{"slug":"dsc-504","id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-504","title":"On Bishop Acacius","author":"Balai of Balsh","genre":"other","date":"Early 5th century CE","tradition":"syriac","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T04:53:44Z","cost_usd":0.006405},"source":{"registry_id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-504","work_id":"dsc-504","edition":"syriac","language":"","license":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"},"stats":{"passages":9,"english_words":3219,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":50,"commentary_kinds":8,"derived_notes":1,"ambiguities":22,"work_notes":5,"external_links":3,"timeline":4},"summary":{"work":"dsc-504","abstract":"This metrical homily (memra) attributed to Balai of Balsh addresses Bishop Acacius of Beroea, likely composed in the early 5th century CE. The work survives in a single Syriac manuscript and is set to the tone of a known hymn, 'O Mar Bgayik,' indicating liturgical use. It employs pastoral metaphors, contrasting the strong and weak, and emphasizes spiritual vigilance. Its attribution to Balai is traditional but lacks external corroboration. The text's limited manuscript basis leaves textual uncertainties unaddressed.","historical_context":"Balai of Balsh flourished in the early 5th century CE, under the patriarchate of Philoxenus of Mabbug, in the Syriac-speaking Christian communities of the Roman East. The work is a memra, a genre of metrical homily used in liturgical and catechetical settings. It is addressed to Bishop Acacius of Beroea (modern Aleppo), reflecting ecclesiastical concerns of the period, such as pastoral strategy and ascetic ideals. The text survives in a single manuscript witness, with no known early translations, and its transmission is limited to scholarly collections. Balai's works were later used in Syriac liturgical traditions, though this specific homily is not attested in standard cycles. The date is uncertain but likely falls within Balai's active period, ca. 400–450 CE.","significance":"This work provides insight into early 5th-century Syriac hymnography and pastoral theology, illustrating the use of metrical homilies in liturgical contexts. Its attribution to Balai, a key figure in Syriac poetry, links it to the broader tradition of Syriac Christian literature, though its limited manuscript survival highlights challenges in textual transmission and authorship verification.","timeline":[{"date":"ca. 400–450 CE","event":"Probable composition of the memra by Balai of Balsh, addressing Bishop Acacius of Beroea."},{"date":"5th c.","event":"Balai active as a Syriac poet and bishop under Patriarch Philoxenus of Mabbug."},{"date":"Undated","event":"Single manuscript witness copied, preserving the text."},{"date":"Undated","event":"Work transmitted in scholarly collections, not in standard liturgical cycles."}],"relations":[{"work":"Memre of Balai of Balsh","relation":"Part of Balai's corpus of metrical homilies, similar in genre and style.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"O Mar Bgayik","relation":"Referenced as the tone for chanting, indicating liturgical connection.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Works of Philoxenus of Mabbug","relation":"Contemporary context; Balai served under Philoxenus.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Syriac liturgical manuscripts","relation":"Transmission context; Balai's works appear in such manuscripts with musical notation.","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[{"key":"wikipedia:Acacius of Beroea","label":"Acacius of Beroea","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacius_of_Beroea","reason":"Identifies the addressee and his historical role."},{"key":"wikipedia:Syriac Christianity","label":"Syriac Christianity","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Christianity","reason":"Contextualizes the religious and linguistic community."},{"key":"wikipedia:Philoxenus of Mabbug","label":"Philoxenus of Mabbug","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philoxenus_of_Mabbug","reason":"Contemporary patriarch under whom Balai served."}],"cautions":["Attribution to Balai is traditional and not externally corroborated by contemporary sources.","Date is uncertain; only a range of ca. 400–450 CE can be inferred from Balai's active period.","Survives in a single manuscript witness, with no critical edition; textual uncertainties (scribal errors, lacunae) remain unaddressed.","Not attested in standard Syriac liturgical cycles; reception appears limited."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000429,"generated":"2026-11-15T01:21:00Z"},"checks":{"work":"dsc-504","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":9,"translated":9,"commentary_passages":9,"commentary_units":50,"english_words":3219,"source_letters":7508,"commentary_kinds":8},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The work is a metrical homily (memra) attributed to Balai of Balsh, a fifth-century Syriac poet. It addresses Bishop Acacius of Beroea, likely reflecting ecclesiastical concerns of the period.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Balai flourished in the early 5th century, under the patriarchate of Philoxenus of Mabbug. The work’s date is uncertain but likely falls within Balai’s active period, ca. 400–450 CE.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The text survives in a single manuscript witness, with no known early translations. Its attribution to Balai is traditional but not externally corroborated by contemporary sources.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Balai’s works were later used in Syriac liturgical traditions, though this specific homily is not attested in standard liturgical cycles. Its reception appears limited to scholarly collections.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The edition provides no critical apparatus or variant readings. The single manuscript basis means textual uncertainties (e.g., scribal errors, lacunae) remain unaddressed.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in classical Syriac; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 9 narrative."},{"kind":"scripture","severity":"info","text":"1 scriptural phrase match(es) noted: John 4:10."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: syriac — CC BY 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":9},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:dsc-504":{"label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"ܡܕܪ̈ܫܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܒܠܝ ܕܐܡܝܪܝܢ ܠܗܼ. ܥܠ ܡܪܝ ܐܩܩ ܛܘܒܢܐ ܐܦܣܩܘܦܐ. ܥܠ ܩܠܐܼ ܕܐܘ ܡܪܝ ܒܓܢܝ̈ܟ܀ ܐܒܘܢ ܒܥܝܕܟ ܥܼܒܿܕ ܒܝ ܛܝܒܘܬܐܼ. ܘܩܿܪܒ ܒܥܘܬܐ ܠܡܪܟ ܕܢܬܠ ܠܝܿ. ܕܐܿܡܪ ܢܨܚܢܟ\nܐܢܐܢܬ ܠܐ ܬܗܡܐܿ ܡܪܟܼ ܠܐ ܟܿܠܐ. ܘܦܬܿܚ ܘܝܗܿܒ ܠܝ ܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܕܫܿܘܐ ܐܢܐܼ. ܐܠܐ ܕܐܢܬ ܫܿܘܼܝܬ\nܦܘܟܠܗܝܢ ܦܐܝ̈ܬܐ ܕܩ̈ܢܝܢ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐܼ. ܒܥܘܡܪܟ ܟܢ̈ܝܫܢ ܗܘ̈ܝ. ܘܚܦܝܛ ܠܫܢܟܼ\nܘܙܪܥܿ ܙܗܝܘܬܐ\nܦܓܘ̈ܕܐ ܪܡܿܐ ܗܘܐ ܚܝܪܟ ܒܥܠܝܡܿܐܼ. ܘܥܝܢܟ ܒ̈ܛܠܝܐ ܛܡܼܪܬ ܙܘܗܪܐܿ. ܕܢܟܦܘܬܐ ܢܩܢܘܢ\nܐܝܢܐ ܕܫܿܡܥ ܗܘܐ ܠܡܠܬܟ ܘܡܗܿܝܡܢ܆\nܘܐܠܐ ܠܕܘܒܪܟ ܚܿܙܐ ܘܡܫܪ ܗܘܐܼ. ܣܗܕܟܼ ܥܼܡܠܟ ܗܘܐ\nܠܚܘܒܐ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܥܡܼܪܬܝܗܝܼ ܒܥܒܿܕܐܼ. ܘܒܬܪ ܕܩܢܝܬܝܗܝ ܒܡ̈ܠܐ ܦܠܓܿܬܝܗܝܼ. ܕܢܼܣܓܘܢ ܠܟ ܚܒܪ̈ܐ\nܒܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܬܩ̈ܢܐ ܗܘܘܼ ܠܒܟ ܪܘܙ ܗܘܐ. ܘܠܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܚܝܠܝܢ ܩܠܟ ܡܚܝܿܠ ܗܘܐܼ. ܕܥܡ ܬܩܢ̈ܐ | ܢܪܕܘܢ\nܠܐܝܢ ܕܩܿܢܼܐ ܗܘܐܿ ܡܠܟܬܝܗܝܼ ܕܠܐ ܢܘܒܕ. ܘܠܐܝܢܐ ܕܚܣܝܪܐ ܗܘ ܡܢܟ ܫܿܡܥ ܘܠܐܼܝ\nܘܥܼܡܠܼ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܠܗ\nܕܥܬܝܪ ܫܡܼܥ ܡܢܟܼ ܕܓܙܗ ܢܗܐ ܡܢܿܬܗ܇\nܕܠܐ ܢܢܘܿܡ ܘܢܕܡܟ ܘܢܐܬܘܢ ܓܿܝܣ̈ܐܼ. ܒܕܡ̈ܐ ܘܬܘܬܐ\nܐܝܕ ܡܘܫܛ ܗܘܝܬ ܕܢܩܘܡܘܢ ܕܢܦܠܘܼ. ܒܡܠܬܟ ܣܿܡܟ ܗܘܝܬ ܠܐܝܢܐ ܕܩܐܡܿ ܗܘܐܿ. ܕܠܐ ܢܿܦܠܼ ܘܢܡܘܬ\nܫܠܚܬܗܿ ܐܬܠܝܛܐ ܠܪܚܡܬ ܩ̈ܢܝܢܐ:\nܘܒܕܪܐ ܩܢܘܡܟ ܠܚܘܕܘܗܝ ܠܐܿܐ ܗܘܐܼ. ܘܢܨܚܼ ܕܡܣܪܩ\nܪܕܝܼܬ ܒܗ ܕܠܐ ܕܚܼܠܐ ܒܢܐܪܒܐ ܕܓܝܿܣ̈ܐ:\nܕܩܢܘܡܟ ܒܠܚܘܕ ܒܥܠܡܐ ܥܼܒܪ ܘܛܥܼܢ. ܚܠܦ ܥܘܬܪܐ ܚܘܒܐ\nܬܓܘܪܬܟ ܕܐܥܼܕܝܬ ܣܡܬܗܿ ܩܕܡ ܟܠ ܐܢܫ:\nܕܠܟ ܗܘܼ ܒܘܝܐܐ ܘܠܚܪܝܢ ܬܚܘܝܬܐܼ. ܕܐܟܘܬܟ ܢܠܐܐ\nܐܨܛܢܥ ܒܝܪܫܐ ܘܒܟ ܚܒ̈ܝ ܨܢ̈ܥܬܗ:\nܕܠܒܝܫ ܐܢܬ ܦܓܪܐ ܘܠܐ ܒܼܪܨ ܒܟ ܓܐܪܐܼ. ܕܫܪܝܢܟܼ ܨܘܡܐ ܗܘ\nܕܦܓܪܟ ܠܐ ܢܟܠܟܿ ܒܝܫܼܐܼ ܠܐ ܚܣܼܢܟ.","english":"On Bishop Acacius — Balai of Balsh\n\nMemre of Mar Balai of Balsh. On Mar Acacius the blessed bishop. On the tone of \"O Mar Bgayik.\" Father, in your feast, do good to me by grace. And offer a prayer to your Lord that he give to me. That I may say your victory.\n\nYour fatherhood did not cease, my Lord did not stop. And he opened and gave to me, not that which was worthy of my fatherhood, but that which you yourself deemed worthy.\n\nAll the beautiful praises of the saints were in your monastery, the priests. And you hastened to your people.\n\nAnd you sowed purity. The high commands were your companion in youth. And your eye in children hid caution. Of chastity and righteousness.\n\nWhoever heard your word and believed? Or whoever saw your conduct and was persuaded? Your witness was your labor.\n\nFor the love of God you dwelt in deed. And after his truth you divided his words. So that companions might increase for you.\n\nFor those who were strong, your heart was a secret. And for those who were weak, your voice was weak. So that with the strong you might contend.\n\nThere was no one who could stand against your kingdom without perishing. And there was no one who was lacking who heard from you and did not.\n\nAnd you labored that it might be for him. For the rich man heard from you that his treasure was there at his death.\n\nThat he might not rise nor sleep, and armies came. With blood and confusion.\n\nWhose hand did I stretch out that they might rise or fall? With your word I supported those who were standing. That they might not fall and die.\n\nYou sent forth the victory to the love of the saints.\n\nAnd in the generation of your standing, you were not alone. And you cried out, \"It is in vain.\"\n\nYou were persecuted in it without fear in the desert of armies.\n\nThat your standing alone in the world passed and wandered. Instead of wealth, love.\n\nYour merchandise which you stored, you placed it before every man.\n\nFor you were peace and for the weary, consolation. That like you there is none.\n\nYou were tested in inheritance, and in you my friends were tested.\n\nFor you are clothed in flesh, and no shame was in you. For your rest was fasting.\n\nThat your body did not sustain evil, nor did it diminish you.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܕܪ̈ܫܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܒܠܝ ܕܐܡܝܪܝܢ ܠܗܼ. ܥܠ ܡܪܝ ܐܩܩ ܛܘܒܢܐ ܐܦܣܩܘܦܐ. ܥܠ ܩܠܐܼ ܕܐܘ ܡܪܝ ܒܓܢܝ̈ܟ","severity":"info","text":"The opening lines function as a title and incipit, identifying the work as memre (metrical homilies) by Balai of Balsh, addressed to Bishop Acacius, and set to the tone of a known hymn, 'O Mar Bgayik.'","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܕܪ̈ܫܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܡܕܪ̈ܫܐ (memre) denotes metrical homilies or discourses, a genre common in Syriac liturgical and didactic poetry. Here it signals the work's formal structure as a series of stanzas.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"ܥܠ ܩܠܐܼ ܕܐܘ ܡܪܝ ܒܓܢܝ̈ܟ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'on the tone of O Mar Bgayik' indicates that the memre is to be chanted to a known melody, a common practice in Syriac hymnography. 'Mar Bgayik' likely refers to a saint or a liturgical figure, though the identity is uncertain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܐܿܡܪ ܢܨܚܢܟ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text at this point shows possible scribal corruption or orthographic variation (e.g., ܢܨܚܢܟ for ܨܚܟ). The English draft renders 'your victory,' but the exact reading is uncertain; the passage may be garbled.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܠܐܝܢܐ ܕܚܣܝܪܐ ܗܘ ܡܢܟ ܫܿܡܥ ܘܠܐܼܝ","severity":"info","text":"The line contrasts the strong and the weak: Acacius adapts his approach—secretive with the strong, gentle with the weak—so that all may benefit. This reflects a pastoral strategy of accommodation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"ܒܠܝ ܕܐܡܝܪܝܢ","severity":"info","text":"Balai of Balsh (also Balai of Balsh) is a Syriac poet and bishop active in the early 5th century, known for his memre and hymns. His works were transmitted in liturgical manuscripts, often with musical notation, as seen here.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'Mar Bgayik' in the tone reference is not specified in the text.","The Syriac text contains possible scribal errors or orthographic variants (e.g., ܢܨܚܢܟ, ܘܠܐܼܝ), making some phrases uncertain.","The English draft's rendering of 'your victory' may not capture the full nuance of the Syriac."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ܠܐ ܐܬܟܼܒܫ ܡܪܕܟ ܕܐܠܝܠܐ ܡܢܟ\nܠܐ ܩܡ ܕܠܩܘܒܠܟ\nܡܠܼܟܬܿ ܥܠ ܥܼܡܠܐ ܢܦܫܟܼ ܘܐܬܼܥܢܝܬ. ܘܦܓܪܐ ܕܥܿܕܪ ܠܗܿ ܡܠܼܟܗܿ ܓܒܿܐ ܗܘܐܼ. ܕܝܘܬܪܢ ܓܘܐ ܗܘܐ\nܥܝ̈ܕܘܗܝ ܫܼܒܩ ܦܓܪܐ ܘܣܼܡܟ ܠܘܬ ܢܦܫܐ:\nܘܕܚܙܬܗ ܕܠܘܗܿ ܠܚܡܗܿ ܐܘܟܠܬܗܼ. ܨܘܡܐܼ ܘܨܠܘܬܐ\nܘܡܢ ܕܐܥܝܕ ܦܓܪܟ ܒ̈ܥܝܕܝ ܪܘܚܟܼ. ܕܒܣܼܡ ܠܗ ܐܘܟܠܗܼܿ ܗܼܦܟ ܘܗܘܼܐ ܕܪܘܚܐܿ. ܕܠܚܡܗ ܠܐ ܢܘܒܕ\nܘܕܘܒܪ̈ܐ ܛ̈ܒܐ ܐܬܩܢ ܠܗ ܓܦ̈ܐܿ. |\nܠܦܓܪܐ ܕܥܡ ܢܦܫܐ ܢܦܪܚ ܘܢܡܿܛܐܿ. ܠܗܿܘ ܢܘܗܪܐ ܕܥܕܢ\n. ܕܬܪܝܼܢ ܒܪ ܩܠܗ . ܩܢܘܡܐ ܚܕ ܗܘܐ ܠܟ ܐܘ ܐܒܘܢ ܣܒܐ܆\nܘܪܒܘ ܒܗ ܫܘܦܪ̈ܝܢ ܕܟܠ ܚܕ ܒܠܚܘܕܘܗܝܼ. ܠܚܒܪ̈ܘܗܝ ܥܿܠܒ ܗܘܐ\nܘܐܝܢܐ ܕܚܿܙܐ ܗܘܐ ܬܗܿܪ ܘܬܡܿܗ ܗܘܐܿ. ܕܒܚܕ ܒܪ ܐܢܫܐ ܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܕܡ̈ܘܼܬܐܿ. ܕܟܐܢ̈ܐ ܣ̈ܓܝܐܐ\nܒܓܘܫܡܟ ܐܬܢܼܨܒܬܿ ܕܟܝܬܐ ܒܬܘܠܘܬܟ:\nܩܘܝ ܒܟ ܫܘܦܪܗܿ ܕܐܓܪ ܒܟ ܦܐܪܗܿ܆\nܒܛܘܒܗܿ ܐܥܬܪܬܟ\nܝܗܼܒܬ ܒܟ ܢܘܗܪܗܿ ܕܐܫܟܚܬܟ ܥܘܡܪܗܿ:\nܘܟܕ ܟܣܝܐ ܨܡ̈ܚܝܗܿ ܡܢܟ ܡܕܝܩܝܢ ܗܘܘܼ. ܕܒܗ ܬܘܒ ܬܨܛܿܒܬ\nܛܼܪܕ ܬܘܒ ܨܒܝܢܟ ܪܓܬܐ ܡܢ ܓܘܫܡܟܼ. ܕܠܐ ܬܣܚܐ ܨܐܬܐ ܕܬܘܟܡ ܓܐܝܘܬܐܿ. ܕܡܪܝܬܐ ܢܦܫܐ\nܠܐ ܗܘܼܬ ܐܪܚܬܿܐ ܙܠܝܠܬܐ ܒܓܘܫܡܟܼ. ܘܥܠ ܗܿܝ ܠܐ ܪܓܼܙܬ ܢܟܦܬܐ ܒܬܘܠܘܬܟ܇\nܕܟܠܗܝܢ ܫ̈ܢܝܗܿ ܥܡܟ\nܘܠܘܩܒܠ ܕܟܝܘܬܗܿ ܙܗ̈ܝܢ ܚܒܪ̈ܬܗܿ܇\nܨܘܡܐ ܙܕܩ̈ܬܐ ܘܡܥܕܪܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܠܗܿ܇\nܒܢܘܣܟ ܠܕܟܝܘܬܐ\nܩܝܿܡ ܗܘ ܛܘܒܐ ܕܝܗܼܒܬܿ ܠܐܿܠܝܐ:\nܠܐ ܛܠܼܡܬ ܥܘܡܪܐ ܕܗܘܼܐ ܒܗ ܢܘܚܗܿ܆\nܒܪܘܡܐ ܗܘܐ ܝܘܬܪܢܗܿ\nܚܝܠܟ ܓܢܒܪܐ ܚܼܣܢ ܒܟ ܥܣܩ̈ܬܐܼ. ܕܦܟܪ̈ܝ ܦܓܪܟ ܦܣܿܩ ܨܒܝܢܟ܇\nܒܣܝܦܟ ܢܩܕܘܬܟ\nܓ̈ܠܝܢ ܘܕܢܝܚ̈ܢ ܕܒܓܘܫܡܟ ܣܝ̈ܡܢ܆\nܟܠܗܝܢ ܦܐܝ̈ܬܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܐܡܪܢܼܢ. ܟܕ ܐܝܬ ܕܫܒܩܢ\nܫܘܦܪܐ ܕܫܒܪܘܬܟܼ ܢܛܪܬܗ ܥܠܝܡܘܬܟ. ܕܡܢ ܟܪܣܐ ܕܟܝܐ ܘܠܩܒܪܐ ܙܗܝܐܼ.","english":"The darkness of night did not cover you, nor did it stand before you. You reigned over the toil of your soul and were wearied. And the body that helped it, its soul was chosen. Its advantage was inward. Its habits the body left, and it settled with the soul. And when it saw that its bread was its food, fasting and prayer. And when your body was accustomed to the feasts of your spirit, it pleased its food, turned and became of spirit, so that its bread would not perish. And good conduct gave it wings. To the body that with the soul flew and arrived at that light of the church. Whose son of his voice was twofold. One standing was for you, O venerable father. And in him the beauties of each one individually increased. He surpassed his companions. And whoever saw him was astonished and marveled that in one man there are such likenesses of many ascetics. In your body the purity of your virginity was adorned. Its beauty remained in you, its fruit flourished in you. In its goodness it enriched you. It gave in you the light of its dwelling that it found in you. And when its shoots were hidden, they were pressed with you, so that again it would be adorned. Again your will drove desire from your body, so that the cheek of the pride of the ruling soul would not find a base. There was no cheap lodging in your body. And against that, hunger did not anger in your virginity, for all its hours were with you. And against its purity, its companions shone. Fasting, alms, and helpers were for it. In your fasting for purity, the blessedness that you gave to Elijah stands. You did not wrong the dwelling in which its spirit was. Its advantage was in height. Your strength, O valiant one, overcame difficulties in you, for your will cut the thoughts of your body. With your sword of holiness, the hidden and subtle things placed in your body, all these beautiful things that are said, while there are those that are left. The beauty of your youth your manhood preserved, from a pure womb to a glorious tomb.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠܐ ܐܬܟܼܒܫ ܡܪܕܟ ܕܐܠܝܠܐ","severity":"info","text":"The opening line asserts that the darkness of night did not overcome Acacius, establishing a metaphor for spiritual vigilance and ascetic triumph over worldly obscurity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܢܦܫܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܢܦܫܐ (naphshā) means 'soul' or 'self,' central to the passage's dualistic imagery of body and soul cooperating in ascetic practice.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܨܘܡܐ ܘܨܠܘܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The pairing of 'fasting and prayer' echoes common New Testament and patristic ascetic topoi, though no specific verse is directly quoted; it reflects a standard monastic discipline.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܠܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The reference to Elijah (ܐܠܝܐ) invokes the prophet as a model of asceticism and purity, a common trope in Syriac hagiography linking Acacius to biblical exemplars.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܟܕ ܟܣܝܐ ܨܡ̈ܚܝܗܿ","severity":"info","text":"The passage shifts from body-soul cooperation to a series of antithetical contrasts (e.g., hidden shoots pressed yet adorned), structuring the praise of Acacius's virginity and will.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܛܘܒܗܿ ܐܥܬܪܬܟ","severity":"info","text":"The motif of purity enriching the saint and giving light to the church reflects later Syriac liturgical and hagiographic traditions that venerate Acacius as a model of virginity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text contains several uncertain readings (e.g., ܡܢܟ, ܢܦܫܟܼ) due to manuscript damage or scribal error; the translation follows the editor's reconstruction.","The phrase 'son of his voice was twofold' (ܕܬܪܝܼܢ ܒܪ ܩܠܗ) is obscure; it may refer to Acacius's dual role as bishop and ascetic, or to a liturgical acclamation."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"ܒܢܘܚܡܐ ܓܒܼܝܐ ܐܢܬ\nܕܟܐ ܗܘܐ ܡܘܠܕܟ | ܘܙܿܗܐ ܥܘܢܕܢܟܼ. ܕܐܝܟ ܕܐܝܬܝܟ ܝܠܕܐ ܫܼܩܠ ܐܓܥܠܟ ܡܘܬܐ݂ܿ\nܠܩܒܪܐ ܕܠܐ ܚܘ̈ܒܐ\nܘܕܠܐ ܡܣܝܒܪ ܠܗܿ ܩܒܪܐ ܠܕܟܝܘܬܟ܆\nܝܿܠܕ ܘܝܗܿܒ ܠܟ ܠܥܘܒܐ ܕܡܠܟܘܬܐܼ. ܟܕ ܒܟ ܦܐܝܘܬܟ\nܐܓܪ ܐܝܓܘܢܟ ܘܥܼܬܪ ܢܨܚܢܟܼ. ܘܟܡܐ ܕܡܥܬܩ ܗܘܐܼ ܡܥܫܢ ܥܿܫܢ ܗܘܐܿ. ܘܙܟܿܐ ܘܢܨܿܚ ܗܘܐ\nܠܣܒܐ ܥܣܼܩ ܪܕܐ ܕܦܫܝܩ ܠܥܠܝܡܿܐ:\nܘܥܼܡܠܬܿ ܣܝܒܘܬܟ ܘܥܠܝܡ̈ܐ ܬܗܼܪܘ ܒܗܿ܆\nܘܪܗܛܘܼ ܘܠܐ ܩܕܡܘܟ\nܚܝܨܐ ܗܘܬ ܪܓܠܟ ܒܗܠܟܬܐ ܕܐܘܪܚܐܿ. ܕܢܩܼܠܬܿ ܙܗܝܘܬܟ ܫܒܝܠܐ ܡܢ ܟܐܦ̈ܐܿ. ܕܬܪܕܐ ܕܠܐ ܩܢܛܐ\nܦܓܪܟ ܡܿܚܠ ܗܘܐ ܘܥܼܡܠܟ ܥܿܫܢ ܗܘܐ:\nܓܘܫܡܐ ܒܨܿܪ ܗܘܐ ܘܪܗܛܟ ܣܿܓܐ ܗܘܐܼ. ܕܚܝܠܟܼ ܡܪܟ ܗܘܐ\nܥܒܕܘܗܝ ܓܘܪ̈ܓܚܐ ܠܦܓܪܐ ܫܪܕܘܕܐܼ. ܕܚܢܩܘܗܝ ܩܘ̈ܦܚܐ. ܐܬܿܐ ܦܫ ܓܘܫܡܟܼ\nܕܢܦܫܐ ܥܝܪܐ ܒܗ\nܠܐ ܐܠܨܘܗܿ ܠܢܦܫܟ ܣܘܥܪ̈ܢܝ ܦܓܪܟ:\nܕܪܕܦܼܬܿ ܕܟܝܘܬܐ ܠܥܝ̈ܕܝ ܒܣܪܐܼ. ܕܠܪܘܚܟ ܬܚܐ\nܥܩܒܟ ܣܝܡܐ ܗܘܬ ܥܠ ܪܝܫ ܪܫܘܦܐܼ. ܕܠܐ ܢܗܦܘܟ ܪܢܝܟ ܘܢܕܒܘܨ ܠܩܢܘܡܟ܇\nܘܐܢܬ ܡܢܟ ܬܡܘܬ\nܘܡܪܟ ܕܪܚܡܬܝܗܝ ܚܝܿܠ ܬܪܥܝܬܟܼ. ܕܒܓܘܗܿ ܬܐܚܘܕ ܘܬܩܛܘܠ ܚܘܫ̈ܒܐܿ. ܫ̈ܥܛܐ ܒ̈ܢܝ ܦܓܪܐ\nܟܠܗܝܢ ܐܪ̈ܓܝܓܬܐ ܕܡ̈ܟܝ ܒܟ ܘܐܫܿܬܬܩܝ܆\nܘܗܘ̈ܝ ܡ̈ܝܬܬܐ ܕܡܼܛܘ ܝܪ̈ܚܝܗܝܼܢ. ܘܠܐ ܢܦܩܘ ܥܼܘ̈ܠܝܗܝܢ\nܩܘܫܬܐ ܝܿܠܕ ܗܘܝܬ ܥܘܼܠܐ ܩܿܛܠ ܗܘܝܬܼ. ܕܨܒܝܢܟ ܣܝܦܐ ܛܒܿܚ ܒܝܼܫ̈ܬܐܿ. ܘܐܚܝ ܛܒ̈ܬܐ\nܕܦܓܪܟ ܚܿܣܢ ܗܘܝܬܼ ܠܡܪܕܐ ܟܒܿܫ ܗܘܝܬ. ܕܦܿܠܛ ܡܢ ܓܘܫܡܗ ܠܐ ܐܝܬ ܕܙܟܿܐ ܠܗܼ. ܠܟܠ ܙܟܝܼܬ ܕܙܟܝܬܝܗܝ\n| ܦܝܢܚܣ ܛܢܿܢܐ ܕܥܘܫܢܗ ܕܟܝܘܬܗܼ. ܕܙܟܼܐ ܠܚܕ ܓܘܫܡܗܼ ܠܬܪܝܢ ܩܼܛܠ ܛܡ̈ܐܐܿ. ܕܪܘܫܥܐ ܒܟܼܪ ܩܘܕܡܘܗܝ\nܘܐܦ ܠܟ ܛܘܒܢܐ ܛܢܼܢܟ ܡܠܟ ܗܘܐܿ. ܕܠܦܓܪܟ ܬܥܨܐ ܘܠܢܦܫܟ ܬܫܡܥܿ. ܕܬܪܝܗܘܢ ܢܚܘܢ\n. ܕܬܠܬܐܼ ܒܪ ܩܠܗ .","english":"In a chosen body you were born, and your conduct was pure. As if a birth took you, death took your reward to a grave without bonds, and the grave could not endure your purity. It gave birth and gave you to the contest of the kingdom, while in you your beauty was recompensed. Your toil was rewarded and your victory enriched. And as much as it was passing, it was doing; and it conquered and prevailed over the difficult old age that is easy for the young. And the labor of your old age and the young were amazed at it. And they ran and did not surpass you. Your foot was strong in the walking of the path, for the brilliance of your way was heavy with stones, so that you might pursue without stumbling. Your body was weak, but your labor was strong. The body was small, but your running was great, for your strength was diminished. Its members were worn out, the body was emaciated, its joints were loosened. Your body remained, for the vigilant soul was in it. The toils of your body did not constrain your soul, for you pursued purity against the habits of the flesh, so that your spirit might live. Your heel was placed upon the head of the serpent, so that your mind might not be overturned and your standing be disturbed, and you with it would die. And the power of your thought diminished the love of it, so that in it you might take and kill the thoughts, the disturbances of the body. All the agitations of the passions were stilled and silenced in you, and they became dead things whose months were fulfilled, and their wickedness did not come forth. You gave birth to truth, you killed falsehood, for your will was a sword that slaughtered evil things and gave life to good things. You denied your body, you subdued rebellion, for there is no one who has conquered it from its body. You conquered all that you conquered. The craftsman of the victory of your purity, who conquered one body, killed two impurities, for wickedness was first before him. And also for you, your craftsman king counseled you, that you should resist your body and obey your soul, so that both might live, the third being the son of his voice.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܢܘܚܡܐ ܓܒܼܝܐ ܐܢܬ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'in a chosen body you were born' opens a contrast between the bishop's physical birth and his spiritual purity, a theme developed throughout the passage.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܕܟܝܘܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'purity' (dakyuta) is a key ascetic virtue in Syriac monastic literature, often linked to bodily renunciation and spiritual victory.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܩܒܟ ܣܝܡܐ ܗܘܬ ܥܠ ܪܝܫ ܪܫܘܦܐ","severity":"info","text":"The image of the heel placed on the serpent's head echoes Genesis 3:15 (the serpent crushed) and Psalm 91:13, symbolizing triumph over evil.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܦܝܢܚܣ ܛܢܿܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'craftsman of victory' likely refers to Christ or a spiritual guide, a common metaphor in Syriac asceticism for the divine artisan of virtue.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܐܦ ܠܟ ܛܘܒܢܐ ܛܢܼܥܟ ܡܠܟ ܗܘܐ","severity":"info","text":"This line shifts from third-person praise to direct address, reinforcing the hortatory and encomiastic structure of the passage.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܬܠܬܐܼ ܒܪ ܩܠܗ","severity":"caution","text":"The final phrase 'the third being the son of his voice' is obscure; it may refer to the Holy Spirit (third person of the Trinity) or a textual corruption.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the third being the son of his voice' is unclear; it may be a Trinitarian reference or a scribal error.","The phrase 'your craftsman king' could refer to Christ, a spiritual director, or a metaphorical figure."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":4,"ref":"p4","source":"ܒܕܡܘܬ ܐܘܡܢܐ ܙܝܢܐ ܚܫܿܠ ܗܘܝܬ܆\nܘܠܦܓܪܐ ܕܐܢܫܐ ܡܓܢ ܡܠܒܫ ܗܘܝܬܼ. ܕܐܟܘܬܟ ܢܙܟܘܢ\nܒܥܕܢ ܬܟܬܘܫܐܼ ܒܩܕܡܐ ܢܦܩܿ ܗܘܝܬ. ܘܐܡܬܝ ܕܫܝܢܐ ܗܘܐܼ ܒܙܝܢܐ ܥܼܡܠ ܗܘܝܬܿ. ܕܬܠܒܫ ܠܚܪ̈ܢܐ\nܠܗܿ ܕܝܢ ܡܿܠܦ ܗܘܼܝܬܼ ܠܐܝܕܐ ܕܣܿܥܪ ܗܘܝܬ. ܘܗܼܝ ܗܿܝ ܣܿܥܪ ܗܘܝܬܼ ܐܝܕܐ ܕܦܩܝܕܐܿ. ܕܬܗܘܐ ܡܢ ܡܪܟ\nܦܘܡܟܼ ܐܡܿܪ ܗܘܐ ܘܥܼܡܠܟ ܣܿܗܕܐ ܗܘܐ:\nܕܦܐܪ̈ܘܗܝ ܕܬܘܪܓܡܟ ܟܢܦܟ ܡܠܝܐ ܗܘܬܼ. ܥ̈ܒܿܕܐܼ ܘܦܘܠܚ̈ܢܐ\nܗܠܝܢ ܕܓܘ ܦܘܡܟܼ ܗ̈ܢܼܝܢ ܒܓܘ ܓܘܫܡܟ. ܠܡܠܬܐ ܕܠܫܝܟ ܥܒܿܕܟ ܡܫܪܪ ܗܘܐܼ. ܒܡ̈ܠܐ ܘܣܘܥܪ̈ܢܐ\nܕܡܘܼܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܟܬܝܒ ܒܢܦܫܟܼ ܡܚܘܐ ܗܘܝܬ. ܕܠܘܩܕܡ ܣܥܿܪ ܗܘܝܬ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܡܿܪ ܗܘܝܬ\nܡܕܡ ܕܥܒܿܕ ܗܘܝܬ ܠܗܿ ܗܼܘ ܦܘܡܟ ܣܐܡܿ ܗܘܐ ܠܟܠ ܐܢܫ ܢܡܘܣܐ. ܘܐܕܢܐ ܕܫܡܥܬܟ. ܣܗܕܬ ܠܗܼ ܥܝܢܐ ܕܬܘܪܓܡܟ ܒܟ ܗܘܐ\nܒܣܿܡ ܠܫܿܡܘܥܐ ܝܘܠܦܢܟ ܐܒܘܢ.. ܕܦܪܝܣ ܥܠ ܝܘܩܢܟ ܡܐܡܪ ܠܫܢܟܼ. ܘܣ̈ܗܕܢ ܒ̈ܒܬܐ\nܐܦܠܐ ܒܬܪܥܝܬܐ ܪܫܐܘܟ ܫ̈ܡܘܥܐܼ. ܕܡܠܬܐ ܕܠܫܢܟܼ ܒܫܘܦܪܗ ܕܦܘܪܩܢܟ܇\nܩܒܝܥܐ ܒܓܘ ܓܘܫܡܟ\nܐܕ̈ܢܐ | ܘܒ̈ܒܬܐܼ. ܫܪܪܐ ܫܡ̈ܥܝ ܘܚ̈ܙܝ. ܕܟܕ ܫܡܥܐ ܐܕܢܐܼ ܗܐ ܒܣܡܐ ܥܝܢܐܿ. ܒܫܡܥܐ ܘܒܚܙܬܐ\nܫܦܝܪ ܡܿܠܦ ܗܘܝܬܼ. ܡܛܠ ܕܥܒܿܕ ܗܘܝܬ. ܘܐܬܩܒܠ ܡ̈ܠܝܟ ܡܛܠ ܦܘ̈ܠܚܢܝܟܼ. ܕܡܪܟ ܥܕܪ ܒܟ\nܡܿܢ ܡܨܐ ܕܢܛܥܢ ܗܘܐ ܦܐܪ̈ܘܗܝ ܕܬܘܪܓܡܟ. ܩܢܘܡܟ ܡܣܝܒܪ ܗܘܐ ܠܝܘܩܪܐ ܕܦܣܿܩ ܗܘܐܿ. ܘܣܡܐ ܠܫܢܟ\nܚܕ ܗܘܐ ܐܝܠܢܟ ܘܦܐܪ̈ܘܗܝܼ ܣܓܝܐܝܢ. ܕܒܚܕ ܒܪ ܐܢܫܐ ܫܘܦܪ̈ܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܢܝܼܢ. ܕܥܠܝܟ ܦܪܝܣܝܢ ܗܘܘ\nܐܟܼ̈ܝ ܒ̈ܒܬܐ ܚܙܬܐ ܡܛܟܣܬܐܼ. ܘܐܼܟܠܬ ܡܫܡܥܬܐ ܩܠܐ ܕܕܟܝܘܬܐܿ. ܕܦܘܡܟ ܙܡܿܪ ܗܘܐ\nܟܠ ܝܘܡ ܡܬܩܛܦܝܢ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܕܣܘ̈ܟܬܟ܆\nܘܥܼܓܠ ܡܬܝܠܕܝܢ ܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܚܠܦܝܗܘܢܼ. ܕܟܠܝܘܡ ܡܬܝܠܕܝܢ\nܬܘܟܠܢܟ ܡܪܟ ܕܢܨܒܗ ܠܩܢܘܡܟܼ.","english":"In the likeness of a chosen body you were, and to the flesh of man you were clothed. Like you, the victor, without confusion, you went forth first. And when the contest was in the body, you labored, to clothe the free ones. To her, then, you taught the hand that you were doing. And that very thing you were doing, the hand of the commandment, that it might be with your Lord. Your mouth spoke, and your labor was witness. That the fruits of your interpretation filled your palms. The deeds and works that were in your mouth were alive in your body. To the word that was not sent, your deed confirmed. With words and actions of death, as written in your soul, you showed. That you did not first do what you said. What you did, that mouth of yours set as law for every man. And the ears that heard you testified to the eye of your interpretation. In you, your teaching was sweet to the hearers, O father. That which was spread over your yoke, a saying for your tongue. And witnesses in houses, even in thought, did not begin your hearers. That the word of your tongue, in the beauty of your salvation, fixed within your body, ears and houses. Truth hear and see. That when the ear hears, behold, the eye is pleased. In hearing and in sight, you taught well. Because you did, and your words were received because of your works. That your Lord helped in you, so that he could cause the fruits of your interpretation to flourish. Your standing endured the weight that was cut, and placed your tongue. One was your tree and its fruits many. That in one man, beauties that are not few, which were spread over you. Like houses, a sight was prepared, and you ate the hearing, the voice of purity. That your mouth sang. Every day the fruits of your branches are plucked, and quickly the free ones are born in their place. That every day your trusts are born, your Lord who desired your standing.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܘܪܓܡܟ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac word turgāmā (here in the construct state) means 'interpretation' or 'translation,' often with exegetical or liturgical overtones. In this context, it likely refers to Acacius's oral teaching or homiletic exposition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of Acacius as one whose 'mouth spoke' and whose 'labor was witness' reflects the ideal of the bishop as both teacher and exemplar, a common topos in Syriac episcopal encomia.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of Acacius's life and ministry, shifting from his personal purity to his public teaching and the reception of his words by hearers. The repeated pairing of speech and action (e.g., 'your mouth spoke, and your labor was witness') structures the praise.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The image of the 'tree and its fruits' (one tree, many fruits) is a biblical and patristic metaphor for the teacher whose doctrine yields many disciples or works. Compare Ephrem, Hymns on Faith 1.1.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text contains several ambiguous or possibly corrupt phrases, e.g., 'ܕܠܘܩܕܡ ܣܥܿܪ ܗܘܝܬ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܡܿܪ ܗܘܝܬ' ('that you did not first do what you said') seems to contradict the surrounding praise; the sense may be ironic or the text mispointed.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ܕܠܘܩܕܡ ܣܥܿܪ ܗܘܝܬ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܡܿܪ ܗܘܝܬ' is ambiguous: it may mean 'you did not first do what you said' (a criticism) or, with different pointing, 'you did first what you said' (praise). The context of encomium favors the latter, but the text as transmitted is unclear.","The identity of 'the free ones' (ܚܪ̈ܢܐ) is ambiguous: it could refer to free citizens, to the spiritually free (i.e., ascetics), or to a specific group in Acacius's community."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":5,"ref":"p5","source":"ܥܠ ܡ̈ܝܐ ܚܝ̈ܐܼ ܘܟܠ ܝܘܡ ܡܦܪܥ ܗܘܝܬ܇\nܦܐܪܐ ܕܬܩܢܘܬܐ\nܫܠܝܚܐ ܟܬܼܒ ܣܦܼܪܐ ܕܪܘܚܐܼ ܘܩܒܠܬܝܗܝ. ܬܗܼܪ ܒܟ ܕܬܚܿܬܝܗܝ ܘܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܕܩܪܝܬܗܝܼ. ܐܠܐܼ ܕܢܛܪܬܝܗܝ\nܫ̈ܒܝܠܐ ܒܫ̈ܘܚܠܦܐ ܕܪܫܼ ܠܟ ܒܦܘܩ̈ܕܢܘܗܝܼ. ܘܗܼܘܝܬ ܗܠܟܐ ܕܣܿܦܩ ܠܐܘܪ̈ܚܬܐܿ. ܕܚܘܝ ܕܪܘܫܐ\nܒܟܘܪܐ ܕܐܘ̈ܠܨܢܘܗܝ ܥܼܒܪܬܿ ܚܐܪܘܬܟ. ܒܕܝܠܗ ܚܿܙܐ ܗܘܝܬ ܒܕܝܠܟ ܪܘܙ ܗܘܝܬܼ. ܕܕܡܿܝ ܒܗ ܥܡܼܠܟ\nܒܝܡܐ ܘܒܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܐܟܪܙܬ ܘܐܬܛܿܪܦܼ. ܘܗܐ ܒܝܡܐ ܐܦ ܐܢܬܼ ܘܒܐܪܒܥ ܦܢܝ̈ܬܐܿ. ܒܥܕܬܐ ܥܡܼܠܟ\nܨܦܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܟܬܼܒ ܫܠܝܚܐ ܠܒܫܬܗܿ ܗܘܝܬ܆\nܘܡܛܠ ܥܕ̈ܬܐ ܒܟܠ ܕܘܟ ܥܿܡܠ ܗܘܝܬܼ. ܕܠܡܪܟ ܬܢܝܚ\nܠܫܘܪܐ ܕܚܪܝܢܐܼ ܒܫܝܢܟ ܬܿܪܥ ܗܘܝܬ. ܘܪ̈ܡܬܐ ܕܪܘܓܙܐ ܒܚܘܒܐ ܡܡܟܟ ܗܘܝܬܼ. ܕܥܕܬܐ | ܬܫܬܝܢ\nܝܘܩܪܐ ܝܩܝܪܐ ܚܫܒܬܝܗܝ ܩܠܝܠܐܼ. ܕܥܼܡܠܐ ܡܘܣܦ ܗܘܝܬܼ. ܕܠܐܓܪܐ ܥܿܗܕ ܗܘܝܬ܇\nܕܩܨܝܨ ܠܠܐܝܘܬܟ\nܒܥܘܬܐ ܫܿܐܠܬ ܘܠܫܪܒܟ ܩܿܪܒܬ:\nܢܦܪܐ ܒܟ ܠܫܢܝ ܕܪܚܡܬܟ ܬܪܥܝܬܝܼ. ܠܡܪܟ ܐܫܦܪ ܒܟ\n. ܕܐܪܒܥܐܼ ܒܪ ܩܠܗ . ܠܫܪܒܟ ܥܿܛܦ ܐܢܐ ܕܡܢܟ ܐܬܥܕܪ܆\nܕܐܚܒܒ ܚܘܒܟ ܕܠܐ ܫܿܪܐ ܡܓܢ܇ ܠܗܘܢܐ ܕܗܿܕܣ ܒܗ\nܟܠܝܘܡ ܒܿܥܐ ܗܿܘܝܬ ܕܚܙܝܬܝ ܐܨܕ ܒܟ:\nܘܕܚܕܝ ܒܟ ܡܕܥܝ ܬܒܣܡ ܒܟ ܒܥܘܬܝܼ. ܘܬܩܕܝܟ ܪܚܡܬܝ\nܪܥܝܢܝ ܪܦܬܿ ܒܟ ܘܠܫܢܝ ܐܿܠܨ ܠܗܼ. ܕܠܐ ܣܿܦܩ ܓܠܝܐ ܕܢܿܦܩܼܟ ܟܣ̈ܝܬܐܿ. ܕܡܬܚܿܫܒ ܗܘܢܐ\nܕܒܥܼܐ ܕܢܬܗܪ ܒܟ ܐܬܿܐܼ ܘܚܿܙܐ ܗܘܐܿ. ܥܘܡܪܟ ܕܡ̈ܣܟܢܐ ܘܐܝܕܟ ܕܝܗܘ̈ܒܐܿ. ܕܥܕ ܝܿܠܕܐ ܒܛܢܼܬ\nܟܠܝܘܡ ܙܪܥܿ ܗܘܝܬ ܘܐܘܨܪܟ ܣܿܓܐ ܗܘܐܼ. ܘܐܝܕܟ ܕܪܘܝܚܐܼ ܠܐ ܙܟܼܬ ܠܥܘܬܪܟ ܕܒܐܝܕܟ܇\nܡܪܟ ܝܗܿܒ ܗܘܐ\nܡܣܟܝܢ ܗܘܐ ܥܘܡܪܟ ܘܐܝܕܟ ܥܬܝܪܐܼ݂\nܕܟܠܝܘܡ ܡܠܝܐ ܗܘܬ ܠܟܦ̈ܢܐܢ ܬܘܪܣܝܐܿ. ܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܕܙܕܩ̈ܬܐ\nܠܥܝܕܐ ܕܐܝܕܟܼ ܡܪܢ ܙܐܢ ܗܘܐܿ.","english":"On living waters and every day I was paying,\nthe fruits of steadfastness.\nThe apostle wrote the book of the Spirit, and I received it. It was pure in you beneath him, and it was not that I called him, but that I guarded him.\nThe paths in the changes of his head were for you in his commands. And I was a traveler who sufficed for the roads, to show the tumult.\nIn the furnace of his afflictions your freedom passed. In his own I saw, in your own I was a mystery. That he might be like you in his labor.\nOn the sea and on the days I proclaimed and was troubled. And behold, on the sea also you, and in the four regions. In the church I labored.\nThat pure one whom the apostle wrote, I was clothed in her.\nAnd concerning the churches in every place I labored, that your Lord might be pleased.\nTo the wall of the ruined one, with your hour I knocked. And the heights of wrath I lowered with love, that the church might be established.\nHeavy honor I considered light, that I might add labor, that I might remember the reward.\nThat it was cut short for your weariness.\nI asked with prayer and brought near your lineage.\nI labored in you for the hour of your love, my shepherding. I pleased your Lord in you.\nThat the son of the voice of four might turn to your lineage, the one who was helped by your staff.\nThat I might love your love, which does not cease from the mystery, for the being of Hades in it.\nEvery day I was seeking that I might see you beside me.\nAnd that my mind might rejoice in you, my prayer might be glad in you, and your sanctity my love.\nMy thought rested in you, and it pressed the hour, that the revelation that suffices for you might not be hidden. For the being was considered.\nThat he who sought to be pure in you came and saw, your dwelling of the poor and your hand of the givers. That until the child in the womb.\nEvery day I sowed and your treasure was abundant. And your hand of the spacious did not conquer your wealth in your hand.\nYour Lord was giving.\nYour dwelling was poor and your hand rich.\nThat every day it was full for the hungry of the Syrians, the fruits of righteousness.\nFor the feast of your hand, your Lord was moved.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܠ ܡ̈ܝܐ ܚܝ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'on living waters' likely refers to the life-giving quality of Acacius's teaching or pastoral work, drawing on a common Syriac metaphor for spiritual nourishment.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܫܠܝܚܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'apostle' here probably refers to Paul, whose writings are a key source for Syriac ascetic and ecclesial imagery.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܣܦܼܪܐ ܕܪܘܚܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'book of the Spirit' may allude to 2 Corinthians 3:8 or similar Pauline passages on spiritual writing, though no direct citation is given.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܪܒܥ ܦܢܝ̈ܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'four regions' likely refer to the four quarters of the world, a common Syriac expression for universal mission or the four patriarchates.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܡܛܠ ܥܕ̈ܬܐ ܒܟܠ ܕܘܟ","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from personal labor to a broader ecclesial focus, emphasizing Acacius's work for churches everywhere, a structural pivot in the narrative.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܩܨܝܨ ܠܠܐܝܘܬܟ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'cut short for your weariness' is ambiguous; it may indicate that Acacius's efforts were curtailed by exhaustion or persecution, but the syntax is unclear.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the apostle' is not explicitly named; Paul is assumed based on context.","The phrase 'son of the voice of four' is obscure; it may refer to a specific person or a symbolic figure.","The reference to 'Hades' is unusual in Syriac Christian poetry and may be a metaphor for death or the underworld."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"scripture","severity":"info","ref":"John 4:10","text":"The English carries the scriptural phrase “living water”, which matches John 4:10. The match is on the English draft; check the Coptic before quoting the verse."}]},{"i":6,"ref":"p6","source":"ܕܥܝܕܟ ܢܩܘܐ ܕܐܩܢܝܬܗܿ ܠܥܝܕܟ܇\nܪ̈ܚܡܼܐ ܕܝܗܘܒܐ\nܬܘ̈ܢܐ ܕܥܘܡܪܟ ܣܦܝܩܝܢ ܘܣܪܝܩܝܼܢ. ܘܥܘܒ̈ܐ ܕܨܒ̈ܥܬܟ ܡܿܠܼܝܼܢ ܘܡܬܐܫܕܝܢ܇\nܠܟ̈ܦܢܐ ܣܒܥܘܬܐ\nܐܙܼܕܟܼܝܬܿ ܐܝܕܟ ܕܪܒܼܐ ܠܗ ܓܙܟ܆\nܕܬܬܠ ܡܡܿܪܐ ܘܝܬ ܘܡܠܘܐܟ ܥܫܢܟܼ. ܕܡܪܟ ܪܒ ܡܢܟ\nܘܕܥܒܼܕܬ ܦܘܩ̈ܕܢܘܗܝ ܥܒܼܕ ܗܼܘ ܨܒܝܢܟܼ. ܕܩܪܝܬܝܗܝ ܘܥܢܟ ܘܟܫܼܐ ܣܝܡ̈ܬܐܿ. ܕܐܝܕܟ ܬܫܬܒܚ\nܫܩܠܬ ܡܢ | ܡܪܟ ܐܓܪܐ ܚܠܦ ܕܝܠܟܼ. ܘܥܦܗܿ ܘܡܘܣܦ ܠܟ ܕܐܠܼܦܬ ܠܚܪ̈ܢܐܿ. ܕܢܚܙܘܢ ܘܢܕܡܿܘܢܿ\nܐܝܟ ܝܐܝܒܐ ܠܨܘܡܐ ܒܚܘܒܐ ܩܿܪܒ ܗܘܝܬ܆\nܘܫܿܪܝܬܼ ܒܡܫܟܐ ܠܟܪܣܐ ܒܒ̈ܣܝܬܐܼ. ܒܘܣܡܟܼ ܒܥܕܢ\nܠܐ ܐܟܠܼܬ ܝܥܢܐܝܬܼ ܘܠܐ ܨܡܼܬ ܚܬܝܪܐܝܬ. ܦܿܠܓܼܬ ܡܬܩ̈ܠܐ ܠܘܩܒܠ ܛܥܘ̈ܢܐܼ. ܘܗܠܝܼܢ ܠܟܘܠܠܟ\nܘܐܡܬܝ ܕܐܟܿܠ ܗܘܝܬ ܠܨܘܡܐ ܦܿܠܚ ܗܘܝܬ܆\nܕܦܬܘܪܟ ܕܟܝܐ ܐܘܟܠܗ ܨܘܡܐ ܗܘܐܼ. ܕܦܓܪܐ ܗܘ ܣܡܟ ܗܘܝܬ\nܕܠܐ ܢܬܚܼܒ ܓܘܫܡܐ ܘܢܦܘܫ ܡܢ ܪܗܛܐܼ. ܙܟܝܬܝܗܝ ܕܠܐ ܬܥܪܘܩ ܡܢ ܓܘܗ ܢܦܫܐܿ. ܥܕ ܣܥܪܐ ܐܘܪܚܗܿ\nܨܝܡܐ ܛܪܩܐ ܠܐ ܥܒܪܟ ܣܒܐ .. ܘܕܒܩܘܟ ܕܡܚܝܠܝܼܢ ܘܐܡܬܢܬܝܗܝ ܨܘܡܟ܇\nܠܘܩܒܠ ܗ̈ܠܟܐ\nܠܐ ܐܬܚܬܪ ܨܘܡܟ ܥܠ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܡܚܼܝܠ܆\nܘܠܐ ܐܬܢܙܪ ܦܘܡܟ ܥܠ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܐܟܿܠܼ. ܕܥܡ ܟܠ ܟܠ ܬܗܘܐ\nܬܗܪܐ ܚܼܙܝܢ ܚܢܢ ܒܟ ܢܫܒܚ ܠܦܘܪܫܢܟ܆\nܕܟܕ ܐܟܿܠܼܬ ܨܘܡܐ ܗܘ. ܘܟܕ ܨܝܿܡܼܬ ܐܘܟܠܐ ܗܘܼ. ܘܥܒܿܕܗܘܢܼ ܚܕ ܗܘ\nܐܟܠܼܬ ܓܝܪ ܕܠܐ ܬܚܣܪ. ܘܨܡܼܬ ܬܘܒܼ ܕܠܐ ܬܟܫܠ. ܐܘܟܠܟ ܥܘܕܪܢܐ ܗܘ ܘܨܡܟ ܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܗܘܼ. ܕܡܘܼܬܟ ܬܩܘܐ ܒܢ\nܫܿܠܡܼܬ ܕܟ̈ܬܝܒܢ ܘܠܐ ܐܟܠܼܬ ܒܠܚܘܕܝܟ܆\nܘܒܕܓܘܢ ܨܐܡ ܗܘܝܬ ܕܥܡ ܟܠ ܟܠ ܬܗܘܐܼ. ܕܠܣܡ̈ܝܟܐ ܬܥܕܪ\nܐܘܪܬ ܦܬܘܪܟ ܒܕܡܘܬ ܬܘܪܓܡܟܼ. ܕܦܘܡܟ ܩܕܝܫܐ ܫܒܚ ܙܗܝܐܝܬܼ. ܘܐܟܼܠ ܕܟܝܐܝܬ\nܕܡܿܠܠ ܟܣ̈ܝܬܐ ܘܐܟܼܠ ܕܟܝ̈ܬܐ܆\nܘܬܪܓܡ ܥܠ ܨܘܡܐ ܘܚܣܼܠ ܣ̈ܦܘܬܗܼ.","english":"Your custom is to remain, the custom of Acacius.  \nThe loves of the giver,  \nthe benefits of your dwelling are abundant and empty, and the hollows of your fingers are full and flowing.  \nTo the rocks of satiety,  \nyou purified your hand which raised your treasure,  \nto give the myrrh and the wine and to fill your wealth. That your Lord is great with you,  \nand that you performed his commandments, your will performed. That I called them and with you and the treasures were hidden. That your hand be praised,  \nyou took from your Lord the reward for your own. And he added and increased for you because you taught the freeborn. That visions and likenesses,  \nas one worthy of the fast, I approached in love,  \nand I began in the tent for the belly with pleasures. Your fragrance in time,  \nyou did not eat greedily, nor did you fast arrogantly. You divided the balances against errors, and you shone for your whole.  \nAnd when I did eat, I was serving the fast,  \nthat your pure table was entirely a fast. That I was supporting the body,  \nso that the body might not be bound and remain with the course. I conquered them so that the soul might not flee from within it. Until the hair of its way,  \na severe fast did not pass you by, an old man... and your companions who are weak, and I strengthened your fast.  \nAgainst the walkers,  \nyour fast was not proud over the one who is weak,  \nand your mouth was not restrained over the one who eats. That with everyone you might be,  \na wonder is seen, a sin in you is forgiven for your distinction,  \nthat when you ate, it was a fast, and when you fasted, it was a meal. And the two were one.  \nFor you ate so that you would not lack, and you fasted again so that you would not stumble. Your food was help, and your fast was profit. That your death might remain in you,  \nyou completed the scriptures and did not eat alone,  \nand in the evening I was fasting so that with everyone you might be. That you might help the blind,  \nyou set your table in the likeness of your interpretation. That your holy mouth praised gloriously, and ate purely,  \nthat it spoke of hidden things and ate of pure things,  \nand interpreted concerning the fast and completed its lips.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܥܝܕܟ ܢܩܘܐ ܕܐܩܢܝܬܗ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'your custom is to remain, the custom of Acacius' opens the passage with a direct address to Acacius, likely Bishop Acacius of Beroea (d. ca. 436), a figure known for his ascetic practices and involvement in Christological controversies.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܨܘܡܐ","severity":"info","text":"The passage repeatedly juxtaposes eating and fasting (e.g., 'when you ate, it was a fast, and when you fasted, it was a meal'), presenting a paradoxical ascetic ideal where physical acts are transcended through spiritual intent.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܩܢܝܬܗ","severity":"info","text":"Acacius of Beroea was a prominent Syrian bishop and ascetic, known for his role in the Nestorian controversy and his correspondence with figures like Rabbula of Edessa. The poem likely reflects his reputation for extreme fasting and spiritual discipline.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative","severity":"info","text":"The passage shifts between second-person address to Acacius and first-person reflections by the speaker (Balai), creating a dialogic structure that blends praise with personal testimony about ascetic practice.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܣܒܐ ..","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text at 'ܨܝܡܐ ܛܪܩܐ ܠܐ ܥܒܪܟ ܣܒܐ ..' contains a lacuna or corruption (marked by '..'), making the phrase 'an old man' uncertain; the sense may be that the fast did not pass by an elder, but the text is incomplete.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܘܟܠܟ ܥܘܕܪܢܐ ܗܘ ܘܨܘܡܟ ܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܗܘ","severity":"info","text":"The paradox that food is 'help' and fasting is 'profit' echoes themes in Syriac ascetic literature, such as the writings of Ephrem the Syrian, where material deprivation yields spiritual gain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the giver' (ܪ̈ܚܡܼܐ ܕܝܗܘܒܐ) is unclear; it may refer to God or to Acacius as a benefactor.","The phrase 'the hollows of your fingers are full and flowing' (ܘܥܘܒ̈ܐ ܕܨܒ̈ܥܬܟ ܡܿܠܼܝܼܢ ܘܡܬܐܫܕܝܢ) is obscure, possibly a metaphor for generosity or ritual anointing.","The lacuna at 'an old man' (ܣܒܐ ..) leaves the subject of the clause ambiguous."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":7,"ref":"p7","source":"ܕܡܠܬܗܼ ܒܗ ܬܫܠܡ\nܘܥܕܪ ܠܢ | ܨܘܡܟ ܘܐܘܬܪ ܦܬܘܪܟܼ. ܕܐܕܢܐ ܪܘܼܙܬ ܒܟܼ ܘܟܪܣܐ ܙܓܼܪܬ ܒܟ܇\nܪܓܼܬ ܒܘܣܪܢܐ\nܠܟܠ ܐܢܫ ܕܡܿܠܦ ܗܘܝܬ ܕܡܘܬܼܐ ܩܐܡ ܗܘܝܬ܆\nܕܫܠܝܚܐ ܕܟܬܼܒ ܢܚܕܐ ܕܫܡܠܝܬܝܗܝܼ. ܕܒܩܢܘܡܟ ܚܿܙܝܼܬ\nܒܥܕܬܐ ܙܗܝܘܬܟ ܒܫܘܩܐ ܢܟܦܘܬܐܼ. ܥܕܬܐ ܛܥܝܢ ܠܒܟ ܒܟܠ ܕܘܟ ܕܫܿܪܐ ܗܘܐܿ. ܦܓܪܟ ܩܕܝܫܐ\nܥܢܐ ܕܪܚܡܬܟ ܒܟܠ ܕܘܟ ܠܘܝܐ ܠܟܼ. ܕܬܐܬܪ ܡܢ ܩܠܟ ܘܬܪܥܐ ܒܚܙܬܟ܆\nܛܘ̈ܦܣܐ ܡܢ ܦܓܪܟ\n. ܕܚܡܫܐܼ ܒܪ ܩܠܗ . ܡܟܝܠ ܐܫܬܒܗܪ ܕܐܝܓܘܢܝ ܐܫܿܬܠܡܼ. ܘܬܨܘܬܢܝ ܦܪܘܩܝ ܕܩܿܢܝܬ ܓܠܝܘܬܐܿ. ܕܠܐ ܥܿܨܝܬ ܦܘܩܕܢܟ\nܒܥܕܢ ܦܘܪܫܢܐ ܙܕܩ ܫܘܒܗܪܐܼ. ܕܠܐ ܐܝܬ ܬܘܟܠܢܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܥܘܢܕܢܐܼ. ܕܢܟܠܐ ܡܠܝܢ ܚ̈ܝܐ\nܟܠ ܝܘܡ̈ܝ ܚܝ̈ܝ ܒܩܢܛܐ ܡܗܠܟ ܗܿܘܝܬ܆\nܕܡܛܘܠ ܡܪ̈ܗܛܝ ܒܨܦܬܐ ܪܕܿܐ ܗܿܘܝܬܼ. ܡܟܝܠ ܦܫ ܩܢܛܐ\nܚܼܬܿܡܐ ܗܘ ܥܘܢܕܢܐ ܕܢܿܛܪ ܬܓܘܪܬܐܼ. ܕܡܩܿܒܠ ܪܗܛܐ ܘܡܿܫܠܼܡ ܓܘܥܠܢܐܼ. ܠܟܠܢܫܼ ܐܝܟ ܥܼܡܠܗ\nܡܬܚܝܒܠܝܢ ܦܓܪ̈ܐ ܘܡܬܢܛܪܝܢ ܥܼܡ̈ܠܐ:\nܘܡܬܢܚܡܝܢ ܓܘܫ̈ܡܐ ܘܐܬܿܝܢ ܣܘܥܪ̈ܢܐܼ. ܘܡܢܗܘܢ ܦܘܪ̈ܥܢܐ\nܫܬܩ ܡܠܼܐ ܙܒܢܐ ܦܓܪܐ ܥܠ ܥܦܪܐܼ. ܘܐܝܟ ܕܒܼܛܠ ܙܘ̈ܥܘܗܝ ܠܐ ܡܬܛܥܝܢ ܥܼܡ̈ܠܘܗܝܼ. ܕܟܬܘܒܗܘܢ ܚܟܝܡ. ܣܥܪܢܢ ܘܛܥܝܢܢ ܘܐܢܬ ܢܿܛܪܬܼ ܕܝܠܼܢ. ܒܥܕܢ ܢܘܚܡܐ ܡܬܩܪܝܢ ܒܡܫܡܥܬܢ܇\nܥ̈ܒܿܕܐ ܕܦܠܚܢܢ\nܘܕܛܼܥܐ ܛܒ̈ܬܗ ܢܒ̈ܥܢ ܩܕܡ ܥܝܢ̈ܘܗܝܼ. ܘܛܘܒܘܗܝ ܡܐ ܕܚܼܙܐ ܕܠܐ ܥܒܪ ܠܛܒ̈ܬܗ\nܡܢܝܢ ܒܝ̈ܫܼܬܗ\nܒܥܠܡܐ ܩܿܢܛ | ܗܿܘܝܬ ܕܐܬܢܐ ܠܟ ܥܼܡ̈ܠܝܼ. ܕܒܝܫܼܐ ܒ̈ܥܼܠܠܬܐ ܦܚ̈ܐ ܛܿܡܪ ܗܘܐܼ. ܦܿܠܛܬ ܡܢ ܢܫ̈ܒܘܗܝ\nܥܠ ܬܪܥܟ ܩܿܡܬ ܒܠܠܝܐ ܘܒܐܝܡܡܐܼ. ܕܢܣܿܝܬ ܕܠܐ ܫܿܪܝܼܬ ܡܓܢ ܠܢܩ̈ܘܫܐܿ. ܐܢ ܡܓܪܝܢ ܪܘܚܐ\nܠܡܐܐ ܫ̈ܢܝܢ ܚܝ̈ܝ ܒܐܓܪܐ ܡܛܘ ܥܡܟܼ. ܘܐܝܟ ܝܘܡܐ ܩܕܡܐ ܥܿܡܠܬ ܒܐܚܪܝܐܼ.","english":"of his word in him you will complete,  \nand you helped | your fast and increased your table. That you might be a lamp in you and a belly you made small in you,  \nyou desired the good news  \nfor every man whom you taught that you were standing as an example,  \nthat the apostle who wrote the one of my completion. In your person I saw  \nyour splendor in the church, your humility in the marketplace. The church went astray, your heart in every place where it was loosed. Your holy body  \nthe bone of your love in every place a Levite to you. That your voice might be heard and the door opened by your vision,  \nexamples from your body.  \nOf five the son of his voice. Now then boast that my eulogy is completed. And your prayer, my salvation, which you established openly. That you did not disobey your command  \nat the time of separation, boasting is fitting. That there is no hope until the end. That full of life  \nall the days of my life I walked in a fragment,  \nbecause I was pursuing the margins of the shore. Now then the fragment remains,  \nthe seal is the end that guards the merchandise. That receives the current and delivers the deposit. To each according to his labor,  \nbodies are entrusted and labors are enriched.  \nAnd bodies are nourished and actions come. And rewards are given.  \nBe silent, full of old age, the body upon the dust. And as its movements cease, its labors are not forgotten. For the wise one writes them. Deeds and errors, and you kept yours. At the time of judgment they are called in the hearing,  \nthe works you performed  \nand whose benefits are lost, he seeks before his eyes. And his blessedness when he sees that his benefits have not passed away,  \nhis evils have come.  \nIn the world I was a fragment that came to you with my labors. That evil one in pretexts hid snares. I brought out from his webs,  \nat your door I stood by night and by day. That I thought that I would not begin to be weary of the righteous. If the spirit runs,  \nto a hundred years of life in reward I reached with you. And like the first day I labored at the last.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܢܛܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term qeṭā (fragment) appears twice in this passage, possibly a metaphor for a short life or a portion of a larger work. Its repetition may signal a structural or thematic motif.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The reference to 'the apostle who wrote the one of my completion' likely alludes to Paul, possibly 2 Corinthians or another epistle, but the exact verse is unclear. The phrase may reflect Balai's self-identification with apostolic authority.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage shifts from direct address to Acacius (second person) to a first-person reflection on the speaker's own life and labor, marked by 'I walked in a fragment' and 'I was a fragment.' This may indicate a personal turn in the encomium.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text contains several ambiguous or possibly corrupt readings, e.g., 'ܕܡܠܬܗܼ ܒܗ ܬܫܠܡ' (of his word in him you will complete) and 'ܕܐܕܢܐ ܪܘܼܙܬ ܒܟܼ' (that you might be a lamp in you). The English draft reflects uncertainty.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The closing lines echo themes of eschatological reward and judgment, common in Syriac ascetic literature. The image of the body on dust and the seal of the end may reflect a monastic audience familiar with mortification and final accountability.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the apostle who wrote the one of my completion' is not specified; it may refer to Paul or another apostolic figure.","The term 'fragment' (qeṭā) is ambiguous: it could mean a short life, a portion of a text, or a broken piece, and its repetition may be intentional or a scribal error.","Several phrases in the Syriac are syntactically unclear, e.g., 'Of five the son of his voice' and 'the bone of your love,' which may be corrupt or metaphorical."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":8,"ref":"p8","source":"ܕܠܟ ܐܣܓܐ ܐܫܦܪ\nܐܿܘܪܬ ܓܘܪܓܐ ܐܝܟ ܣܝܡܬܐ ܠܒ̈ܢܝܼ. ܕܢܩܢܘܢ ܡܪ̈ܗܛܐ ܕܒܝܘܡ ܥܘܢܕܢܐܿ. ܡܩܢܝܢ ܫܘܒܗܪܐ\nܫܡܥܬܟ ܦܪܘܩܐ ܘܢܿܛܪܬ ܦܘܩܕܢܟܼ. ܘܡܟܝܠ ܒܥܿܐ ܐܢܢܐ ܦܘܫܪܢܐ ܕܡܿܠܝܟ܇\nܠܟܐܢ̈ܐ ܕܢܩܦܘ ܠܟ\nܟܠܝܘܡ ܣܛܢܐ ܩܪ̈ܒܘܗܝ ܡܚܿܠܦ ܗܘܐ:\nܒܣܟܪܐ ܕܗܝܡܢܘܬܝ ܓܐܪ̈ܘܗܝ ܡܘܪܥ ܗܿܘܝܬܼ. ܘܬܿܒܪܬ ܙܟܘܬܗ\nܠܐ ܥܿܒܕܬ ܪܓܬܝ ܒܫܪܝܢܝ ܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ܆\nܘܠܐ ܗܘܼܐ ܠܠܘܠܝܬܐ ܐܬܪܐ ܒܬܢܘܪܐܼ. ܕܟܘܪܟ ܢܣܟܗ ܠܝ\nܐܝܬܒ ܘܨܿܠܿܐ ܠܝ ܒܝܫܼܐ ܘܠܐ ܨܕܢܝܼ. ܘܚܙܢܝ ܘܟܼܪܝܝܬܿ ܠܗ ܕܠܐ ܣܡ ܒܦܿܠܚܟ܇\nܚܕܐ ܫܘܡܬܐ ܕܣܢܝܐ\nܥܒܿܪܬ ܒܝܬ ܢܟ̈ܠܘܗܝ ܘܠܐ ܥܪܩܠܘܢܝ ܢܫ̈ܒܘܗܝܼ. ܘܩܿܡܬ ܒܩܪ̈ܒܘܗܝܼ ܘܢܿܛܪܬ ܗܕܡ̈ܝ܇\nܡܢ ܣܘܪܛܬܐ ܕܓܐܪܗ\nܠܐ ܨܕܢܝ ܢܟܠܗ ܘܠܐ ܕܒܨܢܝ ܣܝܦܗܼ. ܕܫܿܬ ܒܝܬ ܦܚ̈ܘܗܝ ܘܥܒܿܪܬ ܒܝܬ ܓܐܪ̈ܘܗܝܼ. ܘܢܿܦܩܬ ܙܟܝܐ\nܠܟ ܚܕܘܬܐ ܒܥܘܢܕܢܝ ܕܢܿܛܪܬ ܩܢܘܡܝ ܕܟܝܐܼ. ܘܠܒܥܠܕܒܒܝ ܐܒܠܐ ܕܠܐ ܚܝܒܢܝ ܢܟܠܗ܇\nܘܠܐ ܐܚܣܪܢܝ ܓܐܪܗ\nܥܡܝ ܚܼܙܩܬܿ ܚܕܘܬܝ ܕܠܟ ܚܕܘܬܐ ܗܘ ܥܘܢܕܢܝܼ. ܘܕܡܥܩ ܒܥܠ ܪܕܐ ܛܒ ܪܘܙܐ ܬܪܥܝܬܝܿ. ܕܦܿܠܛܬ ܘܠܐ ܠܒܟܢܝ\nܫܒܩܬܢܝ ܥܡ ܒܝܼܫܐ ܕܐܥܒܕ ܬܟܬܘܫܐܼ. ܘܠܐ ܐܿܙܥܪܬ ܫܘܒܚܟ | ܕܠܐ ܐܙܕܟܝ ܥܒܼܕܟ܇\nܡܢ ܣܢܐܐ ܕܩܘܫܬܟ\nܒܥܘܕܪܢܟ ܦܪܘܩܝ ܩܪܒܗ ܡܫܿܗܐ ܗܘܿܝܬܼ. ܘܟܠ ܝܘܡ ܡܿܩܼܪܒ ܗܘܐ ܘܟܠ ܝܘܡ ܒܗܿܬ ܗܘܐܼ. ܒܙܝܢܟ ܙܟܐ ܗܿܘܝܬ\nܠܐ ܙܟܢܝ ܒܩܪ̈ܒܘܗܝ ܕܥܡܝ ܗܘܬ ܛܝܒܘܬܟܼ. ܗܦܼܟ ܣܡ ܠܝ ܫܕܠܐ. ܘܐܢܐ ܕܢܣܝܬܗܼ. ܒܣܿܪܬ ܪ̈ܓܝܓܬܗ\nܚܡܪܗ ܡܣܠܐ ܗܘܿܝܬ ܕܚܠܟ ܥܗܕ ܗܘܿܝܬܼ. ܦܘܪ̈ܦܥܐ ܫܿܛܬ ܕܥܗܿܕܬ ܠܡܪܪ̈ܐ܇\nܕܦܠܚܼܘܗܝ ܩܿܪܒܘ ܠܟ\nܙܩܿܦܬ ܠܟ ܚܝ̈ܝ ܕܪܢܿܝܬ ܒܨܠܝܒܟܼ. ܘܦܫܿܛܬ ܠܟ ܐܝ̈ܕܝ ܕܚܿܙܝܬ ܥܠ ܩܝܣܐܿ. ܕܝܠܟ ܕܡ̈ܬܝܚܢ\nܒܙܚܟ ܫܿܡܥ ܗܘܿܝܬ ܘܒܐܝܩܪ ܡܒܣܐ ܗܘܿܝܬܼ.","english":"of your abundance you increased and beautified. You kindled a fire like a treasure for the poor. The runners of the day of the feast were made to stand still. You diminished vainglory. Your hearing was salvation, and you kept your commandment. And now, a father seeks the interpretation of your words. The poor who clung to you, every day a contrary wind would change their battles. By the reward of my faith, I would cause his limbs to tremble, and I broke his victory. I did not fulfill my desire in my lawful marriages, and there was no place for fornication in my youth. Your course rolled me along, it settled and prayed for me, evil and not righteous. And I saw and called out to him who did not place in your work. One oath of the old man passed through his assemblies, and his bonds did not hinder me. And I stood in his battles and kept my members. From the beginning of his limb, his whole did not thirst, nor did his sword thirst. I entered into his snares and passed through his limbs, and I came out victorious. For you, joy in my feast, because I kept my pure standing. And for my enemy, mourning that he did not convict my whole, and his limb did not diminish me. With me you strengthened my joy, for you my feast is joy. And the good governor of my thought was subtle in secret. I brought forth and did not weep, I left you with evil to make a disturbance, and I did not diminish your praise, lest your work be not accomplished. From the truth of your help, my savior, I was anointed for battle. And every day I would approach and every day I would be ashamed. By your movement I was victorious, I did not conquer in his battles, for your grace was with me. He turned and placed a snare for me, and I came to his secret. I proclaimed his desires, I was despising his wine, for I remembered your portion. I drank the dregs, for I remembered the bitters. His servants approached you. I set up for you the life that I saw on your cross, and I stretched out for you the hands that I saw on the wood. Your bloodied ones, by laughter I would hear and by honor I would announce good news.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܓܘܪܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܓܘܪܓܐ (gurgā) is a loanword from Greek γοργός, meaning 'fiery' or 'swift'; here it is used metaphorically as 'fire' or 'blazing zeal', likely referring to Acacius's charitable fervor.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܨܠܝܒܟ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'life that I saw on your cross' (ܚܝ̈ܝ ܕܪܢܿܝܬ ܒܨܠܝܒܟ) echoes the crucifixion narrative, possibly alluding to Christ's sacrifice as a model for Acacius's own endurance.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܘܢܕܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܥܘܢܕܢܐ (ʿūḏāḏā) means 'feast' or 'festival', likely referring to a specific liturgical celebration in the Syriac tradition, possibly a martyr's feast or a dedication of Acacius's church.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܢ ܣܘܪܛܬܐ ܕܓܐܪܗ","severity":"info","text":"The passage shifts from a series of first-person actions to a direct address to Acacius, marked by the phrase 'From the beginning of his limb' (ܡܢ ܣܘܪܛܬܐ ܕܓܐܪܗ), which introduces a metaphorical battle narrative.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܟܘܪܟ ܢܣܟܗ ܠܝ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase ܕܟܘܪܟ ܢܣܟܗ ܠܝ ('your course rolled me along') is ambiguous; it may be a scribal error or a rare idiom. The English draft interprets it as a passive motion, but the Syriac could also imply 'your circuit encompassed me'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the 'father' seeking interpretation (ܐܢܢܐ ܦܘܫܪܢܐ) is unclear; possibly a reference to a bishop or spiritual elder.","The phrase 'one oath of the old man' (ܚܕܐ ܫܘܡܬܐ ܕܣܢܝܐ) may refer to a specific vow or covenant, but the referent is uncertain.","The sequence of battles and limbs (ܓܐܪ̈ܘܗܝ) is metaphorical and may draw on athletic or military imagery, but the exact narrative is obscure."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":9,"ref":"p9","source":"ܪܘܩܟ ܥܿܗܕ ܗܘܿܝܬ ܘܠܩܢܘܡܝ ܐܿܠܨ ܗܘܿܝܬ܇\nܕܢܛܥܢ ܘܢܣܝܒܪ\nܒܟܘܬܝܢܟ ܕܐܫܠܚܘ ܫܿܛܬ ܠܠܒܘܫܐ. ܕܝܩܪܬܗ ܠܨܥܪܟ ܒܠܒܘܫܝ ܕܡܡܟܟܼ. ܟܣܢܝ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܟ","english":"your mind was mindful, and to my person you were constrained, that the poor and the stranger might be clothed. In your garments, which they cast off, you clothed the naked. The honor of your neck you covered with the garment of humility. You concealed the praise of yourself.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪܘܩܟ ܥܿܗܕ ܗܘܿܝܬ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac phrase 'your mind was mindful' is a pleonastic expression emphasizing the bishop's attentive care.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܠܩܢܘܡܝ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'to my person' (ܠܩܢܘܡܝ) uses the Syriac word for 'person' or 'self', indicating a direct, personal relationship between the speaker and Acacius.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܒܠܒܘܫܝ ܕܡܡܟܟ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'garment of humility' (ܒܠܒܘܫܝ ܕܡܡܟܟ) is a metaphor for the virtue of humility, a common theme in Syriac ascetic literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Balai of Balsh was a Syriac poet and bishop active in the 5th century, known for his memre on ecclesiastical figures. This passage reflects the genre's praise of episcopal virtues.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of Acacius's virtuous actions, shifting from his care for the poor to his personal humility, as indicated by the sequence of verbs: 'clothed', 'covered', 'concealed'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-504","label":"source edition: On Bishop Acacius","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/504"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text has some uncertain readings (e.g., ܕܢܛܥܢ ܘܢܣܝܒܪ) which may be corrupt; the translation 'that the poor and the stranger might be clothed' is a plausible reconstruction based on context."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]}]}