1. Igitur Martīnus Sabāriā Pannoniārum oppidō oriundus fuit, sed intrā Ītaliam Tīcīnī altus est, pārentibus secundum saeculī dignitātem nōn īnfimīs, gentīlibus tamen. 2. pater eius mīlēs prīmum, post tribūnus mīlitum fuit. ipse armātam mīlitiam in adulēscentiā secūtus inter scholārēs ālās sub rege Cōnstantiō, deinde sub Iūliānō Caesare mīlitāvit: nōn tamen sponte, quia ā prīmīs ferē annīs dīvīnam potius servitūtem sacra illustris puerī spīrāvit īnfantia. 3. nam cum esset annōrum decem, invītīs parentibus ad ecclēsiam cōnfūgit sēque catēchūmenum fierī postulāvit. 4. mox mīrum in modum totus in Deī opere conversus, cum esset annōrum duodecim, erēmum concupīvit, fēcissetque vōtīs satis, sī aetātis īnfirmitās nōn obstitisset. animus tamen aut circā monastēria aut circā ecclēsiam semper intentus meditābātur adhuc in aetāte puerīlī, quod posteā dēvōtus implēvit.
5. sed cum ēdīctum esset a rēgibus, ut veterānōrum fīliī ad mīlitiam scrīberentur, prōdente patre, quī fēlicibus eius āctibus invidēbat, cum esset annōrum quīndecim, captus et catēnātus sacrāmentīs mīlitāribus implicātus est, ūnō tantum servō comite contentus, cui tamen versā vice dominus serviēbat, adeo ut plērumque eī et calciamenta ipse dētraheret et ipse dētergeret, cibum ūnā caperent, hic tamen saepius ministrāret. 6. triennium ferē ante baptismum in armīs fuit, integer tamen ab iīs vītiīs, quibus illud hominum genus implicārī solet. 7. multa illius circā commīlitōnēs benignitās, mīra cāritās, patientia vērō atque humilitās ultrā hūmānum modum. nam frūgālitātem in eō laudāri nōn est necesse, quā ita ūsus est, ut iam illō tempore nōn mīlēs, sed monachus putārētur. prō quibus rēbus ita sibi omnēs commīlitōnēs dēvīnxerat, ut eum mīrō affectū venerārentur. 8. necdum tamen regeneratus in Christō agēbat quendam bonīs operibus baptismi candidātum: assistere scīlicet labōrantibus, opem ferre miserīs, alēre egentēs, vestīre nūdōs, nihil sibi ex mīlitiae stīpendiīs praeter cotīdiānum victum reservāre: iam tum ēvangeliī nōn surdus audītor, dē crastinō nōn cōgitābat.
notes
vocabulary
secundum: (adv. and prep.) following, after, behind
adulēscentia -ae. f.: the time of youth, youth
scolāres -ium m.: the imperial guard
sponte: (abl.) of one's own accord, willingly
servitūs -ūtis f.: slavery, servitude
spīrō spīrāre: breathe, blow
īnfantia -ae f.: infancy, early childhood
invītus -a -um: unwilling, reluctant
cōnfugiō -fugere -fūgī: flee ( for help), take refuge in or with
duodecim: twelve
erēmus -i m.: wilderness, desert
concupīscō -cupīscere -cupīvī -ītum: desire eagerly
infirmitās -ātis f.: weakness, feebleness
obstō -stāre -stitī: stand in the way of; oppose, obstruct
meditor -āri: think about, consider, meditate upon
dēvoveō -vovēre -vōvī -vōtum: set apart by vows, devote
veterānus -a -um: old, veteran
āctus -ūs m.: act, deed
invideō -vidēre -vīdī -vīsum: look on, envy (+ dat.)
quīndecim: fifteen
catēnātus -a -um: chained, fettered
sacrāmentum -ī n.: oath, solemn obligation
mīlitāris -e: pertaining to a soldier, military, martial
contentus -a -um: contented, satisfied
vicis f.: change, interchange, alteration, vicissitude
calciāmentum -ī n.: shoe
dētrahō -trahere -trāxī -trāctum: draw off, pull off, rob (+dat. or abl.)
dētergeō -tergēre -tersī -tersum: wipe off, wipe clean
ministrō -āre: attend to, manage, furnish
triennium -ī n.: three years
commīlitō -ōnis m.: comrade, fellow-soldier
benīgnitās -ātis f.: favour, courtesy
cāritās -ātis f.: dearness
frūgālitās -tātis f.: temperance, frugality; worth, virtue
dēvinciō -vincīre -vinxī -vinctum: attach closely
veneror -ārī: venerate, worship
necdum: not yet
regenerō -āre: bring forth again; regenerate
candidātus -ī m.: candidate
egeō egēre eguī: be destitute, lack
stīpendium -i n.: pay, stipend
cotīdiānus -a -um: daily
victus -ūs m.: provisions, food; mode of living
ēvangelium -ī n.: good news; the Gospel
surdus -a -um: deaf
audītor -ōris m.: hearer; pupil, disciple
crastinum -ī n.: tomorrow, the morrow