<Dē obitū beātī Pāpae Gregōriī.>

[1] Hīs temporibus, id est annō dominicae incarnātiōnis DCV, beātus pāpa Gregōrius, postquam sēdem Rōmānae et apostolicae ecclēsiae XIII annōs mēnsēs sex et diēs decem glōriōsissimē rēxit, dēfūnctus est, atque ad aeternam rēgnī caelestis sēdem trānslātus. [2] Dē quō nōs convenit, quia nostram, id est Anglōrum, gentem dē potestāte Satānae ad fidem Chrīstī suā industriā convertit, lātiōrem in nostrā historiā ecclēsiasticā facere sermōnem. [3] Quem rēctē nostrum appellāre possumus et dēbēmus apostolum,  quia, cum prīmum in tōtō orbe gereret pontificātum, et conversīs iam dūdum ad fidem vēritātis esset praelātus ecclēsiīs, nostram gentem eātenus īdōlīs mancipātam Chrīstī fēcit ecclēsiam, ita ut apostolicum illum dē eō liceat nōbīs prōferre sermōnem quia, etsī aliīs nōn est apostolus, sed tamen nōbīs est; nam signāculum apostolātūs eius nōs sumus in Dominō.

[4] Erat autem nātiōne Rōmānus, ā patre Gordiānō, genus ā proavīs nōn sōlum nōbile sed et religiōsum dūcēns. [5] Dēnique Fēlīx eiusdem apostolicae sēdis quondam episcopus, vir magnae glōriae in Chrīstō et ecclēsiā, eius fuit atavus. [6] Sed ipse nōbilitātem religiōnis nōn minōre quam parentēs et cognātī virtūte dēvōtiōnis exercuit. [7] Nōbilitātem vērō illam, quam ad saeculum vidēbātur habēre, tōtam ad nancīscendam supernae glōriam dignitātis dīvīnā grātiā largiente convertit. [8] Nam mūtātō repente habitū saeculārī monastērium petiit, in quō tantā perfectiōnis grātiā coepit conversārī ut, sīcut ipse posteā flendō solēbat adtestārī, animō illīus lābentia cūncta subteressent, ut rēbus omnibus quae volvuntur ēminēret, ut nūlla nisi caelestia cōgitāre solēret, ut etiam retentus corpore ipsa iam carnis claustra contemplātiōne trānsīret, ut mortem quoque, quae paene cūnctīs poena est, vidēlicet ut ingressum vītae et labōris suī praemium amāret. [9] Haec autem ipse dē sē nōn profectum iactandō virtūtum sed dēflendō potius dēfectum, quem sibi per cūram pāstōrālem incurrisse vidēbātur, referre cōnsuerat. [10] Dēnique tempore quōdam sēcrētō cum diāconō suō Petrō conloquēns, ēnumerātīs animī suī virtūtibus prīscīs mox dolendō subiūnxit: [11] ‘At nunc ex occāsiōne cūrae pāstōrālis saeculārium hominum negōtia patitur, et post tam pulchram quiētis suae speciem terrēnī āctūs pulvere foedātur. [12] Cumque sē prō condēscēnsiōne multōrum ad exteriōra sparserit, etiam cum interiōra appetit, ad haec procul dubiō minor redit. [13] Perpendō itaque quid tolerō, perpendō quid āmīsī dumque intueor illud quod perdidī, fit hoc gravius quod portō.’

 [15] Haec quidem sānctus vir ex magnae humilitātis intentiōne dīcēbat; sed nōs crēdere decet nihil eum monachicae perfectiōnis perdidisse occāsiōne cūrae pāstōrālis, immō potiōrem tunc sūmsisse prōfectum dē labōre conversiōnis multōrum quam dē propriae quondam quiētē conversātiōnis habuerat; maximē quia et pontificālī fūnctus officiō domum suam monastērium facere cūrāvit; et dum prīmō dē monastēriō abstractus ad ministerium altāris ōrdinātus atque Cōnstantīnopolim apocrisiārius ab apostolicā sēde dīrēctus est, nōn tamen in terrēnō conversātus palātiō prōpositum vītae caelestis intermīsit. [16] Nam quōsdam frātrum ex monastēriō suō, quī eum grātiā germānae cāritātis ad rēgiam urbem secūtī sunt, in tūtāmentum coepit observantiae rēgulāris habēre; vidēlicet ut eōrum semper exemplō, sīcut ipse scrībit, ad ōrātiōnis placidum lītus quasi anchorae fūne restringerētur, cum incessābilī causārum saeculārium impulsū fluctuāret, concussamque saeculī āctibus mentem inter eōs cotīdiē per studiōsae lēctiōnis rōborāret alloquium. [17] Hōrum ergō cōnsortiō nōn sōlum ā terrēnīs est mūnītus incursibus, vērum etiam ad caelestis exercitia vītae magis magisque succēnsus.

[18] Nam hortātī sunt eum ut librum beātī Iob magnīs involūtum obscūritātibus mysticā interpretātiōne discuteret; neque negāre potuit opus quod sibi frāternus amor multīs ūtile futūrum impōnēbat. [19] Sed eundem librum, quōmodo iuxtā litteram intellegendus, quāliter ad Chrīstī et ecclēsiae sacrāmenta referendus, quō sēnsū ūnīcuique fidēlium sit aptandus, per XXX et V librōs expositiōnis mīrandā ratiōne perdocuit. [20] Quod vidēlicet opus in rēgiā quidem urbe apocrisiārius inchoāvit, Rōmae autem iam pontifex factus explēvit. [21] Quī cum adhūc esset rēgiā in urbe positus, nāscentem ibi novam hēresim dē statū nostrae resurrēctiōnis cum ipsō, quō exorta est, initiō iuvante sē grātiā catholicae vēritātis attrīvit. [22] Siquidem Eutycius eiusdem urbis episcopus dogmatīzābat corpus nostrum in illā resurrēctiōnis glōriā impalpābile, ventīs āereque subtīlius esse futūrum; quod ille audiēns et ratiōne vēritātis et exemplō dominicae resurrēctiōnis probāvit hoc dogma orthodoxae fideī omnimodīs esse contrārium. [23] Catholica etenim fidēs habet, quod corpus nostrum illā inmortālitātis glōriā sublīmātum subtīle quidem sit per effectum spīritālis potentiae, sed palpābile per vēritātem nātūrae, iuxtā exemplum dominicī corporis, dē quō ā mortuīs suscitātō dīcit ipse discipulīs: [24]  ‘Palpāte et vidēte, quia spīritus carnem et ossa nōn habet, sīcut mē vidētis habēre.’ [25] In cuius assertiōne fideī venerābilis pater Gregōrius in tantum contrā nāscentem hēresim novam labōrāre contendit, tantā hanc īnstantiā, iuvante etiam piissimō imperātōre Tiberiō Cōnstantīnō, conminuit, ut nūllus exinde sit inventus, quī eius resuscitātor existeret.

 [26] Alium quoque librum composuit ēgregium, quī vocātur Pāstōrālis, in quō manifēstā lūce patefēcit, quālēs ad ecclēsiae regimen adsūmī, quāliter ipsī rēctōrēs vīvere, quā discrētiōne singulās quāsque audientium īnstruere persōnās, et quantā cōnsīderātiōne propriam cotīdiē dēbeant fragilitātem pēnsāre. [27] Sed et Omēliās ēvangeliī numerō XL composuit, quās in duōbus cōdicibus aequā sorte distīnxit. [28] Librōs etiam Dialogōrum IIII fēcit, in quibus rogātū Petrī diāconī suī virtūtēs sānctōrum, quōs in Ītaliā clāriōrēs nōsse vel audīre poterat, ad exemplum vīvendī posterīs collēgit, ut, sīcut in librīs expositiōnum suārum, quibus sit virtūtibus īnsūdandum ēdocuit, ita etiam dēscrīptīs sānctōrum mīrāculīs quae virtūtum eārumdem sit clāritās ostenderet. [29] Prīmam quoque et ultimam Ezechiēlis prophētae partem, quae vidēbantur obscūriōrēs, per Omēliās XX et duās, quantum lūcis intus habeant, dēmōnstrāvit. [30] Exceptō libellō Respōnsiōnum, quem ad interrogātiōnēs sānctī Augustīnī prīmī Anglōrum gentis episcopī scrīpsit, ut et suprā docuimus, tōtum ipsum libellum hīs īnserentēs historiīs; libellō quoque Synodicō, quem cum episcopīs Ītaliae dē necessāriīs ecclēsiae causīs utillimum composuit, et familiāribus ad quōsdam litterīs. [31] Quod eō magis mīrum est tot eum ac tanta condere volūmina potuisse, quod omnī paene iuventūtis suae tempore, ut verbīs ipsīus loquar, crēbrīs vīscerum dolōribus cruciābātur, hōrīs mōmentīsque omnibus frāctā stomachī virtūte lassēscēbat, lentīs quidem, sed tamen continuīs febribus anhēlābat. [32] Vērum inter haec, dum sollicitus pēnsāret quia scrīptūrā teste: ‘Omnis fīlius, quī recipitur flagellātur,’ quō malīs praesentibus dūrius dēprimēbātur, eō dē aeternā certius praesumptiōne respīrābat.

 [33] Haec quidem dē inmortālī eius sint dicta ingeniō, quod nec tantō corporis potuit dolōre restinguī. [34] Nam aliī quīdam pontificēs cōnstruendīs ōrnandīsque aurō vel argentō ecclēsiīs operam dabant, hīc autem tōtus ergā animārum lucra vacābat.

 [35] Quicquid pecūniae habuerat, sēdulus hoc dispergere ac dare pauperibus cūrābat, ut iūstitia eius manēret in saeculum saeculī et cornu eius exaltārētur in glōriā; ita ut illud beātī Iob vērāciter dīcere posset: [36] ‘Auris audiēns beātificāvit mē, et oculus vidēns testimōnium reddēbat mihi, quod līberāssem pauperem vōciferantem et pūpillum cui nōn esset adiūtor. [37] Benedictiō peritūrī super mē veniēbat, et cor viduae cōnsōlātus sum. [38] Iūstitiā indūtus sum, et vestīvī mē sīcut vestīmentō et diadēmate iūdiciō meō. [39] Oculus fuī caecō et pēs claudō. [40] Pater eram pauperum, et causam quam nesciēbam dīligentissimē investīgābam. [41] Conterēbam molās inīquī, et dē dentibus illīus auferēbam praedam.’ [42] Et paulō post: ‘Sī negāvī,’ inquit, ‘quod volēbant pauperibus, et oculōs viduae exspectāre fēcī. [43] Sī comēdī bucellam meam sōlus, et nōn comēdit pūpillus ex eā. [44] Quia ab īnfantiā meā crēvit mēcum miserātiō, et dē uterō mātris meae ēgressa est mēcum.’

 [45] Ad cuius pietātis et iūstitiae opus pertinet etiam hoc, quod nostram gentem per praedicātōrēs, quōs hūc dīrēxit, dē dentibus antīquī hostis ēripiēns aeternae lībertātis fēcit esse participem; cuius fideī et salūtī congaudēns, quamque dignā laude commendāns, ipse dīcit in Expositiōne beātī Iob: [46] ‘Ecce lingua Brittāniae, quae nīl aliud nōverat quam barbarum frendere, iam dūdum in dīvīnīs laudibus Hebrēum coepit allēlūia resonāre. [47] Ecce quondam tumidus, iam substrātus sānctōrum pedibus servit ōceanus, eiusque barbarōs mōtūs, quōs terrēnī prīncipēs ēdomāre ferrō nequīverant, hōs prō dīvīnā formīdine sacerdōtum ōra simplicibus verbīs ligant, et quī catervās pugnantium īnfidēlis nēquāquam metueret, iam nunc fidēlis humilium linguās timet. [48] Quia enim perceptīs caelestibus verbīs, clārēscentibus quoque mīrāculīs, virtūs eī dīvīnae cognitiōnis īnfunditur, eiusdem dīvīnitātis terrōre refrēnātur, ut prāvē agere metuat ac tōtīs dēsīderiīs ad aeternitātis grātiam venīre concupīscat.’ [49] Quibus verbīs beātus Gregōrius hoc quoque dēclārat, quia sānctus Augustīnus et sociī eius nōn sōlā praedicātiōne verbōrum sed etiam caelestium ostēnsiōne signōrum, gentem Anglōrum ad agnitiōnem vēritātis perdūcēbant.

 [50] Fēcit inter alia beātus pāpā Gregōrius ut in ecclēsiīs sānctōrum apostolōrum Petrī et Paulī super corpora eōrum missae celebrārentur. [51] Sed et in ipsā missārum celebrātiōne tria verba maximae perfectiōnis plēna superadiēcit: [52] ‘Diēsque nostrōs in tuā pāce dispōnās, atque ab aeternā damnātiōne nōs ēripī et in ēlēctōrum tuōrum iubeās grege numerārī.’

 [53] Rēxit autem ecclēsiam temporibus imperātōrum Mauricīī et Focatis. [54] Secundō autem eiusdem Focatis annō trānsiēns ex hāc vītā migrāvit ad vēram, quae in caelīs est, vītam. [55] Sepultus vērō est corpore in ecclēsiā beātī Petrī apostolī, ante sēcrētārium, diē quārtō Īduum Mārtiārum, quandōque in ipsō cum cēterīs sānctae ecclēsiae pāstōribus resurrēctūrus in glōriā, scrīptumque in tumbā ipsīus epitaphium huiusmodī:

 [56]

Suscipe, terra, tuō corpus dē corpore sūmptum,

Reddere quod valeās vīvificante Deō.

Spīritus astra petit, lētī nīl iūra nocēbunt,

Cui vītae alterius mors magis ipsa via est.

Pontificis summī hoc clauduntur membra sepulchrō,               5

Quī innumerīs semper vīvit ubīque bonīs.

Ēsuriem dapibus superāvit, frīgora veste,

Atque animās monitīs tēxit ab hoste sacrīs.

Implēbatque āctū, quicquid sermōne docēbat,

Esset ut exemplum, mystica verba loquēns. 10

Ad Chrīstum Anglōs convertit pietāte magistrā,

Adquīrēns fideī agmina gente novā.

Hic labor, hoc studium, haec tibi cūra, hoc pāstor agēbās,

Vt Dominō offerrēs plūrima lucra gregis.

Hīsque Deī cōnsul factus laetāre triumphīs,                           15

Nam mercēdem operum iam sine fīne tenēs.

[57] Nec silentiō praetereunda opīnio, quae dē beātō Gregōriō trāditiōne maiōrum ad nōs usque perlāta est quā vidēlicet ex causā admonitus tam sēdulam ergā salūtem nostrae gentis cūram gesserit. [58] Dīcunt quia diē quādam, cum advenientibus nūper mercātōribus multa vēnālia in forum fuissent conlāta, multī ad emendum cōnflūxissent, et ipsum Gregōrium inter aliōs advēnisse, ac vīdisse inter alia puerōs vēnālēs positōs candidī corporis ac venustī vultūs, capillōrum quoque fōrmā ēgregiā. [59] Quōs cum aspiceret, interrogāvit, ut aiunt, dē quā regiōne vel terrā essent adlātī. [60] Dictumque est quia dē Brittāniā īnsulā, cuius incolae tālis essent aspectūs. [61] Rūrsus interrogāvit utrum īdem īnsulānī Chrīstiānī, an pāgānīs adhūc errōribus essent implicātī. [62] Dictum est quod essent pāgānī. [63] At ille, intimō ex corde longa trahēns suspīria, ‘Heu, prō dolor!’ inquit, ‘quod tam lūcidī vultūs hominēs tenebrārum auctor possidet, tantaque grātia frontispīciī mentem ab internā grātiā vacuam gestat!’ [64] Rūrsus ergō interrogāvit, quod esset vocābulum gentis illīus. [65] Respōnsum est quod Anglī vocārentur. [66] At ille: ‘Bene,’ inquit; ‘nam et angelicam habent faciem, et tālēs angelōrum in caelīs decet esse cohērēdēs. [67] Quod habet nōmen ipsa prōvincia, dē quā istī sunt allātī?’ [68] Respōnsum est, quod Dēīrī vocārentur īdem prōvinciālēs. [69] At ille: ‘Bene,’ inquit, ‘Dēīrī; dē īrā ērutī et ad misericordiam Chrīstī vocātī. [70] Rēx prōvinciae illīus quōmodo appellātur?’ [71] Respōnsum est quod Aelli dīcerētur. [72] At ille allūdēns ad nōmen ait: ‘Allēlūia, laudem Deī creātōris illīs in partibus oportet cantārī.’

[73] Accēdēnsque ad pontificem Rōmānae et apostolicae sēdis (nōndum enim erat ipse pontifex factus), rogāvit ut gentī Anglōrum in Brittāniam aliquōs verbī ministrōs, per quōs ad Chrīstum converterētur, mitteret; sē ipsum parātum esse in hoc opus Dominō cooperante perficiendum, sī tamen apostolicō pāpae hoc ut fieret placēret. [74] Quod dum perficere nōn posset quia, etsī pontifex concēdere illī quod petierat voluit, nōn tamen cīvēs Rōmānī, ut tam longē ab urbe sēcēderet, potuēre permittere, mox ut ipse pontificātūs officiō fūnctus est, perfēcit opus diū dēsīderātum, aliōs quidem praedicātōrēs mittēns, sed ipse praedicātiōnem ut fructificāret suīs exhortātiōnibus ac precibus adiuvāns. [75] Haec iuxtā opīniōnem, quam ab antīquīs accēpimus, historiae nostrae ecclēsiasticae īnserere oportūnum dūximus.

    THE LIFE OF POPE GREGORY THE GREAT

    (1) dominicae incarnātiōnis: “of our lord’s birth,” i.e., A.D.

    Gregōrius: Pope Gregory the Great. See PASE, Gregory 1.

    DCV: AD 605. “Gregory died on 12 March 604; otherwise Bede is right about the length of his pontificate” (McClure and Collins, p. 374).

    translātustranslātus est

    (2) nōs convenit: impersonal, “it behooves us,” “it is fitting for us,” with the complementary infinitive facere. See LS, convenio II.B.2.

    suā industriā: ablative of means

    lātiōrem ... facere sermōnem: “to speak at greater length.”

    nostrum ... apostolum: re-order: quem rēctē possumus et dēbēmus appellāre nostrum apostolum. The words nostrum and apostolum are separated in hyperbaton for emphasis.

    (3) cum ... gereret ... esset: concessive (“although”)

    primum ... pontificātum: “the most important see” (Colgrave-Mynors). Pontificātus (“pontificate”) originally meant simply “the office of a bishop or archbishop.”

    conversīs ... ecclēsiīs: datives after praelatus (“was prelate to”)

    iam dūdum: “long since” (“churches long since converted”)

    nostram gentem ... fēcit ecclēsiam: nostram gentem is the direct object of fēcit and ecclēsiam is the predicate accusative (AG 393)

    eātenus īdōlīs mancipātam: in apposition to nostram gentem (“our people, up to this point enslaved by idols”)

    apostolicum illum ... sermōnum: “the well-known words of the apostle” (AG 297.b).

    prōferre: “bring forward, quote, cite, mention” (LS, proferō II.D) ”

    quia ... Dominō: Bede paraphrases 1 Corinthians 9.2: Et sī aliīs nōn sum Apostolus, sed tamen vobīs sum: nam signāculum apostolātūs meī vōs estis in Dominō (Vulgate).

    signāculum apostolātūs eius: “the seal of his apostleship.” A signāculum is a mark or sign on a charter or other document that certifies its authenticity (DMLBS, signāculum 1.b)

    nōbīs … nōs: the British church.

    (4) genus ā proavīs ... ducēns: “tracing from his ancestors a lineage” genus ducere a(b) = “be descended from.”

    (5) Fēlīx: Felix III, Pope AD 483–492 (sometimes counted as Felix IV, if Antipope Felix II is to be considered Pope).

    eiusdem apostōlicae sēdis: “of the same apostolic see”

    (6) nōbilitātem religiōnis … exercuit: “followed that ancestral tradition of religion.”

    nōn minōre: with virtūte devotiōnis

    ad saeculum: “in the eyes of the world” (i.e., his worldly nobility)

    (7) totam: agrees with nobilitātem

    ad nancīscendam supernae glōriam dignitātis: “toward the securing of the glory of heavenly honor,” or, more elegantly, “to winning honor and glory of a higher kind” (Colgrave-Mynors). : The gerundive expresses purpose (AG 506). The interlocking word order and genitive of the abstract noun add impressiveness to the style.

    dīvīnā grātiā largiente: translate “by God’s grace” (Colgrave-Mynors); literally, “with divine grace bestowing” (ablative absolute).

    (8) mūtātō … habitū saecūlārī: ablative absolute; habitus saecūlāris means “secular attire,” as opposed to the “habit” of a monk.

    tantā perfectiōnis grātiā ... ut: “with such perfect grace” (see Reading Bede §A.1.2). Tantā introduces a series of five result clauses: (a) ut ... subteressent, (b) ut ... eminēret, (c) ut ... solēret, (d) ut ... transīret, (e) ut ... amāret.

    sīcut ... adtestārī: parenthetical

    flendō: “in tears”

    animō illīus lābentia cūncta subteressent: subteresse = “to be below” + dat. Literally, “all transitory things were under his soul,” or, as we would say it, “his soul was above all transitory things.”

    volvuntur: “change” (literally, “are turned”)

    ēminēret: “transcended” + dat. (DMLBS, ēminēre 2).

    retentus corpore: corpore is ablative of means with retentus (“confined by the body”)

    ipsa ... trānsīret: claustra is the direct object of transīret, and contemplātiōne is an ablative of means. Carnis claustra: “the prison of the flesh.” Notice the alliteration.

    pēne: paene; with cunctīs (dative, “to almost everyone”)

    vidēlicet: “clearly”

    ut ingressum: this ut means “as.”

    (9) Haec: neuter plural substantive, direct object of referre cōnsuerat (> cōnsuēscere, “to accustom oneself”; cōnsuerat is plupf.) “was accustomed to say these things” referring to the statements in the previous paragraph.

    profectum ... dēfectum: both fourth declension nouns, both modified by virtūtum (“of his virtues”), each one the object of the nearest gerund.

    iactandō ... dēflendō: gerunds expressing purpose (AG 506), best translated “to boast of ... to bemoan”)

    quem: the antecedent is dēfectum (“loss”) and the relative clause explains how Gregory this incurred (incurrisse) this loss.

    per: “as a result of” (DMLBS, per 10).

    cūram pāstōrālem: cūra pāstōrālis refers to the responsibilites of a clergyman (translate cūra as “responsibilities”).

    (10) sēcrētō: “private” (DMLBS, sēcrētus 2)

    ēnumerātīs ... prīscīs: ablative absolute; prīscīs = “former, previous” (LS, prīscus II.A).

    subiūnxit: “he added” (> subiungere)

    dolendō: “grieving” (DMLBS, doleo 2). This ablative of the gerund is, in later writers nearly, and in medieval writers entirely, equivalent to a present participle (AG 507 note 5).

    (11) ex occāsiōne: “on account of”

    saeculārium hominum: “of men of the world,” with negōtia

    patitur ... foedātur: although Bede introduces this as direct discourse, it is presented in the third person as if it were indirect discourse. foedātur, “is soiled.”

    terrēnī āctūs: “earthly activity.” Pope Gregory is credited with developing the important medieval distinction between the contemplative life and the active life.

    (12) cumque ... sparserit, etiam cum ... appetit: sparserit is future perfect indicative showing future time in a temporal cum-clause (AG 547); appetit is present indicative in a temporal cum-clause (ibid.):“when he dissipates …, even when he reaches for ….” Normally Bede prefers the subjunctive in such clauses (Druhan, p. 175).

    sē ... sparserit: “dissipates himself”

    prō condēscēnsiōne multōrum: “in order to reply to the requests of many men” (DMLBS, condēscēnsiō, “compliance to a request”).

    ad haec: i.e., interiōra

    procul dubiō: “without a doubt”

    minor: “diminished”

    (13) Perpendō: Now Bede switches to direct discourse.

    quid tolerō … quid āmīsī: the indicative mood in indirect questions is colloquial, and generally avoided by Bede except in the recital of dialogue (Druhan, p. 184).

    (15) ex ... intentiōne: “from the intensity” (DMLBS, intentio 2.e).

    nōs crēdere decet nihil eum ... perdidisse: the order is: decet nōs credere eum perdidisse nihil. eum … perdidisse is the accusative-infinitive construction of indirect discourse after credere; nihil is the direct object of perdidisse, and is modified by the partitive genitives monachicae perfectiōnis.

    occasiōne: “by reason of, on account of” (DMLBS, occasio 3.d)

    immō: “on the contrary”

    sūmsisse: sumpsisse; another infinitive in indirect discourse after crēdere, with eum again as the accusative subject and potiōrem prōfectum (“greater profit”) as the direct object.

    dē propriae quondam quiētē conversātiōnis: “the the quiet of his former private life.”

    conversiōnis … conversātiōnis: note the word-play, accentuated with hyperbaton.

    maximē: “especially”

    domum suam monastērium facere cūrāvit:  cūrāvit = “he took care,” followed by facere with double accusative (AG 393); Ca. A.D. 574 Gregory established the monastery of St. Andrew in the house he inherited from his father on the Caelian Hill in Rome. The site is now occupied by the church of San Gregorio Magno al Celio. Gregory was abbot of St. Andrew’s from about 586 until he was elected Pope at the death of Pope Pelagius II in February 590.

    dum: “as long as,” + indic., denoting an action that is completely coextensive with the action of the main verb (Druhan, p. 160).

    abstractus ... ōrdinātus ... dīērectus est: est goes with all of these (“he was taken ... he was ordained ... he was directed …”).

    ad ministerium ordinātus: can be translated simply as “ordained.” Ca. 578, Pope Pelagius II ordained Gregory as one of the seven deacons, or regionariī, of Rome. This forced Gregory to leave the contemplative life of his monastery.

    Constantinopolim: accusative of motion toward, after directus est (AG 427.2)

    apocrisiārius: a permanent Papal ambassador. Gregory was appointed to this post by Pope Pelagius ca. 579 and held it until 585 or 586.

    in terrēnō conversātus palātiō: translate as concessive, “though he passed his time in an earthly palace….”

    (16) quōsdam: direct object of coepit ... habēre.

    gratiā germanae caritātis: “on account of their brotherly love”

    ad rēgiam urbem: “to the royal city,” i.e., Constantinople.

    in tūtāmentum observāntiae rēgulāris: in + accusative expressing purpose: “to protect his observance of the monastic rule.”

    ut … restringerētur: a simile; the order is: ut restringerētur quasi fūne anchōris ad litus placidae orātiōnis. Gregory is the subject. fūne anchōris (“by the rope of an anchor”) is an ablative of means. The subjunctive indicates a purpose clause. Bede paraphrases heavily here from the introductory epistle to Gregory’s Moralia in Job.

    cum ... fluctāret: temporal, “while he was tossed”

    concussamque … mentem … rōborāret: = et ut mentem concussam rōborāret, continuing the purpose clause. rōborāret is parallel to restringerētur. See articulated text.

    concussam ... mentem: direct object of rōborāret.

    inter eōs: referring to the monks.

    per stūdiōsae lectiōnis ... allōquium: “through conversation about studious reading,” perhaps referring to the Benedictine practice of lectiō divīna, which involves regular reading and meditation upon Scripture. The key word alloquium is postponed and emphasized in hyperbaton.

    (17) Hōrum ergō cōnsortiō: “by the companionship of whom,” i.e., of the monks.

    munītus ... succēnsus: understand est with both.

    POPE GREGORY'S WRITINGS

    (18) hortātī sunt: the subject is Gregory’s fellow monks.

    librum beātī Iob: The Biblical Book of Job. Iob is to be read as genitive, with beātī. Gregory wrote his Commentary on Job, or Moralia, between 578 and 595. It was his major work, filling some 35 books or 6 volumes, begun when Gregory was at the court of Tiberius II at Constantinople, but finished only after he had already been in Rome for several years.

    mysticā interpretātiōne: ablative of means; “mystical interpretation” reads the text as allegory, revealing the spiritual meanings beneath the literal narrative.

    sibi: i.e., Gregory, with inpōnēbat.

    multīs: with the adjective ūtile (AG 384), “useful to many.”

    ūtile futurum: agreeing with quod (the antecedent of which is opus).

    (19)  Bede lays out the three modes of interpretion that, following Gregory, he employed in his own Biblical exegesis: the literal, mystical (allegorical), and moral. The main verb is perdocuit (“he thoroughly explained”), which takes an indirect object (librum), and introduces three interrogatives, quōmodo … qualiter … quō sēnsū …. iuxtā litteram: “according to the letter,” i.e., literally.

    ūnīcuique: dative, with aptandus. 

    (20) rēgiā ... urbe: i.e., Constantinople

    apocrisiārius: “as apocrisiarius,” or “while he was apocrisiarius.”

    Rōmae: locative

    (21) hēresim: = haeresim, heresy.

    cum ... initiō: cum can be used in expressions of attendant circumstances to mean “in” or “at”: “at the very beginning at which it [i.e., the heresy] arose” (Colgrave-Mynors translate the whole phrase as “at its birth”).

    (22) Eutychius: Eutychius of Constantinople (ca. 512–582).

    dogmatīzābat: “propunded the doctrine that,” introducing indirect discourse, with the accusative-infinitive construction.

    ventīs āereque: ablatives of comparison with subtīlius.

    et ... et: “both...and” The ablatives ratiōne and exemplō are ablatives of means.

    probāvit: introducing indirect discourse, with the accusative-infinitive construction.

    hoc dogma: dogma is a Greek neuter accusative.

    (23) habet: “holds” (i.e., “maintains,” “believes”).

    quidem: concessive, looking forward to sed. “While it is indeed exalted [and made] subtle … it is (still) palpable.”

    dominicī corporis: “of the Lord’s body.”

    dē quō: “concerning which”: the antecedent of quō is corporis.

    ā mortuīs suscitātō: “when he had been raised from the dead.”

    (24) Palpāte ... habēre: Luke 24:39.

    (25) venerābilis: nominative, with pater.

    in tantum: “to such a degree,” signalling subjunctive in a result clause (īnventus sit).

    hanc: i.e., hanc hēresim.

    nullus … qui: “no one who,” followed by subjunctive in a relative clause of characteristic (AG 534).

    existeret: = esset

    (26) Pāstōrālis: Pastoral Care

    quālēs ... quāliter ... quā ... quantā: indirect questions, introduced by patefēcit; the infinitives are dependent on the subjunctive verb dēbeant.

    quālēs ad ecclēsiae regimen adsūmī: “what sort of men should be chosen for the governance of the church” (DMLBS, assumere 2.b, “to admit to an order or office”). adsūmī is the present passive infinitive.

    singulās quāsque … persōnās: “each individual (type of) person.” Persōna refers to the part played by person in life, his or her position or role, rather than to an individual person as such—the meaning is preserved in the English word persona.

    (27) Omēliās ēvangliī numerō XL: 40 Homilies on the Gospel, delivered during 591 and 592.

    aequā sorte: “evenly” (i.e., each of the two books contains 20 homilies).

    (28) sānctōrum quōs ... poterat: “of the saints, the most famous ones in Italy whom ...”; in English, it is more natural to rearrange as “the most famous saints in Italy whom ...”

    posterīs: “to posterity” (literally, “to those who come after”).

    ut, sicut … ita etiam: signals subjunctive in a result clause (ostenderet), “with the result that, just as … so also.” Within this structure are two balanced indirect questions triggered by ēdocuit and ostenderet, with the interrogatives quibus and quae, respectively (see articulated text).

    sit ... īnsudāndum: impersonal (“for what virtues one must sweat”)

    (29) Prīmam ... dēmōnstrāvit: an example of the “accusative of anticipation” (AG 576), sometimes called the “proleptic accusative.” Here prīmam ... et ... ultimam ... partem and the indirect question quantum lūcis intus habeant act as objects of the main verb dēmōnstrāvit: “he pointed out the first and last part ..., how much light they have in them” (i.e., “he pointed out how much light the first and last part ... have in them”).

    lūcis: “spiritual enlightenment (of the soul), goodness, righteousness” (DMLBS, lux 8.b).

    (30) Bede lists, in an extended ablative absolute, three other works of Gregory, which he declines to describe in detail: the “Responses” which he wrote to Augustinus, bishop of the English, and which are key source material for HE; a book about the acts of the Roman synod of bishops in 595, co-written with those bishops; and a collection of letters.

    Exceptō: “leaving aside,” “not to mention.” Properly, exceptō libellō is an ablative absolute: “with the booklet excepted.”

    suprā: Augustine’s questions and Gregory’s responses are given in HE I.27.

    īnserentēs: plural to agree with docuimus (the “royal we”); Bede, like other LL and Christian writers, admits the present active participle with a perfect sense: “having included the whole book...” (see Druhan, p. 140).

    libellō ... Synodicō: “Synodal booklet” about the acts of the Roman synod of 595.

    familiāribus ... litterīs: understand exceptīs with these ablatives

    (31) Quod eō magis mīrum est … quod: “This is all the more amazing . . . because.” eō quod (“for that reason ... because”) expresses causation emphatically (see Druhan, p. 177). The initial quod is connective (AG 308.f).

    mīrum est: introduces indirect discourse, in which potuisse is the infinitive verb and eum the subject accusative; tot ac tanta ...volūmina is the object of condere, which supplements potuisse.

    omnī ... tempore: ablative for extent of time (“for the entire time”)

    ut verbīs ipsīus loquar: “to use his own words”: the rest of the sentence quotes Gregory, putting his words in the third person. Gregory’s words were: vīscerum dolōribus crucior, hōrīs momentīsque omnibus fracta stomachī virtūte lassēscō, lentīs quidem, sed tamen continuīs febribus anhēlō. (Moralia in Job, chapter 5; Patrologia Latina 75.515).

    hōrīs mōmentīsque omnibus: “every minute of the day”

    (32) dum ... teste: ‘Omnis...’: “while he was anxiously pondering the words of Scripture that ‘every man ...’”; scrīptūrā teste is an ablative absolute (“as Scripture is a witness”). The quotation is from Hebrews 12.6.

    quō ... dūrius ... eō ... certius: “the harder ... the more certainly....” For the construction eō ... quō, see AG 414.a.

    POPE GREGORY'S CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

    (33) Haec … sint dicta: jussive: “let (only) these things be said,” i.e., “enough said.”

    ingeniō: “literary talent”

    quidem: “at any rate,” transitioning from Gregory’s literary output to his acts of charity.

    (34) aliī quīdam pontificēs: Bede scrupulously declines to name these other, more wordly, popes.

    tōtus ergā animārum lucra vacābat: tōtus is best translated adverbially with vacābat: “he used to devote his time (vacābat) entirely ....” ergā + accusative usually means “in relation to,” “towards”: here, translate “with a view to spiritual (not financial) profit (lucra).”

    (35) iūstitia eius ... in gloriā: quoting Psalm 111(112):3, 9.

    cornu:  “horn,” as an emblem of power or self-assertion (DMLBS, cornu 12).

    illud: “that famous (remark),” i.e., “the words” (AG 297.b)

    (36) Auris ...: the quotation, comprising sentences 36–41, is from Job 29:11–17.

    cui nōn esset: “who did not have” (AG 373)

    (37): cor viduae cōnsōlātus sum: “I cheered the heart of the widow.”

    (39) caecō … claudō: dative, “for the blind (person) ... for the lame (person).”

    (41) molās: jawbones

    (42) Et paulō post: the quotation (42–44) is from Job 31:16–18.

    (45) ēripiēns: another present participle with a perfect sense: “having snatched [them]”

    fēcit: the object is nostram gentem, with participem as the predicate accusative after esse (“made our people to be a sharer ...”).

    participem: with the objective genitives aeternae lībertātis: “a sharer of ...” (or, “participant in ...”)

    quamque: = et quam, with nostram gentem as the antecedent of quam.

    in Expositiōne beāti Iob: Iob is genitive; the quotation is from Moralia in Job chapter 11 (Patrologia Latina 76.411).

    (46) barbarum frendere: “to gnash its barbarous teeth” (Colgrave-Mynors); barbarum can be taken as a poetic cognate accusative (AG 390.b).

    Hebrēum: = Hebraeum, “Hebrew”

    coepit allēlūia resonāre: allēlūia is another poetic cognate accusative, with resonāre: “begins to resound: ‘alleluia.’”

    (47) quondam tumidus, iam substrātus: both adjectives modify ōceanus.

    motūs: implies both political turmoil (sedition, rebellion) and mental confusion (passion, agitation, impulse). See LS, motus II.

    prō dīvīnā formīdine: prō, “on account of”: dīvīna formīdō is “fear of God.”

    ligant: “tie up, hold fast (to restrict movement),” used allegorically of the whole of Britain (DMLBS, ligare 4.c). The language is hyperbolic in the extreme. The subject is ōra, “mouths.”

    īnfidēlis ... fidēlis: appositive and substantive (“as an unbeliever ... as a believer”)

    (48) eī: referring to the fidēlis, “believer” in the previous sentence; dative with īnfunditur.

    (49) dēclārat, quia … perdūcēbant: indirect statement with quia + indicative, normal in Bede, though the subjuctive is frequent as well (see Druhan, p. 181).

    (52) ēripī: passive infinitive with iubeās.

    in ... numerārī: rearrange as: iubeās [nōs] numerārī in grege ēlēctōrum tuōrum.

    (53) imperātōrum Mauriciī et Focatis: Byzantine Emperors Maurice (reigned 582–602) and Phocas (reigned 602–610); Gregory was Pope from 590 to 602.

    (55) diē ... Mārtiārum: March 12.

    in ipsō: in ipsō corpore.

    POPE GREGORY’S EPITAPH

    (56) The epitaph is also recorded in the Liber Pontificālis, a book of biographies of the early Popes. The meter is elegaic couplets.

    (56.3) lētī nīl iūra nocēbunt: “the laws of death will harm nothing”; i.e., death will have no power over his soul.

    (56.4) vītae ... via est: rearrange as: mors ipsa est magis via alterīus vītae.

    (56.6) bonīs: “good deeds”

    (56.8) monitīs … sacrīs: a reference to Gregory’s writings, discussed above.

    hoste: Satan (DMLBS, hostis 1.c)

    (56.10) esset ... loquēns: rearrange as: ut, loquēns mystica verba, esset exemplum.

    mystica verba: a reference to Gregory’s allegorical interpretations of Old Testament scripture (see DMLBS, mysticus 3).

    (56.15) Hīsque ... triumphīs: rearrange as: et laetāre, factus consul Deī hīs triumphīs.

    cōnsul: cōnsul Chrīstī or cōnsul Deī  = Pope (DMLBS, cōnsul 6), but there is a play on the old Roman office of consul, whose holders celebrated triumphs of a different kind.

    laetāre: imperative 2 sing. > laetor, “rejoice in” + abl.

    OF ANGELS AND ANGLES

    (57) quā ... gesserit: rearrange as: admonitus ex quā causā vidēlicet gesserit tam sēdulam cūram ergā salūtem nostrae gentis. The verb gesserit is subjunctive in the indirect question introduced by perlāta est, quā ...; ergā = “on behalf of,” “for the sake of.” The emphasis on sēdulam … cūram is marked by hyperbaton.

    (58) vēnālia: “merchandise”

    vēnālēs positōs: young slaves put up for sale (LS, vēnālis II.B)

    corporis … vultūs: genitives of quality (AG 345)

    formā: ablative of quality (AG 415)

    (60) talis aspectūs: genitive of quality

    (61) īnsulānī Chrīstiānī: understand essent.

    (63) lūcidī vultūs: genitive of quality

    tenebrārum auctor: i.e., Satan

    (64) vocābulum: “name”

    (66) Bene: “(they are) well (named)”

    tālēs ... decet ... esse: the impersonal decet takes an accusative-infinitive (AG 388.c).

    (67) prōvincia: “kingdom,” see Special Usages, prōvincia.

    (68) Dēirī: i.e., from Deira, the southern Northumbrian kingdom.

    (71) Aelli: Ælle of Deira, whose reign is dated to the end of the sixth century.

    (72) allūdēns ad nōmen: allūdēns can appropriately be translated as “punning.”

    (73) enim: “however” (DMLBS, enim 3.b)

    rogāvit ut … mitteret: “asked (the pope) to send,” substantive clause of purpose (AG 563)

    pontificem: probably Pope Pelagius II (reigned 579–590), Gregory’s immediate predecessor.

    gentī Anglōrum: “for the Angles”

    sē ipsum parātum esse: indirect discourse, with an introductory verb of saying implied: “[he said that] he was prepared....”

    in hoc opus perficiendum: “to accomplish this task,” gerundive expressing purpose after parārī. In classical Latin the preposition would be ad rather than in.

    sī tamen: if only

    (74) Quod: “this” (connecting relative AG 308.f)

    dum perficere nōn posset … perfēcit: “while he was unable to accomplish ... he did accomplish.” dum adversative with the subjunctive (see Druhan, p. 162).

    mox ut: as soon as

    sed ipse ... adiuvāns: rearrange as: sed ipse adiuvāns praedicātiōnemut fructificāret; another instance of prolepsis (= adiuvāns ut praedicātiō fructificāret).

    sēcēderet: Gregory is the subject.

    (75) iuxtā opīniōnem: Bede marks what he has just given as the traditional account, not however verified by reliable documents, such Gregory’s own writings.

    ab antīquīs: “from our ancestors”

    oportūnum dūximus: “I have thought it proper” > dūcō = “consider.”

    NOTE: Lemmatization of Anglo-Saxon Names
    —: declined forms unattested
    [ ]: nominative forms unattested (back-formed for purposes of lemmatization)
    *: form unattested but hypothesized based on existing patterns


    dominicus, -a, um: of the Lord

    incarnātiō –ōnis f.: incarnation

    sescentī –ae –a; sescentēsimus –a –um: 600; 600th

    quīnque; quīntus –a –um: 5; 5th

    pāpa –ae or –ātis m.: a father, pope

    Grēgorius –ī m.: Gregory, the Great, pope, 590-604

    Rōmānus –a –um: Roman

    apostolicus –a –um: apostolic, of an apostle or the apostles

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    trēdecim; tertius –a –um decimus –a –um: 13, 13th

    mēnsis mēnsis m.: month

    sex; sextus –a –um: 6; 6th

    glōriōsus –a –um: full of glory

    dēfungor dēfungī dēfūnctus sum: to depart, die

    trānsferō trānsferre trānstulī trānslātus: to bring across

    Anglī –ōrum m.: the Angles, a Germanic tribe; the English

    Satanas –ae m.: Satan, the Devil

    Christus –ī m.: Christ

    industria industriae f.: diligence

    historia –ae f.: a narrative of past events, history

    ecclēsiasticus –a –um: of or belonging to the Church

    rectē: rightly

    apostolus –ī m.: apostle

    pontificātus –ūs, m.: office of bishop; papacy

    dūdum: not long ago

    vēritās vēritātis f.: truth

    praeferō praeferre praetulī praelātus: to prefer

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    eātenus: so far

    īdōlum or īdōlon –ī n.: an idol; ghost

    mancipō –āre –āvi –ātum: deliver up to; give up to

    Christus –ī m.: Christ

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    apostolicus –a –um: apostolic, of an apostle or the apostles

    prōferō prōferre prōtulī prōlātus: to bring forth

    etsī: although

    apostolus –ī m.: apostle

    signāculum –ī n.: seal, mark, sign

    apolstolātus –ūs m.: apostleship, papacy

    dominus dominī m.: lord; Lord (of Jesus Christ)

    nātiō nātiōnis f.: race

    Rōmānus –a –um: Roman

    Gordiānus –ī m.: Gordianus, Father of Gregory 1

    proavus –ī m.: great–grandfather; ancestor

    religiōsus –a –um: religious, reverent

    Fēlīx –īci m.: Felix, a IV

    apostolicus –a –um: apostolic, of an apostle or the apostles

    episcopus –ī m.: guardian, (eccl.) bishop

    Christus –ī m.: Christ

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    atavus –ī m: grandfather

    nōbilitās nōbilitātis f.: fame

    religiō religiōnis f.: religion

    cognātus cognātī m.: relative

    dēvōtio –ōnis f.: piety, devotion, worship.

    nōbilitās nōbilitātis f.: fame

    nancīscor nancīscī nanctus or nactus sum: to obtain; meet

    supernus –a –um: that is above, celestial supernal

    dīvīnus –a –um: divine

    largior –ītus sum –dep.: to give largely; bestow

    repente: suddenly

    habitus habitūs m.: garment, attire; way of life

    saeculāris –e: secular, worldly

    monastērium –ī n.: a monastery

    perfectiō –ōnis f.: perfection

    conversor –ārī –ātus sum: to live with or among, associate with; live in a (monastic) community

    attestor –āre –āvī –ātus: to attest, bear witness; to corroborate, prove, affirm

    lābor labī lapsus sum: to slip away; labens: transitory

    subsum subesse —: to be under, be behind

    volvō volvere voluī volūtum: to turn; volvor (passive): to change

    ēmineō –ēre –uī: to stand out

    carō carnis f.: meat, flesh

    claustrum –ī n.: bolt, bar

    contemplātiō –ōnis f.: a viewing, contemplation

    vidēlicet: clearly

    ingressus –ūs m.: gait, an entering

    prōficiō prōficere prōfēcī prōfectum: to advance

    iactō iactāre iactāvī iactātus: to throw

    dēfleō –ēre –flēvī –flētus: to weep much; weep over

    potius: rather, more

    dēfectus –ūs m.: revolt, desertion

    pāstōrālis –e: of a pastor, pastoral

    incurrō –ere –currī or cucurrī –cursus: to run into or against; rush upon

    cōnsuō –ere –suī –sūtum: to sew, stitch or join together

    quōdammodo: in a certain way

    sēcrētō: separately, apart

    diāconus –ī m.: deacon

    Petrus –ī m.: Peter, Deacon known to Gregory 1

    colloquor colloquī collocūtus sum: to converse, hold a discussion

    ēnumerō ēnumerāre ēnumerāvī ēnumerātus: to count out or completely; enumerate

    prīscus –a –um: ancient

    subiungō –ere –iūnxī –iūnctus: to join under or to; fasten

    occāsiō occāsiōnis f.: opportunity

    pāstōrālis –e: of a pastor, pastoral

    saeculāris –e: secular, worldly

    quiēs quiētis f.: rest

    terrēnus –a –um: earthen

    āctus –ūs m.: driving or impelling

    pulvis pulveris m.: dust

    foedō foedāre foedāvī foedātus: to defile

    cumque: whenever, always

    condēscensiō –ōnis f.: condescension, compliance (to request)

    exter extera exterum: outward, foreign

    interior interiōris: inner

    appetō appetere appetīvī appetītus: to make for, grasp

    per-pendō –pendere –pendī –pēnsum: to weigh carefully, examine

    tolerō tolerāre tolerāvī tolerātus: to endure

    per-pendō –pendere –pendī –pēnsum: to weigh carefully, examine

    intueor intuērī intuitus sum: to look at

    humilitās –ātis f.: lowness

    intentiō –ōnis f.: purpose; intension; fervor

    monachicus –a –um: of a monk, monkish, monastic

    perfectiō –ōnis f.: perfection

    occāsiō occāsiōnis f.: opportunity

    pāstōrālis –e: of a pastor, pastoral

    immō: no indeed

    prōfectus –ūs m.: success

    conversiō –ōnis f.: conversion

    quiēs quiētis f.: rest

    conversātiō –ōnis f: way of life (specifically, in a religious community)

    maximē: most greatly

    pontificālis –e: of or pertaining to a bishop, archbisop, or pope; pontifical

    fungor fungī fūnctus sum: to perform

    monastērium –ī n.: a monastery

    prīmō: at first

    monastērium –ī n.: a monastery

    abstrahō –trahere –trāxī –tractum: to drag away

    ministerium –ī n.: service, ministry

    altāria –ium n.: the upper part of an altar; a high altar

    ōrdinō –ōrdināre: to set in order, regulate

    Constantīnopolis –is f.: Constantinople

    apocrisiārius –ī m.: a (papal) delegate, nuncio

    apostolicus –a –um: apostolic, of an apostle or the apostles

    dērigō –ere –rēxī –rēctus: to lay straight

    terrēnus –a –um: earthen

    conversor –ārī –ātus sum: to live with or among, associate with; live in a (monastic) community

    palātium –ī n.: palace, royal residence

    intermittō intermittere intermīsī intermīssuss: to leave off, neglect

    monastērium –ī n.: a monastery

    germānus –a –um: brotherly

    cāritās cāritātis f.: affection, love

    tūtāmentum –ī n.: (means of) protection, safety

    observantia –ae f.: observance

    rēgulāris –e: pertaining to the observance of a monastic rule; regular

    vidēlicet: clearly

    placidus –a –um: pleasant

    ancora –ae f.: an anchor

    fūnis fūnis m.: rope, line

    rēstringō –ingere –inxi –ictum: to tie back, restrain with bonds

    incessābilis –e: ceaseless, without pause; endless, perpetual

    saeculāris –e: secular, worldly

    impulsus –ūs m.: prompting, attack

    fluctuō fluctuāre fluctuāvī fluctuātus: to wave

    concutiō –cutere –cussī –cussus: shake, beat, strike; terrify; disturb, distract

    āctus –ūs m.: driving or impelling

    cotīdiē/cottīdiē: daily

    studiōsus –a –um: eager

    lēctiō –ōnis f. : a selection, text

    rōborō –āre –āvī –ātum: to make strong, strengthen, invigorate, confirm

    alloquium –ī n.: discourse, conversation

    cōnsortium –ī n.: fellowship, association

    terrēnus –a –um: earthen

    mūniō mūnīre mūnīvī mūnītus: to build, fortify

    incursus –ūs m.: assault, attack

    exercitium –ī n.: training, exercise, practice

    succendō –ere –cendī –cēnsus: to set on fire from beneath; (fig.)

    Jōb m. (indecl.): Job

    involvō –ere –volvī –volūtus: to roll on or in; cast upon

    obscūritās –ātis f.: darkness, obscurity

    mysticus –a –um: hidden, secret; mystical, non-literal, allegorical or symbolical (reading)

    interpretātiō –ōnis f.: interpretation

    discutiō –ere –cussī –cussus: to shake off

    frāternus –a –um: fraternal

    futūrus –a –um: about to be; future

    iūxtā: according to

    quāliter: just as

    Christus –ī m.: Christ

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    sacrāmentum –ī n.: sacrament

    ūnusquisque: each one

    aptō aptāre aptāvī aptātus: to adapt to, prepare

    trīgintā; trīcēsimus –a –um: 30; 30th

    quīnque; quīntus –a –um: 5; 5th

    expositiō –ōnis f.: a setting forth, explanation

    perdoceō –docēre –docuī –doctum: to instruct thoroughly, inform

    vidēlicet: clearly

    apocrisiārius –ī m.: a (papal) delegate, nuncio

    incohō –āre –āvī –ātum: to start work on, begin

    Rōma Rōmae f.: Rome

    pontifex pontificis m.: priest

    expleō explēre explēvī explētus: to fill up, fulfil

    positus, –a, –um: located

    haeresis –is f.: heresy

    status statūs m.: position

    resurrectio –ōnis f.: resurrection

    exorior exorīrī exortus sum: to rise up, proceed

    catholicus –a –um: catholic, universal

    vēritās vēritātis f.: truth

    atterō atterere atterīvī atterītus: to rub againt

    siquidem: if only, if indeed

    Eutychius –ī m.: Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople, 552-565 & 577-582

    episcopus –ī m.: guardian, (eccl.) bishop

    dogmatīzo –āre –āvī –ātum: to propound a dogma

    resurrectio –ōnis f.: resurrection

    inpalpābilis –e (impalpābilis): intangible

    subtīlis –e: fine–textured, delicate; subtle

    futūrus –a –um: about to be; future

    vēritās vēritātis f.: truth

    dominicus, –ī m.: Sunday

    resurrectio –ōnis f.: resurrection

    dogma dogmatis n.: dogma, (religious) doctrine, tenet, teaching

    orthodoxus –a –um: orthodox

    omnimodīs: in every way or manner, wholly, fully

    contrārius –a –um: opposite

    catholicus –a –um: catholic, universal

    etenim: and indeed

    immortālitās –ātis f.: immortality, endless life

    sublīmō –āre –āvī –ātus: elevate

    subtīlis –e: fine–textured, delicate; subtle

    effectus –ūs m.: action; effect

    spīritālis –e: spiritual, sacred, religious

    potentia potentiae f.: power

    palpābilis –e: tangible

    vēritās vēritātis f.: truth

    iūxtā: according to

    dominicus, –ī m.: Sunday

    mortuus –a –um: dead

    suscitō suscitāre suscitāvī suscitātus: to stir up

    discipulus discipulī m.: male student

    palpō –āre –āvī –ātus: touch, feel, handle; grope for; treat gently, soothe

    carō carnis f.: meat, flesh

    assertiō assertiōnis f.: assertion, affirmation

    venerābilis –e: venerable, deserving of respect

    Grēgorius –ī m.: Gregory, the Great, pope, 590-604

    haeresis –is f.: heresy

    contendō contendere contendī contentus: to strain, exert

    īnstantia –ae f.: steadiness, constancy, perseverance, insistence

    Tiberius –iī m.: Tiberius

    Constantīnus –ī m.: Constantine

    com-minuō –minuere –minuī –minūtum: to crush

    exinde (abbrev. exin): from that place

    "

    resuscitātor –ōris m. : one who restores to life, resuscitator; one who renews a practice

    "

    exsistō –sistere –stitī: to exist, be; emerge

    pāstōrālis –e: of a pastor, pastoral

    manifēstus –a –um: clear, manifest

    patefaciō patefacere patefēcī patefactum: to reveal

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    regimen –inis n.: a means of guidance, rudder

    assūmō (or adsūmō) –sūmere –sūmpsī –sūmptum: to take in addition

    quāliter: just as

    rēctor –ōris m.: director

    discrētiō –ōnis f.: difference, distinction

    īnstruō īnstruere īnstrūxī īnstrūctus: to build upon; furnish; arrange

    persōna persōnae f.: role

    cōnsīderātiō –ōnis f.: consideration

    cotīdiē/cottīdiē: daily

    fragilitās –ātis f.: fragility, weakness, frailty; moral weakness, esp. sexual sin

    pēnsō pēnsāre : to weigh

    homīlia –ae f. (omēlia): homily, sermon on Scriptural text

    ēvangelium –ī n.: the Gospel

    quādrāginta; quādrāgesimus –a –um: 40; 40th

    cōdex –icis m.: book, account book

    distinguō distinguere distīnxī distīnctum: to separate, divide

    dialogus –ī m.: dialogue; treatise in conversational form

    Petrus –ī m.: Peter, Deacon known to Gregory 1

    diāconus –ī m.: deacon

    Italia Italiae f.: Italy

    expositiō –ōnis f.: a setting forth, explanation

    īn-sūdō –āre –āvi –ātum : to sweat over or on

    ēdoceō –ēre –uī –tus: to teach completely; communicate

    dēscrībō dēscrībere dēscrīpsī dēscrīptus: to describe

    mīrāculum –ī n.: miracle

    clāritās –tātis f.: brightness, brilliance, splendor

    Ezechiēl –ēlis m.: Ezekiel, Hebrew prophet

    prophēta or prophētēs –ae m.: soothsayer, prophet

    obscūrus –a –um: covered, dark

    homīlia –ae f. (omēlia): homily, sermon on Scriptural text

    vīgintī; vīcēsimus –a –um: 20; 20th

    intus: within, inside

    dēmōnstrō dēmōnstrāre dēmōnstrāvī dēmōnstrātus: to indicate, show clearly

    libellus libellī m.: little book

    respōnsiō –ōnis f.: an answer, refutation

    interrogātiō –ōnis f.: questioning, inquiry

    Augustīnus –ī m.: Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury, 597-604x609; apostle of the English

    Anglī –ōrum m.: the Angles, a Germanic tribe; the English

    episcopus –ī m.: guardian, (eccl.) bishop

    libellus libellī m.: little book

    īnserō īnserere īnseruī īnsertus: insert, add

    historia –ae f.: a narrative of past events, history

    libellus libellī m.: little book

    synodicus –a –um: synodical; pertaining to a church council

    episcopus –ī m.: guardian, (eccl.) bishop

    Italia Italiae f.: Italy

    necessārius –a –um: necessary, essential

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    familiāris familiāre: domestic, intimate

    mīrus –a –um: wonderful

    volūmen volūminis n.: book, roll

    iuventūs iuventūtis f.: youth, young man

    crebēr crēbra crēbrum: thick, crowded, close

    vīscus vīsceris n.: innards

    cruciō –cruciāre: to torture

    mōmentum –ī n.: weight, importance

    stomachus –ī m.: the gullet; chest

    lassescō –ere: to become tired; weaken

    lentus –a –um: flexible, sticky

    continuus –a –um: connected

    febris febris f.: fever

    anhēlō anhēlāre anhēlāvī anhēlātus: to pant

    sollicitus –a –um: worried

    pēnsō pēnsāre : to weigh

    scrīptūra –ae f.: Scripture

    flagellō –flagellāre: to whip, lash

    dēprimō –primere –pressī –pressum: to suppress, force down

    praesūmptiō –ōnis f.: hope; confidence

    respīrō respīrāre respīrāvī respīrātus: to breathe again; to breathe

    immortālis immortālis immortāle: immortal

    restinguō –ere –stīnxī –stīnctus: to put out

    pontifex pontificis m.: priest

    cōnstruō –ere –strūxī –strūctus: to pile together

    ōrnō ōrnāre ōrnāvī ōrnātus: to equip, decorate

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    ergā: towards

    lucrum lucrī n.: gain, profit

    sēdulus –a –um: careful, cautious

    dispergō –ere –spersī –spersus: to sprinkle

    iūstitia –ae f.: righteousness

    exaltō –exaltāre : to raise, exalt

    Jōb m. (indecl.): Job

    vērāx –ācis : speaking truly, true, veracious; adv. vērāciter, truthfully.

    beātificō –āre –āvī –ātum: to bless

    testimōnium testimōni(ī) n.: testimony

    līberō līberāre līberāvī līberātus: to free

    vōciferor –ātus sum: to raise the voice; cry out

    pūpillus –ī m.: an orphan boy

    adiūtor –ōris m.: a helper

    benedictiō –ōnis f.: a blessing

    viduus –a –um: deprived of a husband or wife, bereft, celibate; (of vines) unsupported by a tree

    cōnsōlor cōnsōlārī cōnsōlātus sum: to comfort, console

    iūstitia –ae f.: righteousness

    induō induere induī indūtus: to put on, clothe

    vestiō vestīre vestiī/vestīvī vestītum: to clothe

    vestīmentum –ī n.: garment, clothes (pl.)

    diadēma –atis n.: a royal headdress, diadem

    claudus –a –um: limping, lame

    dīligēns: careful

    investīgō –vestīgāre: to investigate

    conterō –terere –trīvī –trītum: to grind, pound; to bruise, crush, smash; defeat, oppress, wear down

    mola –ae f.: mill; (meton.)

    inīquus –a –um: uneven

    dēns dentis m.: tooth

    paulus –a –um: little, small

    viduus –a –um: deprived of a husband or wife, bereft, celibate; (of vines) unsupported by a tree

    comedō comedere comēdī comēsum: to eat up, consume

    bucella –ae f.: small mouthful; morsel

    comedō comedere comēdī comēsum: to eat up, consume

    pūpillus –ī m.: an orphan boy

    īnfantia –ae f.: infancy; early childhood

    miserātiō –ōnis f.: compassion

    uterus –ī m.: the womb

    iūstitia –ae f.: righteousness

    praedicātor –ōris m.: preacher

    dērigō –ere –rēxī –rēctus: to lay straight

    dēns dentis m.: tooth

    particeps participis m.: participant

    congaudeō –gaudēre: to share in rejoicing, to rejoice (together) in, enjoy

    commendō commendāre commendāvī commendātus: to entrust

    expositiō -ōnis f.: a setting forth, explanation

    Jōb m. (indecl.): Job

    Britannia –ae f.: Britain

    frendō frendere — frēsum: to gnash the teeth

    dūdum: not long ago

    dīvīnus –a –um: divine

    Hebraeus –a –um: Hebrew

    allēlūia: hallelujah, song of praise

    resonō resonāre resonāvī resonātus: to resound

    tumidus –a –um: swollen

    substernō –sternere –strāvī –strātum: to lay or spread beneath; (of a woman) offer oneself sexually to a man

    ōceanus –ī m.: the ocean

    terrēnus –a –um: earthen

    ē-domō –āre –uī –itum: to tame, subdue, conquer

    nequeō nequīre nequiī/nequīvī nequitum: to be unable

    dīvīnus –a –um: divine

    formīdō formīdinis f.: fear

    simplex –icis: artless, naïve, lacking guile

    ligō ligāre ligāvī ligātus: to tie, bind

    caterva –ae f.: crime, sin

    īnfidēlis –e: unfaithful

    nēquāquam: by no means

    humilis humile: humble

    percipiō percipere percēpī perceptus: to take in

    clārēscō –ere –claruī: to become clear to the ear or eye; grow loud

    mīrāculum –ī n.: miracle

    dīvīnus –a –um: divine

    cognitiō –ōnis f. : notion, idea

    īnfundō –ere –fūdī –fūsus: to pour into or upon

    dīvīnitās –tātis f.: divinity

    terror terrōris m.: fear

    refrēnō refrēnāre: to curb

    prāvus –a –um: crooked

    dēsīderium dēsīderi(ī) n.: desire

    aeternitās –tātis f.: eternity, timelessness; eternal life

    concupīscō concupiscīre concupīvī concupītus: to desire

    Grēgorius –ī m.: Gregory, the Great, pope, 590-604

    dēclārō dēclārāre dēclārāvī dēclārātus: to make clear, reveal

    Augustīnus –ī m.: Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury, 597-604x609; apostle of the English

    praedicātiō –ōnis f.: teaching; sermon

    ostēnsiō –ōnis f.: a showing, exhibiting, manifestation

    Anglī –ōrum m.: the Angles, a Germanic tribe; the English

    āgnitiō –ōnis f.: recognition

    vēritās vēritātis f.: truth

    perdūcō perdūcere perdūxī perductum: to bring to/over

    pāpa –ae or –ātis m.: a father, pope

    Grēgorius –ī m.: Gregory, the Great, pope, 590-604

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    apostolus –ī m.: apostle

    Petrus –ī m.: St Peter, the Apostle

    Paulus –ī m.: St Paul, the Apostle

    missa –ae f.: the mass (religious service)

    missa –ae f.: the mass (religious service)

    celebrātiō –iōnis f.: the celebration of a festival or religious service

    māximus –a –um: greatest; maxime: most, especially, very much

    perfectiō –ōnis f.: perfection

    superādicio –ere –iēcī: to add over and above

    dispōnō dispōnere dispōsuī dispōsitus: to place, arrange, distribute

    damnātiō –ōnis f.: condemnation

    ēlectus –a um superl. electissimus: select, choice

    grex gregis m.: herd, flock

    numerō numerāre numerāvī numerātus: to count

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    Mauricius –ī m.: Mauricius Tiberius, Eastern Emperor, 582–602

    Phōcas –ae m.: Phocas, Eastern Emperor, 602-610

    Phōcas –ae m.: Phocas, Eastern Emperor, 602-610

    migrō migrāre migrāvī migrātus: to go, depart

    sepeliō sepelīre sepeliī/sepelīvī sepultum: to bury

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    Petrus –ī m.: St Peter, the Apostle

    apostolus –ī m.: apostle

    sēcrētārium –ī n.: sanctuary

    īdūs īduum (pl. f.): the Ides

    Māvortius –a –um or Mārtius –a –um: pertaining to Mavors or Mars

    quandōque : whenever, at some time

    sanciō sancīre sānxī sānctus: to consecrate

    ecclēsia –ae f.: church

    pāstor pāstōris m.: shepherd

    resurgō –surgere –surrēxī –surrēctum: to rise again, reappear

    tumba –ae f.: tomb

    epitaphium –ī n.: epitaph

    hūiusmodī: of this sort

    vīvificō –āre –āvī –ātum: to give life

    lētum letī n.: death

    pontifex pontificis m.: priest

    summus –a –um: highest

    innumerus –a –um: countless

    ubīque: everywhere

    ēsuriēs –ēī f.: hunger

    daps –dapis f.: feast

    frīgus or frigoris n.: cold

    āctus –ūs m.: act

    mysticus –a –um: hidden, secret; mystical, non-literal, allegorical or symbolical (reading)

    Christus –ī m.: Christ

    Anglī –ōrum m.: the Angles, a Germanic tribe; the English

    magistra –ae f.: mistress

    adquīrō –ere –quīsīvī –quīsītus: to seek in addition

    pāstor pāstōris m.: shepherd

    dominus dominī m.: lord; Lord (of Jesus Christ)

    lucrum lucrī n.: gain, profit

    grex gregis m.: herd, flock

    laetor laetārī laetātus sum: to rejoice, be glad

    triumphus triumphī m.: triumph

    mercēs mercēdis f.: pay, wages

    silentium silenti(ī) n.: silence

    praetereō praeterīre praeterīvī/praeteriī praeteritus: to go by

    opīniō opīniōnis f.: opinion

    Grēgorius –ī m.: Gregory, the Great, pope, 590-604

    trāditiō –ōnis f.: tradition

    maior māius: bigger

    perferō perferre pertulī perlātus: to endure

    vidēlicet: clearly

    admoneō admonēre admonuī admonitus: to admonish, remind

    sēdulus –a –um: careful, cautious

    ergā: towards

    nūper: not long ago

    mercātor –ōris m.: merchant, trader

    vēnālis –e: for sale, for hire

    emō emere ēmī ēmptus: to buy

    cōnfluō –fluere –flūxī –—: to flow together, run together

    Grēgorius –ī m.: Gregory, the Great, pope, 590-604

    vēnālis –e: for sale, for hire

    venustus –a –um: charming

    capillus capillī m.: hair

    Britannia –ae f.: Britain

    incola incolae m. or f.: inhabitant

    īnsulānus –a –um: of or belonging to an island, insular; (sbst.) īnsulānī -ōrum, islanders

    Chrīstiānus –a –um: Christian

    pāgānus –a –um: pagan

    implicō implicāre implicāvī or implicuī implicitus: to fold in; involve

    pāgānus –a –um: pagan

    intimus –a –um: inmost

    suspīrium –ī n.: a deep breath, sigh

    heu: alas! oh!

    lūcidus –a –um: bright, shining

    possideō –ēre –sēdī –sessus: to hold, possess

    frontispicium –ī n.: outward appearance; countenance

    internus –a –um: internal

    gestō gestāre gestāvī gestātus: to carry, bear

    vocābulum –ī n.: a designation, name

    respōnsum respōnsī n.: answer

    Anglī –ōrum m.: the Angles, a Germanic tribe; the English

    angelicus –a –um: angelic

    angelus –ī m. : messenger, angel

    cohērēs –hērēdis m./f.: fellow–heir

    respōnsum respōnsī n.: answer

    Deirī –ōrum: the Deiri

    prōvinciālis –is m./f.: an inhabitant of a province

    Deirī –ōrum: the Deiri

    ēruō –ere –ī –tus: to cast out or up; to overthrow

    misericordia misericordiae f.: pity, mercy

    Christus –ī m.: Christ

    respōnsum respōnsī n.: answer

    Ælle –ī m.: Ælle, King of the Deirans, 560–588/590; father of Edwin

    adlūdō –ere –lūsī –lūsus: to speak playfully; sport

    allēlūia: hallelujah, song of praise

    creātor –ōris m.: a creator, founder

    cantō cantāre cantāvī cantātus: to sing, play

    pontifex pontificis m.: priest

    Rōmānus –a –um: Roman

    apostolicus –a –um: apostolic, of an apostle or the apostles

    pontifex pontificis m.: priest

    Anglī –ōrum m.: the Angles, a Germanic tribe; the English

    Britannia –ae f.: Britain

    minister ministrī m.: attendant, servant

    Christus –ī m.: Christ

    dominus dominī m.: lord; Lord (of Jesus Christ)

    cooperor –ārī –ātus sum: to work together

    perficiō perficere perfēcī perfectus: to complete, accomplish

    apostolicus –a –um: apostolic, of an apostle or the apostles

    pāpa –ae or –ātis m.: a father, pope

    perficiō perficere perfēcī perfectus: to complete, accomplish

    etsī: although

    pontifex pontificis m.: priest

    Rōmānus –a –um: Roman

    sēcēdō sēcēdere sēcessī sēcessus: to withdraw

    pontificātus –ūs, m.: office of pope

    fungor fungī fūnctus sum: to perform

    perficiō perficere perfēcī perfectus: to complete, accomplish

    praedicātor –ōris m.: preacher

    praedicātiō –ōnis f.: teaching; sermon

    frūctificō frūctificāre frūctificāvī frūctificātum: be fruitful

    exhortātiō –ōnis f.: sermon

    adiuvō adiuvāre adiūvī adiūvatus: to help, assist, support

    iūxtā: according to

    opīniō opīniōnis f.: opinion

    historia –ae f.: a narrative of past events, history

    ecclēsiasticus –a –um: of or belonging to the Church

    īnserō īnserere īnseruī īnsertus: insert, add

    opportūnus –a –um: suitable

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    Suggested Citation

    Rob Hardy. Bede: Historia Ecclesiastica Selections. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-947822-20-7. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/bede-historia-ecclesiastica/book-2/chapter-2-1