Vita Sancti Ardii Abbatis

THE LIFE OF SAINT AREDIUS THE ABBOT.

(Recovered from an ancient manuscript of the codex of Saint Gall by D. J. Mabillon.)

IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, HERE BEGINS THE PROLOGUE OF SAINT GREGORY, BISHOP OF TOURS, CONCERNING THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED AREDIUS, ABBOT OF LIMOGES.

I. As often as we narrate the deeds of the saints, and fix our mind upon their acts and examples, we desire also to be imitators of them, lest in the hardship of this exile we be held by the noose of the head. We are therefore enlightened by heavenly grace to the extent that, with a humbled heart, we are able to ascend to the high things of God through contemplation. And so we do not dare, when we are able, to set forth the story to the people in speech, even of slender edification: especially since we are admonished by apostolic authority to commemorate certain things concerning the life or virtues of the saints, as it is written: Let us praise glorious men, who conquered the kingdoms of the world, that their memory may be in blessing, and their name endure forever (Sirach 44:1); and that: The memory of the saints is with praises (Proverbs 10:7). When, therefore, in the yearly cycle we celebrate the solemnities of the saints, we ought to recite some things from their deeds for edification, as is fitting for Christians, in the praises of Christ.

Since, then, the miracles of almost all the confessors and the manifold victories of the martyrs are already recorded in the monuments of literature, we have now attempted, according to the measure of our ability, to compose this little book, in which, with the help of the grace of Christ, we take care to set forth the origin and life, and also the glorious death, of the holy and most blessed Aredius the confessor, so that he whose life is with Christ may have his memory celebrated with glory in the world. For our holy fathers strove to love nothing in the world, so that they might love their neighbors lawfully and perfectly, and being gathered together in one charity, might be made co-heirs and partakers with Christ. Many indeed in their earliest age, some in adolescence or youth, and many in old age, striving as soldiers, have attempted to cling to the Lord, so that those who had long endured the temptations of the world might at length return to Christ without stain. For the example of a good work with simplicity of strength builds up more than much preaching with the swelling of vainglory. But the excellent preacher, the Teacher of the Gentiles, declares, saying: God has chosen the foolish things of the world, that he may confound the strong; and again: The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. But the elect are not lifted up in the prosperities of the world, so that they may be able to lay hold of the crown after the triumph. For if we consider what and how great things are promised to us in heaven, the things that are seen on earth grow cheap in the soul.

II. Therefore the most blessed Aridius, born in the province of Aquitaine in further Gaul, which faces toward the western region, from noble parentage, was a native of the city of Limoges, so that he might be a lamp for all the faithful, with the Lord granting it to his soldiers. His father, indeed, was surnamed Jucundus, but his mother was called the blessed Pelagia. Their life bears witness that it was religious, so that, imitating the example of Zachariah and Elizabeth, except that John was not in the middle, they walked in the commandments of God and were without complaint. Aridius, therefore, was born and raised in the right faith, and finally, imbued by his Christian parents with the catholic religion, already passing beyond the years of boyhood, he conducted the age of adolescence with great diligence. But when his parents saw that their son in adolescence had attained the wholesome way, adorned with zeal for religion, they handed him over to be instructed in letters. He was soon so illuminated by divine grace that many marveled at his eloquence in his words, whose sweet speech blazed from his honey-flowing mouth for all. Bearing a senile heart, he gave his mind to no pleasure, lest, captured by the hardship of the world, he be held liable.

III. Meanwhile he was commended to the most excellent king Theodebert, so that he might instruct him in palace learning. Aridius therefore found favor before the Lord and before the king, and his testimony was borne by all, to such an extent that he stood as chief chancellor before the king's sight; and his honor grew with great favor from day to day; approved in every respect, he flourished in the palace; and he was held in such great familiarity by him that his immense good fortune bred hatred in very many. For he hated pride and loved truth; but plainly the good admired him. And so he unceasingly pursued charity, gentleness, and humility. For he loved the Lord with his whole heart, and with his whole soul, and with his whole mind. He was also serene in countenance and tranquil in manner; he always showed good works more by deeds than by words, always entrusting his hope to Christ, frequently devoting himself to prayer, placing nothing before the love of Christ, and his mind always meditated on heavenly precepts.

IV. When these things had been done, not much time afterward, when he was already of mature age, desiring to present himself as a vessel sanctified to the Lord, and fearing the dreadful judgments to come, lest any sins should darken his heart, he confessed all the deeds of his youth in the presence of the most blessed man Bishop Nicetius. Then, admonished in the meantime by divine means through the aforesaid Nicetius, bishop of the city of the Treveri, fleeing the pomp of the world, the delights of the world, and turning away from the vain superstitions of the royal palace and the undisciplined tales of his companions, he submitted himself under the rule of a discipline to contemplate the palm of the heavenly prize; and thus, imposing harsh penance upon himself, he began manfully to resist the struggle of the flesh with fervor of spirit. For he set before himself, against the present ardors of the flesh, the fires of future punishment: namely, in labors, according to the Apostle, in watchings, in fastings, in chastity, in sweetness, in much patience, and in unfeigned love (II Cor. 6:6). He prayed therefore to the Lord for heavenly gifts, he besought Christ day and night: he took away from himself the satisfaction of bread, so that he might be able to merit the heavenly bread for himself. Indeed his face grew pale with fastings, and his body, very dry, withered away; but his mind burned with desire for eternal things.

But always keeping the end of this present life in view, and the Lord's future sentence, he was also in dread of the fearful judgments, knowing what is written: Blessed is the man who is always afraid (Prov. 28:14); and likewise that which was said by Job: For I have always feared the Lord as though swelling waves were over me (Job 31:23); and that of the Apostle: Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). For before the sight of God he would lie at night, striking his breast with his hands, wetting his cheeks with tears, with his eyes raised to heaven, always looking upon him whom he feared he had perhaps offended even by the smallest faults, and with tears he earnestly prayed these words with the voice of David: Against you only have I sinned; have mercy on me, O Lord, according to your great mercy (Ps. 50:6-7). And he always strained toward that which the Apostle said: Neither has eye seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what the Lord has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor. 2:9).

Meditating therefore on these things, the more he advanced, the more he humbled himself, according to what the Truth says in the Gospel: Whoever humbles himself will be exalted, and whoever exalts himself will be humbled (Luke 18:14). The more he had humbled himself, the more he advanced; and so that his sorrow might be as great as it was, so might his pardon be. By deep goodness the Lord, through simple penitence and frequent fasting, he had obtained the mercy he sought from the Lord. For of such men the Lord says through the prophet: I gave him fear, and he feared me, and he was afraid at the face of my name (Mal. 2:5). Hence again it is written: Whoever fears the Lord will tremble at nothing, and will not be afraid, because he himself is (Sirach 34:16). And again: The fear of the Lord drives out sin (Sirach 1:27). Meanwhile, however, he besought the Lord with full vigor that his penitence might be accepted before the sight of Christ. Then, initiated by these arms, binding himself more closely in the militia of Christ, he shone forth according to the norm of the Church.

V. One day, while he was keeping the course of a most pure conscience, a dove came flying down from its chamber, settled upon his head, and went along with him, as his companion, through the street; and the man of God, Aridius, could not remove it from himself until he entered the cell of his bishop. But when the day declined toward evening, it returned by the way it had come. When morning came, as the clergy were returning to the church, it came down upon his head, just as it had done before. This the dove did without ceasing for thirty days, as he himself recounted privately, and the man of God bore this embarrassment; it foretold the heavenly grace that had been given, so that it might be openly understood that the Spirit was already then to descend upon him once for all by divine bounty. Hence also the Truth testifies to his disciples, saying: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him; because it was fitting that, since he had kept the innocence of his mind, the visitation of the Holy Spirit should be present with him.

VI. Then, when the most blessed man heard of his father's death, he returned to Limoges for the consolation of his mother. And so the blessed Pelagia, having changed her worldly dress, was clothed in a nun's habit, and became a religious woman in the love of God—a lily well turned toward the reward of God. The blessed man soon sought the desert, and shutting himself within a hollow rock, he prayed to the Lord there day and night without ceasing, and strove continually to drive off the invisible enemy by prayers and entreaties, fighting with his mouth, not with the sword; with prayers, not with iron; with orations, not with a weapon. At all hours and at every moment he implored the protection of God, that after the labor of the world he might be worthy to attain the prize. When he had been there for some days with great abstinence, his mother, having heard of this, threw herself at her son's feet and asked him to come out from there, so that he might build a cell of a monastery, where she might see him prospering, in the pleasant villas.

Then the man of God Aridius also found a pleasant place, about three thousand [paces] from the same rock to which he had returned, and there he began with great diligence to build a small cell of a monastery, which monastery was called Alano. And there, intent on prayer and devoted to reading, his venerable mother, toiling in the fields, sought food for the body; but what manner of life she led after her conversion... Then the blessed man grew strong more and more in vigils and fastings, and in prayers, and in charity. And his fame began to be spread abroad, and religious men, strangers and monks, flocked to him from every side. A multitude even of the poor, so much so that however many poor flocked to him, none departed from him empty. What more? Whatever he had from the possession of his noble parents, he distributed all of it among the poor, or among the monasteries, especially to the church of the blessed Martin of Tours, or to the church of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, or through various churches and even his own monastery he distributed all his possession; and the mines of gold and silver he scattered among the poor, knowing the precept of the Apostle: But having food and clothing, let us be content with these (1 Tim. 6:8); and: Those who wish to become rich in this world fall into temptation and the snare of the devil (1 Tim. 6:9); and: Many desires, unjust and harmful, which drown a man in destruction and perdition (Ibid.).

For he considered what is written: Give alms, and all things are clean to you (Luke 11:41). And the Truth says: He shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess eternal life (Matthew 19:29). And elsewhere it is written: Alms deliver from death; and he who does them shall not go into darkness (Tobit 12:9). These things he fulfilled daily: always generous in almsgiving, diligent in vigils, devout in prayer, humbly prostrate, perfect in charity. He never indulged in idleness, but was always either free for reading, or completing the work of Christ, or doing some work with his hands, or finally writing sacred books. Above all he had resolved to distribute to the neighboring dioceses the sacred books which he had written with his own hands, remembering what the Apostle said, that idleness is the enemy of the soul. In these things, therefore, he did not cease at any time. But when he had already built the cell of the monastery, so that he might complete the work begun, it is necessary that we be able, with Christ's help, to explain something of his miracles. How the servant of God devoted himself to almsgiving, vigils, and prayers, we have eagerly published the miracles that must be preached; of which, from many, we believe we should narrate a few very briefly.

VII. It happened that the man of God was making a journey to Clermont, and when night fell upon him, he could not find water, so that he might settle himself to stay there. And when his attendants searched here and there and had not found any, then Aridius fixed his staff in the sand. When it was pulled back, a plentiful spring burst forth from the hole in the earth, so that the flowing streams of water sufficed, and afterward irrigated so much that cattle drank there. Thus this great man was mighty in miracles, bearing the type of Moses, who by striking the rock provided water for the people in the wilderness.

He then gave his attention, and chose as companions of his journey those whom religion made renowned. When the company had indeed gathered, he sought the suffrages of all their prayers, that the giver of loving-kindness might grant comfort for the journey to come; and so with them, under Christ's leadership, he came to the place where the holy limbs of the holy martyr of God Julian had been buried, having learned which of them were to be with him by the will of the merciful judge. And when they had come to that place, he asked that he himself might deserve, with a votive mind, the relics of the holy martyr. But the custodian of the basilica of the most blessed martyr refused the one asking. Having lingered there a little while, and seeking, yet by no means finding, he went on from there and came to the place where the venerable martyr, by the persecutors, having been...

in times already long past, had been beheaded, and with fullest devotion he placed a very small amount of stones from that same place—what is commonly called sand—into the chrismarium which he carried around his neck, with a glad spirit, in place of the sacred relics of the holy martyr. And when he had begun to return from that province, such a multitude of those who were tormented by malignant spirits followed his footsteps with great cries that the names of so many can scarcely be written. Therefore the fame of the blessed man reached the ears of the bishop of that city, who immediately followed the footsteps of the holy man with his own people, and soon, prostrate at his feet, began to ask him that he at last return to the tomb of the holy martyr and carry back his sacred relics. Then he said: "This gift which almighty God has bestowed on me, I will go with it, with him as my companion, I will proceed." For the Creator of all things, the Lord, deigned to show two miracles of power in that same place. And when the man of God had opened his chrismarium, he found various precious stones from the rocks which he had taken from the spring, so that the wondrous power of the holy martyr might be made known through diverse places of the lands, and the faith of the man of God might be proven and shown to many. And when he had placed the sacred gift with great joy at this place, where the man of God had founded an oratory, there too almighty God deigned to make known many signs and wonders.

VIII. Nor is it to be passed over what was bestowed upon the servant of Christ. On a certain day, while a traveler was pressing on along the road he had taken, with a whirlwind of winds blowing, such a storm with rain was raging around Aridius that the shower poured forth in streams, and not even a single drop drenched the man himself and his company and his ministers; where, the tempest having been divided, the whirlwind turned itself elsewhere, and the very clouds stole away the air, while they are struck with fear at the traveler. If therefore the sea and the winds obeyed the creator of all things in the waves, and there was made a great calm, nay rather he commanded this virtue to be shown to his faithful servant in the sight of all. At a certain time, when the crops had armed their ears with ripeness, and now, weighed down, were demanding to be reaped by the cultivator, a huge downpour of rain burst forth, so that no one could gather the fruits, so that the grains lying hidden in their ears might sprout. Meanwhile it is suggested to him by the people; the intercessor keeps vigils. On the following day, therefore, with the relics of the saints taken up, fittingly and reverently covered with a silken pall; the deacons in white go forth in procession: the people cry out because of the onset of the clouds. To them the holy man answered: He who commanded the water to be created is able to calm this rain. Then soon they went forth from the church, suddenly the clouds were cut away, the sun is brought back in brightness, the serenity of heaven is restored to the world, the cultivator is drawn to his work, and the reaper is invited to gather the sheaves from the crops. Nor is that to be passed over which was done in a similar cause.

While he was building his little chapel on his estate at Noniacum in honor of the blessed martyr Julian, a heavy rainstorm burst forth; but while he himself was reciting the Lord's Prayer, the cloud turned aside its force, the tempest drove back its whirlwind, the rain withdrew, and not a drop falling touched the place or the holy man Aridius.

IX. Let this too be added to the page, whereby the miracles of things increase. On a certain day, while the same holy man was in the oratory, a certain young man, Arctardus, son of Nivardus, was carried out lifeless and laid by his parents before the sacred altar in the oratory of the blessed martyr Julian. He was entreated that he might be restored to life by the Lord. Then the most reverend man, moved surely by compassion, forcing power upon his tears, looked up to heaven and prayed to the Lord. Then he called to the little child, but the body lay lifeless. When nearly an hour had passed, the little boy was roused, opened his closed eyes, and, restored to life, began to be able to speak. Thus the faithful soldier, mighty in such great virtues and girded with divine grace, so that just as the Creator of all things raised up the young man, the son of the widow, from the bier and restored him unharmed to his mother, so the man of God Aridius was able to obtain by his prayers from the Lord that the young man be brought to life.

A certain woman with a great wound on her face came to Saint Aridius, begging to be healed. Then, having been signed with the banner of the cross, at once, with the people standing around, the swelling of the wound opened, and in the likeness of a small nut, like a stone, it came out of it. And without delay she returned home healed.

X. Let there be added to the work a matter joined to mysteries. A certain son of Dulcissimus, by name Ingratius, lying on a sickbed, was displayed for burial by his father, so greatly distended by a swelling that his eyes had been taken away within him. Then the man of the Lord Aridius, having offered prayer for him, anointed his eyes with blessed oil; and when he had smeared them in faith, immediately whatever sickness there was fled from the touched ointment.

XI. While they raise themselves up as much as they can toward the progress of the holy man and toward the high contemplation of God, it is to be believed that they are [driven] by divine power. At a certain time, coming to the city of the Lemovices out of a feeling of piety, he hears that very many who had recently been condemned to death were being held bound in prison. Aridius therefore, mindful of the word of the Lord saying: I was in prison and you came to me (Matt. 25:36); and: As long as you did it to one of the least of mine, you did it to me (Ibid., 40), considered whether in some way he might free them. And when he had approached the prison to seek out the accused, immediately by divine will, as if by the great impact of one striking, the bars were broken, the hinges scattered, the doors of the prison opened, and all the chains of the shackles were loosed.

On that same night, as it were the brightness of the sun appeared within, and the light shone in the darkness; the guards, overcome by sleep, fled from the prison to the tomb of the most holy Martial, the bishop. And so, through the prayers of the blessed man, they were freed from prison and from death.

XII. Let it profit the ears of God's people, which profited the light. The daughter of the aforementioned Nivard, by name Actefledis, had lost the light of her eyes, so that she could by no means see. One day, having been led to the man of God Aridius by her parents so that she might be enlightened, she is entreated. And when they prostrated themselves at the priest's feet, then the holy man, having signed her eyes and praying to the Lord within himself, at once she was restored to health, and she who had been led thither as a guide led her guide back to her homeland.

XIII. The examples of the righteous also instruct followers more eagerly than the sermon of many preachers. When on a certain occasion the man of God was hastening to Burgundy to the king for a cause of piety, he was earnestly invited by a certain Anteslius to turn aside to his house, where his half-living daughter lay on a little bed. And when she was breathing out her spirit to the last, the man of God Aridius, having entered the house and offered a prayer for her, the girl, made joyful by obtaining the Lord's remedy, returned from death. For he who commanded the daughter of the synagogue ruler to be raised up within the chamber granted the dead girl to him who sought him, so that she might return from death to life.

A certain woman, named Bessa, weakened in her limbs by infirmity, with her fingers drawn in and her joints bent, feeble in her steps, prayed prostrate that she might be healed. Devout, suppliant, and wasted away, she prayed; soon Aridius, having touched the cross with his holy hand, stretched out the calves of her legs upon the page, the sinews were loosened into their organs, and at last, after long waiting, her limbs deserved to recognize themselves. And so by the prayers of the holy man she was made whole.

Let the praises be ascribed which are justly referred to the palm. A certain woman, already believed to be near death, bore a wound on her neck; she ran to the holy man, beseeching him to arm the standard of the holy cross over it, fearing to die. And when he pressed the sign of Christ upon the wound, suddenly the worms died, and the woman returned unharmed.

XIV. While we behold greater miracles of the saints, we are also turned more earnestly and more abundantly to the love of God. For a girl from the city of Petrocoria [Périgueux], coming to the man of God, was so contracted that from her heels her legs clung to her and touched her, and she had long since been condemned from walking; the most sacred man did not dismiss her before the weakness dismissed her, and she who had previously walked on her hands went on her feet. Therefore he diligently inquired whether she had hope in Christ, if she believed she would be healed at some time. But she in.

With everyone giving credence, Aridius fixed his knees on the ground and prayed at length; then, raising both eyes and hands to heaven, he reminded the Lord Jesus Christ of his most faithful promise, which says: "Whatever you who believe shall ask, it shall be done for you" (Mark 11:23); and: "If you have faith, you shall do not only these signs, but greater than these" (John 14:12). And when he had asked these things with full vigor and devotion, he turned to the girl and said: "If you believe faithfully, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ arise and stand on your feet." And at once she arose, and her feet and limbs were made firm, and she was healed from that hour.

Likewise, from the same city another woman came to him, condemned by a similar infirmity; and when she had been touched by the hand of the holy man, she returned straightway to her own home; and the old woman ran a road that the young girl had not traveled.

XV. As often as we raise our mind to the heights of God Almighty, the things we see on earth grow worthless in our mind, so that, having received grace from on high, we may penetrate to the heavenly fatherland, as, for instance, this man who is adorned with such great virtues is not darkened by earthly contagion.

A certain man surnamed Addo, son of a certain Proculus, came into the presence of the most blessed man so crippled that he walked on his heel, and the wretchedly fused parts could not be separated; he then sought remedies from Saint Aridius. And he, having placed the sign of the cross over him, who had come lame in his knees, was restored to walk upright on his feet, and was brought back to the traces of his own footsteps.

XVI. Let the powers of his works be added, by which they are believed to be true. A certain man from the territory of Béziers, with contracted sinews, weakened in his foot, ran up and came swiftly to the monastery, and begged that the holy man would come to his aid with his support. The man of God Aridius took up the cause of his reward; with prayer poured out for him together with a blessing, he returned sound, and what the holy hand touched was healed.

XVII. Let the page acquire what grace bestows. A certain Leonactius was so driven mad by insanity of body that he was believed to be nothing other than rabies; his fury was too horrible to be borne, and even though he was bound exceedingly with hands and feet in chains, and pressed by violence was still constrained with chains, this added pain of punishment crushed him, and thus raging cruelly he was at last led to the holy man of God Aridius. Without any delay, the sign of the cross having been made and his forehead armed, in a moment he was freed from the ancient enemy and at the same time from his chain; afterward he became a cleric, and with a song he paid service to Christ for better works.

But it is brought about by the wondrous disposition of almighty God that those whom divine rewards do not invite to better things, temporal scourges instruct.

XVIII. Moreover, at the same time when the soldier of Christ was living on earth, Ferreolus, the venerable bishop, was present as shepherd in the city of the Lemovices to govern the people entrusted to him; but as often as that pontiff himself was pressed by fevers, or was worn down by some illness in grievous pain, he would send messengers to Aridius, the man of God, so that he might intercede more fully with the Lord on his behalf. And he, having celebrated vigils for him, obtained for the shepherd—the venerable abba for the bishop, the lowly and humble for the exalted. And because the growing page conceals greater miracles, let a clear mystery concerning a certain blind man be brought forward into the midst. A certain man, deprived of light for a long time already, oppressed by darkness, clouded by thick gloom, is led with hastening foot to the cell of the blessed man; when the holy man, having taken pity, saw him, he restored his sight by praying, and he returns to his region, now illuminated by clear light.

XIX. It is a joy to recount what was glorious to remember. A certain man, by name Witrimund, surnamed Atto, had been struck by toothache so cruelly that, with no relief intervening, the pain pressing upon him would not let up. Then, coming to the holy man when he was devoutly going to meet blessed Martin, and being asked why one of his jaws seemed more swollen, and he answering that he was being tormented by a most severe toothache, then the man of God stroked the swollen face with a very gentle touch, saying: You will be healed by the Lord, with Martin, the most faithful servant of God, obtaining it. And so, as soon as the word begun by the just man was fulfilled, health was restored to the tooth, and the pain together with the swelling was cured.

XX. A certain woman, by name Ricovera, wife of a moneyer of Tours, when she had faithfully offered to the holy man a half-full flask of oil for the purpose of blessing, then Aridius, having made the sign of the cross, and bringing forth from the chrismarium another flask, in which was contained some of the oil of blessed Martin, with a drop poured over the half-full flask, the power of the oil leapt forth with such an inundation that, once the flasks were filled, it carried off oil elsewhere, and nothing of the overflowing blessing was lost. This blessing benefited both equally, both him who gave to the one asking, and the one asking what he deserved.

XXI. This too is granted to few, that the soldier of Christ be loved by such great miracles. For the most reverend man had resolved, in order to win the palm of the heavenly fatherland, to hasten to Tours for the feast of the blessed bishop. And so it happened at a certain time that the holy man was making haste to the aforesaid city. Therefore, when the bishop of that city with his clergy was earnestly performing the office of psalmody in the church at night, his deacon, while singing in the church, was weighed down by sleep; and when the bishop saw him sleeping, he said to him: Why are you sleeping, brother? And he, waking from sleep, said: I saw you, my lord, going out of the church and hastening to meet the blessed man Aridius. And when the deacon had scarcely finished his words, immediately an unclean spirit cried out in a certain man that it could not bear the presence of Saint Aridius. Hearing this, the bishop knew that the man of the Lord Aridius was arriving; and at once the bishop with lighted candles went out to meet the abbot before the doors of the church, and with great joy and exultation they entered the church, and they continued almost the whole night in the divine offices. For many sick persons, or those bound by various infirmities, returned to their own homes in sound strength through his prayers and intercessions.

At another time, when he had come to Tours for the same feast, and the man of God Aridius was gently touching with soothing application the legs of a certain paralytic, he testified that he had seen the hand of Saint Martin, how it straightened the weakened limbs, and so the paralytic, with the right hand of the Saint touching him, at once directed himself upon his own feet. So great indeed did the divine power of healings, conferred upon him by grace, shine forth that whoever came sick departed healed and safe with full strength. To the possessed, moreover, health was restored so swiftly that the names of so great a multitude were not written down.

XXII. If the miracles are recounted one by one, it is not at all incongruous that discourses of such great power should be believed. At a certain time the man of God, having gone out from the basilica after completing the night vigils, saw a globe of light descend from heaven upon his own little cell, and believing that this brightness was made by a man, the man of God asked his disciple who it was that was walking through the garden with a torch at such an hour. Meanwhile, as he marveled, the very globe which had appeared above the cell was straightway rolled back to the stars, and he himself with fear and trembling, with hands outstretched, was rendering the grace of the light to the divine power. Of course he is asked by the monk, who saw this together with him, what this miracle of such great brightness was, the vision, that the mysteries of the most blessed Priest should be revealed in such a way.

To him the holy man replied: "Be silent, be silent, foolish one; know that the most blessed Martin visits this cell with singular favor, and returns to heaven with the glory of shining light. But he whom divine grace was protecting was worthy to receive this visitation through the illumination of the Holy Spirit; yet the friend of God, guarding against the vice of boastfulness, commanded his disciple to tell this vision to no one until he should depart to the Lord. Thus the faithful soldier kept the rule of his master, the Mediator of God, who, when transfigured on the mountain, commanded his disciples to tell no one the vision they had seen until the Son of Man should rise from the dead. Consider therefore with how great a fire of love for God and for neighbor this man was kindled, who merited to receive such a gift divinely revealed by the Spirit. For God is a consuming fire, as James testifies, who says: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.

XXIII. When these things had been done, the holy man remained continually intent upon the divine offices. For the enemy of the human race could find nothing in him by which he might deceive him with guile, nor anything that he might darken by pretense. He was indeed generous in almsgiving, devout in prayer, diligent in vigils, abundant in humility, outstanding in teaching, peaceful in speech, cautious in conversation, most holy in his manner of life, strong in harsh sufferings, cheerful in good works, most secure in temptation, most expansive in hospitality, beneficent amid hatreds, always intent upon heaven even in prosperity and adversity, perfect in charity, which is the bond of perfection in Christ (Col. 3:14). The serenity of his countenance indeed showed the sincerity of his mind, and the gentleness of his speech displayed the piety of his heart. Nothing was more grave than his laughter, nothing sweeter than his sadness, nothing more merciful than his spirit, nothing more kindly toward the humble. If he saw a poor man, he supported him; if a rich man, he exhorted him to do good, calling God as witness that he did all these things for His name's sake, ever remembering that which the Truth says in the Gospel: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy (Matt. 5:7); and also that: But give alms, and behold, all things are clean unto you (Luke 11:41); and elsewhere: As water extinguishes fire, so almsgiving extinguishes sin (Sirach 3:33).

Remembering these precepts earnestly, he fulfilled them with all his strength, and he was a foot to the lame and an eye to the blind, a father to orphans, a consoler of widows. Whom did he ever call a blind man his heir, or whose weakling did his hand not sustain? He went about continually accompanied by this army, and in them, beholding Christ himself, he yearned to embrace him; and in giving garments to them, he believed that he was covering the limbs of Christ beneath the rags of the poor. And for this reason, sharing his wealth with his Lord, he rejoiced to join his substance to Christ, so that Christ might make him a co-heir of the heavenly kingdoms with himself, knowing indeed that it is written that those good things are an inheritance which is kept with the Lord as guardian. For his admonitions among his own people were nothing other than divine teachings and the foundations of the sacred Scriptures. For it is fitting that the good love and imitate him, and the wicked fear him, whom divine power has enlightened, so that the gift received from God, together with honey-sweet doctrine seasoned by the Holy Spirit, savored of the desire of Christ and was ever solicitous for eternal blessedness.

XXIV. If we consider what and how great things almighty God wrought through his priest, a fuller page of the pen is brought forth. For the most wicked often, fawning with evil counsels, subvert the hearts of earthly kings, according to the voice of Solomon: Evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Cor. 15:33). At a certain time it happened that tributes or censuses had been assessed upon the peoples by the kings. This condition was imposed most heavily upon all the cities established throughout Gaul. For this reason, then, the most reverend man, moved by piety, hastened to the king's presence, to make a petition on behalf of the citizens who had been enrolled by a harsh public edict of census. But since it is written: The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord (Prov. 21:1), whatever the holy man asked, he obtained from the devoted king. It happened, therefore, that as he was returning from his journey, coming to a certain village called Catuliacum, on that very day, namely, on which the holy mysteries of the Lord's resurrection were being celebrated, he was invited by the people and began to devote himself to the holy offices. While he was celebrating the divine solemnities, a certain girl who was grievously tormented by demons cried out that she could not endure the presence of the holy man, and yet, though she did not know it, she invoked his name. And he, according to his usual custom, performing works of piety, after the divine mysteries were completed, fleeing to the harbor of prayer, stood as intercessor that the girl might no longer be vexed by the ancient enemy.

XXV. At another time also, when the man of God was seeking the presence of the king on this kind of matter, as if by a secret coming, he hastened to go. And when he had entered the cloisters of the city of the Parisians, the people of this city were laboring under a severe fever, dysentery, and a most wretched disease, so that the number of bodies could not be estimated because of the multitude of those dying each day, especially the crowd of infants. But on a certain day, while he was being venerated by the bishop of that city with deserved affection, he asked that he retain him with himself for a few days in the office of charity, so that he might stand as an intercessor for the people to the Lord. Therefore, when the man of God Aridius had wished to comply with his petitions, it happened that one of his own men fell gravely ill with that same most wretched disease.

For the most blessed man, secure in the Lord through the tenor of his confidence, was praying with his customary prayer for the people of that city, whom he did not cease to console with gentle exhortation, that is, with his own words, so that no one should despair of the mercy of the Lord's loving-kindness. Indeed, he ordered blessed oil to be brought to him, and with his own hand, with the sign of the cross, he poured it over the mouths and nostrils of each one, saying to them: "Be consoled in the Lord, and exhort one another in turn, brothers; the right hand of Christ has restored you all safe and sound," and having thus spoken to his own people, he said: "Do not, I beg you, my brothers, do not be saddened, but rather be strengthened manfully, and trust more earnestly in the mercy of the Lord, because divine power has restored you all safe and sound to your own region." Meanwhile, turning over in his mind where he knew the king's presence to be, so that, having searched, he should seek it out. Therefore, leaving the brothers in that same city, he hastened with a few companions, and pursued his journey as far as the place called Brinnacus. When the traveler had without doubt drawn near, he said to those following him: "Know that the king is hard pressed by a severe fever, and that the end of his life itself has until now nearly threatened, but the clemency of the Lord, out of regard for the poor, will free him when we visit him for his healing. Keep this also more secretly. But after these few days, those of his own [household] who still seem to be alive will depart from the world." For the man of God Aridius knew by the Spirit of prophecy what the outcome afterward proved.

But when the holy servant of God had come to the place mentioned, the king, having learned of his arrival, ordered him to be brought into his chamber, believing that he would be helped in the Lord by his prayers. Therefore, when he had entered and had returned the greeting, he began to touch him with his hands, while he within himself was beseeching the Lord in prayers that the king would grant his petitions. And when he had begun to find relief from the anxiety of his infirmity through the sacred hands of the most blessed man, he laid before him the cause of his condition; but with God favoring him, who rules all things and orders all things sweetly, whatever the priest of God asked of the king he was able to obtain with easy success. And the king added that he also handed over to his hands those very books by which the people of his kingdom were held afflicted under a heavy tax, out of regard for the holy man and for his own stability, so that by his authority he might burn them in the fire. Then Aridius, having received the books, ordered coals to be prepared. When this was done, taking the books in his hands, he burned them in the fire with many also standing around. Having therefore obtained the cause of his petition, on the third day he bade farewell to the prince.

XXVI. But on a certain day, before he reached Paris, the outcome proved there what he had said to his companions not long before. For the man of God learned beyond doubt from a messenger's report that the king's sons had died—whom he himself had foretold beforehand—and that they were to be carried to Paris with great mourning of funeral rites. And when he had at length come back to the aforesaid city, he found that the people of that city had already been freed from the disease of dysentery by divine aid. He also found a certain one of his companions, by name Constantinus, lying under grave danger of death. And certain ones whom he had learned to be dead he restored to safety by his prayers. Then he was urged by his own people that he who was weighed down by a most grievous weariness should be entrusted in some place to such a person that, when he departed from this light, he might be enclosed in a mound of earth in a grave—for he had by this time come very near to death. But the most blessed man, moved by compassion and ready with his accustomed piety, lifted him up upon the vehicle on which he himself was accustomed to sit, and he is led on under another's guidance. And when he had indeed pressed on upon the journey now into the third day, afflicted by weariness and struck by the blow of death, he fell to the ground lifeless. When the most blessed man saw this, with a pierced heart, he began with groaning and tears to devote himself more earnestly to prayer.

When he rose from prayer, turning to the body and feeling it with his hands, he began to open his eyes; and not long after, death's prey being overcome, he is restored to his former light, sound and whole; he who had been despaired of life is restored to continued health. Then, speaking slowly, he asked that water be brought to him; and when all were anxiously searching here and there and could by no means find it, because that place was without doubt barren of water, the holy priest of God, turning aside a little and striking the ground with a blow of his staff, water gushed forth abundantly. He at once brought it in a vessel to the one who asked. Thus the burning of thirst is quenched, the pallor is driven from his face, his countenance is changed to ruddy color, he is raised to his feet; and he who had been condemned by the setting of death is presented safe and sound to his homeland. He afterwards ran the course of many years.

XXVII. It must be added to the miracles of his virtues that the hearts of hearers are enlightened by his example. When he was now drawing near to his homeland at a certain village called Argentomaob, there a certain Artemius, one of the monks, opportunely suggested that food should be prepared for the brothers. To him he said: Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you (Luke 12:31); and that voice of the Psalmist: But they that seek the Lord shall not be lacking in any good (Ps. 34:10). But these things from me have been...

Take care, dearest brother, when you have crossed the channel of this river, lift your eyes to the right wall; you will find a suitable place where we can temper the hunger of our little vehicle. And when he had come to the place so appointed to him, he found there two fish of wondrous size, still very much alive. When these had been sufficiently [prepared], Aridius, the man of God, took a portion of them for refreshment, and many of those present seemed to have eaten of them even to satiety. But he in whose name the apostles let down their nets into the waves, and they could not draw them in for the multitude of fishes, also distributed food to these hungry ones.

XXVIII. While the virtues of the saints are recounted, the minds of the faithful, as if thirsting, desire to be satisfied with the deep mysteries of God. At a certain time, while he was on a journey and hastening along the road, approaching a certain village of Argentomagus, he spoke to those following him, saying: Let us pass through silently, lest a delay be brought upon our journey. For this place was profane, consecrated to the cults of demons of ancient superstition, in which place the Christian people dwelling there could not endure their misery, because they were subject to various infirmities, or were even constantly tormented by the demons themselves. And when Aridius, the man of God, wished to flee secretly from the people, and he prayed in secret, the multitude of the sick people was stirred up, invoking his own name, because the insolent crowd of demons could not hide itself from the arrival of the holy man.

Therefore, while the multitude of the sick was following him, he looked back and stood still, and immediately prostrated himself on the ground in earnest prayer, asking the Lord on their behalf that they might be saved according to their faith. And when he had risen from prayer, he at once impressed the standard of the cross upon each one; then those who were held by various illnesses, or those who were vexed by unclean spirits, with the addition of oil and a blessing, giving thanks to the Lord, were freed from their infirmities or from the demons and restored to their former health.

XXIX. Those whom God chose before the foundation of the world, the loftiness of the reprobate despises. This holy man was despised among men, and the least in the eyes of the world, but greatest and preeminent among the ranks of the saints. At a certain time, while he was on a journey, one day as evening was drawing near, not far from a village whose name is Moeno, he ordered that an end be put to the journey and that the packs which the beasts of burden carried be set down in a suitable place; and when they had seen a pleasant place and a space delightful to the sight for staying, the most blessed man, knowing by the spirit of prophecy what was afterwards to come upon them, urged his companions with fatherly address, to whom he knew the greatest injury was imminent, and spoke to them, saying: Men, brothers and sons, believe that we shall suffer much injury this night, but be strong and trust that we shall be freed by heavenly aid.

And without any delay, when the sky was seen to be most serene with starry splendor, suddenly the earth was shaken amid thunder, and as if turned from its stability into trembling by the heavy sound; then the clouds in the air were thrown into confusion, appearing with foul color among the stars; and those that had been translucent with brightness were stirred up and turned into rain, and the flashing lightning gleamed more frequently from the sky that had been darkened; namely, not far from them were three idols dedicated to heathen worship, and when the air was pressed by lightnings, in the force of the thunder they were overturned from heaven, so that on the next day no foundations of the idols could be found there. By the same stroke of lightning with gleaming fire, a great fire partly burned up the forest that was seen by them from afar, and the wind's blast tore up and laid low the trees. But those who were with the man of God were so terrified by such fear that no one believed he could escape, fearing that the plague of God would descend upon them. Therefore he frequently urged his people to devote themselves to prayer and to persevere the whole night in the office of psalmody. For that place where the man of God Aridius had turned aside to stay seemed to others to be in a lower place than where the rest had fixed their tents. Thus all were soaked by the enormity of the water, so that nothing remained in the entrance.

where the rush of waters had not run through; but the holy priest of God, looking around at his companions, placed over it the little cloak and the blanket on which he was to rest, the little box that he carried hanging from his neck with the sacred relics, as if the place had been touched by the heat of the sun, so that that place felt no moisture.

XXX. Nor must that be passed over in silence which befits virtue. It happened at a certain time, when war had arisen between two princes, that the people of the city of the Lemovices, fearing that the walls of that region would be broken down and reduced to desolation and destroyed—a messenger having been sent to them by the king to whose dominion the people was subject, and the city, now laid waste, was under siege. Therefore one of them, by name Domaricus, who had come with others to seize the city, approached the holy man of God, earnestly inquiring of him that whatever he had learned through the spirit of revelation, he should foretell the future. To these, in silence, he spoke thus: Although I know that you fear King Theodebert, know this, that his kingdom is now being taken away, but for the present he is cut off more swiftly. But your king—to be sure, the forces of many nations have been stirred up against him, over whom victory will be granted to him; that is, when the battle has been won, he is deceitfully cheated of the victory, but his kingdom is handed over to be governed by his sons and grandsons.

But the other kings, for whom the kingdom seems to stand by their stability, pressed by the critical moment of death, are snatched from the world in ignobility; but the aforementioned Domaricus returned to the warriors. For what the man of God Aridius foretold, the outcome of the matter afterward proved. But among these other good qualities, the word also of his wisdom and knowledge had been bestowed upon him abundantly; he possessed charity and humility above all things, and he did not afflict his servants as slaves, but loved them with kindly charity. Why should I linger over more? In his every manner of life, like the morning star shining among the stars of heaven, he gleamed like a great lamp. For he always emulated the perfect toward good, and always set the virtues of others before himself as an example. He was slow to speak and swift to hear, and he was rich in alms, great in charity, sublime in humility, subtle in speech, watchful in intellect, ready in eloquence, burning in zeal, indeed a useful vessel in the house of Christ.

XXXI. It has seemed right to many of the wounded that those who prophesy future things through the Spirit of prophecy should, by open consideration, narrate divinely accomplished deeds. So too this man of God, with heavenly grace enlightening him, was announcing through the revelation of the Holy Spirit the things that were to come to men. A certain man from the citizens of the city of the Lemovices, surnamed Nectarius, not poor in means but rich in wealth, had an only son, and the blessed servant of God understood that the onset of death was suddenly threatening him. Therefore the most reverend man sent a messenger to his parents, that before the boy succumbed to death he might be presented to his sight. Then, when the mother heard the messenger, she burst into tears over the destruction of her offspring. Meanwhile, with a few attendants serving her, she obeyed the command of the blessed man; and as she was setting out on the journey, so that the truth of the foreteller might be proven, the boy's limbs were loosened by the violent attack of fevers, and with his head lowered and his eyes closed, he seemed to be almost dead. And while the holy man was awaiting the outcome of this matter, the servants, seeing that the youth was lifeless, immediately bursting into weeping and crying out, hastened with the greatest speed to the man of God. Moved by compassion, he took up the lifeless boy and believed he should be exposed at the sacred relics of the blessed Hilary, the bishop.

He commended him to the Lord with great orations and prayers, that he who restored Lazarus, four days dead, alive from the tomb, might also mercifully come to the aid of this boy. When the prayer was finished, the one who had appeared to be lifeless was at once restored whole to his mother; and they whom she had believed dead and about to be given to burial returned home together with him, exulting with great joy and rejoicing.

XXXII. These things, then, and very many others similar to these, which it would be long to recount one by one, Aridius, the man of the Lord, adorned with the grace of prophecy, foretold. For many are the works of power which almighty God declared through this most blessed man, which, the more often they are turned over in mind, the more they ever grow for beholding in miracles. But these, namely those above, have been gathered as a few from many. Dwelling on earth as a stranger, after he obtained the heavenly palm, returning to Christ, drawn out from the snare of the world, he left us no small example to be recounted, of what he had been able to work in the world while living. But now it is long to set forth in words, one by one, the miracles of his virtues, especially since the book, now beyond measure filled, demands an end and rejects the discourse, and the dryness of our speech, worn away, or nearly exhausted by its long course, sinks down: not that we have explained all that were to be told of him, who not even to the hundredth part of his...

...can attain to works of virtue, how great are the ornaments of good works in the blessed man, which are the greatest and most precious, he has gathered together by the prerogative of supernal reward. This therefore remains, that we may be able to come to the end of our term. Truly an imitable man! O how much to be preferred to all is his example! O blessed one according to Abraham! Indeed the blessing of Abraham merited a son, but Aridius, blessed, is transferred into the heavenly kingdom; Abraham handed down an heir, this one nonetheless an inheritance; lastly, Abraham displayed what he had as a pledge, but Aridius committed to the Lord's judgment and right everything that he could have in the world. Let it suffice therefore to have said these things. Now indeed, as I hope, even if in rustic sense we have uttered a lengthy discourse, although we could by no means narrate praises worthy of his merits. Now indeed I think it worthy both for the edification of hearers and of readers, if in a few words I take care to explain how he departed from this life to the Lord, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit through all ages of ages, amen.

HERE BEGINS THE ACCOUNT OF THE PASSING OF SAINT ARIDIUS, THE MOST BLESSED ABBOT AND CONFESSOR.

XXXIII. So when the man of God was already passing through old age, when he had already patiently endured the adversities of the world and all its labors, after he had heaped up on every side the merits of the most faithful stewardship entrusted to him, after many works of mercy, after the subjection of monks and monasteries, after sweet examples of life, after the miracles of all good things and virtues had been made manifest: as his age now declined, when he was more than eighty years old, knowing that the dissolution of his body was now at hand, he said to his monks: Know, dearest brothers, that the Lord will soon deign to free me from the snare of this world. When they had heard this, all were melted away by that speech and turned to anguish, and they began to say mournfully: Let it not be, lord, that your servants see this, but rather may Christ permit Your Blessedness to flourish here for many years for the adornment of the church. But he, with tears and long sighs, said to them: Let not our will, but rather the Lord's, be done in this matter. Then, to these words, as all were mourning, he said: Do not, I beg you, my brothers, do not be saddened, but rather rejoice and be glad, because I have long desired this time, I have longed to receive this release. And so, when they had been turned to anguish and were sighing, and were nonetheless held fast by the uncertainty of the matter, the conversation ceased.

There was no delay: after this, a very light fever having been visited upon his body, he began to be afflicted. Then, summoning a certain boy, he commanded him, saying: "Hurry, my son, go quickly to the illustrious man Astidius, and say to him that he should come with swift course, because after the days of my death he himself will receive the care of governing this monastery." And again he said: "For if he makes any delay, he will no longer see my face in this life." The messenger indeed fulfilled the commands, but the aforementioned Astidius, on account of the business of coming, arrived late. When he had arrived, he no longer found the man of God alive in this world. And so, as the man of God foretold, the outcome of the matter afterward proved it. Meanwhile, as I began to say, when the blessed man was enduring his final illness, he did not cease even from God's work, judging this to be a good consummation of his virtues, if he should carry it through to the end. For night and day in prayers and vigils, with his limbs growing weary, he compelled his spirit and mind to serve God, and exceedingly glad, he awaited the journey he had desired. Therefore, when he already sensed that the day was near, having gathered his disciples on the ninth day before the Kalends of September, whom he was already beginning to leave in body but not in spirit, he said to them: "Would that, most beloved brothers, you wished to hear the sentence of my littleness. If you are truly lovers of me, love the counsels of Christ, continually fear the dreadful judgments of God. With anxious consideration, beware of what sort you will be when you are presented on the day of judgment.

For I am already going my way, and I also desire to be dissolved and, if the Lord permits, to be at rest. Having said these things, when all were weeping and wailing, he said to them: Behold, today I commend the salvation of your souls into your hands; remember therefore my admonition, and think, all of you, about yourselves. Do these things which I say continually, ponder and turn them over, and always keep my memory with you. Already Aridius will no longer be with you in this world. When all who stood around had heard these things, they raised a great groaning and weeping, and all wept with one voice, saying: Why, father, do you forsake us, or why do you desire to depart from us so quickly? We know indeed that you long for Christ, but your rewards are secured for you; have mercy also on us whom you leave. We cannot bear your absence, because we shall never afterwards have anyone like you. Grieve for us, father, and do not leave us orphans so soon. While they were weeping such things, that most loving shepherd wet his face abundantly with tears; and since he was loving, he could neither forsake them nor be separated longer from Christ. At last, then, amid bitter tears, taking up his words again, he said: Do not be saddened from this time on, and I beg you, do not be troubled further with weeping over my departure; you ought rather to rejoice than to mourn, because even if I am absent in body, I will be present in spirit. For if I was able to do anything, I fought for your progress; and although I am weak, the Lord is always [strong].

I commend you to him, and to him I entrust your care. I know indeed that as an unprofitable servant I have not done what I ought, but the Lord knows how I have willed. After these words also, when the day was already declining, he suddenly fell forward onto the floor, and with his eyes raised to heaven he prayed suppliantly, groaning and sighing: I commend to you, Lord Jesus, the sheep which you have entrusted to me. Commending therefore to the Lord with interest the talent he had received from him, now indeed placed at the very end, having called his disciples to himself and embraced each one, bidding farewell to all, he said: I shall no longer speak to you, you will not see my face any more; therefore farewell in peace, and know that I am at rest. Those who were standing around, hearing this, could in no way restrain themselves from weeping. Yet amid bitter tears these words alone resounded: We grieve indeed for our own sake, because you leave us destitute of the consolation of your presence; but for your sake, best of fathers, we are consoled, because after the labor of this world you go to eternal rest. Then he, with his eyes raised to heaven, poured forth a silent prayer, and then with tears said: Remember me, Lord, who alone are without sin, Redeemer of the world, and snatch me from the body of death, and save me into your heavenly kingdom: you are my protector, Lord; into your hands I commend my spirit. Receive me therefore according to your great mercy, and do not put me to shame in my expectation; but help me, and aid the departure of my soul.

Open to me, Lord, as I hasten, the gate of your kingdom, and let the princes of darkness not meet me, but let your mercy protect and defend me, and may your hand lead me into the place of refreshment and consolation, and at least into the last tabernacle which you have prepared for those who fear your holy name. Among these things he also added, saying: Now dismiss your servant, Lord, according to your word in peace. And having said these things, in the midst of the words of prayer he gave up his spirit (Luke 2:29).

XXXIV. When that holy soul had cast off the burden of the flesh, and it was immediately the second hour of the night, a globe of exceeding brightness was seen to descend from heaven over his little cell, and from there to penetrate upward to the stars. In this order, then, his holy soul, freed from earthly defilements, with the holy angels leading it, flew back joyful to its author. The man had indeed given up his spirit, but a feigned lamentation for him resounded to heaven. His body was composed according to custom and placed on a bier, and there they spend the whole night awake in psalms and hymns.

When the light of day had risen, a multitude of people gathered; and when it had also come to the notice of the bishop of the city of Limoges, hearing this he rushed forth with great weeping and swift running, and wept for a very long time over the body of the holy man, because he had not found him alive in this world; and when he soon wished to carry it to the church of the blessed martyr Julian, which the holy man had built, where the sacred body lay, in no way were they able to lift the bier, not even a little. But the man of the Lord Aridius had decided to give his body for burial in the church of the blessed bishop Hilary, which he too had built by his own labor. Then the bishop Ferreolus, made very sad, proclaimed that a three-day fast should be observed with psalmody. When this was done, he himself with his people ceaselessly observed the fast throughout those three days. Meanwhile, when the fast was completed, he said: If it is the will of the Lord and of this saint, that he go where I and the people here desire, let him be lifted up without any delay. Now the place was in a more secluded part. And when they had come to the bier to try to lift it, it was at once lifted with such speed that it was easily carried by two, though before it was moved not even by very many. All who were present saw this together with the same bishop, and with great exultation they magnified the glory of Christ, saying: Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty.

And when the body had now been carried to the tomb, all who were present restrained themselves from weeping in no manner at all; they cried out that they were losing their father, and amid tears and sobs they scarcely brought forth these words: Why do you forsake us, Father, and to whom do you hand over your foster-children to be ruled? So, when the body had been consigned to burial according to custom, the aforesaid bishop returned to his own place. Let there be compared, then, if it please you, with the funeral rites of this holy man—I do not say of a funeral, but rather of a triumph—the empty glory of the world; let the pomp of rich men, if it can be, be compared to this departed priest. The madness of the crowd honors those with confused applause; Aridius, stripped of the hardship of the world, angels bear with heavenly praises to everlasting kingdoms. Those, after the pomps of the world, are thrust down into Tartarus; this man, after the adversities of the world, is received rejoicing into the bosom of Abraham. Those, oppressed by the wealth of riches and dead, are cast headlong into Gehenna; but Aridius, exalted by almsgiving, shall rise again with the saints in glory. Those, condemned, mourn at the last in hell; Aridius, crowned with laurel, exults with the Church and with all the saints from the world. Thanks to you, our God, who have rendered to him great things for small, and have made him to rest in eternal glory, and by that gospel promise where he says: Well done, good and faithful servant, because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things (Matthew 25:21), he has merited here to hear: Enter into the joy of your Lord.

And as it is written concerning such men through Solomon: The just man is delivered out of distress. And through Jeremiah it is written: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence. Hence David also says: His will is in the law of the Lord, and he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of waters. Hence also through Isaiah the prophet the Lord says: I have called him and blessed him, and his way has been made straight. Hence too in the book of Ecclesiasticus it is said: To him that fears the Lord it shall go well in the end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed. Hence also elsewhere it is written: The fruit of his labors shall be glorious, and his crown triumphs forever. Let it suffice for us to have narrated these things concerning the death of the holy man, lest I bring weariness to my readers. But as his life is ended, so too let our discourse be ended.

HERE BEGINS THE ACCOUNT OF THE MIRACLES OF SAINT AREDIUS THE ABBOT.

XXXV. Now concerning the many miracles which the Lord continually works through his merits at his most sacred body, I shall undertake to set down a few out of many—those which Jesus Christ made manifest there at the close of his death—as far as is fitting for the readers' benefit; and therefore the human mind cannot express in words with how many mysteries supernal grace illumines its soldiers. A certain one of the monks from the most sacred cell of the man, by name Baudenus, did not delay to go to the region of Burgundy with the documents of charters by which the monastery's possession was confirmed. Seeking therefore the venerable and distinguished bishop Syagrius of the city of Aedua, he implored him with his entreaties, because he was held in the king's palace in honor most worthy before all others, that by his patronage the cell might be protected from the snares of various rivals. He indeed, assenting to the petitions of the aforesaid monk, did not deny what the most reverend man requested; but even by royal authority he granted the documents and the freedom to return to the royal court. And when many days had passed and, having obtained his petition, he was hastening on, he entered a town of the region of Lemovica. On a certain day in a certain village, by name Ricomagus, he found there a magnificent man, Nectarius; and whatever outcome his petitions had produced, he disclosed all of it.

While he was in the meantime being questioned by him, he began to waver in his speech, and with his mind slipping and his face raging, and immediately bursting forth in speech, he could not keep silent about the cause of his deed, because he had been shamefully defiled by the vice of adultery. And while he gnashed his teeth and tore at himself with his bites, he, stirred up, shook off from himself the chrismarium which the most blessed man Aredius was accustomed to carry, and which held the relics of the saints, and threw it to the ground. And when his immense fury could in no way be calmed, he was bound and handed over to a guard. Meanwhile one of the servants of the aforesaid man, having taken up the chrismarium which he had thrown from himself, unknowingly put it back among the garments. While this was being done, with the things gathered together into one, they began to load the beast of burden. For when the load had been lifted upon it, weighed down by the sacred weight, it fell to the ground and could no longer move a step. What more? It is placed upon another, which, having taken up the weight, in like condition and similarly fell to the ground. And when it was urged on with many goads and bloodied, it in no way recovered the spirit to rise, until the cause was given for the guilt of the misdeed to be made known. Therefore, while he was being driven more sharply by the force of his own madness, he cried out that he was bound together with his garments to the chrismarium, which he said he had unworthily carried off; and therefore the vehicle is not moved unless it is removed, where rather is the fault of negligence.

When they had searched the purse, they found it at once, and out of reverence for his devotion and religion the eminent man Nectarius placed it with honor upon the innocent boy; and immediately the periods of the hours were fulfilled. For the aforementioned Baudenus, before he was disturbed in spirit—since he cannot be judged otherwise, seeing that he was not governed by his own mind—went forth in flight with legs outstretched before all. And while in the space of one hour he ran swiftly on his own feet nearly twelve thousand paces, his body grew weary and he fell half-dead to the ground; and when he had been overtaken by the guards, he was brought to a dwelling. When the night had passed, rising at daybreak, compelled by the unclean spirit, he presented himself at the most sacred tomb of Saint Martialis to be shown; and there, when he had made confession of his deed, the wicked spirit having been cast out, he was deemed worthy to receive the remedy of health.

XXXVI. There are many other things also which after the passing of the holy man almighty God wrought. For a cause of this kind, with the peoples waiting, one of his household, coming with the swiftest course to the magnificent man aforementioned, announced that his wife was held in grave danger of death, and he warned him to be present quickly if he wished to find her alive. He, meanwhile, trusting in the Lord's mercy, ordered the boy who had carried the chrismarium of the holy man with him to hurry on ahead.

When she had entered the house, the whole household was absorbed in grief and lamentation, because she was subject to the crisis of so sudden a death. With her eyes closed, the judgment of death was apparent from the appearance of her throat, where a very severe swelling had arisen. She had already been deprived of the function of speech, and with her eyes growing dim she could not recognize her husband. But when the reliquary of the holy man was hung upon the neck of the dying woman, death was at once put to flight, her eyes were immediately opened to the light, and the breath of her spirit was restored to its former health. Vomiting violently, with the swelling of her throat removed, she threw up what she had not received by eating, and she was restored to life, though death had been at her doors. The reliquary itself, with the priests summoned, was carried with veneration to the monastery of the holy man.

XXXVII. But who could worthily set forth in words, one by one, all the wonders that the Lord Jesus Christ continually works at the holy man's tomb? On a certain day a woman had resolved that she ought to see the holy man in person, so that she might give thanks.

While the monks were celebrating the night vigils, a certain Babolenus who had a son named Babolenus, who had been afflicted with a severe wound of the limbs, was carried by his parents and laid out at the tomb of the holy man. While he lay on the pavement, the boy, breaking out into speech around nightfall, felt the joints of his limbs being joined together in the places where they had been dislocated. Rising from the pavement, he stood on his feet with his limbs made whole; and he who had been brought by hands to the sepulcher returned to his own home on his own feet, rejoicing together with his parent and giving thanks to Christ.

XXXVIII. It must be considered with the greatest attention how great were the gifts of his grace that almighty God conferred upon his saints in this life, so that they might be renewed for the heavenly fatherland after their triumph, to the greater increase of glory. And so a certain one of the monks, named Gaudomeres, from the monastery of Amiens, which is situated not far from the city, was himself held by an evil spirit, so that he wished to tear apart with his bite whatever he saw, and he was led bound with two chains and bindings as a criminal to a judge. For on a certain day he was led to the tomb of the holy man, and there, restored to his former health, he was snatched from the adversary, the enemy by whom he was tormented, and he converted many to the service of almighty God.

For the chains by which the wretch was bound were loosened of their own accord, so that by a double miracle it was made clear that in one moment the tightly packed chains were broken and that divine grace set free the one possessed by a demon, so that, freed, he might serve God, to whom all creation groans. For if anyone, for whatever cause or fault, has been bound or constrained by chains, and it happens that he is led bound through the public field which is nearest to that same basilica, as soon as he has come opposite that church, all his bonds are immediately burst apart and the guilty man is released, nor does he suffer to be held bound any longer.

XXXIX. To wondrous things still more wondrous things succeed. For on a certain day two mute men came to the tomb of the holy man, though they could not ask with the tongue, but with faith. Anointed therefore with oil, at the Lord's command the tongue of the mutes was immediately loosed, and they began to speak and to pray, and those who had been made speechless straightway converse with the people. For the elect have received this in gift, that the more they abound in virtues, the more they judge themselves unworthy, lest they be carried off to empty glory, so that they may not be deprived of the heavenly gift. Therefore four men coming from different provinces, condemned by one blindness, then prostrate in the oratory, were awaiting light, seeking by this event the remedy of the holy man.

Meanwhile, while they were offering prayers at the sacred tomb, earnestly entreating together, he straightway opened the eyes of the blind, which had long since been closed, and they, having obtained clear light, sought the threshold of the temple.

XL. Many other signs and powers are likewise wrought there by his merits at the command of heavenly grace; among these, a vessel is also abundantly overflowed with oil. From this, many anointed there are healed of various infirmities, and the name of the Lord, the eternal God, is continually blessed there. But also at his bed, which is situated in the estate of his monastery, many powers are likewise manifested. And indeed throughout diverse places, wherever his sacred relics are carried, or wherever they have been brought, very many signs of powers are more earnestly accomplished, the glory of Christ revealing his merits. All of which we have deemed burdensome to pursue in words in order, and therefore we have comprised them in these very few syllables, because we are already hastening to cease from speaking. But if we had now taken care to unravel these things one by one, as they were done, we would both exceed the measure of a very small volume and perhaps, by that very prolixity, bring weariness upon readers. But the things we have related less fully, they furnish faith openly to all who behold those manifold bonds of the fettered, which are seen hanging as evidence of these things at his sepulcher.

From these we have recorded either few or almost nothing, at least insofar as what has been set before the eyes of all, we and all alike are uncertain to know. For indeed very many things were accomplished in a short time. Those things, namely, which are to be done thereafter through long stretches of time—of what kind or how great they are—who can now comprehend by estimation, when even today miracles never cease to be performed at the Bishop's tomb? But daily the sick come to the tomb of the holy man, and keeping vigil there they are made whole; the blind come, and they are enlightened; the demon-possessed come, and they are freed; the perjured come, and either they die or they are even tormented by the devil; those bound in iron flee there, and they are loosed; the lame, brought in carts, with their steps made firm, return to their own homes safe and sound. Many healings, moreover, are accomplished by the liquid of oil that grows there. How many again, held fast by chills or various infirmities, were freed after the passing of the most blessed man, who had been captives of the enemy. For the page of a little book cannot be joined together one by one, lest it prepare disgust for those weaker in faith, and a longer discourse be published to those who doubt. Let it suffice, therefore, to have said these few things out of many, so that, as it were, from various flowers breathing fragrance in the bosom of Holy Church, the hearts of many believers may be filled, so that they may be able to pluck perfect fruits, which worldly delight does not defile.

For one cannot both rejoice here with the world and reign there with Christ, nor serve two masters, namely God and mammon. Putting off therefore the works of darkness, let us put on the armor of light, because the Creator of all things is the true light, which enlightens every man coming into this world through our Lord Jesus Christ His Son, who in perfect Trinity lives and reigns as God in the unity of the Holy Spirit through all ages of ages. Amen.

The testament of Saint Aredius, although it is not contained in the manuscript codex of Saint Gall, it has nevertheless seemed better to include it here than in an appendix, as we promised in the notes to that book of the Histories where it is praised by Gregory. It is now given for the first time in full from the archive of Saint Martin of Tours.

THE TESTAMENT OF SAINT AREDIUS, ABBOT OF ATTANE.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, on the day before the Kalends of November, in the year of the reign of our lord King Sigibert, I, Aredius, priest, and Pelagia, sound in mind and whole in counsel, fearing the accidents of human frailty, lest the sudden occasion of death should overtake us unawares, sitting as judges and arbiters of our affairs, have made our testament, which I, Aredius himself, have written with my own hand, and have handed to witnesses of fitting number to be subscribed.

And if by chance our testament shall not be able to be valid by civil or praetorian law, or by the drafting of any novel law, or of an old one, they are ordered to be valid in place of codicils and of all writings that stand for firmness. That this may be done, let it be given, furnished, and held inviolate in all things, according to the tenor written below, which we have established with Christ the Lord's help.

Therefore, judging you, holy Martin of Tours, we so appoint it through the provost of the holy ordination of your basilica. But whatever we have given to you, or to anyone, or whatever we have asked to be done, all these things we beseech by your power and holy dominion, after our death, that it be done and endure.

Therefore we give to you, holy Martin, by the page of this testament, half of Griciensis; but the other half, with its buildings and with all its right, let our monks residing at Attanum possess in perpetuity, with you, holy Martin, defending them: namely on this condition, that to the monastery which, with the Lord inspiring and helping us, we have made, and the monks whom God has ordained to be there through us sinners, or shall hereafter command to be ordained, that is, as many from our freeborn as from our servants, we commend to you, lord Martin, to be ordained; so that if hereafter, which God forbid, anyone should wish to withdraw them from your power—those things which have been built for you, holy Martin, at the holy place out of love of Christ and in your honor and that of the saints—by any evil and iniquitous device, which God avert, or if anyone whom he should deem worthy to be ruled and governed should neglect to ordain or subject them without the oversight of your holy basilica, let him be anathema through your virtues.

Our portion of the Sisciacum field, that is, the house and oratory with the remaining buildings, fields, woods, meadows, pastures and dependents, with all its right, as it is possessed by us at the present time, we grant to the holy basilica, Lord Martin, and also to the commended monks of Attanum, whom we decree to live under your patronage, so that you may have God propitious; and we have given to you, Lord Martin, and to your monks, from that same estate of Sisciacum, which belongs to the side of your basilica, three ploughmen, Parmimus, Talasius and Claudius, as well as our other dependents, or whatever is owed to us by due servitude, except those who are already free, namely Clara and Marcia. Ursacius with his wife and children we likewise give to you for servitude, on this condition, that they cultivate four aripenni of vineyard.

Also our cell dedicated in honor of Saint Medard, which is seen to be situated under Gaudemarus and is commonly called Exidolium, with all its appurtenances, let the monks of Attanum possess, with you, Lord Martin, as defender. Nonniacum, our house with its buildings.

with vineyards, woods, meadows and pastures, or with all its right, similarly also at Luciacus and Marcomons, with vineyards, or all its right, according as it is possessed by us with God's favor, we wish our monks of Attanum to have through you, holy Martin, and we ask that, with you defending them, they may possess it, with the dependents, by these names: Parminius with his wife and children, Leomeris with his wife and children, Armedius with his wife and children, Husticus with his wife and children, Claudius, Silvius with his wife and children. For they likewise are to cultivate four arpents of vineyard each for the monks, but their wives are to pay ten silver pieces each year to the aforesaid monks of ours at Attanum, and let no one presume to demand anything more from them at any time. But let them possess their own personal property, the little fields and little vineyards, with no one disturbing them, on this condition, however, that they presume neither to sell nor to alienate it. But as for our house at Scauriniacum, which is called our portion [that is, it is owed], besides that which we have given, or that which we have sold, with vineyards, meadows, woods and pastures, we ask with humble supplication that half of it be held in remembrance by your basilica, Lord Martin, as instituted heir, and that our monks of Attanum have the half through you. Eufrasius and Meroaldus we have appointed as vine-dressers of your vineyards, Lord Martin, on this condition, that they cultivate and bind four arpents of vineyard each.

We assign Valentinian likewise to the monks written above, so that he himself may cultivate four arpents of vineyard for the monks, and nothing more. Let his wife Subfronia and their sons, if they have any, remain in freedom. To the basilica of the holy lord Martin we have given our portion from the estate of Rofiacus, the house called Juliacus, with all its right. Likewise we wish Genuliacus to be given to the holy Martial, with its buildings, meadows, woods and pastures, or all its right. And from Scauriniacus, five arpents of cultivated vineyard which Provincianus the vinedresser cultivated, and in Negiacus the arpents of cultivated vineyard which we give for our offering, so that the servants of the holy Martial or of his matricula may receive them through our holy heir. Let the courtyard with our house within the walls of the city of Limoges, with its entrance and exit, be possessed by your basilica, holy Martin, and by our monks of Attanum by equal succession. Likewise in the fortress of Issaudo let them possess the courtyard within the walls with our house by similar equity.

We wish our portion at Eustriacum to be given to Florentia and her sons, and our free persons, whose names are listed below, shall stand under your protection, holy lord Martin; that is, Castorius with his wife Limphasia, Oitardus with his wife Exsuperia, Aquilinus and Pascentius with their wives and sons, Mallostes with his wife, Antedia with her son, Leotchardus with his wife Gaudiosa, Gariabandus with his wife, Faustinus with his wife Ermentaria, John with his wife and sons, Marometus with his wife Sanctondia, Frontuinus with his wife and sons, Antonius, Nimasius with his wife Maria, Majorianus with his wife Gerontia, Leonetus with his wife Bajola, Basulus with his wife Avencia, Mauricius with his wife Margaridia, Sanieldus with his wife Marcella, Leontius with his wife Euminia, Urretia, Eulia, whom we redeemed from captivity, Romana with her sons, the sons of Burgonerus, Frontasius with his sons. We likewise order that Hildemodus with his wife and sons be free, together with their small fields and little vineyards, or whatever personal property they have or shall hereafter be able to have; we wish this to be granted to them on this condition, however, that they shall have no power to sell or give away the small fields or vineyards.

We order that Procula and Macedonia likewise serve in the same place, and we decree that these little handmaids, whose acknowledgment is set down below, namely Solemius with his wife and children, Maurencianus with his wife Valeriana, Aligilius with his wife Basilia, Aliasionius with his wife Florentina, Specius with his wife Eugeria, Lupicinus with his wife, Hioctorecia with her children, Francardus with his wife Orngia and their children, Amaretus with his wife Savina, Frangomeres with his wife Leoboda, Parthenius with his wife Mariosa, Sonulfus with his wife Animia and their children. We have stated their acknowledgment, but we have also made some of them free; these, however, with their little fields and little vineyards, or whatever they appear to possess, or may later be able to acquire, we decree [shall hold], on condition that each year they bring three pounds of wax to our carriage, and each month in turn they call the culogiae to our masses, and bring five silver pieces to the altar, and give a gift according to what their poverty can provide; nothing more shall be required of them, either by the basilica of Saint Martin or by our monks, than that they must fulfill what is written.

And these our free men and free women, whom our father of blessed memory Jucundus commended to us by his testament, and likewise those whom we have made free for the remedy of the soul of our brother Enstadius of blessed memory, we commend to you, holy Martin, to be defended. And if anyone should wish to disturb or exercise dominion over them beyond what is enjoined upon them, in any matter whatsoever, do you, holy Martin, defend them. For also those women whom we have written below, that is Baudonidia with her children, Habenda, Allovera, Fraterna, Amasonia, Artemia, Susanna, Proba, Prohatia, Frotania, let them pay each year one triens apiece to our monks, and let no one presume to demand more from them, lest he incur what has been set down above. Our horses and small beasts of burden, or cows, sheep and oxen, and pigs, the household goods, the utensils throughout the houses, or whatever the steward of Saint Martin shall find in our cellars or courtyards after our death, let him distribute half to the poor, and let our above-written monks receive the other half.

We also add the bondservants who are called colonary, and who are said to be liable to tribute, so that half may go to your basilica, lord Martin, and the other half may accrue to our monks, and let them all pay threefold dues each year. Noe is Eulodius with his children, who are to belong to us; Renchard with his children; Friard with his children; Amanda with her children; Gundemer without children; Dominica with her daughter. Therefore I have given the aforesaid bondservants to these holy places, that their merits may free us sinners.

And since each holy place established there has a ministry declared in it, we have thought it right to insert the following: that is, four towers, three silk coverings, four silver chalices. Two are plated, bought for thirty solidi each. For the middle one, made with gold, is worth thirty solidi, and the fourth is worth thirteen solidi. A silver paten worth seventy-two solidi. Four silk coverings: one is worth thirty solidi, another sixteen solidi, the third fifteen solidi, the fourth forty-five solidi. Two of them are made with gold. Also a linen covering, adorned, worth four solidi; four corporal palls; three silk coverings, five smaller ones; and palls; the hangings in the basilica worth twelve solidi, and other daily ones worth six solidi, and other daily ones which are before the altar worth five solidi.

Three curtains from the greater door, ornamented, worth three solidi. Other curtains from that same door, worth three solidi. Likewise a curtain at the lesser door, worth two solidi. Likewise a painted veil worth five solidi. Similarly, in the oratory of Saint Hilary, a crown with a silver cross gilded and set with precious gems, a paten with relics of the holy lords, and its ornament, worth by estimation a hundred solidi; that crown having hanging upon it leaves made of gold and gems, eight in number; and on that cross two similar [leaves] made and imitated; a great gem round about in gold, and beneath a small cross of gold, and eight little gems. A silk pall with its ornament, worth twelve solidi. Likewise a pall over the little altar of Saint Hilary, overlaid with gold and wrought with pearls, worth thirty solidi. Three little curtains adorning the walls of that same oratory with silk, worth eight solidi. Likewise a daily pall over the altar of the lord Hilary, worth two solidi. Likewise a curtain in the house of Hilary of silk, worth forty solidi. Likewise in [the church of] the lord Maximus, three little curtains. Before the altar one of vermilion, worth two solidi, and the other two, worth three solidi. And likewise a vermilion pall in [the church of] the lord Julian, worth one solidus. A daily pall in [the church of] the lord Maximus, ornamented with silk, and corporal cloths in [the church of] the lord Hilary, or little curtains at the doors for daily use. Likewise for palls over the holy sepulchre, two of silk, worth sixty solidi.

Likewise five decorated Achaean palls over the tombs, worth fifteen solidi. Likewise a bordered pall, worth two solidi. Likewise another bordered pall, worth one solidus. Two veils before the tombs themselves, worth five solidi. All these things, both the ornaments of the saints and whatever is over our tombs of the martyrdom of the saints of Attanum, that is Scipio the deacon and Aventiolus, whom we have appointed to guard and attend to them before the saints, we have consigned to the lord Nicetius, deacon of Saint Martin, together with two tribunals from the oratory of Sisciacum, worth four solidi, and three veils at the doors, worth six solidi; the towers, chalices, palls, and coverings we have handed over to the aforesaid martyries to be guarded.

For furthermore we adjure the provost of Saint Martin and our monks of Attanum, by the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the merits of all the saints, that in the oratory of Saint Hilary, in my cell, on the fifth day, at all times, the matins and the mass of the holy lords be celebrated earlier by the monks in that same place. And command that the roofs of the saints be repaired whenever they have fallen into ruin, that is at Attanum and Sisciacum, admonishing both the monks and the free men and servants and our tenants, so that those holy places may be protected at all times, as is the custom; and let what we have thus established, as we have left it, be preserved as is fitting in the Lord Jesus Christ.

But those who have been unwilling to serve us or our monastery and congregation, let them be held strangers to all our possessions, both while we are alive and after our death.

If the Atlanenses, while we are alive, provide comforts to the Vosidensian monks, as shall please them, we grant by our own free will our portion at Fexitoialo and a hundred arpenns of land at Sisciacus; but if they refuse to provide the comforts, then what has been given to them by us, do you, holy Martin, recall to your basilica, and all things commended to you by the Attanensian monks, to be possessed in perpetuity.

But whatever has perhaps not been included in this our Testament, or has been omitted that ought to have been set down: if a small piece of land, or any movable property, is found, let our heir, the lord Martin, reclaim all of it as his own. If any little slaves remain, and are found outside the testament, let both those who have extended deeds of liberty and those who have not, with Saint Martin as their defender, remain in freedom. And whatever we have given by deeds confirmed by the subscription of our hand, we have ordered to be wholly valid. But if anyone wishes to come against this our testament, or attempts to go against what is done by our deliberation here, let him be excommunicated and anathematized both here and forever through the virtues of the holy and blessed lord Martin, and let that curse come upon him which Psalm 108 contains against Judas Iscariot.

If any writing or scribal marks are found, we made them, while we have quite often read over our testament, and we have decreed to emend it.

I, Aredius, sinner and presbyter in the name of Christ, have written our testament, read it over, and subscribed it, on the day and in the year above. I, Pelagia, have read over our testament and subscribed it on the day and in the year above. I, Alstidius, at the request of my lord Aredius and of Pelagia, have subscribed our testament made by them. I, Calpurnus, at the request of my lord Aredius and of Pelagia, have subscribed this testament, on the day and in the year above. I, Leo, having been asked by lord Aredius and Pelagia, have confirmed this testament, on the day and in the year above. I, Nectarius, have confirmed this testament, at the request of lord Aredius and Pelagia.

Sign of Aidelfus, subdeacon.

Sign of Nectarius, witness.