted exīre to go out nēminī to no one
1.8 Hōc in this locō place fatērī to confess dēbeō I ought mē myself illā on that nocte night timuisse to have been afraid quamquam although sorōrī to sister meae my Marcellīnae Marcellina posteā afterwards scrīpsī I wrote mē myself nihil nothing timēre to fear
1.9 Nōn not enim for mortem death meam my timēbam was I fearing sed but nē lest mīlitēs the soldiers in against populum the people inermem unarmed ferrum the sword stringerent should draw id that thing quod which paucīs by a few post after annīs years Thessalonīcae at Thessalonica factum est was done
1.10 Quid what autem however illīs in those noctibus nights extrā outside mūrōs the walls agerētur was being done ipse I myself nōn not vīdī saw quae the things which nārrābō I shall relate partim partly ā from mīlitibus the soldiers ipsīs themselves partim partly ab from aliīs others accēpī I received
2.1 Prīmō on the first diē day populus the people alacer eager erat was psalmōs psalms recitābat was reciting mē me praedicantem preaching libenter gladly audiēbat was listening to
2.2 Dē about Iōb Job tum then disserēbam I was discoursing quī who omnia all things āmīserat had lost nec and not tamen yet Deum God blasphēmāverat had blasphemed et and populum the people ad to patientiam patience hortābar I was exhorting
2.3 Sed but alterō on the second diē day et and tertiō third multōs many fessōs tired humī on the ground iacēre to be lying īnfantēs infants vāgīre to be wailing mātrēs mothers pānem bread quaerere to be seeking vidēbam I was seeing
2.4 Fatendum est it must be confessed etiam also nōnnūllōs some inter during contiōnem the sermon meam my ōscitāvisse to have yawned quod which ipsī himself Iōb to Job fortasse perhaps accidisset would have happened
2.5 Ferunt they say etiam even quōsdam certain people per through fenestrās the windows mīlitēs the soldiers rogāvisse to have asked num whether sibi to themselves exīre to go out licēret it was permitted mīlitēsque and the soldiers rīdentēs laughing negāvisse to have said no
2.6 Tum then intellēxī I understood populum the people nōn not ferrō by the sword sed but taediō by weariness victum īrī to be going to be conquered nisi unless aliquid something invenīrem I should find quō by which animī the spirits eōrum of them sustentārentur might be sustained
2.7 Cōnsulāris governor enim for Liguriae of Liguria et and Aemiliae of Aemilia fueram I had been antequam before episcopus bishop fierem I became et and quōmodo how multitūdō a crowd regerētur was controlled in in forō the forum didiceram I had learned
2.8 Quīn indeed ipsa the very multitūdō crowd mē me episcopum bishop fēcerat had made nam for cum when in into hanc this ipsam very ecclēsiam church vēnissem I had come ut in order that sēditiōnem a riot inter between Ariānōs Arians et and Catholicōs Catholics sēdārem I might calm īnfantis of a child vōcem the voice audītam esse to have been heard ferunt they say quae which mē me episcopum bishop clāmāret was proclaiming
2.9 Fūgī I fled tunc then repugnāvī I resisted nec and not quicquam anything prōfēcī I achieved populus the people enim for mē me nōn not dīmīsit let go
2.10 Nunc now autem however contrā conversely mihi for me cūrandum erat it had to be seen to nē that not populus the people ā from mē me discēderet should depart
3.1 In in Oriente the East audīveram I had heard Syrōs the Syrians psalmōs psalms alternīs in alternating chorīs choirs canere to sing ita in such a way ut that pars part populī of the people versum a verse inciperet began pars part respondēret answered
3.2 Hunc this mōrem custom nostrī our people numquam never expertī erant had tried placuit it seemed good igitur therefore eum it illā on that ipsā very nocte night temptāre to try
3.3 Virōs the men in on dextrā the right parte side basilicae of the basilica mulierēs the women in on sinistrā the left cōnstituī I placed versūs the verses prīmum first ipse myself praecinuī I sang first deinde then eōs them vicissim in turn respondēre to answer iussī I ordered
3.4 Neque nor dissimulābō shall I conceal cōnsilium plan meum my nōn not sōlum only pium pious sed but etiam also callidum cunning fuisse to have been cantū by song enim for populum the people retinēre to hold back volēbam I was wishing nē lest fessus weary forēs the doors aperīrī to be opened postulāret it should demand
3.5 Sed but psalmī the psalms Dāvīdis of David longī long sunt are et and populus the people imperītus unlearned eōs them memoriā in memory nōn not tenēbat was holding
3.6 Itaque and so versūs verses brevēs short prōtulī I brought forth quōs which paulō a little ante before ad for vigiliās the vigils nocturnās nightly composueram I had composed tam so simplicēs simple ut that vel even puer a boy semel once audītōs heard memoriā in memory tenēret might hold
3.7 Prīma the first pars part haec this erat was
3.8 Aeterne eternal rērum of things conditor founder
noctem the night diemque and the day quī who regis rule
et and temporum of the seasons dās give tempora the times
ut so that allevēs you may lighten fastīdium weariness
3.9 Cum when populus the people dē about fastīdiō weariness suō its own canere to sing coepisset had begun multōs many rīsisse to have laughed meminī I remember sē themselves enim for ipsōs very canēbant they were singing
3.10 Rīsus laughter autem however ille that plūs more valuit prevailed quam than omnēs all contiōnēs sermons meae my et and quī those who iacuerant had been lying surrēxērunt rose
3.11 Secunda the second pars part gallum the cock canēbat was singing of quī who vigilibus to watchmen noctis of the night fīnem the end nūntiat announces
3.12 Praecō the herald diēī of the day iam now sonat sounds
noctis of the night profundae deep pervigil watchful throughout
nocturna nocturnal lūx light viantibus to wayfarers
ā from nocte night noctem night sēgregāns separating
3.13 Posteā afterwards Petrum Peter memorābam I was recalling quī who ter three times Dominum the Lord negāverat had denied antequam before gallus the cock cantāret crowed deinde then haec these things sequēbantur were following
3.14 Surgāmus let us rise ergō therefore strēnuē briskly
gallus the cock iacentēs those lying excitat rouses
et and somnolentōs the sleepy increpat chides
gallus the cock negantēs those denying arguit rebukes
3.15 Hōs these versūs verses cum while canerem I was singing dē of Petrō Peter sōlō alone cōgitābam I was thinking quis who extrā outside mūrōs the walls eōs them audīret might be hearing nē not suspicābar did I suspect quidem even
4.1 Erat there was inter among mīlitēs the soldiers quī who absīdem the apse basilicae of the basilica custōdiēbant were guarding Gothus a Goth quīdam certain nōmine by name Theudila Theudila adulēscēns a young man vīgintī of twenty ferē about annōrum years
4.2 Cōnstat it is agreed hunc this man ā by patre the father Ariānum as an Arian ēducātum esse to have been brought up sīcut just as ferē nearly omnēs all Gothī Goths ēducantur are brought up quī who fidem the faith ab from Ulfilā Ulfilas accēpērunt received
4.3 Ipse he himself mihi to me posteā afterwards nārrāvit related sē himself prīmā on the first nocte night nihil nothing nisi except strepitum a din audīvisse to have heard quasi as if apēs bees intrā within mūrōs the walls murmurārent were murmuring
4.4 Alterā on the second nocte night eum him animadvertisse to have noticed aiunt they say vōcēs voices graviōrēs deeper et and acūtiōrēs higher inter among sē themselves vicissim in turn respondēre to be answering velut like duo two fluctūs waves quōrum of which alter one alterum the other in on lītore the shore sequitur follows
4.5 Tertiā on the third nocte night modōs the tunes ipsōs themselves iam already tenēbat he was holding verba the words nōndum not yet intellegēbat he was understanding nam for Latīnē in Latin vix scarcely loquēbātur he was speaking
4.6 Mīror I marvel etiam even nunc now quod that Deus God hominem a man contrā against nōs us missum sent prius sooner per through aurēs the ears quam than per through mentem the mind cēperit caught
4.7 Nōs we episcopī bishops disputātiōnibus with disputations et and librīs books haereticōs heretics vincere to conquer cōnāmur try Theudilam Theudila vērō however nēmō no one disputandō by disputing vīcit conquered sed but cantus a song per through parietem the wall audītus heard
4.8 Accēpī I have learned eum him per through noctem the night ad at mūrum the wall stantem standing modōs the tunes nostrōs our submissā lowered vōce with voice imitātum esse to have imitated ita so ut that commīlitōnēs the comrades eius of him eum him dērīdērent mocked
4.9 Illī they enim for eum him rogāvisse to have asked dīcuntur are said utrum whether Gothus a Goth an or Ambrosiānus an Ambrosian esset he was
4.10 Ille he sē himself mīlitem a soldier Augustī of Augustus esse to be respondisse to have answered fertur is said nec and not quicquam anything amplius more
4.11 Addunt they add tamen however eum him posterā on the next nocte night eundem the same locum place ad at absīdem the apse rūrsus again petīvisse to have sought cum although ad to portam the gate trānsīre to cross over licēret it was permitted
5.1 Intereā meanwhile Calligonus Calligonus praepositus the superintendent sacrī of the sacred cubiculī bedchamber ad to mē me missus est was sent ut so that mē me ad to oboedientiam obedience revocāret he might call back
5.2 Hunc him per through ostiolum a little door admissum admitted mē me minācibus with threatening verbīs words aggressum esse to have attacked meminērunt remember quī those who circā around mē me stābant were standing
5.3 Quaesīvit he asked num whether ego I sē himself vīvō being alive Valentīniānum Valentinian contemnerem was despising et and addidit added sē himself caput the head mihi from me ablātūrum esse to be going to take away
5.4 Respondī I answered mē myself optāre to wish ut that Deus God eum him implēre to fulfil quod what minārētur he was threatening sineret would allow mē myself enim for passūrum esse to be going to suffer quod what episcopī bishops paterentur suffered illum him factūrum esse to be going to do quod what eunūchī eunuchs facerent did
5.5 Hoc this respōnsum reply fortasse perhaps acerbius harsher fuit was quam than sacerdōtem a priest decēbat befitted
5.6 Duo two things tamen however simul at once vēra true sunt are et both vērum the truth dīxī I spoke et and hominem a man quī who nōn not suā by his own culpā fault eunūchus a eunuch erat was contumēliā with an insult laesī I wounded
5.7 Imperātor the emperor enim for intrā within ecclēsiam the church nōn not suprā above ecclēsiam the church est is hoc this tunc then crēdidī I believed et and etiam still nunc now crēdō I believe
5.8 Sed but quī he who imperātōrī to the emperor vēritātem the truth dīcit speaks servō to a servant eius of him contumēliam insult dīcere to speak nōn not dēbet ought
5.9 Calligonum Calligonus ipsum himself paucīs by a few post after annīs years capite with the head pūnītum esse to have been punished audīvī I heard nec nor gāvīsus sum did I rejoice
6.1 Erat there was inter among vigilantēs those keeping vigil vidua a widow quaedam certain Āfra African quae who in in vigiliīs the vigils prīmās the first partēs parts tenēbat was holding et and ōrātiōnibus by prayers vīvēbat was living
6.2 Fīlium a son habēbat she had rhētorem a rhetorician quī who Mediolānī at Milan ēloquentiam eloquence prōfitēbātur was professing et and contiōnēs the sermons meās my propter for the sake of verba the words magis more quam than propter for the sake of rēs the matters audiēbat was hearing
6.3 Hunc him nōbīscum with us inclūsum shut in nōn not fuisse to have been sciō I know audīvī I heard tamen however eum him in in urbe the city attonitā thunderstruck frīgidum cold quidem indeed adhūc still sed but commōtum stirred fuisse to have been
6.4 Vidua the widow illa that quārtā on the fourth nocte night ad to fenestram the window accessit came prope near quam which Theudila Theudila excubābat was keeping watch
6.5 Ferunt they say eam her per through cancellōs the lattice eum him rogāvisse to have asked cūr why mīles a soldier Chrīstiānus Christian contrā against Chrīstiānōs Christians excubāret was keeping guard
6.6 Illum him sē himself Chrīstiānum a Christian esse to be negāvisse to have denied trāditum est it is handed down sīve whether quod because commīlitōnēs the comrades audīre to hear nōllet he did not want sīve or quod because verba the words Latīna Latin nōn not satis enough intellegeret he understood
6.7 Vidua the widow nihil nothing respondit answered sed but ad to chorum the choir mulierum of women rediit went back quīdam certain people addunt add eam her prō for illō him tōtam the whole noctem night ōrāvisse to have prayed
7.1 Ecce behold autem now eō at that ipsō very tempore time quō at which populus the people intus inside versum the verse dē about gallō the cock negantēs those denying arguente rebuking canēbat was singing gallum a cock vērum real in in vīcō the lane propinquō nearby cantāvisse to have crowed testantur testify quī those who aderant were present
7.2 Theudila Theudila prīmō at first haerēre sticking fast circumspicere looking about pallēscere growing pale manūs the hands ad to ōs the mouth admovēre moving
7.3 Tum then hastam the spear ad against parietem the wall apposuit he set
7.4 Deinde then ad to forēs the doors basilicae of the basilica vēnit he came et and trēs three commīlitōnēs comrades eum him secūtī sunt followed nesciō I know not utrum whether ut in order that eum him retinērent they might hold back an or ut in order that imitārentur they might imitate
7.5 Mihi to me intus inside nūntiātum est it was announced mīlitēs soldiers armātōs armed forēs the doors pulsāre to be knocking at et and populum the people clāmōre a shout sublātō having been raised ad to altāre the altar cōnfūgisse to have fled
7.6 Crēdidī I believed hōram the hour illam that adesse to be at hand quam which timueram I had feared et and ad to forēs the doors prōcessī I went forward ut so that prīmus first ferrum the sword exciperem I might receive
7.7 Forēs the doors aperīrī to be opened iussī I ordered
7.8 In on līmine the threshold stābant were standing Theudila Theudila et and trēs three aliī others sine without hastīs spears sine without scūtīs shields capitibus with heads dēmissīs lowered
7.9 Theudila Theudila Latīnē in Latin balbūtiēns stammering sē himself commīlitōnēsque and comrades suōs his nōn not ad for pugnandum fighting sed but ad for ōrandum praying vēnisse to have come dīxit said
7.10 Deinde then quaesīvit he asked num whether Gothō to a Goth quoque also cum with Rōmānīs the Romans canere to sing licēret it was permitted
7.11 Quid what respondērem was I to answer
7.12 Eum him in into chorum the choir virōrum of men dūxī I led ille he verba the words nōndum not yet tenēbat was holding sed but modōs the tunes rēctius more correctly quam than ego I ipse myself canēbat was singing
7.13 Mīlitēs the soldiers quī who forīs outside manēbant were remaining cum when commīlitōnēs comrades suōs their intus inside canere to sing audīrent they heard nec neither irrūpisse to have burst in nec nor discessisse to have gone away nārrant they relate sed but tacitōs silent ad until lūcem daylight stetisse to have stood
8.1 Paucīs by a few post after diēbus days imperātor the emperor mīlitēs the soldiers revocāvit recalled et and basilica the basilica nōbīs to us relicta est was left
8.2 Multī many tunc then mē me laudābant were praising quasi as if ego I imperātōrem the emperor vīcissem had conquered
8.3 Ego I vērō in truth in in eā that rē affair bis twice victus sum was conquered semel once ā by populō the people meō my quem which cantū by song retinēre to hold back voluī I wished cum although ipse I myself eius its cantū by song retentus sim was held back iterum a second time ā by Gothō a Goth Ariānō Arian quī who hymnum the hymn meum my prius sooner amāvit loved quam than intellēxit understood
8.4 Suprā above scrīpsī I wrote cōnsilium plan meum my etiam also callidum cunning fuisse to have been id that nunc now corrigendum est must be corrected
8.5 Calliditās cunning enim for mea my populum the people ūnam one noctem night retinēre to hold poterat could trēs three nōn not poterat could quod what reliquum remaining erat was Deus God per through cantum the song effēcit accomplished
8.6 Rhētor the rhetorician autem moreover ille that Āfer African viduae of the widow fīlius son annō in the year sequentī following in on vigiliā the vigil Paschae of Easter ā by mē me baptīzātus est was baptised
8.7 Eum him inter during hymnōs the hymns nostrōs our flēre to weep ipse myself vīdī I saw et and cūr why flēret he was weeping nōn not interrogāvī I asked
8.8 Hunc him quoque also cantus the song prius sooner quam than disputātiō argument cēpisse to have caught mihi to me vidētur seems
8.9 Ille he tamen however fortasse perhaps aliter otherwise nārrābit will tell it nam for ōlim once rhētor a rhetorician fuit he was
9.1 Rogābis you will ask fortasse perhaps quid what dē of Theudilā Theudila factum sit has become
9.2 Septem by seven post after annīs years ad to mē me vēnit came iam by now centuriō a centurion et and ea those things quae which suprā above scrīpsī I wrote ipse himself mihi to me nārrāvit related
9.3 Dīxit he said sē himself in on rīpā the bank Dānuviī of the Danube per through noctēs the nights hībernās wintry excubantem keeping watch hymnum the hymn illum that submissā lowered vōce with voice canere to sing solēre to be accustomed
9.4 Cum whenever gallus the cock cantāret crowed sē himself semper always et both Petrī Peter et and suī himself meminisse to remember quī who ambō both eādem at the same hōrā hour negāvissent had denied
9.5 Verba the words autem now iam by now intellegēbat he was understanding dīxit he said sē himself versum the verse dē about fastīdiō weariness maximē most of all amāre to love quod because mīlitibus for soldiers nox the night longissima very long esset was
9.6 Utrum whether Ariānus an Arian mānserit he remained an or fidem the faith Nīcaenam Nicene amplexus sit embraced nesciō I do not know eum him enim for nōn not interrogāvī I asked
9.7 Nam for hymnus hymn meus my nihil nothing dē about Fīliō the Son disputat disputes et and Ariānī the Arians eum it aequē equally ac as nostrī ours canere to sing possunt can
9.8 Cūr why nōn not interrogāverim I asked saepe often mēcum with myself quaesīvī I have inquired
9.9 Ego I quī who Theodosium Theodosius imperātōrem the emperor ab from altāris of the altar commūniōne communion arcueram had kept away dōnec until paenitentiam penance ageret he should do mīlitem a soldier ūnum one dē about fidē faith suā his interrogāre to question nōn not ausus sum dared
9.10 Fortasse perhaps timuī I feared nē lest iterum again negāret he should deny nec nor volēbam was I wishing ego I eī to him gallus the cock esse to be
9.11 Id that utrum whether cāritās charity fuerit was an or ignāvia cowardice ille he iūdicābit will judge quī who temporum of the seasons dat gives tempora the times
9.12 Hoc this ūnum one thing sciō I know basilicam the basilica illam that nōn not tam so much mūrīs by walls clausam shut fuisse to have been quam as cantū by song apertam opened
1.1 Annō quō Valentīniānus adulēscēns Mediolānī imperābat, Iūstīnam mātrem eius ūnam ex basilicīs nostrīs Ariānīs trādī postulāvisse nēmō Mediolānēnsium ignōrat.
1.2 Ariānōs autem Fīlium Deī Patrī aequālem esse negāre sciunt omnēs quī hās litterās legent.
1.3 Ego vērō, quī tum ecclēsiae Mediolānēnsī praeeram, respondī palātia ad imperātōrem pertinēre, ecclēsiās ad sacerdōtem.
1.4 Hoc respōnsum in palātiō prō contumāciā acceptum esse posteā mihi rettulērunt quī ibi aderant.
1.5 Paucīs post diēbus fāma per urbem mānāvit mīlitēs missōs esse quī basilicam Portiānam occupārent.
1.6 Populum audītō nūntiō nōn domum fūgisse sed in basilicam cucurrisse meminī; ego quoque cum eīs intrāvī, et forēs post nōs clausae sunt.
1.7 Mīlitēs deinde basilicam ita cīnxisse trāditum est ut intrāre quidem cuivīs licēret, exīre nēminī.
1.8 Hōc locō fatērī dēbeō mē illā nocte timuisse, quamquam sorōrī meae Marcellīnae posteā scrīpsī mē nihil timēre.
1.9 Nōn enim mortem meam timēbam, sed nē mīlitēs in populum inermem ferrum stringerent, id quod paucīs post annīs Thessalonīcae factum est.
1.10 Quid autem illīs noctibus extrā mūrōs agerētur, ipse nōn vīdī; quae nārrābō, partim ā mīlitibus ipsīs, partim ab aliīs accēpī.
2.1 Prīmō diē populus alacer erat, psalmōs recitābat, mē praedicantem libenter audiēbat.
2.2 Dē Iōb tum disserēbam, quī omnia āmīserat nec tamen Deum blasphēmāverat, et populum ad patientiam hortābar.
2.3 Sed alterō diē et tertiō multōs fessōs humī iacēre, īnfantēs vāgīre, mātrēs pānem quaerere vidēbam.
2.4 Fatendum est etiam nōnnūllōs inter contiōnem meam ōscitāvisse, quod ipsī Iōb fortasse accidisset.
2.5 Ferunt etiam quōsdam per fenestrās mīlitēs rogāvisse num sibi exīre licēret, mīlitēsque rīdentēs negāvisse.
2.6 Tum intellēxī populum nōn ferrō sed taediō victum īrī, nisi aliquid invenīrem quō animī eōrum sustentārentur.
2.7 Cōnsulāris enim Liguriae et Aemiliae fueram antequam episcopus fierem, et quōmodo multitūdō regerētur in forō didiceram.
2.8 Quīn ipsa multitūdō mē episcopum fēcerat; nam cum in hanc ipsam ecclēsiam vēnissem ut sēditiōnem inter Ariānōs et Catholicōs sēdārem, īnfantis vōcem audītam esse ferunt quae mē episcopum clāmāret.
2.9 Fūgī tunc, repugnāvī, nec quicquam prōfēcī; populus enim mē nōn dīmīsit.
2.10 Nunc autem contrā mihi cūrandum erat nē populus ā mē discēderet.
3.1 In Oriente audīveram Syrōs psalmōs alternīs chorīs canere, ita ut pars populī versum inciperet, pars respondēret.
3.2 Hunc mōrem nostrī numquam expertī erant; placuit igitur eum illā ipsā nocte temptāre.
3.3 Virōs in dextrā parte basilicae, mulierēs in sinistrā cōnstituī; versūs prīmum ipse praecinuī, deinde eōs vicissim respondēre iussī.
3.4 Neque dissimulābō cōnsilium meum nōn sōlum pium sed etiam callidum fuisse; cantū enim populum retinēre volēbam, nē fessus forēs aperīrī postulāret.
3.5 Sed psalmī Dāvīdis longī sunt, et populus imperītus eōs memoriā nōn tenēbat.
3.6 Itaque versūs brevēs prōtulī, quōs paulō ante ad vigiliās nocturnās composueram, tam simplicēs ut vel puer semel audītōs memoriā tenēret.
3.7 Prīma pars haec erat:
3.8 Aeterne rērum conditor,
noctem diemque quī regis,
et temporum dās tempora
ut allevēs fastīdium.
3.9 Cum populus dē fastīdiō suō canere coepisset, multōs rīsisse meminī; sē enim ipsōs canēbant.
3.10 Rīsus autem ille plūs valuit quam omnēs contiōnēs meae, et quī iacuerant surrēxērunt.
3.11 Secunda pars gallum canēbat, quī vigilibus noctis fīnem nūntiat:
3.12 Praecō diēī iam sonat,
noctis profundae pervigil,
nocturna lūx viantibus
ā nocte noctem sēgregāns.
3.13 Posteā Petrum memorābam, quī ter Dominum negāverat antequam gallus cantāret; deinde haec sequēbantur:
3.14 Surgāmus ergō strēnuē:
gallus iacentēs excitat
et somnolentōs increpat,
gallus negantēs arguit.
3.15 Hōs versūs cum canerem, dē Petrō sōlō cōgitābam; quis extrā mūrōs eōs audīret, nē suspicābar quidem.
4.1 Erat inter mīlitēs quī absīdem basilicae custōdiēbant Gothus quīdam, nōmine Theudila, adulēscēns vīgintī ferē annōrum.
4.2 Cōnstat hunc ā patre Ariānum ēducātum esse, sīcut ferē omnēs Gothī ēducantur quī fidem ab Ulfilā accēpērunt.
4.3 Ipse mihi posteā nārrāvit sē prīmā nocte nihil nisi strepitum audīvisse, quasi apēs intrā mūrōs murmurārent.
4.4 Alterā nocte eum animadvertisse aiunt vōcēs graviōrēs et acūtiōrēs inter sē vicissim respondēre, velut duo fluctūs quōrum alter alterum in lītore sequitur.
4.5 Tertiā nocte modōs ipsōs iam tenēbat; verba nōndum intellegēbat, nam Latīnē vix loquēbātur.
4.6 Mīror etiam nunc quod Deus hominem contrā nōs missum prius per aurēs quam per mentem cēperit.
4.7 Nōs episcopī disputātiōnibus et librīs haereticōs vincere cōnāmur; Theudilam vērō nēmō disputandō vīcit, sed cantus per parietem audītus.
4.8 Accēpī eum per noctem ad mūrum stantem modōs nostrōs submissā vōce imitātum esse, ita ut commīlitōnēs eius eum dērīdērent.
4.9 Illī enim eum rogāvisse dīcuntur utrum Gothus an Ambrosiānus esset.
4.10 Ille sē mīlitem Augustī esse respondisse fertur, nec quicquam amplius.
4.11 Addunt tamen eum posterā nocte eundem locum ad absīdem rūrsus petīvisse, cum ad portam trānsīre licēret.
5.1 Intereā Calligonus, praepositus sacrī cubiculī, ad mē missus est ut mē ad oboedientiam revocāret.
5.2 Hunc per ostiolum admissum mē minācibus verbīs aggressum esse meminērunt quī circā mē stābant.
5.3 Quaesīvit num ego sē vīvō Valentīniānum contemnerem, et addidit sē caput mihi ablātūrum esse.
5.4 Respondī mē optāre ut Deus eum implēre quod minārētur sineret; mē enim passūrum esse quod episcopī paterentur, illum factūrum esse quod eunūchī facerent.
5.5 Hoc respōnsum fortasse acerbius fuit quam sacerdōtem decēbat.
5.6 Duo tamen simul vēra sunt: et vērum dīxī, et hominem quī nōn suā culpā eunūchus erat contumēliā laesī.
5.7 Imperātor enim intrā ecclēsiam, nōn suprā ecclēsiam est; hoc tunc crēdidī et etiam nunc crēdō.
5.8 Sed quī imperātōrī vēritātem dīcit servō eius contumēliam dīcere nōn dēbet.
5.9 Calligonum ipsum paucīs post annīs capite pūnītum esse audīvī, nec gāvīsus sum.
6.1 Erat inter vigilantēs vidua quaedam Āfra, quae in vigiliīs prīmās partēs tenēbat et ōrātiōnibus vīvēbat.
6.2 Fīlium habēbat rhētorem, quī Mediolānī ēloquentiam prōfitēbātur et contiōnēs meās propter verba magis quam propter rēs audiēbat.
6.3 Hunc nōbīscum inclūsum nōn fuisse sciō; audīvī tamen eum in urbe attonitā frīgidum quidem adhūc, sed commōtum fuisse.
6.4 Vidua illa quārtā nocte ad fenestram accessit prope quam Theudila excubābat.
6.5 Ferunt eam per cancellōs eum rogāvisse cūr mīles Chrīstiānus contrā Chrīstiānōs excubāret.
6.6 Illum sē Chrīstiānum esse negāvisse trāditum est, sīve quod commīlitōnēs audīre nōllet, sīve quod verba Latīna nōn satis intellegeret.
6.7 Vidua nihil respondit, sed ad chorum mulierum rediit; quīdam addunt eam prō illō tōtam noctem ōrāvisse.
7.1 Ecce autem, eō ipsō tempore quō populus intus versum dē gallō negantēs arguente canēbat, gallum vērum in vīcō propinquō cantāvisse testantur quī aderant.
7.2 Theudila prīmō haerēre, circumspicere, pallēscere, manūs ad ōs admovēre.
7.3 Tum hastam ad parietem apposuit.
7.4 Deinde ad forēs basilicae vēnit, et trēs commīlitōnēs eum secūtī sunt, nesciō utrum ut eum retinērent an ut imitārentur.
7.5 Mihi intus nūntiātum est mīlitēs armātōs forēs pulsāre, et populum clāmōre sublātō ad altāre cōnfūgisse.
7.6 Crēdidī hōram illam adesse quam timueram, et ad forēs prōcessī ut prīmus ferrum exciperem.
7.7 Forēs aperīrī iussī.
7.8 In līmine stābant Theudila et trēs aliī, sine hastīs, sine scūtīs, capitibus dēmissīs.
7.9 Theudila, Latīnē balbūtiēns, sē commīlitōnēsque suōs nōn ad pugnandum sed ad ōrandum vēnisse dīxit.
7.10 Deinde quaesīvit num Gothō quoque cum Rōmānīs canere licēret.
7.11 Quid respondērem?
7.12 Eum in chorum virōrum dūxī; ille verba nōndum tenēbat, sed modōs rēctius quam ego ipse canēbat.
7.13 Mīlitēs quī forīs manēbant, cum commīlitōnēs suōs intus canere audīrent, nec irrūpisse nec discessisse nārrant, sed tacitōs ad lūcem stetisse.
8.1 Paucīs post diēbus imperātor mīlitēs revocāvit, et basilica nōbīs relicta est.
8.2 Multī tunc mē laudābant, quasi ego imperātōrem vīcissem.
8.3 Ego vērō in eā rē bis victus sum: semel ā populō meō, quem cantū retinēre voluī, cum ipse eius cantū retentus sim; iterum ā Gothō Ariānō, quī hymnum meum prius amāvit quam intellēxit.
8.4 Suprā scrīpsī cōnsilium meum etiam callidum fuisse; id nunc corrigendum est.
8.5 Calliditās enim mea populum ūnam noctem retinēre poterat, trēs nōn poterat; quod reliquum erat, Deus per cantum effēcit.
8.6 Rhētor autem ille Āfer, viduae fīlius, annō sequentī in vigiliā Paschae ā mē baptīzātus est.
8.7 Eum inter hymnōs nostrōs flēre ipse vīdī, et cūr flēret nōn interrogāvī.
8.8 Hunc quoque cantus prius quam disputātiō cēpisse mihi vidētur.
8.9 Ille tamen fortasse aliter nārrābit, nam ōlim rhētor fuit.
9.1 Rogābis fortasse quid dē Theudilā factum sit.
9.2 Septem post annīs ad mē vēnit iam centuriō, et ea quae suprā scrīpsī ipse mihi nārrāvit.
9.3 Dīxit sē in rīpā Dānuviī per noctēs hībernās excubantem hymnum illum submissā vōce canere solēre.
9.4 Cum gallus cantāret, sē semper et Petrī et suī meminisse, quī ambō eādem hōrā negāvissent.
9.5 Verba autem iam intellegēbat; dīxit sē versum dē fastīdiō maximē amāre, quod mīlitibus nox longissima esset.
9.6 Utrum Ariānus mānserit an fidem Nīcaenam amplexus sit, nesciō; eum enim nōn interrogāvī.
9.7 Nam hymnus meus nihil dē Fīliō disputat, et Ariānī eum aequē ac nostrī canere possunt.
9.8 Cūr nōn interrogāverim, saepe mēcum quaesīvī.
9.9 Ego, quī Theodosium imperātōrem ab altāris commūniōne arcueram dōnec paenitentiam ageret, mīlitem ūnum dē fidē suā interrogāre nōn ausus sum.
9.10 Fortasse timuī nē iterum negāret, nec volēbam ego eī gallus esse.
9.11 Id utrum cāritās fuerit an ignāvia, ille iūdicābit quī temporum dat tempora.
9.12 Hoc ūnum sciō, basilicam illam nōn tam mūrīs clausam fuisse quam cantū apertam.
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Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ante diem tertium Kalendās Octōbrēs (29 September 2026), ab Ambrosiō Mediolānēnsī per mystērium cōnscientiae renātō.
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