PL 2 · cols. 93–122
Tertullian, Liber de corona
Editors' preface
Migne Reading Room
PL 2 · cols. 93–122
Editors' preface
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(1) ‹anchor: praestantissimorum imperatorum› · call in col 93
Ita Rhen. et Gelen. ex auctoritate cod. Georgiensis. Junius e ms. facta liberalitate, etc. Miram scripturam protulit Rig.: proxime factum est... liberalitas — expungebatur in castris — milites laureati adibant.
So Rhenanus and Gelenius, on the authority of the Georgian codex. Junius from a manuscript: "facta liberalitate", etc. Rigaltius put forward a strange reading: "proxime factum est... liberalitas — expungebatur in castris — milites laureati adibant."
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(1) ‹anchor: LIBER DE CORONA (the title; the call stands after CORONA, in the half of the full-width title over col 94)› · call in col 93
De corona. Sic inscribitur hic liber in cod. Agobardi, non ut vulgo, De Corona militis. Et veterem manum eo libentius sequimur, quod etsi ab militis cujusdam facinore Septimius occasionem scribendi sumpserit, tamen haud solos milites, sed omnem omnino Christianum ab coronae gestamine depellit. RIGALTIUS.
On the Crown. So this book is entitled in the codex of Agobard, not, as commonly, "On the Soldier's Crown." And we follow the old hand the more willingly because, although Septimius took the occasion for writing from the deed of a certain soldier, he nevertheless drives not soldiers alone but every Christian whatever away from wearing the crown. RIGALTIUS.
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(2) ‹anchor: praestantissimorum imperatorum› · call in col 93
Praestantissimor. impp. Videlicet L. Septimii Severi patris, et M. Aurelii Antonini Caracallae filii, sub quibus Tertullianum floruisse D. Hieronymus auctor est in illustrib. Ecclesiae viris. RHEN.
Of the most excellent emperors. That is, of Lucius Septimius Severus the father and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla the son, under whom, as St Jerome attests in his Illustrious Men of the Church, Tertullian flourished. RHENANUS.
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(3) ‹anchor: expungebantur› · call in col 93
Expungebantur. Subaudi, donativo. Nam liberalitatis facta est mentio: hoc est donativum promissum militib. solemniter exsolvebatur, sive praestabatur. RIG.
They were being paid off. Understand "with the donative." For mention has been made of a largess: that is, the donative promised to the soldiers was being solemnly paid out, or furnished. RIGALTIUS.
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Duobus dominis servire posse praesumpserant. Deo et Caesari. RIG.
Had presumed they could serve two masters. God and Caesar. RIGALTIUS.
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Quidam illic magis Dei miles.
A certain [man] there, more a soldier of God.
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(3) ‹anchor: laurea et de manu› · call in col 95
In manu otioso vulgata ja[… the rest of the line lies outside the image …]que singuli designare et ludere.
"In manu otioso vulgata ja[…]que singuli designare et ludere": "idle in his hand, already spread abroad [… …] one by one they [began] to point him out and to mock."
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Corruit Wouw. claruit Jun.
"Corruit" (fell), Wouwer; "claruit" (shone out), Junius.
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(5) ‹anchor: coronamento in manu otioso› · call in col 95
Coronamento in manu otioso. Otiosum dicit inutile et ineptum. Sic ad uxorem: « Nobis otiosum liberos serere, » hoc est, Christianis inutile est et ineptum liberos serere, dum saevit in Christianum nomen tyrannus. RIG.
The crown idle in his hand. By "idle" he means useless and unfitting. So in To His Wife: "For us it is idle to beget children," that is, for Christians it is useless and unfitting to beget children while the tyrant rages against the Christian name. RIGALTIUS.
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Murmur tribuno defertur. Sic habet exemplar Agobardi. In codice Divionensi, et vulgatis editionibus legitur: « Continuo murmur tribuno defertur. » Sunt qui malint distinguere: » Continuo murmur tribuno deferetur. « Sed bis idem dici videbitur; nam infrendere cominus est murmur. RIG.
The murmur is carried to the tribune. So the copy of Agobard has it. In the Dijon codex and the common editions one reads: "At once the murmur is carried to the tribune." There are some who prefer to punctuate: "At once the murmur will be carried to the tribune." But the same thing will seem to be said twice; for "to gnash at close quarters" is a murmur. RIGALTIUS.
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(7) ‹anchor: et reus ad praefectos (call printed before Ibidem)› · call in col 95
Et res ampliata, et reus ad praef. Vetus exemplar sic omnino habet: « Et res am..... ta et reus ad praef. » Unde opinari liceat Tertullianum scripsisse: « Et res ampliata et reus ad praef. » Res ampliari dicitur, cujus cognitio in aliud tempus, vel ad aliud tribunal rejicitur aut remittitur. Itaque rei in judiciis damnantur, absolvuntur, ampliantur, amburuntur. Damnati vel absoluti occurrunt passim. Ampliatorum exempla sunt apud Livium, in lib XIII, ubi de M. Titinnio: « Bis ampliatus, tertio absolutus est reus. » Et paulo post, de P. Furio, Phillo et M. Martieno: « Gravissimis criminibus accusati ambo ampliatique. » Ambustorum, hoc est eorum qui in discrimen capitis adducti, neque damnati, neque absoluti sunt, exempla quoque reperiuntur; ut L. Aemilii Pauli, apud eumdem Livium in lib. XXII: « Aemilium Paulum, qui cum M. Livio Cos. fuerat, et damnatione collegae et sua prope ambustus evaserat, infestum plebi, diis ac multum recusantem, ad petitionem compellit. » Et apud Valer. Maximum, ambustae duae memorantur, inexplicabili cunctatione, quaestionibus modo translatis, modo dilatis. RIG.
And the case adjourned, and the accused before the prefect. The old copy has it exactly thus: "Et res am..... ta et reus ad praef." Whence one may suppose that Tertullian wrote: "Et res ampliata et reus ad praef." A case is said to be "adjourned" (ampliari) when its hearing is put off or sent back to another time or to another tribunal. So in the courts the accused are condemned, acquitted, adjourned, "scorched." The condemned and the acquitted occur everywhere. Examples of the adjourned are in Livy, book XIII, where he speaks of M. Titinnius: "Twice adjourned, the third time the accused was acquitted." And a little after, of P. Furius Philus and M. Martienus: "Both accused of the gravest crimes and adjourned." Examples are also found of the "scorched," that is, of those who were brought into peril of their life and were neither condemned nor acquitted: as of L. Aemilius Paulus, in the same Livy, book XXII: "Aemilius Paulus, who had been consul with M. Livius and had escaped barely scorched by his colleague's condemnation and his own, hostile to the plebs, [diis ac — as printed] and strongly refusing, he forces to stand for office." And in Valerius Maximus two "scorched" women are recorded, with an inexplicable delay, the inquiries being now transferred, now postponed. RIGALTIUS.
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(8) ‹anchor: relevari auspicatus› · call in col 95
Gravissimas penulas posuit, relevari auspicatus. Notavimus in Apologeticum pag. 7, penulas gravitate sua fuisse odiosas. Hinc igitur Septimius occasione sumpta, ait militem illum in Deo gloriosum, gravissimo militae gentilis onere deposito, jam exinde relevari coepisse, simulatque onus Christi subiit, quod esse leve Christus ipse docuit. RIGALTIUS.
He laid down the very heavy cloaks, making a beginning of relief. We noted on the Apology, page 7, that cloaks were hated for their weight. Taking occasion from this, then, Septimius says that that soldier, glorious in God, having put down the very heavy burden of pagan military service, began from that moment to be relieved, as soon as he took up the burden of Christ, which Christ Himself taught is light. RIGALTIUS.
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Sepeculatoriam morosissimam de pedibus absolvit. Haec pertinent ad caligam militarem, praesertimque militis illius qui inter speculatores militaverat, quae militia erat valde, inquies, morosa et aspera, cum huc illuc cursitando, explorando, nuntiandoque vagaretur. Is igitur de caligato speculatore factus Christianus, absolvit de pedibus suis morosissimam illam et molestissimam caligam spe- (continues; the rest stands at the top of the right column, outside the image)
He loosed from his feet the most troublesome scout's boot. This refers to the military boot, and especially that of the soldier who had served among the scouts (speculatores) — a service, you will say, very troublesome and harsh, since he roamed hither and thither running about, reconnoitring and reporting. Having become a Christian, then, from a booted scout, he loosed from his feet that most troublesome and irksome scout's boot … (continues)
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(10) ‹anchor: Dominicae defensioni necessarium› · call in col 95
Gladium nec Dominicae defensioni necessarium. Alludit ad illud Christi ad Petrum: Mitte gladium tuum in vaginam. De quo etiam Augustinus, Epist. ad Vincentium: « Petri gladius in vaginam revocatur a Christo, et ostenditur non debuisse de vagina eximi, nec pro Christo. » Nempe, ut ait Tertullianus lib. de Patientia, pag. 160: » Patientia Domini in Malcho vulnerata est. » Itaque Dominus et gladii opera maledixit in posterum. Exarmato Petro, omnem Christianum discinxit. RIGALTIUS.
The sword not needed even for the Lord's defence. He alludes to Christ's word to Peter: Put your sword back into its sheath. On which Augustine too, in the Letter to Vincent: "Peter's sword is called back into the sheath by Christ, and it is shown that it ought not to have been drawn from the sheath, not even for Christ." For, as Tertullian says in the book On Patience, page 160: "The Lord's patience was wounded in Malchus." And so the Lord cursed the works of the sword for the future too. In disarming Peter He ungirded every Christian. RIGALTIUS.
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Laurea et de manu claruit. Nam coronam in manu gerebat, idcirco laurea de manu claruit, id est, clare visa est, et non de capite, quod liberum erat. RHEN.
And the laurel shone out from his hand. For he carried the crown in his hand; therefore the laurel shone from his hand, that is, it was plainly seen, and not from his head, which was free. RHENANUS.
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Russatus sanguinis sui spe. Haec scriptura est antiquissimorum exemplarium. Tunicae militares erant russatae, φοινικοὶ χιτῶνες. Hic miles factus Christianus, pro tunica russata, sanguinis sui spe, hoc est sperata martyrii purpura, russatus dicitur. Russatae militares, apud Trebell. et apud Juvenalem, russatus: Lacerta. RIG.
Clad in red by the hope of his own blood. This is the reading of the most ancient copies. Military tunics were red, "crimson tunics." This soldier, become a Christian, is said to be clad in red, instead of a red tunic, by the hope of his own blood, that is, by the hoped-for purple of martyrdom. "Red military [tunics]" in Trebellius, and in Juvenal "russatus: Lacerta." RIGALTIUS.
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(13) ‹anchor: de Evangelii paratura (col 96)› · call in col 96
De Evangelii paratura. Paratura substantive, ceu supra multis in locis: hoc est, gladium qualem solet Evangelium apparere, nempe spiritalem. RHEN.
Of the Gospel's equipment. "Paratura" used as a noun, as above in many places: that is, a sword such as the Gospel is wont to furnish, namely a spiritual one. RHENANUS.
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(14) ‹anchor: Mussitant denique (col 96)› · call in col 96
Mussitant denique... nec dubito quosdam Scripturas. Fortissimi hujusce militis facinus ab commilitonibus etiam Christianis, tanquam imprudentis ac praecipitis et intempestivae fortitudinis exemplum, vituperabatur, deque eo sermones ferebantur, « ut de abrupto et praecipiti, et mori cupida, qui de habitu interrogatus nomini » Christiano invidiam fecisset ac periculum creasset, pacemque tam bonam et longam qua tum Christiani fruebantur, temeritate sua prope evertisset. Has voces graviter increpat Septimius: « Mussitant, inquit, tam bonam et longam sibi pacem periclitari: nec dubito quosdam etiam mussitare Scripturas sacras jam emigrare, sarcinas expedire, fugae accingi de civitate in civitatem. » Vulgo legitur: « Nec dubito quasdam Scripturas emigrare, sarcinas colligere. » At in cod. vetustissimo: « Nec dubito quosdam Scripturas emigrare, sarc. collig., » unde procul dubio legendum: « Nec dubito quosdam Scripturas (continues)
Then they mutter... nor do I doubt that certain [men] the Scriptures. The deed of this bravest of soldiers was blamed even by his Christian fellow-soldiers as an example of rash, headlong and untimely courage, and talk went round about him, "as of one abrupt and headlong and eager to die, who, when questioned about his dress," had brought odium and created danger for the Christian name, and by his rashness had nearly overturned the peace, so good and so long, which the Christians were then enjoying. Septimius sharply rebukes these words: "They mutter," he says, "that so good and so long a peace is endangered for them; nor do I doubt that some are also muttering that the sacred Scriptures are now emigrating, packing their baggage, girding themselves to flee from city to city." Commonly one reads: "Nor do I doubt that certain Scriptures (quasdam) are emigrating, gathering their baggage." But in the most ancient codex: "Nor do I doubt that certain men (quosdam) the Scriptures emigrate, gath. bagg.," whence without doubt we should read: "Nor do I doubt that certain men the Scriptures (continues)
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³ In manu otioso vulgata jam et ista disciplina Christiano relucebat. Denique singuli designare et ludere.
³ "[With the crown] idle in his hand; this discipline also, now made common, shone out for the Christian. Then one by one [they began] to point him out and to mock."
culatoriam, et simul coepit terrae sancte insistere, hoc est, in ipso vestigio mortem pro Christi nomine fortiter oppetere, vitam agere sanctam et innocentem, longe absimilem speculatoriae, quae et carnificinam ad tribuni nutum plerumque agebat. Rig.
[the scout's] boot, and at the same time began to stand upon holy ground, that is, on the very spot to meet death bravely for the name of Christ, and to lead a life holy and innocent, far unlike the scout's service, which for the most part also did the executioner's work at the tribune's nod. Rigaltius.
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Defensione Seml.
"Defensione" (defence): Semler.
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Capiti, MS. Wouw. Credit Fran. Paris.
"Capiti" (head): the manuscript of Wouwer. "Credit" (believes): the Franeker and Paris [editions].
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Partis Seml.
"Partis": Semler.
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De tollit Seml.
Semler removes "de".
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emigrare, sarcinas colligere. » Verbum de praecedentibus repetendum est: « Nec dubito quosdam Scripturas mussitare. » RIG.
"…emigrate, gather their baggage." A verb must be supplied from what precedes: "Nor do I doubt that certain men are muttering of the Scriptures." RIGALTIUS.
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Novi et pastores, etc. Notat episcopos orthodoxi populi, qui damnationi pseudoprophetae Montani subscripserant, ceu molliculos, et qui persecutionis tempore primi fugiant, cum plebem ad martyrium animare deberent. Pseudoprophetia Montani videtur praecepisse atque exegisse martyrium. RHEN.
I know their shepherds too, etc. He censures the bishops of the orthodox people, who had subscribed to the condemnation of the false prophet Montanus, as soft men who would be the first to flee in time of persecution, when they ought to be encouraging the people to martyrdom. The false prophecy of Montanus seems to have enjoined and demanded martyrdom. RHENANUS.
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Atenim ubi scriptum est. Pro traditionibus hic mire fecit Tertull. contra Calvinistas et Magdeburgenses, qui audacter nimis asseruerunt hoc Montani dogma esse, quod falsum et mera calumnia. Nam Montanus, auctore Eusebio, lib. V Hist., contraria quaedam traditioni primus proposuisse fertur. Le PR.
But where is it written? Here Tertullian has done wonders for traditions against the Calvinists and the Magdeburg [Centuriators], who too boldly asserted that this is a doctrine of Montanus, which is false and sheer calumny. For Montanus, on the authority of Eusebius, History book V, is said to have been the first to put forward certain things contrary to tradition. LE PRIEUR.
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(9) ‹anchor: et traditio, nisi› · call in col 98
Non Fran. Paris.
"Non" (not): the Franeker and Paris [editions].
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(17) ‹anchor: solius traditionis titulo› · call in col 98
Sine ullius Scripturae instrumento, solius traditionis titulo. Totum hunc sermonem exsuxit Hieronymus, adversus Luciferianos: « Etiamsi Scripturae auctoritas non subesset, inquit, totius orbis in hanc partem consensus instar praecepti obtineret. Nam et multa alia, quae per traditionem in Ecclesiis observantur, auctoritatem sibi Scripturae et legis usurpaverunt, velut in lavacro ter caput mergitare, deinde egressos lactis et mellis praegustare concordiam, » etc. RIG.
Without the warrant of any Scripture, on the title of tradition alone. Jerome sucked out this whole passage, against the Luciferians: "Even if the authority of Scripture were not behind it," he says, "the consensus of the whole world on this point would hold the force of a precept. For many other things too that are observed in the Churches through tradition have claimed for themselves the authority of Scripture and law, such as dipping the head three times in the font, and then, on coming out, tasting beforehand the concord of milk and honey," etc. RIGALTIUS.
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Denique ut a baptismate ingrediar, in codice Agobardi tantum legitur: « Denique ut baptisma ter ingrediar aquam, aditur ibidem. » RIG.
To begin, then, with baptism: in the codex of Agobard one reads only: "Denique ut baptisma ter ingrediar aquam, aditur ibidem." RIGALTIUS.
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(19) ‹anchor: contestamur› · call in col 98
Aliquando prius in Ecclesia sub antistitis manu contestamur. Auctor Quaest. Veteris et Novi Testamenti, quaest. 102: « Qui volunt Christiani fieri, accedunt antistitem, dicunt ei vota sua. Ille facit verba juris ecclesiastici. Si vera vota sunt, suscipiuntur a judice. » RIG.
Somewhat before, in church, under the bishop's hand, we solemnly declare. The author of the Questions on the Old and New Testament, question 102: "Those who wish to become Christians approach the bishop and tell him their vows. He pronounces the words of church law. If the vows are true, they are accepted by the judge." RIGALTIUS.
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(20) ‹anchor: ter mergitamur› · call in col 98
Ter mergitamur. Ipse adversus Praxeam, pag. 659: « Nam nec semel, sed ter, ad singula nomina in personas singulas tingimur. » Quem ritum in usu fuisse etiam aetate sua Chrysostomus indicat, ad ea verba Lucae, Act. Apost. X, 16, ubi visio narratur oblata Petro, τοῦτο δὲ ἐγένετο τρίς. Chrysost.: Τὸ δὲ τρίτον τοῦτο γενέσθαι, τὸ βάπτισμα δηλοῖ. Ammonius ad Joan. cap. 21, ubi ter Christus interrogat Petrum: Simon Jona, amas me? Ἔθος δὲ γέγονεν ἐκ τούτου, inquit, τρεῖς ὁμολογίας ἀπαιτεῖσθαι τοὺς μέλλοντας βαπτισθῆναι. Inde illa (continues)
We are dipped three times. He himself, Against Praxeas, page 659: "For not once but three times are we dipped, at each name, into each person." Chrysostom shows that this rite was in use in his own day too, on Luke's words in Acts X, 16, where the vision shown to Peter is told, "and this happened three times." Chrysostom: "That this happened the third time signifies baptism." Ammonius on John chapter 21, where Christ asks Peter three times, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me?: "From this," he says, "the custom arose of requiring three professions of those who are to be baptized." Hence that (continues)
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Crucis abjicit Seml.
Semler drops "crucis" (of the cross).
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Fidei Rhen.
"Fidei" (of faith): Rhenanus.
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Traditio consuetudini Fran. Paris.
"Traditio consuetudini" (tradition to custom): the Franeker and Paris [editions].
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Praebeatur Jun. Velatae Seml.
"Praebeatur" (let it be offered): Junius. "Velatae" (veiled): Semler. [No numeral is printed before "Velatae"; presumably variant 15.]
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In pomario alii.
"In pomario" (in the orchard): others.
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Habitu Seml.
"Habitu" (by dress): Semler.
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formula, quam Stephanus II. PP. rusticam vocat, resp. 14: « In nomine Patris mergo, et Filii mergo, et Spiritus sancti mergo. » T. II Concilior. Gall. Sic unius ejusdemque ritus originem alii ad personas sanctissimae Trinitatis, alii ad trinam visionem, alii ad trinam interrogationem referunt. Sic incertae sunt hominum mentes, postquam a principii simplicitate deflexere. RIG.
…formula which Pope Stephen II calls rustic, response 14: "In the name of the Father I dip, and of the Son I dip, and of the Holy Spirit I dip." Councils of Gaul, vol. II. Thus some refer the origin of one and the same rite to the persons of the most holy Trinity, others to the threefold vision, others to the threefold questioning. So uncertain are the minds of men once they have turned aside from the simplicity of the beginning. RIGALTIUS.
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Eucharistiae sacramentum, etc. Haec innuunt Eucharistiae sumendae tempus aevo Tertulliani, tantum abfuisse a tempore victus, quo tempore a Domino fuerat instituta, ut etiam antelucanis horis sumeretur. Non pugnabo tamen adversus eos qui sumptum fuisse dicent horis etiam extra antelucanas, modo ante omnem cibum. Hoc enim significare videtur lib. II, ad Uxorem: 1 Non sciet maritus quid secreto ante omnem cibum gustes? » nisi magis videatur etiam ante saeculum Tertulliani, indefensum hoc fuisse, et pro cujusque religione varie factitatum. Exigua certe est et obscura mentio coenae Dominicae inter apostolos celebratae, etsi celebratam quidem et saepissime fuisse nemo sobrius negaverit, sed ut ait Tertullianus, in tempore victus, adeoque fractione illa panis, quae saepenumero occurrit, includi. Hanc in sententiam ducimur gravissima illa Pauli increpatione ad I. Corinth. II. RIG.
The sacrament of the Eucharist, etc. These words hint that in Tertullian's age the time for receiving the Eucharist was so far removed from the mealtime, at which it had been instituted by the Lord, that it was received even in the hours before dawn. I will not, however, fight against those who will say that it was received at hours other than before dawn as well, provided it was before all food. For this seems to be meant in book II To his Wife: "Will your husband not know what you taste in secret before all food?" — unless it should rather seem that even before Tertullian's century this was left unsettled and done variously according to each one's devotion. Certainly the mention of the Lord's Supper celebrated among the apostles is slight and obscure; though no sober person would deny that it was celebrated, and very often, yet, as Tertullian says, at mealtime, and so to be included in that breaking of bread which occurs so often. We are led to this view by Paul's very severe rebuke in I Corinthians II [as printed]. RIGALTIUS.
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Omnibus mandatum a Domino, etc. nec de aliorum manu quam praesidentium sumimus. Consimilis est locus de praesidentium honore, lib. de Bapt. p. 263: « Proinde et baptismus aeque Dei census, ab omnibus exerceri potest, » etc. Operae pretium erit contulisse; nam et lucem sibi mutuo afferunt praeclaram. RIG.
Commanded by the Lord to all, etc. we take it from the hand of none but those who preside. There is a very similar passage on the honour of those who preside, in the book On Baptism, p. 263: "So baptism too, being equally God's property, can be administered by all," etc. It will be worth comparing them, for they throw a bright light on each other. RIGALTIUS.
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Oblationes pro defunctis. Magdeburgensium quoque commentum doctrinam hanc Tertulliani desumptam ex Montano. Pro hujus autem ritus fundamento afferre possem contra haereticos quae vulgo afferuntur, tot nimirum orationes SS. Patrum in funerib. tum amicorum, cum consanguineorum, tum etiam summorum in Ecclesia Dei virorum: non tamen locum praetermittam ex epist. 66 Cypriani, qui suo et Carthaginensis concilii nomine, in episcoporum memoriam revocat decretum quo, si quis frater clericum tutorem nominasset, non offerretur pro eo, nec sacrificium pro dormitione ejus celebraretur. Novum itaque non est oblationes fieri, et sacrificia pro mortuis in Ecclesia Dei. LE PR.
Offerings for the dead. It is likewise a fiction of the Magdeburg [Centuriators] that this teaching of Tertullian was taken from Montanus. As a foundation for this rite I could bring against the heretics what is commonly brought, namely the many orations of the holy Fathers at the funerals of friends, of kinsmen, and also of the greatest men in the Church of God; yet I will not pass over the passage from Cyprian's letter 66, who in his own name and that of the council of Carthage recalls to the bishops' memory the decree by which, if any brother had named a cleric as guardian, no offering should be made for him nor sacrifice celebrated for his falling asleep. It is nothing new, then, that offerings and sacrifices are made for the dead in the Church of God. LE PRIEUR.
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Pro natalitiis annua, etc. Per natalitia intelligit solemnitates fieri solitas in honorem martyrum, quo scilicet die mundo mortui, coelo nati sunt. Unde annua die, id est quotannis facimus. LE PR.
For the birthdays, yearly, etc. By "birthdays" he means the solemnities customarily held in honour of the martyrs, namely on the day on which they died to the world and were born to heaven. Hence "on the yearly day," that is, we do it every year. LE PRIEUR.
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Aut panis etiam nostri. Etiam non eucharistici, etiam profani. RIG.
Or even of our bread. Even of bread that is not eucharistic, even common bread. RIGALTIUS.
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Aliquid decuti in terram, etc. Augustinus: « Quanta sollicitudine observamus quando nobis corpus Christi ministratur, ut nihil ex ipso de nostris manibus in terram cadat, » etc. citatur apud Gratianum. I. q. 1, Interrogo. RIG.
That anything be shaken to the ground, etc. Augustine: "With what care we watch, when the body of Christ is ministered to us, that nothing of it fall from our hands to the ground," etc.; cited in Gratian, I, q. 1, [canon] Interrogo. RIGALTIUS.
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Rationem traditioni patrocinaturam. Etenim absque ratione vana esset traditio. Sic etiam Hieronymus, loco supradicto: Multaque alia quae scripta non sunt, rationabilis sibi observatio vindicavit. Nec Apostolus obsequium exigit, nisi rationabile. » RIG.
A reason that will defend the tradition. For without reason tradition would be empty. So too Jerome, in the place cited above: "And many other things that are not written, reasonable observance has claimed for itself. Nor does the Apostle demand any service but a reasonable one." RIGALTIUS.
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Apud Judaeos tam solemne est. De velandis feminis omnibus cujuscunque generis, ordinis, conditionis, aetatis, dignitatis, ex Apostolo, exstat liber integer Auctoris quem suspicor hoc posteriorem, eo quod hic subdat: « Quaero legem, Apostolum differo. » Nam illic potissimum probat auctoritate Apostoli (I Cor. II). PAM.
It is so customary among the Jews. On the veiling of all women of whatever kind, order, condition, age and rank, on the Apostle's authority, there is a whole book by the Author, which I suspect is later than this one, because he adds here: "I am looking for the law; I put off the Apostle." For there he proves his point chiefly by the Apostle's authority (I Cor. II [as printed]). PAMELIUS.
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In stadio mariti. Intelligit stadii nomine hypaetram, hoc est subdivalem ambulationem, quam et xystum appellamus, quae etiam arboribus consita esse solebat, umbrae gratia. RIG.
In her husband's stadium. By the word stadium he means a hypaethra, that is, an open-air walk, which we also call a xystus, and which was usually planted with trees as well, for the sake of shade. RIGALTIUS.
(29, second note) ‹same call› — In stadio, etc. Legi posset stibadio. Nam ita vocantur in hortis sedilia herbacea, et ex floribus; sed nihil muto, nam omnia loca amoena, et ex arboribus consita, dici queunt stadia. LAC.
In the stadium, etc. One could read "stibadio" (on the couch). For that is the name of the seats of turf and flowers in gardens; but I change nothing, for all pleasant places planted with trees can be called stadia. LA CERDA.
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Ipsum Rhen.
"Ipsum": Rhenanus.
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Dictum Seml.
"Dictum" (said): Semler.
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Consuetudo sed, Venet.
"Consuetudo sed" (custom; but): the Venice [edition].
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(21) ‹anchor: cur major efficitur› · call in col 101
Exigitur Fran.
"Exigitur" (is required): the Franeker [edition].
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(22) ‹anchor: etiam natura defendit› · call in col 101
Defendat Wouw.
"Defendat" (should defend): Wouwer.
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Aestimavit Seml. existimavit Rig.
"Aestimavit": Semler; "existimavit": Rigaltius.
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Hominis administrantia, munerum divinorum ab anima deducuntur ad sensus Venet.
"Hominis administrantia, munerum divinorum ab anima deducuntur ad sensus": the Venice [edition].
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Consuetudo autem etiam, etc. Monuit jam Heraldus (lib. II Digress. c. 3) esse idem cum Ulpiani illo, « Diuturnam consuetudinem pro jure et lege in his quae non ex scripto descendunt, observari solere, » et rationem adducit ex Juliano, L. I. Qui: « Nam quid interest, suffragio populus voluntatem suam declaret, an rebus ipsis et factis? Adjungo Gregorium Nyss. (lib. de Virg. cap. 9) non abhorrentem a verbis Ulpiani. SAC.
But custom too, etc. Hérauld has already pointed out (Digressions book II, ch. 3) that this is the same as Ulpian's saying, "Long-standing custom is usually observed as right and law in matters that do not derive from what is written," and he adduces the reason from Julian, law I, [beginning] Qui: "For what difference does it make whether the people declares its will by vote or by things and deeds themselves?" I add Gregory of Nyssa (On Virginity, ch. 9), who is not far from Ulpian's words. SAC.
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Sed et ipse Spiritum Dei habens. Etiam hinc colligere est, scriptum hunc librum ante illum de velandis Virg. Nam ibi in solo Montano agnoscit completum illud (Joan. XVI: Cum venerit ille Spiritus veritatis, deducet vos in omnem veritatem). Hic vero in apostolo Paulo eumdem Spiritum Dei agnoscit. Ita miser paulatim ex uno errore in alium, ac demum in haeresim prolapsus est. PAM.
But he too, having the Spirit of God. From this too one may gather that this book was written before the one On the Veiling of Virgins. For there he recognizes the fulfilment of that saying in Montanus alone (John XVI: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth). Here, however, he recognizes the same Spirit of God in the apostle Paul. So the wretched man slid little by little from one error into another, and at last into heresy. PAMELIUS.
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(32) ‹anchor: illas etiam natura defendit› · call in col 101
Illas etiam natura, etc. Et sane leges omnes antecedit natura; unde qui peccant, contra naturam peccant; sic Tarquinius contra legem naturae sempiternam peccavit in Lucretiam, licet nulla adhuc lex Julia exstaret, nulla de stupro, ex Tull. lib. II de Leg. LE PR.
Nature too [defends] them, etc. And indeed nature precedes all laws; hence those who sin, sin against nature. Thus Tarquin sinned against the everlasting law of nature in the case of Lucretia, though no Julian law yet existed, none on rape: from Cicero, On the Laws, book II. LE PRIEUR.
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Contactum in manibus extimavit. Hoc est, contactum, extremum sive extimum sensum, in manibus collocavit, et quidem extimis; nam extrema digitorum tactuum differentias maxime percipiunt ac sentiunt. Hic autem extimum dicit pro extremo, ut lib. II de Cultu fem., pag. 179, extimationem pro extremitate. RIG.
He placed touch at the outermost in the hands. That is, he set touch, the last or outermost sense, in the hands, and indeed in their outermost parts; for the fingertips perceive and feel the differences of things touched most of all. Here he says "extimum" for "extremum," as in book II On Women's Dress, page 179, "extimatio" for "extremitas." RIGALTIUS.
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Per haec exterioris hominis administrantia, munerum divinorum ab anima deducuntur ad sensus. Tertulliani sententia est: per haec organa, aurium scilicet, oris, oculorum, narium, ac denique manuum, quae omnia exteriori homini, id est corpori, adfamulantur et administrant, rerum naturalium, quae sunt a Deo hominum gratia conditae, assensum sive approbationem ab anima deduci. Nempe anima est quae audit, anima est quae videt, anima est quae sentit. Ab anima sentienti, recte adsentire dicuntur aures, oculi, manus, per quae anima audit, videt, tangit. RIG.
Through these ministering parts of the outer man [the enjoyments] of the divine gifts are drawn down by the soul to the senses. Tertullian's meaning is this: through these organs — of the ears, namely, of the mouth, the eyes, the nostrils, and lastly the hands, all of which serve and minister to the outer man, that is, the body — the soul's assent or approval of natural things, which were made by God for men's sake, is drawn down. For it is the soul that hears, the soul that sees, the soul that feels. From the soul that feels, the ears, eyes and hands, through which the soul hears, sees and touches, are rightly said to assent. RIGALTIUS.
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(35) ‹anchor: quis sapor floris› · call in col 102
In capite qui sapor floris? Ideoque Diogenes unguento sibi pedes ungens, dictitabat, odorem a capite in aerem evanescere, pedibus autem ad nares pervenire. RIG.
On the head, what savour has a flower? And so Diogenes, anointing his feet with ointment, used to say that from the head the scent vanishes into the air, but from the feet it reaches the nostrils. RIGALTIUS.
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(36) ‹anchor: notam penes omnes› · call in col 102
Monstri meretur notam penes omnes. Haec verba, penes omnes, non habentur in exemplari, et omitti quidem possunt eleganter. RIG.
Deserves among all the brand of a monstrosity. These words, "among all," are not in the copy, and indeed they can elegantly be left out. RIGALTIUS.
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Quaeres Fran. Paris.
"Quaeres" (you will ask): the Franeker and Paris [editions].
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Naturalibus patrociantur vet. cod. Rig.
"Naturalibus patrociantur" [as printed, for patrocinatur]: the old codex, Rigaltius.
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Patientiae Rhen. parentis Fran. Paris.
"Patientiae": Rhenanus; "parentis": the Franeker and Paris [editions].
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Pignore Jun.
"Pignore" (by the pledge): Junius.
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Proxime Lat.
"Proxime" (next): Latinius.
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Ex add. Rhen. Fran.
Rhenanus and the Franeker [edition] add "ex".
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Elogium sacrilegii. Cum aspectu ad elogia et titulos reorum, de quibus capite 1, de idol. itaque notat Tertull. crimen sacrilegii: saepe enim vox ista in malam partem: conc. Hispalen. secundum, cap. 5: « Etiam cum aspectu ad vos, non consecrationis titulum, sed ignominiae elogium. » LAC.
The charge-sheet of sacrilege. With a glance at the charge-sheets and placards of the accused, of which [he speaks] in chapter 1 On Idolatry; so Tertullian brands the crime of sacrilege: for that word is often taken in a bad sense: second council of Seville, ch. 5: "Even with a glance at you, not a title of consecration but a charge-sheet of disgrace." LA CERDA.
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Sed et in propria epistola. Liber Ursini, in primore. Sic lib. de Praescr. haereticor. pag. 343: « Semen frumenti a Domino seminatum in primore constituit. » RIG.
But also in his own letter. Ursinus's book: "in primore" (at the forefront). So in the book On the Prescription of Heretics, page 343: "He placed the seed of wheat sown by the Lord at the forefront." RIGALTIUS.
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Utique naturali usui patrocinatur. Vetus exemplar: Naturalibus patrocinatur. Quod verum esse arbitror. RIG.
Certainly he defends natural use. The old copy: "He defends natural things." Which I judge to be right. RIGALTIUS.
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An conditioni ejus fruendae natura nobis debeat praeire. Hoc est, an rebus quas Deus condidit, frui sic debeamus, ut naturam ducem sequamur. Conditionem dicit quod alii creaturam. Sic lib. I de Cultu fem. pag. 173: « Dei conditio est thus, » hoc est, Thus a Deo conditum creatumque est. RIG.
Whether nature ought to lead the way for us in enjoying his creation. That is, whether we ought so to enjoy the things God has made as to follow nature as our guide. He says "conditio" for what others call "creatura." So in book I On Women's Dress, page 173: "Incense is God's creation," that is, incense was made and created by God. RIGALTIUS.
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Vanitati succidisse. Id usurpat, inquit Rhen., ut aliis libris saepenumero, pro succubuisse vel subjectum esse, uti transtulit noster interpres, Rom. VIII. Legimus autem paulo post iterum ex ms. Vat., cod. Paterniacensi et Hirsaugiensi, « Qui natura quidem, Dei omnia sentiunt. » Nam Dei sustulerat Rhenanus. PAM.
To have fallen under vanity. He uses this, says Rhenanus, as often in other books, for "to have succumbed" or "to have been made subject," as our translator rendered it, Rom. VIII. A little after, we again read, from the Vatican manuscript and the Payerne and Hirsau codices, "who by nature indeed perceive that all things are God's." For Rhenanus had removed "Dei." PAMELIUS.
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(42) ‹anchor: illud quoque intelligere› · call in col 103
Scientia autem deficiunt illud quoque intelligere. Deficiunt intelligere, hoc est non intelligunt. Deficiunt scientia qua intelligant. RIG.
But they fall short in knowledge of understanding this too. "They fall short of understanding," that is, they do not understand. They lack the knowledge by which they might understand. RIGALTIUS.
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Sed et huic materiae. Alludit haud dubie ad librum Spectaculorum, non modo Latino, sed et Graeco stylo a se scriptum. PAM.
But to this subject too. He alludes without doubt to the book On the Shows, written by him not only in Latin but also in Greek. PAMELIUS.
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Suaviludios nostros. Sic vocat qui ex Christianis adhuc spectaculorum oblectamentis tenerentur: intelligit autem duos libros de Spectaculis. RHEN.
Our lovers of the games. So he calls those Christians who were still held by the delights of the shows; and he means the two books On the Shows. RHENANUS.
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Agnoscant interim. Haec vocula in Tertulliano non accipienda est vulgari sensu, ut notet aliquid supponi non probatum; errabis enim saepissime hoc putans: nam hic nihil interim supponit, jam enim luculenter probavit auctoritatem naturae: sed interim idem est quod jam nunc. LAC.
Let them recognize meanwhile. This little word in Tertullian is not to be taken in the common sense, as marking that something is assumed without proof; you will very often go wrong if you think so: for here he assumes nothing "for the time being," since he has already clearly proved the authority of nature; but "interim" is the same as "right now." LA CERDA.
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Propriae religionis pignora. Rescribit Junius pignore, et alienissime explicat, fortasse quia noluit sanctos agnoscere neque illos coli sparsione florum. Sed videas consimilem periodum initio seq. cap. Jam enim audio dici, etc. LAC.
Pledges of their own religion. Junius rewrites "pignore" and explains it most strangely, perhaps because he did not wish to acknowledge the saints or that they are honoured with a strewing of flowers. But see a very similar period at the beginning of the next chapter: "For now I hear it said," etc. LA CERDA.
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(47) ‹anchor: Nobis vero Moyses› · call in col 104
Nobis vero Moyses, etc. Mosen pastorem fuisse indicant Exodi verba cap. 4 [as printed]: Moyses autem pascebat oves soceri, etc. Porro per poeticum pastorem intelligit Hesiodum, qui ad Heliconem paternarum ovium custodem agens, cum Musas conspexisset, et ab eis ad Hippocrenen, id est caballinum fontem deductus fuisset, statim excellentissimus poeta factus est, unde illud Ovid.: Non mihi sunt visae Clio, Cliusve sorores / Servanti pecudes vallibus, Ascra, tuis. RHEN.
But for us Moses, etc. That Moses was a shepherd is shown by the words of Exodus ch. 4 [as printed]: Now Moses was feeding the sheep of his father-in-law, etc. By the poetic shepherd he means Hesiod, who, while keeping his father's sheep at Helicon, saw the Muses and was led by them to Hippocrene, that is, the nag's spring, and at once became a most excellent poet; whence Ovid's lines: "I have not seen Clio or Clio's sisters, / while tending flocks, Ascra, in your valleys." RHENANUS.
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(48) ‹anchor: non poeticus pastor› · call in col 104
Moyses propheticus, non poeticus pastor. Moses et Hesiodus ambo fuere pastores: ille propheticus, hic poeticus. RIG.
Moses, a prophetic, not a poetic shepherd. Moses and Hesiod were both shepherds: the former prophetic, the latter poetic. RIGALTIUS.
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(31) ‹anchor: Graecos› · call in col 105
Certos cod Wouw. caecos Latin, caeteros Fran.
"Certos": Wouwer's codex; "caecos": Latinius; "caeteros": the Franeker [edition].
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Hoc munere a caeteris honoratum inserit Seml
Semler inserts "Hoc munere a caeteris honoratum" (honoured with this gift by the rest).
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Exsultantem Jun.
"Exsultantem" (exulting): Junius.
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Ostentans Rhen.
"Ostentans" (displaying): Rhenanus.
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(35) ‹anchor: lauream induisse› · call in col 105
Qua supplicem. Erant enim supplices coronati apud veteres, inserit Semler.
Semler inserts "Qua supplicem. Erant enim supplices coronati apud veteres" (as a suppliant; for among the ancients suppliants wore crowns).
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(49) ‹anchor: Certe enim Graecos› · call in col 105
Certe Graecos. Si legendum arbitramur: etsi in antiquissimo exemplari legatur caeteris, in Ursini cod. certos. Ait Tertullianus Graecos fuisse auctores vel illuminatores rei coronariae; quod ita esse sequentia demonstrant. RIG.
Certainly the Greeks. So we judge it should be read: although in the most ancient copy one reads "caeteris," in Ursinus's codex "certos." Tertullian says the Greeks were the originators or illuminators of the craft of crowns; and what follows shows that this is so. RIGALTIUS.
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(50) ‹anchor: post devictos Titanas› · call in col 105
Post devictos Titanas. In libris editis, atque etiam in exemplaribus antiquis additur: « Hoc munere a caeteris honoratum. » Quod a Tertulliano esse non videtur. RIG.
After the Titans were conquered. In the printed books, and also in the old copies, is added: "honoured with this gift by the rest." Which does not seem to be Tertullian's. RIGALTIUS.
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(51) ‹anchor: Priapo taenias› · call in col 105
Dat et Priapo taenias. In cod. Agobardi legitur temianias. RIG.
He gives Priapus ribbons too. In the codex of Agobard one reads "temianias." RIGALTIUS.
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(52) ‹anchor: Indicis gemmis› · call in col 105
Ariadnae sertum ex auro et Indicis gemmis. Hyginus ubi de Corona: « Haec existimatur Ariadnes fuisse, a Libero patre inter sidera collocata. » Idem paulo post: » Dicitur etiam a Vulcano facta ex auro et Indicis gemmis. » Germanicus: « Coronam Vulcani opere factam ex auro et gemmis pretiosis. » RIG.
Ariadne's garland of gold and Indian gems. Hyginus, where he treats of the Crown: "This is thought to have been Ariadne's, placed among the stars by Father Liber." The same a little after: "It is also said to have been made by Vulcan of gold and Indian gems." Germanicus: "A crown made by Vulcan's work of gold and precious gems." RIGALTIUS.
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(53) ‹anchor: Delphyne dracone› · call in col 105
Delphyne dracone. Hujus scripturae vestigia apparent in codice Agobardi. Hesychius. Δελφίς, ὁ ἐν Δελφοῖς δράκων. RIG.
The serpent Delphyne. Traces of this reading appear in the codex of Agobard. Hesychius: "Delphis: the serpent at Delphi." RIGALTIUS.
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(54) ‹anchor: lauream induisse› · call in col 105
Lauream induisse. In editionibus et libris etiam mss. sequitur: « Qua supplicem. Erant enim supplices coronati apud veteres. » Verum haec Tertulliani esse non puto. Reddo tamen, si quis ablata repetitum veniat. RIG.
To have put on the laurel. In the editions, and in the manuscript books too, there follows: "as a suppliant. For among the ancients suppliants wore crowns." But I do not think these words are Tertullian's. I give them back, however, in case anyone comes to reclaim what was taken away. RIGALTIUS.
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(55) ‹anchor: hederatum argumentatur› · call in col 105
Hederatum argumentatur. Plinius, lib. XVI: c. 5: « Ferunt primum omnium Liberum patrem imposuisse capiti suo ex hedera » Item, cap. 24: « Alexandrum vero ob raritatem ita coronato exercitu, victorem ex India rediisse exemplo Liberi patris, » etc. RHEN.
He argues him ivy-crowned. Pliny, book XVI, ch. 5: "They say that Father Liber was the very first to put [a crown] of ivy on his head." Likewise ch. 24: "But that Alexander, because of its rarity, returned victorious from India with his army so crowned, after the example of Father Liber," etc. RHENANUS.
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(56) ‹anchor: ab heluco defensare› · call in col 105
Ab heluco defensare. Significat helucus, auctore Sexto Pompeio, languidum et semisomnum, et hesterno vino languentem, sic dictum ab hiatu oris et oscitatione. Quanquam Tertullianus pro ipsa potius affectione capitis videtur usurpare, qua proclives in somnum reddimur, quam Graeci καρηβαρίαν appellant. De hederae vi frigorifica multa sunt apud auctores. RHEN.
To protect from "helucus." "Helucus," according to Sextus Pompeius [Festus], means one who is languid and half asleep, drooping from yesterday's wine, so called from the gaping of the mouth and yawning. Though Tertullian seems rather to use it for the affection of the head itself by which we are made drowsy, which the Greeks call heaviness of the head. There is much in the authors on the cooling power of ivy. RHENANUS.
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(57) ‹anchor: Leonis Aegypti scripta evolvas› · call printed in col 106, after the tail "vas" of evolvas (set whole at the end of col 105)
Si et Leonis Aegyptii scripta revolvas. Hunc Leonem Augustinus ex Alexandro magnum antistitem vocat sacrorum Aegyptiorum, lib. VIII, de Civ. Dei, cap. 5. et 27. Hyginus, in Ariete, res Aegyptias conscripsisse ait. Idem Hyginus passim fabulis suis, et Callimachi, et Pherecydis, et aliorum qui hic a Septimio citantur, commeminit.
If you also turn over the writings of Leo the Egyptian. This Leo, on Alexander's authority, Augustine calls a great high priest of the Egyptian rites, City of God book VIII, ch. 5 and 27. Hyginus, under the Ram, says he wrote on Egyptian matters. The same Hyginus throughout his fables also mentions Callimachus and Pherecydes and the others cited here by Septimius.
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Claudius Saturninus. Hujus opera nulla exstant, sed credo librum Tertulliani de Corona Milit. esse plane epitomen illius libri. LAC.
Claudius Saturninus. None of his works survive, but I believe Tertullian's book On the Soldier's Crown is plainly an epitome of that book. LA CERDA.
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Non quasi aliquid sit idolum. Ait Tertullianus idololatriam esse mendacium divinitatis, quod jam a primordio mendax diabolus operatus est, ita ut providerit sibi ac prospexerit homines in quibus id mendacium ageretur. Etenim dii gentium ex hominibus fuere, quos gentes vita functos, vel adulandi studio, posteris eorum forte petentibus, vel beneficiorum memoria, pro diis habuere. Hic fuit vetustissimus referendi bene merentibus gratiam mos, ut tales numinibus ascriberentur. Neque aliter de diis aevi sui Plinius opinabatur. Hosce igitur homines, quos sibi prospexit diabolus, ex quibus idola, seu divinitatis furta atque mendacia fierent, diaboli candidatos vocat Tertullianus, qui cum adviverent, jam idola esse, et sibi statuas poni et coli ambitiosi affectaverint. Atque haec omnia Christianis, veri Dei cultoribus, abhorrenda esse ait, non quasi aliquid sint idola vel statuae; sed quoniam cultus ille quem homines idolis statuisve tribuunt, ad daemones, aemulos Dei, pertinet. Deinde adjicit: Quod si ea quae homines idolis faciunt, ad daemones pertinent, quanto magis quod ipsa sibi idola fecerunt, cum adhuc essent in vivis? RIG.
Not as though an idol were anything. Tertullian says that idolatry is a counterfeit of divinity, which the lying devil has worked from the very beginning, so that he provided and looked out for himself men in whom that lie might be acted out. For the gods of the nations were once men, whom the nations, after their death, held for gods, either from zeal to flatter — perhaps at the request of their descendants — or in memory of benefits. This was the most ancient custom of repaying those who deserved well: that such men were enrolled among the divinities. Nor did Pliny think otherwise of the gods of his own age. These men, then, whom the devil looked out for himself, from whom idols — the thefts and lies of divinity — were to be made, Tertullian calls the devil's candidates, who while still alive ambitiously aspired to be idols already, and to have statues set up and worshipped for them. And he says that all this is to be abhorred by Christians, worshippers of the true God, not as though idols or statues were anything, but because the worship that men pay to idols or statues belongs to the demons, God's rivals. Then he adds: but if what men do for idols belongs to the demons, how much more what the idols themselves did for themselves while they were still alive? RIGALTIUS.
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Porro si quae alii, etc. Videtur esse sensus: Porro si ea quae gentiles faciunt, in idolis suis, alii, puta Mercurio vel Jovis. Loquitur autem de sacrificiis et immolatione. RHEN.
Further, if what others, etc. The sense seems to be: further, if the things the gentiles do for their idols, "others," say for Mercury or Jupiter [Jovis, as printed]. He is speaking of sacrifices and the offering of victims. RHENANUS.
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Esurierant Fran. Paris.
"Esurierant" (had hungered): the Franeker and Paris [editions].
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Antequam procuraverant Pam.
"Antequam procuraverant" (before they had procured): Pamelius.
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Jonam caeteri omnes.
"Jonam" (Jonah): all the others.
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Passibilitas Rhen.
"Passibilitas" (capacity to suffer): Rhenanus.
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Ipsi scilicet sibi procuraverunt daemones, per eos in quibus esurierunt ante quod procuraverunt. Ait daemonas procurasse sibi idola, et statuas, et thura, et nidorem sacrificiorum, per eos homines quorum adhuc inter mortales agentium animis ita insederant, ut iis et per eos ipsi vivere, atque inter homines esse viderentur. Itaque jam ante ipsi daemones in iis hominibus esurierant et appetierant omnem illum idololatriae apparatum. Esuriendi verbum hic usurpatur pro vehementis desiderii ardore: quemadmodum et in Scorpiaco, ubi de sanctis qui jam in carcere tormenta quaedam erant passi: « Degustata, inquit, in carcere martyria esuriunt. » RIG.
The demons, that is, procured for themselves, through those in whom they hungered beforehand for what they procured. He says that the demons procured for themselves idols and statues and incense and the savour of sacrifices through those men in whose souls, while they were still living among mortals, they had so settled that they themselves seemed to live in them and through them and to be among men. So already beforehand the demons had hungered and longed, in those men, for all that apparatus of idolatry. The verb "to hunger" is used here for the burning of vehement desire, as also in the Scorpiace, of the saints who had already suffered certain torments in prison: "Having had a taste of martyrdom in prison," he says, "they hunger for it." RIGALTIUS.
(61, second note) ‹same call› — Ipsi scilicet sibi procuraverunt daem. Sic ipse lib. de Spectaculis, pag. 95, ait: « Daemonas ab initio prospicientes sibi, inter caetera idololatriae, etiam spectaculorum inquinamenta, quibus hominem a Deo avocarent, et suo honori obligarent, prospexisse. » RIG.
The demons, that is, procured for themselves. So he himself says in the book On the Shows, page 95: "The demons, looking out for themselves from the beginning, provided, among the other [defilements] of idolatry, the defilements of the shows too, by which to call man away from God and bind him to their own honour." RIGALTIUS.
(61, third note) ‹same call› — Ipsis scilicet sibi procuraverunt daemones. Procurare cum dativo, ut lib. I adv. Marcionem, Aemulatio autem liberando homini procurat, et multis aliis in locis. RHEN.
The demons, that is, procured for themselves. "Procurare" with the dative, as in Against Marcion book I, "But jealousy takes care for the freeing of man," and in many other places. RHENANUS.
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Incursum quaestionis. Impetum. RIG.
The onrush of the question. The assault. RIGALTIUS.
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Exhibitionis humanae Hoc est vitae humanae. Quemadmodum et juris auctores dicunt: « Onera exhibendae uxoris, et parentes a filiis exhibendos. » RIG.
Of human maintenance. That is, of human life. As the authorities on law also say: "the burdens of maintaining a wife," and "parents are to be maintained by their children." RIGALTIUS.
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Recumbentem in lectulo Christum. Tractat hunc locum Sirmondus noster in ep. 2, lib. I Sidonii, aitque ideo, quia Christus recubuit, Joannem qui per aetatem fortasse ultimus erat, Christi proximum in ejus sinu accubuisse. Etenim sic disposita erat res in stibadio, ut Christo primus locus daretur, deinde caeteri accumberent, et ultimo loco esset Joannes, ac propterea in sinu Christi acquiesceret, ita videlicet erat coena Christi, non ut nunc volunt pictores, in medio Christus, stipantibus apostolis hinc inde latera; sed vere in dextro cornu, et circumdabant reliqui, et claudebat agmen illud sacrum Joannes, qui propterea recubuit ad latus Christi. LAC.
Christ reclining on a couch. Our Sirmond treats this passage on Sidonius, book I, letter 2, and says that, because Christ reclined, John, who was perhaps the last by age, lay next to Christ in his bosom. For the arrangement on the semicircular couch was such that the first place was given to Christ, then the rest reclined, and John was in the last place, and therefore rested in Christ's bosom. So, plainly, was Christ's supper: not as painters now would have it, with Christ in the middle and the apostles crowding his sides on either hand, but truly at the right-hand end; the rest lay round, and John closed that sacred company, and for that reason reclined at Christ's side. LA CERDA.
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Propria Osidiris veste. Auctor est Herodotus nefas apud Aegyptios fuisse laneas vestes in aedes sacras inferre, proinde lineis utebantur. RHEN.
In Osiris's own garment [Osidiris, as printed]. Herodotus attests that among the Egyptians it was forbidden to bring woollen garments into the temples; therefore they used linen ones. RHENANUS.
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Quia passivitas fallit. Passivitas, id est, vulgus. RIG.
Because promiscuity deceives. "Passivitas," that is, the common crowd. RIGALTIUS.
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Necessariis vitae hum. Hoc est, necessitatibus. RIG.
For the necessaries of human life. That is, for its needs. RIGALTIUS.
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Tabernaculum martyrii. Ut in Veteri Testamento testimonii tabernaculum, ita et in Novo; testimonium quippe est μαρτύριον (Septuaginta int.). Pro martyrum basilicis ea quoque vox usurpatur, sic coacta fuit synodus Chalcedonensis Ἐν τῷ μαρτυρίῳ τῆς ἁγίας καὶ καλλινίκου μάρτυρος Εὐφημίας. « In basilica sanctae et invictae martyris Euphemiae. » ut habetur act. 4 ejusdem syn. LE PR.
The tabernacle of witness. As in the Old Testament the tabernacle of testimony, so too in the New; for "testimony" is martyrion (the Septuagint translators). The word is also used for the basilicas of the martyrs: thus the synod of Chalcedon was convened "in the martyrium of the holy and gloriously victorious martyr Euphemia," "in the basilica of the holy and unconquered martyr Euphemia," as stands in session 4 of that synod. LE PRIEUR.
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Praestitutionis Paris.
"Praestitutionis": the Paris [edition].
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Apud nos inserit Seml.
Semler inserts "apud nos" (among us).
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Saltitaveris abest a Pam. Leop.
"Saltitaveris" is missing in Pamelius and Leopold.
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Tamen nec illam impietatis contumeliosae coronam populus conscivit. Populus, hoc est, Judaei. RIG.
Yet the people did not devise even that crown of insulting impiety. "The people," that is, the Jews. RIGALTIUS.
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Quid enim tam indignum Deo? Hujus argumenti forma collectior est in exemplari: « Quid enim tam indignum Deo, quam quod dignum idolo? quam quod et mortuo? » RIG.
For what is so unworthy of God? The form of this argument is more compact in the copy: "For what is so unworthy of God as what is worthy of an idol? as what is worthy of a dead man too?" RIGALTIUS.
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Mortuorum est ita coronari. Scribit enim Plinius coronas sepulcrorum et manium honorem fuisse. RHEN.
It belongs to the dead to be crowned so. For Pliny writes that crowns were an honour paid to tombs and to the shades. RHENANUS.
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Quam Aesculapio Socrates. Hoc jussit quum in carcere esset, paulo post bibiturus venenum. RHEN.
Than Socrates to Aesculapius. He gave this order when he was in prison, about to drink the poison shortly after. RHENANUS.
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Arabiae aliquid incendo. Cum de se loquitur, etiam vocabulo thuris uti reformidat. Dixit autem. Arabiae aliquid incendo; hoc est, aliquid thuris vel odoris Arabici. Et libro adversus Judaeos, spolia Arabiae interpretatur, aurum et odores. Vetus auctor apud Festum: Arabice olet, id est, ex odoribus arabicis. RIG.
I burn something of Arabia. When he speaks of himself he shrinks even from using the word incense. So he said "I burn something of Arabia," that is, some incense or Arabian perfume. And in the book Against the Jews he interprets "the spoils of Arabia" as gold and perfumes. An old author in Festus: "it smells Arabian," that is, of Arabian perfumes. RIGALTIUS.
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Verbo nudo. Credo virum peritissimum in jure, allusisse ad formulas quae in jure sunt, ubi frequenter leges, nuda possessio, nuda proprietas, nuda ratio, nuda traditio; videlicet possessio cui non proprietas admista: proprietas a qua abest ususfructus: ratio, ubi aliquod debitum in rationes refertur, cum tamen nulla causa praecesserit debiti: traditio quae non habet justam et idoneam causam transferendi dominii. Sic ergo nudum verbum erit, quo quis admonetur ab homine in quo nulla auctoritas admonendi, quasi tale sit nudum omni autoritate et fulcro. LAC.
By a bare word. I believe that this man, most skilled in law, alluded to the formulas found in law, where you often read "bare possession," "bare ownership," "bare account," "bare delivery": namely possession with no ownership mixed in; ownership from which the usufruct is absent; an account in which some debt is entered although no ground for the debt has preceded; a delivery that has no just and proper ground for transferring ownership. So, then, a bare word will be one by which someone is admonished by a person who has no authority to admonish, as though such a word were bare of all authority and support. LA CERDA.
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Hoc idolothytum est, ne contigeris Istud ex Apost., I Cor., X, 28, ubi retinuit vocem Graecam εἰδωλόθυτον, pro eo quod interpres noster vertit immolatum idolis. Mirum est autem quomodo legat: Non contigeris, cum Graece sit μὴ ἐσθίετε, quod non aliter transferri potest quam sicuti noster interpres, ne manducaris. PAM.
This is offered to idols; do not touch it. This is from the Apostle, I Cor. X, 28, where he kept the Greek word eidolothyton for what our translator rendered "sacrificed to idols." It is strange, however, how he reads "do not touch," since the Greek is "do not eat," which cannot be translated otherwise than as our translator did, "do not eat." PAMELIUS.
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Quae communio Christo, etc. Dilatat cognatis aliis Drogon episcop. Hostien. Aliis Cassianus, Collat. XII, cap. 16. LAC.
What fellowship has Christ, etc. Drogo, bishop of Ostia, expands it with other related [texts]; Cassian with others, Conferences XII, ch. 16. LA CERDA.
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Draco etiam terrenus de longinquo homines spiritu absorbet. Pamelius edidit: « Draco etiam terrenus de longinquo non minus spiritu absorbet alites. » Quae sumpta videntur ex iis quae de basilisco refert Isidorus, draconi minime convenientia. Longe aliter ediderat Rhenanus: « Draco etiam terrenus de longinquo hominis spiritus absorbet. » Quod proxime accedit ad veram lectionem quam restituimus e codice Agobardi: Draco etiam terrenis de longinquo, homines spiritus absorbet. » Nam hic agit Tertullianus de fugienda idololatria, ex Pauli ad Corinthios praecepto, et fugiendum (continues)
Even an earthly serpent swallows men from afar with its breath. Pamelius printed: "Even an earthly serpent from afar swallows birds no less with its breath." Which seems taken from what Isidore reports of the basilisk, hardly fitting a serpent. Rhenanus had printed quite differently: "Even an earthly serpent from afar swallows the breath of a man." This comes closest to the true reading, which we have restored from the codex of Agobard: "Even an earthly serpent from afar swallows men, [its] breath …" For here Tertullian treats of fleeing idolatry, following Paul's precept to the Corinthians, and that one must flee (continues)
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Fiat Seml.
"Fiat" (let it be): Semler.
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Luncho Fran. Paris.
"Luncho": the Franeker and Paris [editions].
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(77) (continued) ‹anchor: on the previous page›
esse ait quam longissime; quia Draco terrenus, nempe Satanas infernus, spiritu et afflatu suo homines absorbet, etiam de longinquo. Deinde adjicit ex prima Joannis: Altius Joannes: Filioli, custodite vos ab idolis. Hoc est, Joannes rem altius repetit, et non solum fugiendam esse idololatriam pronuntiat, verum etiam fugienda idola ipsa. RIG.
…says it must be fled as far as possible; because the earthly serpent, namely Satan from below, swallows men with his breath and blast, even from afar. Then he adds from John's first letter: "John goes deeper: Little children, keep yourselves from idols." That is, John takes the matter further back, and declares not only that idolatry is to be fled, but that the idols themselves are to be fled. RIGALTIUS.
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Ipsi ministri et sacerdotes. Tradit Plinius coronas primum inter sacra tantum et bellicos honores suum nomen vindicasse. RHEN.
The ministers and priests themselves. Pliny records that crowns at first claimed their name only among sacred rites and military honours. RHENANUS.
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Conquirendum an in totum Christi. Qui non permittit ut Christianus ethnico belligeranti navet operam, an permissurus est ut Christianus Christiano, hoc est fratres persecuturo se militem adjungat? haud dubie nunquam credidit futurum Tertullianus ut Christiani mutuis armis concurrerent. RHEN.
It must be inquired whether at all to Christ's [people, as printed]. He who does not allow a Christian to lend his service to a pagan making war — is he going to allow a Christian to join himself as a soldier to a Christian, that is, to one who will persecute his brothers? Without doubt Tertullian never believed it would happen that Christians would clash with each other in arms. RHENANUS.
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Credimusne humanum sacramentum. Alludit ad sacramentum et responsionem sive contestationem fidei in baptismo factam. PAM.
Do we believe that a human oath. He alludes to the oath and the response, or solemn declaration of faith, made in baptism. PAMELIUS.
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Et ejerare patrem ac matrem, etc. Vox illa ejerare idem est atque abdicare seu renuntiare. Sensus autem auctoris est, baptismi sacramento non aliud esse superinducendum sacramentum militare. Cum enim castrensi sacramento se obstringit Christianus, ejerare videtur Dei legem qua secundum Deum parentes diligere jubentur. LE PR.
And to forswear father and mother, etc. That word "ejerare" is the same as to disown or renounce. The author's meaning is that no military oath is to be laid over the sacrament of baptism. For when a Christian binds himself by the camp oath, he seems to forswear God's law, by which parents are commanded to be loved next after God. LE PRIEUR.
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Quos et Evangelium solo Christo pluris non faciens sic quoque honoravit. Vetus exemplar: « Quos et Evangelium solo Christum pluris..... quoque honoravit. » Unde, sive legamus, « Solum Christum pluris faciens; » sive, « Solo Christo pluris non faciens, » idem erit sensus. RIG.
Whom the Gospel too, setting them above none but Christ, so honoured. The old copy: "Whom the Gospel too … Christ alone more … so honoured." Whence, whether we read "setting Christ alone higher" or "setting them above none but Christ," the sense will be the same. RIGALTIUS.
(82, second note) ‹same call› — Sic quod honoravit. Hoc est: Evangelium non minus parentes et omnem proximum honorari praecepit quam lege Mosaica praescriptum fuerat. Etenim lex eos proxime post Deum, Evangelium proxime post Christum honorare jussit. RIG.
So too honoured. That is: the Gospel commanded parents and every neighbour to be honoured no less than had been prescribed by the Mosaic law. For the law ordered them to be honoured next after God, the Gospel next after Christ. RIGALTIUS.
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Cui nec litigare conveniet? Alludit ad illud I Cor. VI, 7: Jam quidem omnino delictum est quod judicia habetis inter vos. Quare non magis injuriam accipitis? Atque adeo non male Rhen. litigare, vocem jurisconsultorum, interpretatur actionem vel in personam vel in rem apud judicem suscipere. Verum advertendum quod continuo subjungit ibidem Apostolus: Sed vos injuriam facitis, etc. PAM.
For whom it will not be fitting even to go to law? He alludes to I Cor. VI, 7: Already it is altogether a fault that you have lawsuits among you. Why not rather suffer wrong? And so Rhenanus not badly interprets "litigare," a word of the jurists, as bringing an action, either personal or real, before a judge. But note what the Apostle adds straightaway in the same place: But you yourselves do wrong, etc. PAMELIUS.
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Requiescens super pilum. Libri hactenus editi, super luncho. T. Livius, I. XLIV: « Scuto prae se erecto stare galeatos: deinde ubi fessi sunt, innixos pilo, capite super marginem scuti posito sopitos stare. » RIG.
Resting on his javelin. The books printed so far: "super luncho." Livy, book XLIV: "[that they] stand helmeted with the shield raised before them; then, when they are tired, leaning on the javelin, with the head laid on the rim of the shield, they stand dozing." RIGALTIUS.
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Cui cremare non licuit. Thura, videlicet, idolo. Glossae Isidori. Cremutium, Holocaustum. RIG.
For whom it was not lawful to burn. Incense, that is, to an idol. Glosses of Isidore: "Cremutium: holocaust." RIGALTIUS.
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Transgressio est. Cod Agobardi, « Transgressionis est. » RIG.
It is a transgression. The codex of Agobard: "It is of transgression." RIGALTIUS.
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Suscepta fide atque signata aut deserendum statim sit. Hoc est, deserenda militia. RIG,
Once the faith is received and sealed, either it must be abandoned at once. That is, military service must be abandoned. RIGALTIUS.
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Poterat Seml.
"Poterat" (could): Semler.
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Minerva Fran.
"Minerva": the Franeker [edition].
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Quin et olea militiam coronari a Minerva non solum artium, sed armorum quoque dea: et pacem cum Neptuno iniisse ex hac arbore, etc. Fran. Paris. Sed et pace cum Neptuno inita ex hac arbore coronatam, Jun.
"Indeed, that military service is crowned with the olive by Minerva, goddess not only of the arts but also of arms; and that she made peace with Neptune from this tree," etc.: the Franeker and Paris [editions]. "But also, peace having been made with Neptune, crowned from this tree": Junius.
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Quae nec ex militia permittuntur. Quod in exemplari legitur, Extra militiam, minus esse videtur ad mentem Tertulliani. Nam hoc sibi vult: Christiano quem fides in militia deprehendit, aut statim suscepta fide deserendam esse militiam, quod ex militia, id est per militiae leges non licet: aut modis omnibus cavendum ne quid adversus Christianam fidem committat, quod item ex militiae romanae legibus vix liceat; aut extrema quaeque perpetienda pro Deo, quod omnis Christianus Christo fide dicta condixit. RIG.
Which are not permitted even by military service. What is read in the copy, "outside military service," seems less in keeping with Tertullian's mind. For this is what he means: for a Christian whom faith has overtaken in the army, either the service must be abandoned at once on receiving the faith — which is not lawful "by military service," that is, under military law; or every care must be taken that he commit nothing against the Christian faith — which likewise is hardly lawful under the laws of Roman service; or every extremity must be endured for God, as every Christian, having pledged his faith to Christ, has agreed. RIGALTIUS.
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Quod aeque fides pagana condixit. Mortem, scilicet. Nam hoc Christianus paganus, id est non miles, aeque Christo condixit ac miles. Hanc interpretationem suggerunt sequentia. RIG.
Which the faith of the civilian has equally agreed to. Death, namely. For the civilian Christian, that is, one who is not a soldier, has agreed this with Christ just as the soldier has. What follows suggests this interpretation. RIGALTIUS.
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(90) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col ?
Non admittit status fidei necessitates. At extra statum fidei admittuntur (Apolog. XLV, de Exhort. cast. VI). Necessitas ad excusationem deputatur (De Idolol. X), Opponitur necessitas quasi deprecatrix (Apolog. IV, VII), et hic paulo post: Familiarissima est advocatio necessitatis. RIG.
The standing of the faith does not admit necessities. But outside the standing of the faith they are admitted (Apology XLV, Exhortation to Chastity VI). Necessity is counted as an excuse (On Idolatry X); necessity is put forward as a pleader for pardon (Apology IV, VII), and here a little after: "The plea of necessity is most familiar." RIGALTIUS.
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(91) ‹anchor: plura non faciam› · call in col 113
Plura non faciam. Liber Agobardi, Plura non faciunt. Ursini, Plura non faciant. RIG.
I will not say more. The book of Agobard: "they do not say more." Ursinus's: "let them not say more." RIGALTIUS.
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Illi ut deo telorum. Huc pertinet quod a Platone Apollo dicatur ἀπὸ τοῦ πάλλειν, id est a jaculando, unde etiam factum ut cum arcu et sagittis ejus simulacra formari soleant. PAM.
To him as god of missiles. To this belongs Plato's saying that Apollo is named "from pallein," that is, from hurling; whence too his images are usually made with bow and arrows. PAMELIUS.
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Cum et myrto. Myrtus bellicis quoque rebus inservit, triumphansque de Sabinis Posthumius Tubertus in consulatu, qui primus omnium ovans urbem ingressus est, quoniam rem leviter sine cruore gesserat, myrto Veneris victricis coronatus incedit, optabilemque arborem etiam hostibus fecit. Haec postea ovantium fuit corona. RHEN.
With myrtle too. Myrtle also serves in matters of war: Postumius Tubertus, triumphing over the Sabines in his consulship, who was the first of all to enter the city in ovation, because he had done the business lightly and without bloodshed, walked crowned with the myrtle of Venus Victrix, and made the tree desirable even to enemies. This was afterwards the crown of those who received an ovation. RHENANUS.
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Sed ergo Venerem non credo ex hac parte cum Marte Romanam. Martem, inquit, Romanum crediderim ex ea parte qua Romulos ex Ilia suscepit. At Venerem ex ea parte qua Iliam sibi pellicem sensit et indoluit, Romanam esse non arbitror. RIG.
But then I do not believe Venus Roman, on this side, along with Mars. Mars, he says, I would believe Roman on the side on which he begot the Romuli of Ilia. But Venus, on the side on which she found Ilia her rival and grieved at it, I do not judge to be Roman. RIGALTIUS.
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Paci cum Neptuno. Quoniam Minerva cum oleaginea corona pacem iniit cum Neptuno ideo pacis nota est olea, LE PR.
To the peace with Neptune. Because Minerva made peace with Neptune wearing an olive crown, the olive is therefore the sign of peace. LE PRIEUR.
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Tunc tibi, Jupiter, bove cornibus auro decoratis vovimus esse futurum. Haec est veteris codicis, scriptura, quae firmari etiam possit inscriptione antiqua Fratrum Arvalium, quae sic habet: BOVE. AURATO. VOVIMUS. ESSE. FUTURUM. RIG.
Then to you, Jupiter, we have vowed that there shall be an ox with gilded horns. This is the old codex's reading, which can also be confirmed by an ancient inscription of the Arval Brothers, which runs: "WITH A GILDED OX WE HAVE VOWED THAT IT SHALL BE." RIGALTIUS.
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(48) ‹anchor: mammonae manum tradere› · call in col 114
Est Leop.
"Est" (is): Leopold.
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(97) ‹anchor: nec hominem Deo reddere› · call in col 114
Nec hominem Deo reddere. Qui tamen est numisma et imago Dei. Ait igitur Christianum, cum sit et miles et coronatus, non reddere hominem Deo, quia cum ornatu incedit idolis dicato, et denarium auferre Caesari, quia refert ab Caesare donativum; itaque non reddere quae sunt Dei Deo, neque etiam quae sunt Caesaris Caesari. Significat militiae praeliorumque negotia non convenire Chri- (continues)
And not render man to God. Man, who is yet God's coin and image. He says, then, that the Christian, being both a soldier and crowned, does not render man to God, because he goes about in an adornment dedicated to idols, and takes the denarius away from Caesar, because he carries off a donative from Caesar; and so he renders neither to God the things that are God's nor to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. He means that the business of military service and battles does not befit Chri- (continues)
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(49) ‹anchor: unguentis delibuitur› · call in col 115
Hinc adversis lemniscis, inauratur lamnulis, unguentis, Paris. foliis struitur, adornatur lemniscis, C. Wouw. Triumphi laurea foliis instruitur hinc adversis lemniscis, hinc auratur lamnulis; unguentis delibuitur. Jun. ex Ms.
"On one side with ribbons, it is gilded with little plates, with ointments": Paris [edition]. "It is built of leaves, adorned with ribbons": Wouwer's codex. "The laurel of triumph is made up of leaves, on one side with ribbons, on the other it is gilded with little plates; it is smeared with ointments": Junius from a manuscript.
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(50) ‹anchor: magistratus vero insuper aureis› · call in col 115
Ut Athenis, ut Romae inserit Semler., et forte, inquit. ab interprete quodam adjecta sunt.
Semler inserts "as at Athens, as at Rome," and perhaps, he says, they were added by some commentator.
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(51) ‹anchor: securis ad caudicem› · call in col 115
Ad radices Jun.
"Ad radices" (at the roots): Junius.
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Ad suggestum Jun.
"Ad suggestum" (to the platform): Junius.
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(97) (continued) ‹anchor: on the previous page›
stiano. Praelia relinquenda Caesari, coronam saeculo et Satanae: hominem ipsum imaginem Dei, reddendum Deo, sed purum, sed liberum, nullius servum, nullius militem, praeter Dei. RIG.
…a Christian. Battles are to be left to Caesar, the crown to the world and to Satan: man himself, the image of God, is to be rendered to God, but pure, but free, no one's slave, no one's soldier but God's. RIGALTIUS.
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(98) ‹anchor: lemniscis ornatur (call printed after the tail "tur" at the head of col 115; word set whole at the end of col 114)› · call in col 115
Lamnis ornatur. Vetus exemplar, Lemnis. Lemniscis. RIG.
It is adorned with plates. The old copy: "Lemnis," [that is,] with ribbons. RIGALTIUS.
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(99) ‹anchor: et apud Barbaros enim Christus› · call in col 115
Et apud Barbaros enim Christus. Idem respondit Tryphon Lucianicus interroganti Critiae an Scytharum res curae essent deo? Omnino, inquit, εἰ τύχοι γε Χριστὸς καὶ ἐν ἔθνεσι. RIG.
For Christ is among the barbarians too. Lucian's Tryphon gave the same answer when Critias asked him whether the affairs of the Scythians were God's concern: "Certainly," he said, "if indeed Christ happens to be among the nations too." RIGALTIUS.
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(1) ‹anchor: in capite causam› · call in col 115
Qui hanc portaverit in capite causam. Coronam triumphalem, causam cadaverum, bustorum, lacrymarum. RIG.
Who has worn this cause on his head. The triumphal crown, the cause of corpses, of pyres, of tears. RIGALTIUS.
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(2) ‹anchor: solemnium Caesareanorum› · call in col 115
Munificiae, et ipsae solemnium Caesarianorum. Apud Festum legimus munifices vocatos milites, qui non vacabant, sed munus principi faciebant: qui vacabant appellabantur beneficiarii. Sed et Vegetio munifices sunt milites qui munus faciunt a quo liberi sunt immunes qui dicuntur. Expone ergo munificae, id est ad munus solemnium Caesarianorum adstrictae et obligatae. Posterior aetas munificum pro munifice usurpavit. Nam et Paulus Jurec. in cap. Munus, De verb. signif., etiam officium significare docet, unde munera militaria, et quosdam milites munifices vocari. RHEN.
Bound to duty, they too, by the imperial solemnities. In Festus we read that soldiers were called "munifices" who were not exempt but performed duty for the emperor; those who were exempt were called "beneficiarii." And in Vegetius too, "munifices" are soldiers who perform the duty from which those called "immunes" are free. Explain "munificae," then, as bound and obliged to the duty of the imperial solemnities. A later age used "munificus" for "munifex." For Paul the jurist too, in the chapter "Munus," On the Meaning of Words, teaches that it also means an office; whence military duties, and certain soldiers are called "munifices." RHENANUS.
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(3) ‹anchor: Superferuntur etiam illis Hetruscae› · call in col 115
Superferuntur etiam illis Hetruscae. Sic habet vetus exemplar, superferuntur illis, hoc est, etiam aureis nobiliores habentur. RIG.
Etruscan [crowns] are rated even above these. So the old copy has it, "are rated above these," that is, they are held nobler even than the golden ones. RIGALTIUS.
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(4) ‹anchor: ad deducendas thensas› · call in col 115
Ad deducendas thensas. Thensam Festus docet esse vehiculum argenteum, quo exuviae deorum ludis circensibus in circum ad pulvinar vehebantur. RHEN.
For escorting the sacred cars. Festus teaches that a "thensa" is a silver vehicle on which the emblems of the gods were carried at the circus games into the circus to the couch of the gods. RHENANUS.
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(5) ‹anchor: conscriptus in libris vitae› · call in col 115
Conscriptus in libris vitae. De istis quoque libris inaudierat aliquid Tryphon Luciani. Ait enim ad Critiam: Ὥστε ἔασον ἅπαντα ὡς καί σε ἐν ταῖς ἐπουρανίοις βίβλοις τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀπογράψωνται. RIG.
Enrolled in the books of life. Lucian's Tryphon had also heard something of these books. For he says to Critias: "So let everything go, so that they may enrol you too in the heavenly books of the good." RIGALTIUS.
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(6) ‹anchor: virgae ex Jesse› · call in col 115
Illic virgae ex radice Jesse. Virgas dicit, alludens ad fasces Romanorum magistratuum, et sic legitur in cod. Agobardi. RIG.
There the rods from the root of Jesse. He says "rods," alluding to the fasces of the Roman magistrates; and so one reads in the codex of Agobard. RIGALTIUS.
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Tuos fastos. Fasti erant libri continentes totius anni rationem et celebritates: cum respectu ad hos loquitur Tertullianus. In Ecclesia quoque sunt fasti, ne tu municipiorum fastos et solemnitates cura. Notandus sane locus ad morem Ecclesiae, quae conferebat natalitia, id est obitus martyrum, in fastos; quos fastos ecclesiastico nomine vocamus martyrologia. Hujus rei est locus elegans Cypriani epist. 83. LAC.
Your calendars. The fasti were books containing the reckoning and festivals of the whole year: Tertullian speaks with an eye to these. In the Church too there are calendars; do not you concern yourself with the calendars and solemnities of the towns. The passage is certainly noteworthy for the custom of the Church, which entered the birthdays, that is, the deaths of the martyrs, in its calendars; which calendars we call by the church name of martyrologies. There is a fine passage on this in Cyprian's letter 83. LA CERDA.
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Coronant et nuptiae sponsos. Huc pertinet quod sponsa ad virum iter parans, ex verbena quae Veneri dicata est, et floribus herbisque a se lectis corollam texere soleat, eamque secum deferre: nam empta gestare serta vitio dabatur. Item quod sponsus domi illam operiens, paratu magno januam coronare, multaque lauro exornare soleat, quemadmodum auctor est Alexander ab Alex. PAM.
Weddings too crown the bridal pair. To this belongs the custom that the bride, preparing to go to her husband, would weave a little crown of vervain, which is sacred to Venus, and of flowers and herbs gathered by herself, and carry it with her; for to wear bought garlands was counted a fault. Likewise that the bridegroom, waiting for her at home, would crown the door with great display and adorn it with much laurel, as Alexander ab Alexandro attests. PAMELIUS.
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(53) ‹anchor: videbatur› · call in col 116
Videatur cod. Wouw.
"Videatur" (may seem): Wouwer's codex.
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(54) ‹anchor: ut et corona› · call in col 116
Coronam Latin. Rhen. Fran.
"Coronam" (the crown, accusative): Latinius, Rhenanus, the Franeker [edition].
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Spectari non debeat Rhen.
"Spectari non debeat" (ought not to be looked at): Rhenanus.
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Numquid et agonisticae causae disputabuntur. Id est agones. Numquid etiam agones in controversiam venient, inquit, ut de iis etiam quaeratur, vitandi sint Christiano, necne? RIG.
Will the causes of the contests also be disputed? That is, the games. Will the games too come into dispute, he says, so that it is asked of them as well whether a Christian must avoid them or not? RIGALTIUS.
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Et misellus Archemorus. Archemorus Lycurgi filius a serpente laesus adhuc infans periit, ex incuria nutricis suae Hypsipyles, quae illum in graminibus reliquerat, ostensura Graecis laborantibus siti Langiam fontem. In ejus pueri memoriam annuus agon institutus est: et quia periit adhuc infans, misellum vocat, non miserum. RHEN.
And poor little Archemorus. Archemorus, son of Lycurgus, died while still an infant, bitten by a serpent, through the carelessness of his nurse Hypsipyle, who had left him in the grass to show the Greeks, who were suffering from thirst, the spring Langia. In that boy's memory a yearly contest was instituted; and because he died still an infant, he calls him "poor little," not "poor." RHENANUS.
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Antinous infelix. Hunc Adrianus Caesar habuit in deliciis, et tam tenere dilexit, ut ab illo civitatem Aegypti cognominarit, ubi et agonem illi quotannis instituit. Quam rem in litteras pulchre retulit Hegesippus, referente B. Hieronymo. RHEN.
Unhappy Antinous. The emperor Hadrian had him as his favourite and loved him so tenderly that he named a city of Egypt after him, where he also instituted a yearly contest for him. Hegesippus put this finely on record, as blessed Jerome reports. RHENANUS.
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Coronantur et lupanaria. Videtur intelligere coronas quibus lares publici vel privati in singulis domibus coronabantur, atque adeo et in lupanaribus, etc. PAM.
Brothels too are crowned. He seems to mean the crowns with which the public or private household gods were crowned in each house, and so in brothels too, etc. PAMELIUS.
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(13) ‹anchor: quamque honestus› · call in col 117
Quam sacer, sanctus, quamque honestus. Placet codicis Divionensis Scriptura: Quam sacer sanctusque, quam honestus, etc. RIG.
How sacred, holy, and how honourable. The reading of the Dijon codex is preferable: "How sacred and holy, how honourable," etc. RIGALTIUS.
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(14) ‹anchor: Forculum› · call in col 117
Forculum. Alii, Foreculum. RIG.
Forculus. Others: Foreculus. RIGALTIUS.
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Multo magis coronatos fortasse tunc illos coronatos scandalizaverit. Alludit ad viginti quatuor illos seniores coronis aureis coronatos, Apoc., IV, 4. Si nudo capite mulier scandalizat angelos, multo magis capite coronato scandalizaverit illos seniores coronatos. RIG.
Much more, perhaps, will she then have scandalized those crowned ones. He alludes to the twenty-four elders crowned with golden crowns, Apoc. IV, 4. If a woman with bare head scandalizes the angels, much more, with crowned head, will she have scandalized those crowned elders. RIGALTIUS.
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(16) ‹anchor: de horto Midae lectis› · call in col 118
Et quod magis usui est centenariis quoque rosis de horto Midae lectis. Prima editio Rhenani scripturam codicis Divionensis repraesentavit: « Centauriis quoque roris et hortomi delectis; » quam esse mendosam nemo ambigit. Codex Agobardi hac parte erosus tantum servavit, « Et quod magis v...... narint quoque rosis de horto lectis. » Cui quidem scripturae fidem potius adhiberi par est, cum sit membranarum longe Divionensibus illis vetustiorum. Itaque Rhenani conjecturam sequimur, legendumque arbitramur « Centenariis quoque rosis de horto Midae lectis; » quod ad veterem illam scripturam propius accedit. Centenarias autem rosas dixit Tertullianus, a centum foliis, quemadmodum in Apologetico, p. 7, centenarias coenas a centenis sestertiis, et lib. de Pallio, pag. 138, Centenarii ponderis lances. Convenientissime autem dixit coronam ex rosis, quae spectaculi et spiraculi res est, hoc est, oculos colore et nares odore delectat, magis usui esse, quam de laurea, myrto, olea, aut quavis alia illustri fronde, quae oculos tantum pascit. RIG.
And, what is more useful, with hundred-leaved roses too, gathered from the garden of Midas. Rhenanus's first edition reproduced the reading of the Dijon codex: "Centauriis quoque roris et hortomi delectis," which no one doubts is corrupt. The codex of Agobard, eaten away at this point, preserved only: "Et quod magis v...... narint quoque rosis de horto lectis." It is right to trust this reading rather, since its parchment is far older than that of Dijon. So we follow Rhenanus's conjecture and judge that we should read "with hundred-leaved roses too, gathered from the garden of Midas," which comes closer to that old reading. Tertullian called the roses "centenariae" from their hundred leaves, as in the Apology, p. 7, "centenariae" dinners from their hundred sesterces, and in the book On the Cloak, p. 138, dishes "of a hundred pounds' weight." And he said most fittingly that a crown of roses, which is a thing for sight and for smell — that is, it delights the eyes with colour and the nostrils with scent — is more useful than one of laurel, myrtle, olive, or any other splendid foliage, which feeds the eyes only. RIGALTIUS.
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(17) ‹anchor: utriusque liliis› · call in col 118
Et utrisque liliis. Albis et purpureis. De quibus sunt apud Ovidium versus praeclari, Metam. X, ubi de Hyacintho: Tyrioque nitentior ostro / Flos oritur, formamque capit quam lilia, si non / Purpureus color his, argenteus esset in illis. Itaque lilia purpurea poetae nata de cruore Hyacinthi fabulantur: praeterea vero luctus et querelarum inscripta syllabis AI, AI. Quod autem vulgo traditur, ea lilia significari notissimo illo Virgilii versu, Dic quibus in terris, etc, hoc falsum esse, si tantulum digredi liceat, demonstrabimus. Quidni autem (continues)
And with lilies of both kinds. White and purple. On which there are splendid lines in Ovid, Metamorphoses X, on Hyacinthus: "and brighter than Tyrian purple a flower springs up, and takes the shape that lilies have, were not the colour of these purple, of those silver." So the poets tell that purple lilies were born of Hyacinthus's blood, and moreover inscribed with the syllables of grief and lament, AI, AI. As for the common report that these lilies are meant in that very famous line of Virgil, "Tell me in what lands," etc., we will show, if a small digression may be allowed, that this is false. For why not (continues)
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(17) (continued) ‹anchor: on the previous page›
liceat coronario Tertulliani opusculo lemniscos intexere? Sane rideo grammaticos haerentes cruci, quam ipsis olim abs se positam fuisse Virgilius Asconio Pediano inter jocandum prodidit. Et quis non rideat Servium istud ex Asconio tradentem, semetipsum nugis exquisitissimis perperam cruciare? Sunt autem pastoritii lusus Ecloga III, ubi Damoetas et Menalcas inter sese quid carmine uterque valeat vicissim experiuntur, ac tandem certando fessi, litem Palaemonis arbitrio dirimendam jocosa altercatione concludunt. Quaerit ex Menalca Damoetas: Dic quibus in terris, et eris mihi magnus Apollo, / Tres pateat coeli spatium non amplius ulnas? Damoetam Menalcas consimili quaestione repercutit: Dic quibus in terris inscripti nomina regum / Nascuntur flores; et Phyllida solus habeto. Quaesierat Damoetas ubinam terrarum coelum tres tantum ulnas pateret, quod certe nusquam datur, neque per mundi naturam fieri potest, ut alicubi terrarum coeli supra terras amplitudo trium ulnarum spatio contineatur. Itaque Menalcas propositam quaestionem non solvit, sed quaestione alia refellit. Dic, inquit, ubinam terrarum nascantur flores inscripti nominibus regum? Romuli scilicet, Numae, Tulli, Tarquinii et aliorum. Cujusmodi flores nullibi sane nascuntur. Hoc Tuscum jurgium dici ait Augustinus, contra Academicos tertio, cum quaestioni intentatae non ejus solutio, sed alterius objectio videtur mederi. Prior jocus, ἐκ τῶν ἀδυνάτων, posteriore ἐκ τῶν οὐκ ὄντων, lepide confutatur. Eademque fortasse opera Virgilius reipublicae Romanae nuper ereptae, cujus etiam reddendae consilia agitasse Augustum, Tranquillus auctor est, desiderium, simplicibus rusticorum jocis celatum protulerit, sub hoc videlicet colore: flores inscriptos nomine regum, quos populus Romanus odio tyrannicae libidinis exsecrabatur, haud verius nasci, quam terrae plagam reperiri, ubi coeli spatium tres tantum ulnas pateret. Non est quod hic aliquid studiosius occultari suspicemur; nec sum credulus grammaticorum commentis, quasi Virgilius ipse Cornificio Asconiove mentem suam aperuerit hanc fuisse, ut eo versu, Tres pateat coeli spatium non amplius ulnas, Coelium quemdam Mantuanum perstringeret; non puto venisse unquam in Virgilii mentem tam frigidum scomma; et quos adducunt historiae de Coelio suae testes, eorum de Virgilio scripta intercidere, nimirum Asconii Cornificiique. At citantur a Philargyrio; citantur a Servio. De Philargyrio mox disputabimus: certe in Servianis quae exstant, haec omnino in hunc modum leguntur: « Asconius Pedianus dicit se Virgilium dicentem audisse, in hoc loco se grammaticis crucem fixisse, volens experiri quis eorum studiosior inveniretur; volens intelligi de Coelio Mantuano. » Primum igitur, quae fides grammatico hasce nugas una cum soloecismis obtrudenti? Deinde, quam absurdum! « Volens experiri quis eorum studiosior inveniretur. » Quis credat sic locutum unquam fuisse Asconium? Imo ex Philargyrianis legendum: « Pedianus ait se audisse Virgilium dicentem in hoc loco se grammaticis crucem fixisse, quaesituris eos si quid studiosius occultaretur. » Haec sane quidem Asconius; nec praeterea quidquam. Sed aliquis statim grammaticaliter addidit de suo: « Dicit autem poeta Coelium Mantuanum. » In Servianis quoque ab eadem manu additum, « volens intelligi de Coelio Mantuano. » Jam, Philargyriana quae habemus, puriora [continued under Editors' prose below, the top of the right column] … Servianis et Philargyrianis, quantacunque illa sint, non recte colligi Asconium aliquid de Coelio Mantuano tradidisse ab Virgilio acceptum. Quid? an hoc Cornificio innotuit, non etiam Asconio, qui fuit inter eximii poetae familiares, qui librum adversus ejus obtrectatores edidit? Explodamus igitur rancidam illam de Coelio Mantuano fabulam, admissa tantum postrema illa Philargyrii nota: « Asconius Pedianus ait se audisse Virgilium dicentem, in hoc loco se grammaticis crucem fixisse, quaesituris si quid studiosius occultaretur. » Quae sequuntur, « Dicit autem poeta Coelium Mantuanum, » jam non sunt Asconii, sed inepti alicujus glossographi. Haec de coeli spatio. Quod attinet ad « flores inscriptos nomina regum, » grammatici quoque hallucinantur, etsi multo simplicius; nam in eo consentiunt omnes, ut existiment florem hyacinthum intelligi, natum ex cruore primum Hyacinthi illius quem adamavit Apollo, deinde Ajacis. Hos accipiunt pro regibus, etsi neuter ad regum nomenclaturam respondeat. Hoc primum. Deinde, nemo unquam poeta eo venit audaciae fabularis, ut diceret in flore illo scriptum fuisse nomen Hyacinthi, Ἀνάγνωθι τὸν Ὑάκινθον, inquit Philostratus, γέγραπται γάρ. Quid vero in eo legitur? nomen regis? nomen hyacinthi? minime. Sed prooemium luctus et querelae, AI, AI. Sic Ovidius, ubi de Apolline puerum lugente: Ipse suos gemitus foliis inscribit, et AI, AI. / Flos habet inscriptum, funestaque littera ducta est. Moschus in Epitaphio Bionis: Νῦν, Ὑάκινθε, λάλει τὰ σὰ γράμματα, καὶ πλέον [AI, AI.] / Λάμβανε τοῖς πετάλοισι. Constat igitur in hyacintho flore non legi nomen Hyacinthi, sed lugubris initium carminis, προοίμιον τῆς προσηγορίας ut ait Palaephatus, τὰ ἐπὶ τῷ θρήνῳ γράμματα, ut Pausanias. Unde hoc Virgiliano versu, Dic quibus in terris inscripti nomina regum, / Nascantur flores, qui nomina Hyacinthi et Ajacis significari volunt, jam unius sibi de suis regibus nomen expungi patiantur necesse est, ita ut deinceps Ajace solo se tueantur, dicantque Virgilium nomina regum posuisse, pro nomine regio, et regem nuncupasse, (continues)
… may one weave ribbons into Tertullian's little treatise on the crown? I really do laugh at the grammarians sticking fast at the cross which, Virgil revealed to Asconius Pedianus in jest, he had once set for them. And who would not laugh at Servius, handing this down from Asconius and tormenting himself to no purpose with the most exquisite trifles? Now these are pastoral games, in Eclogue III, where Damoetas and Menalcas try by turns between themselves what each can do in song, and at length, wearied by the contest, close with a jesting exchange the dispute that is to be settled by the judgement of Palaemon. Damoetas asks of Menalcas: "Tell me in what lands — and you shall be my great Apollo — the space of the sky opens no more than three ells?" Menalcas strikes back at Damoetas with a like question: "Tell me in what lands flowers grow inscribed with the names of kings; and have Phyllis to yourself." Damoetas had asked where on earth the sky opened only three ells wide, which certainly is found nowhere, nor can it come about by the nature of the world that anywhere on earth the breadth of the sky above the lands should be held within the space of three ells. So Menalcas does not solve the question put to him, but rebuts it with another question. Tell me, he says, where on earth do flowers grow inscribed with the names of kings? — of Romulus, that is, Numa, Tullus, Tarquin and the rest. Flowers of that kind grow nowhere at all. Augustine, in the third book Against the Academics, says this is called a "Tuscan quarrel," when a question put is cured not by its own solution but by posing another. The first jest, from things impossible, is wittily refuted by the second, from things that do not exist. And perhaps by the same device Virgil voiced, hidden under the simple jests of rustics, his longing for the Roman republic lately snatched away — and Suetonius Tranquillus attests that Augustus too had entertained plans for restoring it — under this colour: that flowers inscribed with the name of kings, whom the Roman people cursed in hatred of tyrannical licence, are no more truly born than a tract of land is found where the space of the sky opens only three ells wide. There is no reason to suspect that something is too carefully hidden here; nor do I give credit to the grammarians' inventions, as though Virgil himself had disclosed his mind to Cornificius or Asconius, that by the line "Where the space of the sky opens no more than three ells" he was having a dig at one Caelius of Mantua. I do not think so frigid a gibe ever came into Virgil's mind; and the witnesses they bring for their story about Caelius — Asconius and Cornificius, to be sure — their writings on Virgil are lost. But they are cited by Philargyrius; they are cited by Servius. Of Philargyrius we shall speak shortly: certainly in the Servian notes that survive the words run altogether thus: "Asconius Pedianus says he heard Virgil say that in this place he had set a cross for the grammarians, wishing to test which of them would prove the more diligent; wishing it to be understood of Caelius of Mantua." First, then, what credit is due to a grammarian who thrusts these trifles on us along with solecisms? Next, how absurd! "Wishing to test which of them would prove the more diligent." Who would believe that Asconius ever spoke like that? Rather, from the Philargyrian notes we should read: "Pedianus says he heard Virgil saying that in this place he had set a cross for the grammarians, who would ask whether something was rather carefully hidden." That much indeed is Asconius's, and nothing besides. But someone straightaway added, grammarian-fashion, of his own: "But the poet means Caelius of Mantua." In the Servian notes too the same hand added "wishing it to be understood of Caelius of Mantua." Now the Philargyrian notes we have, purer [continued under Editors' prose below, the top of the right column] … from the Servian and Philargyrian notes, for whatever they are worth, it is not rightly inferred that Asconius recorded anything about Caelius of Mantua received from Virgil. What? Did this become known to Cornificius and not to Asconius as well, who was among the great poet's intimates, who published a book against his detractors? Let us hiss off, then, that stale tale about Caelius of Mantua, admitting only that last note of Philargyrius: "Asconius Pedianus says he heard Virgil saying that in this place he had set a cross for the grammarians, who would ask whether something was rather carefully hidden." What follows, "But the poet means Caelius of Mantua," is no longer Asconius's but some inept glossator's. So much for the space of the sky. As for "flowers inscribed with the names of kings," the grammarians are deluded here too, though much more simply; for they all agree in thinking that the flower meant is the hyacinth, born from the blood first of that Hyacinthus whom Apollo loved, then of Ajax. These they take for the kings, though neither answers to the designation of kings. That is the first point. Next, no poet ever went so far in fabulous daring as to say that the name of Hyacinthus was written on that flower: "Read Hyacinthus," says Philostratus, "for it is written." But what is read on it? The name of a king? The name of Hyacinthus? Not at all, but the prelude of grief and lament, AI, AI. So Ovid, where Apollo mourns the boy: "He himself inscribes his groans upon the petals, and the flower bears AI, AI inscribed, and the mournful letter is traced." Moschus in the Epitaph of Bion: "Now, Hyacinth, speak your letters, and more [AI, AI] take upon your petals." It is certain, then, that on the hyacinth flower one reads not the name of Hyacinthus but the beginning of a mourning song — "the prelude of the address," as Palaephatus says; "the letters of lament," as Pausanias. Hence those who would have the names of Hyacinthus and Ajax meant in Virgil's line, "Tell me in what lands flowers grow inscribed with the names of kings," must now allow the name of one of their kings to be struck out, so that henceforth they defend themselves with Ajax alone, and say that Virgil put "names of kings" for "a royal name," and called him a king, (continues)
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quidem plerumque sunt Servianis, sed hic certe nihilo fuere prudentius interpolata. Nam ad hunc versum, « tres pateat coeli spatium, » etc., nota sic habet : « Apud antiquos fuit altissimus puteus, in quem descendebant ad sacra celebranda : cujus putei orbis, id est summus circulus quo cognoscerent anni proventus, non amplius quam trium ulnarum habebat. » Quae sunt mera deliria et somnia aegroti ; nec saniora sequuntur de specu apud Aetnam ; vel, coelum pro toto mundo ; vel coeli spatiunt pro clypeo Achillis. Post hujuscemodi nugas, quis sibi meliora deinceps promittat ? Subjungitur : « Dicit Cornificius ab ipso Virgilio audisse, quod Coelium Mantuanum quemdam tetigit, qui consumptis omnibus facultatibus nihil sibi reliquit, nisi locum trium ulnarum ad sepulturam. Item Ovidius Naso torificium tantum coelum patere videtur, quantum torificium patet. » Non video quid boni ex istis ineptiarum quisquiliis concinnari possit. Quin potius amplector sententiam existimantium nihil hic esse Cornificii, verum id nominis irrepsisse ex consonantia vocabuli paulo post sequentis, torificii, vel orificii. Et jam demonstravimus ex
[purer] indeed for the most part than the Servian notes, but here at any rate they were interpolated no more wisely. For on this line, ‘let the space of heaven lie open’, etc., the note runs thus: ‘Among the ancients there was a very deep well, into which they used to descend to celebrate the sacred rites: the round of this well, that is, the topmost circle by which they learnt the yield of the year, was no more than three ells across.’ These are sheer ravings and a sick man’s dreams; nor is what follows any saner, about a cave near Etna; or heaven for the whole world; or the space of heaven [printed spatiunt] for the shield of Achilles. After trifles of this kind, who would promise himself anything better thereafter? There is added: ‘Cornificius says he heard from Virgil himself that he was touching on a certain Caelius of Mantua, who, having consumed all his means, left himself nothing but a plot of three ells for burial. Likewise Ovidius Naso: the heaven seems to lie open only so far as the torificium lies open.’ I do not see what good can be pieced together from these scraps of nonsense. Rather, I embrace the opinion of those who judge that there is nothing of Cornificius here, but that the name crept in from its likeness in sound to the word that follows a little after, torificii, or orificii. And we have already shown from
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(17) (continued) ‹anchor: on page 63›
qui rex nunquam fuerit; quod Virgilianum esse, parum mihi videtur probabile: quid si autem et Ajacis istius nomen de flore expungimus? Obstare videtur Ovidius, cum ait, mediis foliis inscriptam esse litteram communem Hyacintho et Ajaci, puero viroque, litteram scilicet funestam, seu lugubre epigramma. AI, AI, ut Hyacintho quidem sit nota seu littera querelae, Ajaci, nominis. Sed objectionem hanc amovere haud difficile fuerit cogitantibus eas litteras luctum querelamve denotasse prius quam Ajacem; imo, nec pro Ajace quidem in floribus istis usurpari, nisi per luctum; nomine ipso Ajacis luctum significante, atque inde Ovidio natam occasionem vaticinandi, fore tempus quo fortissimus heros lugubre suum nomen addat in hunc florem jam lugubrem. Sic autem fieri, ut in Hyacintho nihil lugubre legatur, certe nihil regium. Plinius, cap. 11, lib. XXI: « Hyacinthum comitatur fabula luctuum ejus quem Apollo dilexerat, et Ajacis: ita discurrentibus venis, ut Graecarum litterarum figura, AI AI, legatur inscriptum. » De nomine Ajacis lugubri, ipse Ajax apud Sophoclen: ΑΙ, ΑΙ, τίς ἄν ποτ' ᾤεθ' ὧδ' ἐπώνυμον / Τοῦ μὲν ξυνοίσειν ὄνομα τοῖς ἐμοῖς κακοῖς; / Νῦν γὰρ πάρεστι καὶ δὶς αἰάζειν ἐμοὶ / Καὶ τρίς. Sic apud Theocriti interpretem. Idyll. X, Euphorion in luctu Aeacidae purpuream hyacinthum alloquitur λεγραμμένα κωκύουσαν: nempe in hyacintho legebat non regium nomen Aeacidae, sed lugubre carmen, AI, AI. Nec alio sensu accipiendas puto easdem litteras, AI, in gemma veteri, quae humanae figurae in florem transeuntis imaginem exhibet, servaturque penes virum praestantissimum Nic. Fabrum Peirescium. Atque ex his opinor, manifestum fiet satis vanam eorum esse conjecturam, qui quod in lilio purpureo, poetarum hyacintho, Graecis litteris legitur inscriptum AI AI, nomina regum esse arbitrantur, pastoris Virgiliani versiculo subintellecta. RIG.
…who was never a king; which seems to me hardly probable as Virgil's meaning. But what if we strike the name of that Ajax from the flower too? Ovid seems to stand in the way when he says that in the middle of the petals a letter is inscribed common to Hyacinthus and Ajax, boy and man — a mournful letter, that is, or epitaph of grief: AI, AI, so that for Hyacinthus it is the mark or letter of lament, for Ajax of his name. But it will not be hard to remove this objection for those who consider that those letters signified grief or lament before they signified Ajax; indeed, that they are not used for Ajax in those flowers except by way of grief, the very name of Ajax signifying grief, and that from this Ovid took occasion to prophesy that a time would come when the bravest of heroes would add his mournful name to this already mournful flower. So it comes about that on the hyacinth nothing is read but grief, certainly nothing royal. Pliny, book XXI, ch. 11: "The hyacinth is accompanied by the tale of mourning for him whom Apollo had loved, and for Ajax; its veins so run that the shape of Greek letters, AI AI, is read inscribed on it." On the mournful name of Ajax, Ajax himself in Sophocles: "Alas, alas! Who ever would have thought my name would so fit my woes? For now I may cry 'alas' twice, and thrice." So in the commentator on Theocritus, Idyll X, Euphorion, in mourning for the Aeacid, addresses the purple hyacinth "wailing what is written" [λεγραμμένα, as printed]: that is, on the hyacinth he read not the royal name of the Aeacid but a mournful song, AI, AI. Nor do I think the same letters, AI, are to be taken in any other sense on an ancient gem which shows the image of a human figure passing into a flower, and which is kept by that most excellent man Nicolas Fabri de Peiresc. And from this, I think, it will be plain enough how empty is the conjecture of those who think that what is read inscribed in Greek letters, AI AI, on the purple lily, the poets' hyacinth, are the names of kings, implied in the little line of Virgil's shepherd. RIGALTIUS.
(17, second note) ‹same call› — Utrisque liliis et omnibus violis. Sic in fine libri de Spectat... spectacula dixit utraque cavea et omni stadio gratiora Alba lilia sunt confessorum, purpurea martyrum. RIG.
With lilies of both kinds and all violets. So at the end of the book On the Shows … he spoke of spectacles more pleasing than both tiers of seats and every stadium. The white lilies are the confessors', the purple the martyrs'. RIGALTIUS.
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(18) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col ?
Et alius iridis ambitu ornatus coelesti prato. Sic habet vetus exemplar. Eleganter autem et apposite Septimius iridem nuncupavit coeleste pratum, ob speciem smaragdi instar viridantem. Sic enim in Apocal. describuntur: Καὶ ἶρις κυκλόθεν τοῦ θρόνου ὁμοία ὁράσει σμαραγδίνῳ. RIG.
And another adorned with the circuit of the rainbow, a heavenly meadow. So the old copy has it. Septimius elegantly and aptly called the rainbow a heavenly meadow, because of its appearance, green like an emerald. For so they are described in the Apocalypse: "And a rainbow round the throne, in appearance like an emerald." RIGALTIUS.
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(19) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col ?
Caput in strophiolo aut dracontario. Tenuioribus scilicet coronis utebantur antiqui, inquit Plinius, strophia appellantes, unde strophiola. Porro dracontarium videtur ejus saeculi vocabulum fuisse pro corolla. RHEN.
The head in a little band or a dracontarium. The ancients, says Pliny, used thinner crowns which they called strophia, whence strophiola. And "dracontarium" seems to have been a word of that age for a little crown. RHENANUS.
(19, second note) ‹same call› — Ego vero puto dracontarium coronam intelligi confectam, aut ex dracontia herba antidoto adversus venena, cujus meminit Plinius lib. XXIV, cap. 19, aut ex gemmis draconitibus de quibus idem Pl. lib. XXXVII, c. 10. PAM.
But I think "dracontarium" means a crown made either of the herb dracontia, an antidote against poisons, which Pliny mentions in book XXIV, ch. 19, or of draconite gems, of which the same Pliny speaks in book XXXVII, ch. 10. PAMELIUS.
(19, third note) ‹same call› — Aut dracontario. Catenulae sunt dracontaria ex auro argentove aut etiam alia materia in modum draconis effictae. Monilia vocat dracones Lucianus, τοὺς περὶ καρποῖς ἢ βραχίοσι δράκοντας. LE PR.
Or a dracontarium. Dracontaria are little chains of gold or silver, or of other material too, fashioned in the shape of a serpent. Lucian calls ornaments "serpents": "the serpents about the wrists or arms." LE PRIEUR.
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(20) ‹anchor: Patri suo fecit› · call in col 122
Nam et reges nos Deo et Patri suo fecit. Hoc saepissime ingerit Septimius, sublimem Christianae familiae dignitatem, quam et praeclare extulit Justinus adversus Thryphonem Jud. ἀρχιερατικὸν τὸ ἀληθινὸν γένος ἐσμὲν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
For He has made us kings too to God His Father. Septimius very often presses this point, the lofty dignity of the Christian family, which Justin also finely extolled against Trypho [Thryphonem, as printed] the Jew: "We are the true high-priestly race of God."
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(21) ‹anchor: bonus miles› · call in col 122
Quem et bonus miles. Loquitur de milite isto qui coronam in manu, non in capite, gestaverat, ob eam rem in carcerem raptus. RHEN.
Whom the good soldier too. He speaks of that soldier who had carried the crown in his hand, not on his head, and was dragged off to prison for it. RHENANUS.
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(none set here: the foot of page 65 is set in n121.) <!-- Q1b 2026-10-18: two Commentarius calls stand in this column's text: (20) after "Patri suo fecit", before "Christus Jesus"; (21) after "bonus miles", before "eligendo". Their notes are set in n121 with anchors "not visible · call in col ?"; the anchors should read col 122 at those words. Also in n121 (not written by Q1b): the English of (20) has "his Father" where house style wants "His Father"; in (19, second note) the page seems to print "draconilibus" where n121 has "draconitibus" (UNSURE at this resolution; if so, a printed misprint); in (19, third note) the page prints a comma after βραχίοσι. -->
- "ex virgo Jesse" (for virga): kept as printed in the source; the English translates "rod".