[55] Abbās vērō cum sānctō Brendānō residēbat in ecclēsiā, expectantēs adventum lūminis. [56] Interrogāns beātus Brendānus sānctum patrem dē illōrum silentiō et conversātiōne, quōmodo potuit esse in hūmānā carne, [57] tunc praedictus pater cum immēnsā reverentiā et humilitāte respondit: “Abbā, cōram Chrīstō meō fateor: octōgintā annī sunt postquam vēnimus in hanc īnsulam. [58] Nūllam vōcem hūmānam audīvimus, exceptō quandō cantāmus Deō laudēs. [59] Inter nōs vīgintī quattuor, vōx nōn excitātur, nisi per signum digitī aut oculōrum, tantum ā maiōribus nātū. [60] Nūllus ex nōbīs sustinuit īnfirmitātem carnis aut spīrituum quī vagantur circā hūmānum genus postquam vēnimus in istum locum.”
notes
Brendan and the abbot stay in the church. Brendan asks how a life of complete silence could be endurable. The abbot replies that in the 80 years since they came to the island no one has been troubled by illness or demons.
[56] Interrogāns beātus Brendānus: a “nominative absolute”
et conversātiōne: “and about the way they communicated”
[59] Inter nōs vīgintī quattuor: “among us twenty-four” (monks on the island)
nisi per signum digitī aut oculōrum: to speak of “raising of the voice” by these means is illogical, but makes sense.
tantum ā maiōribus nātū: “and (even in that case) only by those older in age.” nātū is a supine used as an ablative of specification (AG § 510).
[60] Nūllus ex nōbīs: CL would probably be nēmō nostrum.
vocabulary
| abbās –ātis m. | abbot, the head of a monastery 55 |
| resideō residēre resēdī ressus | to be seated, remain seated; to stand back, stand still |
| ecclēsia –ae f. | congregation, church (LL) |
| adventus adventūs m. | arrival, advent |
| silentium (silentum) silenti(ī) n. | silence 56 |
| conversātiō –ōnis f | habitual association; (ML) communal life, community |
| carō carnis f. | meat, flesh |
| immēnsus –a –um | immense 57 |
| reverentia –ae f. | reverence, respect |
| humilitās –ātis f. | lowness |
| abbās –ātis m. | abbot, the head of a monastery |
| corām | (adv. or prep. + abl.) face to face; in the presence of, in front of |
| Christus –ī m. | Christ |
| octōgintā; octōgēsimus –a –um | 80; 80th |
| cantō cantāre cantāvī cantātus | to sing 58 |
| vīgintī; vīcēsimus –a –um | 20; 20th 59 |
| excitō excitāre excitāvī excitātus | to stir up, arouse, put into motion |
| per | through; by means of [OLD 14] |
| digitus digitī m. | finger |
| maior māius | bigger |
| nātus –ūs m. | birth, age (used only in the abl.) |
| īnfirmitās –ātis f. | weakness 60 |
| carō carnis f. | meat, flesh |
| vagor –ārī –ātus sum | to wander about |