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| Letter III. To Bassula, His Mother-In-Law. How St. Martin passed from this Life to Life Eternal.
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Letter III. To Bassula, His Mother-In-Law.
How St. Martin passed from this Life to Life
Eternal.
Sulpitius Severus to Bassula,
his venerable parent, sendeth greeting.
If it were lawful that parents should be summoned
to court by their children, clearly I might drag you with a righteous
thong64
| 64 Instead of “justo
loro,” Halm reads, “justo delore,” i.e. “with
just resentment.” | before the tribunal of the prætor, on a
charge of robbery and plunder. For why should I not complain of the
injury which I have suffered at your hands? You have left me no little
bit of writing at home, no book, not even a letter—to such a
degree do you play the thief with all such things and publish them to
the world. If I write anything in familiar style to a friend; if, as I
amuse myself I dictate anything with the wish at the same time that it
should be kept private, all such things seem to reach you almost before
they have been written or spoken. Surely you have my
secretaries65
| 65 “notarios”:
shorthand writers, who wrote from dictation. | in your66
| 66 Halm here reads
“obarratos,” with what sense I know not: the reading
“obæratos,” followed in the text seems to yield a very
good meaning. | debt, since through them any trifles I
compose are made known to you. And yet I cannot be moved with anger
against them if they really obey you, and have invaded my rights under
the special influence of your generosity to them, and ever bear in mind
that they belong to you rather than to me. Yes, thou alone art the
culprit—thou alone art to blame—inasmuch as you both lay
your snares for me, and cajole them with your trickery, so that without
making any67
| 67 The reading “sine
dilectu ullo,” adopted by Halm, seems preferable to the old
reading, “sine delicto ullo.” | selection, pieces
written familiarly, or let out of hand without care, are sent to thee
quite unelaborated and unpolished. For, to say nothing about other
writings, I beg to ask how that letter could reach you so speedily,
which I recently wrote to Aurelius the Deacon. For,
as I was situated at Toulouse,68
| 68 The identity of
Tolosa, mentioned in the text with the modern Toulouse, is
uncertain. | while you were dwelling at Treves, and
were so far distant from your native land, owing to the anxiety felt on
account of your son, what opportunity, I should like to know, did you
avail yourself of, to get hold of that familiar69
| 69 Of course, this is all
jocular, and shows the best relations as existing between Sulpitius and
his mother-in-law. |
epistle? For I have received your letter in which you write that I
ought in the same epistle in which I made mention of the death of our
master, Martin, to have described the manner in which that saintly man
left this world. As if, indeed, I had either given forth that epistle
with the view of its being read by any other except him to whom it
purported to be sent; or as if I were fated to undertake so great a
work as that all things which should be known respecting Martin are to
be made public through me particularly as the writer. Therefore, if you
desire to learn anything concerning the end of the saintly bishop, you
should direct your enquiries rather to those who were present when his
death occurred. I for my part have resolved to write nothing to you
lest you publish me70
| 70 There is clearly some
affectation in the horror which Sulpitius expresses in this and other
passages at the thought of his writings being published. It is obvious
that he derived gratification from the fact of their being widely
read. | everywhere.
Nevertheless if you pledge your word that you will read to no one what
I send you, I shall satisfy your desire in a few words. Accordingly I
shall communicate71
| 71 “præstabo his
participem”: the construction is peculiar, but the meaning is
obvious. | to you the following
particulars which are comprised within my own knowledge.
I have to state, then, that Martin was aware of
the period of his own death long before it occurred, and told the
brethren that his departure from the body was at hand. In the meantime,
a reason sprang up which led him to visit the church at
Condate.72
| 72 There were several
towns of this name in Gaul. The one probably here referred to was on
the road from Augustodunum (Autun) to Paris. It corresponds to the
modern Cosne, at the junction of the stream Nonain with the river
Loire. | For, as the clerics of that church were at
variance among themselves, Martin, wishing to restore peace, although
he well knew that the end of his own days was at hand, yet he did not
shrink from undertaking the journey, with such an object in view. He
did, in fact, think that this would be an excellent crown to set upon
his virtues, if he should leave behind him peace restored to a church.
Thus, then, having set out with that very numerous and holy crowd of
disciples who usually accompanied him, he perceives in a river a number
of water-fowl busy in capturing fishes, and notices that a voracious
appetite was urging them on to frequent seizures of their prey.
“This,” exclaimed he, “is a picture of how the demons
act: they lie in wait for the unwary and capture them before they know
it: they devour their victims when taken, and they can never be
satisfied with what they have devoured.” Then Martin, with a
miraculous73
| 73 “potenti virtute
verborum”: Halm reads simply “potenti verbo.” | power in his words,
commands the birds to leave the pool in which they were swimming, and
to betake themselves to dry and desert regions; using with respect to
those birds that very same authority with which he had been accustomed
to put demons to flight. Accordingly, gathering themselves together,
all those birds formed a single body, and leaving the river, they made
for the mountains and woods, to no small wonder of many who perceived
such power in Martin that he could even rule the birds. Having then
delayed some time in that village or church to which he had gone, and
peace having been restored among the clerics, when he was now
meditating a return to his monastery, he began suddenly to fail in
bodily strength, and, assembling the brethren, he told them that he was
on the point of dissolution. Then indeed, sorrow and grief took
possession of all, and there was but one voice of them lamenting, and
saying: “Why, dear father, will you leave us? Or to whom can you
commit us in our desolation? Fierce wolves will speedily attack thy
flock, and who, when the shepherd has been smitten, will save
us74
| 74 A singular and
obviously corrupt reading is “quis eos a morsibus nostris
prohibebit?” Halm’s reading has been followed in the
text. | from their bites? We know, indeed, that you
desire to be with Christ; but thy reward above is safe, and will not be
diminished by being delayed; rather have pity upon us, whom you are
leaving desolate.” Then Martin, affected by these lamentations,
as he was always, in truth, full75
of compassion, is
said to have burst into tears; and, turning to the Lord, he replied to
those weeping round him only in the following words, “O Lord, if
I am still necessary to thy people, I do not shrink from toil: thy will
be done.” Thus hovering as he did between76
| 76 “spes”
seems here to mean “longing of heart.” |
desire and love, he almost doubted which he preferred; for he neither
wished to leave us, nor to be longer separated from Christ. However, he
placed no weight upon his own wishes, nor reserved anything to his own
will, but committed himself wholly to the will and power of the Lord.
Do you not think you hear him speaking in the following few words which
I repeat? “Terrible, indeed, Lord, is the struggle of bodily
warfare, and surely it is now enough that I have continued the fight
till now; but, if thou dost command me still to persevere in the same
toil for the defense77
of thy flock, I do
not refuse, nor do I plead against such an appointment
my declining years. Wholly given to
thee, I will fulfill whatever duties thou dost assign me, and I will
serve under thy standard as long as thou shalt prescribe. Yea, although
release is sweet to an old man after lengthened toil, yet my mind is a
conqueror over my years, and I have no desire78
| 78 Or “I am not
one to yield,” nescius cedere. | to
yield to old age. But if now thou art merciful to my many years, good,
O Lord, is thy will to me; and thou thyself wilt guard over those for
whose safety I fear.” O man, whom no language can describe,
unconquered by toil, and unconquerable even by death, who didst show no
personal preference for either alternative, and who didst neither fear
to die nor refuse to live! Accordingly, though he was for some days
under the influence of a strong fever, he nevertheless did not abandon
the work of God. Continuing in supplications and watchings through
whole nights, he compelled his worn-out limbs to do service to his
spirit as he lay on his glorious79
| 79 “nobili illo
strato suo”; nobilis in one sense, though so humble in
another. | couch upon sackcloth
and ashes. And when his disciples begged of him that at least he should
allow some common straw to be placed beneath him, he replied: “It
is not fitting that a Christian should die except among ashes; and I
have sinned if I leave you a different example.” However, with
his hands and eyes steadfastly directed towards heaven, he never
released his unconquerable spirit from prayer. And on being asked by
the presbyters who had then gathered round him, to relieve his body a
little by a change of side, he exclaimed: “Allow me, dear
brother, to fix my looks rather on heaven than on earth, so that my
spirit which is just about to depart on its own journey may be directed
towards the Lord.” Having spoken these words, he saw the devil
standing close at hand, and exclaimed: “Why do you stand here,
thou bloody monster? Thou shalt find nothing in me, thou deadly one:
Abraham’s bosom is about to receive me.”
As he uttered these words, his spirit fled; and
those who were there present have testified to us that they saw his
face as if it had been the face80
| 80 There is a great variety
of readings here; Halm has been followed in the text. | of an angel. His
limbs too appeared white as snow, so that people exclaimed, “Who
would ever believe that man to be clothed in sackcloth, or who would
imagine that he was enveloped with ashes?” For even then he
presented such an appearance, as if he had been manifested in the glory
of the future resurrection, and with the nature of a body which had
been changed. But it is hardly credible what a multitude of human
beings assembled at the performance of his funeral rites: the whole
city poured forth to meet his body; all the inhabitants of the district
and villages, along with many also from the neighboring cities,
attended. O how great was the grief of all! how deep the lamentations
in particular of the sorrowing monks! They are said to have assembled
on that day almost to the number of two thousand,—a special glory
of Martin,—through his example so numerous plants had sprung up
for the service of the Lord. Undoubtedly the shepherd was then driving
his own flocks before him—the pale crowds of that saintly
multitude—bands arrayed in cloaks, either old men whose
life-labor was finished, or young soldiers who had just taken the oath
of allegiance to Christ. Then, too, there was the choir of virgins,
abstaining out of modesty from weeping; and with what holy joy did they
conceal the fact of their affliction! No doubt faith would prevent the
shedding of tears, yet affection forced out groans. For there was as
sacred an exultation over the glory to which he had attained, as there
was a pious sorrow on account of his death. One would have been
inclined to pardon those who wept, as well as to congratulate those who
rejoiced, while each single person preferred that he himself should
grieve, but that another should rejoice. Thus then this multitude,
singing hymns of heaven, attended the body of the sainted man onwards
to the place of sepulture. Let there be compared with this spectacle, I
will not say the worldly81
pomp of a funeral,
but even of a triumph; and what can be reckoned similar to the
obsequies of Martin? Let your worldly great men lead before their
chariots captives with their hands bound behind their backs. Those
accompanied the body of Martin who, under his guidance, had overcome
the world. Let madness honor these earthly warriors with the united
praises of nations. Martin is praised with the divine psalms, Martin is
honored in heavenly hymns. Those worldly men, after their triumphs here
are over, shall be thrust into cruel Tartarus, while Martin is joyfully
received into the bosom of Abraham. Martin, poor and insignificant on
earth, has a rich entrance granted him into heaven. From that blessed
region, as I trust, he looks upon me, as my guardian, while I am
writing these things, and upon you while you read them.82
| 82 Halm inserts this last
sentence in brackets. | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
