Preaching the First Crusade

[1.1.1]  Cum iam appropinquāsset ille terminus quem dominus Iēsus cottīdiē suīs dēmōnstrat fidēlibus, speciāliter in ēvangeliō dīcēns: “Sī quis vult post mē venīre, abneget sēmetipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequātur mē,” facta est igitur mōtiō valida per ūniversās Galliārum regiōnēs, ut sī aliquis Deum studiōsē pūrōque corde et mente sequī dēsīderāret, atque post ipsum crucem fidēliter bāiulāre vellet, nōn pigritārētur Sānctī Sepulchrī viam celerius arripere. Apostolicus namque Rōmānae sēdis ultrā montānās partēs quantōcius profectus est cum suīs archiepiscopīs, epīscopīs, abbātibus, et presbytērīs, coepitque subtīliter sermōcinārī et praedīcāre, dīcēns, ut sī quis animam suam salvam facere vellet, nōn dubitāret humiliter viam incipere Dominī, ac sī dēnāriōrum eī dēesset cōpia, dīvīna eī satis daret misericordia. 

(November 1095) At the Council of Clermont (November 18–28, 1095) Pope Urban II preaches the idea of a Christian expedition to liberate the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

 

ille terminus quem dominus Iēsus cotīdiē suīs dēmōnstrat fidēlibus: our author believes that Jesus had in mind a particular time for a crusade.

Sī quis, etc.: Matthew 16:24: Tunc Iesus dixit discipulis suis: Si quis vult post me venire, abneget semetipsum, et tollat crucem suam, et sequatur me.

igitur: “Therefore” is superfluous here, since cum ... appropinquasset is a cum clause of attendant circumstances (AG § 546); omit in translation.

post ipsum: = post (Deum) ipsum.

Sānctī Sepulchrī: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was built in the 4th century, over the site where Jesus was thought to have been crucified, buried, and resurrected; it is perhaps the holiest Christian pilgrimage site, and its liberation from Muslim occupation was the principal object of the crusades.

apostolicus ... Rōmānae sēdis: = apostolicus (vir) Rōmānae sedis, i.e., the Pope, Urban II (Pope 1088–99). Literally, “The apostlic (person) of the Roman seat"; the Pope is considered the spiritual heir of the apostle Peter. 

ultrā montānās partēs quantōcius profectus est: "set out across the mountain regions as soon as he could." ;Urban went from Rome across the Alps to Clermont, in central France.

subtīliter sermōcinārī et praedīcāre: subtīliter is either "cleverly, cunningly" or simply "eloquently."

ut sī quis ... vellet: ut + subj. can express indirect statement in ML.

appoprinquō (1): to approach

cottīdiē: day by day, on a daily basis

ēvangelium –iī, n.: Good News, Gospel

abnegō (1): to withhold what is due, to deny oneself, to make sacrifices

sēmetipsum: himself (reflexive = sēsē)

crux crucis, f.: cross

igitur: therefore

mōtiō –ōnis, f.: a moving, motion, a removing

bāiulō (1): to carry a burden, to bear something heavy

pigritor (1): to be slow (LL)

celerius: more quickly; rather quickly (comparative form of celeriter)

arripiō arripere arripuī arreptum: to seize, snatch, take up

namque: for (CL); on the other hand, but (ML)

quantōcius: as quickly as possible (LL)

archiepiscopus –ī, m.: Archbishop

epīscopus –ī, m.: overseer, superintendent

abbās –ātis, m.: an abbot

presbyter –eri, m.: an elder, a priest (LL)

coepī coepisse coeptum: to begin (pf. with pres. meaning)

subtīliter: elegantly

praedicō (1): to proclaim; to preach

sermōcinor (1): to speak, address, to deliver a sermon

salvus –a um: safe (CL), saved (ML)

dubitō (1): to hestitate

dēsum dēesse dēfuī: to be lacking

misericordia –ae, f.: pity, compassion

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