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PL 3 · cols. 725–730
S. Cornelius papa et martyr, Epistolae, et quae ad eum scriptae sunt
Letter II
ANNO CHRISTI CCLI.
In the year of Christ 251.
EPISTOLA II.
Letter 2.
S. CYPRIANI CARTHAGINIENSIS EPISCOPI AD S. CORNELIUM PAPAM.
Of St Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, to St Cornelius, Pope.
(Erasm., II, 10; Pamel., Rigalt., Baluz., Paris., XLI; Lips., Coustant., 127; Galland., III, 333.)
(Erasmus, 2, 10; Pamelius, Rigault, Baluze, Paris [edition], 41; Leipzig [edition], Coustant, 127; Gallandi, 3, 333.)
ARGUMENTUM. — Quid ex divinae traditionis et ecclesiasticae institutionis usu fecerit Cyprianus ubi de legitima Cornelii ordinatione certior factus est. Litteras Cornelii non Novatiani, publice lectas esse. Cur praeter Cornelii lilterais, quibus ille se episcopum nuntiabat, eorum qui ipsius ordinationi interfuerunt testimonium desideravit. Rogat Cornelium, ut litteras de Felici⟨s⟩simi et presbyterorum et addictorum causa, quas ipsi mittit, legat.
Argument. — What Cyprian did, according to the usage of divine tradition and of ecclesiastical institution, when he had been made certain of the lawful ordination of Cornelius. That the letter of Cornelius, not that of Novatian, was read publicly. Why, besides the letter of Cornelius, by which he announced himself bishop, he desired the testimony of those who were present at his ordination. He asks Cornelius to read the letter concerning the case of Felicissimus and the presbyters and their adherents, which he sends him.
CYPRIANUS CORNELIO FRATRI SALUTEM.
Cyprian to Cornelius his brother, greeting.
1. Quod servis Dei, et maxime sacerdotibus justis et pacificis congruebat, frater charissime, miseramus nuper collegas nostros Caldonium
1. As befitted servants of God, and above all priests who are just and peaceable, dearest brother, we had recently sent our colleagues Caldonius
Editors' notes and page, col. 725
Footnotes
[Variæ lectiones / Variant readings — this block lies above the rendered foot; only its last line is visible, cut at the top edge of the image, and its number is illegible. Check the full page.] (?) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 725 or 726 (not visible) […] Asserta sunt firmiter Oxon.
[…] "Asserta sunt firmiter" Oxford.
[Variorum notæ / Notes of various editors] (printed under page 414)
(11) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 725 (by position)
Per Mettium subdiaconum et Nicephorum acolytum aliquanto post superiorem epistolam transmissa est. COUSTANT. — Hanc epistolam auctor Gestorum pontificalium ait scriptam a Cypriano fuisse in carcere, ut mox dicam, et missam, per Celerinum lectorem. At Pearsonius in Annalibus Cyprianicis putat hæc verba Gestorum pontificalium intelligi de epistola LVII, falso, ut opinor. Nam in epistola missa per Celerinum agebatur de ordinatione Cornelii, de qua non agitur in epistola LVII. Recte observat idem vir clarissimus errorem esse in gestis pontificalibus eo loci ubi legitur epistolam illam conscriptam esse in carcere a sancto Cypriano. Verum non ideo existimandum est falsa prorsus esse et commentitia quæ istic tradit auctor horum Gestorum. Error est, non falsitas. Emendatio facilis est. Quæ dicuntur de carcere referenda sunt ad Celerinum, quem constat in carcere tentum fuisse cum Moyse. Maximo, et Nicostrato, Urbano et Sidonio, Is ergo litteras Cypriani accepit in carcere, et hinc misit ad Cornelium. Sic videtur restituendus sermo qui turbatus est in Gestis. Sed addit idem vir clarissimus ex Adone, quod numerat inter frivola et inania sequentium temporum commenta, nimirum in epistola illa Cyprianum scripsisse ad Cornelium quanta pro fide et confessione Christi sustinuerit Celerinus, id vero magnam habet difficultatem. Ado enim non scribit hujus Celerini laudes fuisse in epistola qua probabat electionem Cornelii. Hæc sunt verba Adonis ad diem XVIII kal. octobris: Quo tempore beatus Cyprianus scribit ei de Celerino lectore quanta pro fide et confessione Christi sustinuerit. Ista ergo exstabant in alia quapiam epistola Cypriani qua caremus. BALUZ.
Sent by Mettius the subdeacon and Nicephorus the acolyte somewhat after the preceding letter. COUSTANT. — The author of the Pontifical Acts says this letter was written by Cyprian in prison, as I shall explain shortly, and sent by Celerinus the lector. But Pearson in his Cyprianic Annals thinks these words of the Pontifical Acts are to be understood of Letter LVII, wrongly, in my view. For the letter sent by Celerinus dealt with the ordination of Cornelius, which is not dealt with in Letter LVII. The same most distinguished man rightly observes that there is an error in the pontifical acts at the place where one reads that this letter was written in prison by Saint Cyprian. But it should not therefore be thought that what the author of these Acts relates there is wholly false and invented. It is an error, not a falsehood, and the correction is easy. What is said about the prison should be referred to Celerinus, who is known to have been held in prison with Moyses, Maximus and Nicostratus, Urbanus and Sidonius. He then received Cyprian's letter in prison and sent it on from there to Cornelius. This seems the way to restore the wording, which is confused in the Acts. But the same most distinguished man adds from Ado something he counts among the frivolous and empty inventions of later times, namely that in that letter Cyprian wrote to Cornelius how much Celerinus had endured for the faith and confession of Christ; this, indeed, is very doubtful. For Ado does not write that this Celerinus's praises were in the letter in which Cyprian approved the election of Cornelius. These are Ado's words on the eighteenth day before the Kalends of October (14 September): "At which time blessed Cyprian writes to him about Celerinus the lector, how much he had endured for the faith and confession of Christ." These things, then, stood in some other letter of Cyprian which we lack. BALUZ.
(printed under page 414)
(12) ‹anchor: Miseramus nuper› · call in col 725 (by position)
Miseramus nuper. De hac Cypriani legatione ad Cornelium agens Marca, lib. V de Concordia, cap. 2, ait Caldonium et Fortunatum legatos Cypriani et concilii Carthaginiensis missos esse ut quantum fieri posset eniterentur ad componendam consiliis suis Ecclesiæ unitatem, quæ factione Novatiani scissa erat, et ut de Cornelii ordinatione quæ sibi essent comperta referrent ad Africanos. BALUZ.
"We had lately sent." Treating of this embassy of Cyprian to Cornelius, de Marca, De concordia book V, ch. 2, says that Caldonius and Fortunatus were sent as envoys of Cyprian and of the council of Carthage to strive, as far as could be done, to restore by their counsels the unity of the Church, which had been torn by Novatian's faction, and to report to the Africans what they had learned about Cornelius's ordination. BALUZ.
(printed under page 414)
Page
- running head: 725 EPISTOLÆ. (the right-hand column number is cut off at the image edge)
- marginal letters: A ‹ANNO CHRISTI CCLI.›; B ‹tis et pacificis congruebat›; C ‹Cyprianicis putat haec verba› (in the Variorum notae at the page foot); D ‹num scripsisse ad Cornelium› (in the Variorum notae at the page foot)
- old-edition numerals: 703 after ‹Litteras›
et Fortunatum; ut non tantum persuasione litterarum nostrarum, sed praesentia sua et consilio omnium vestrum eniterentur, quantum possent, et elaborarent, ut ad catholicae Ecclesiae unitatem scissi corporis membra componerent, e⟨t⟩ Christianae charitatis vinculum copularent. Sed quoniam diversae partis obstinata et inflexibilis pertinacia non tantum radicis et matris sinum atque complexum recusavit; sed etiam gliscente et in pejus recrudescente discordia episcopum sibi constituit, et contra sacramentum semel traditum divinae dispositionis et catholicae unitatis, adulterum et contrarium caput extra Ecclesiam fecit; acceptis litteris tam tuis, quam collegarum nostrorum, item adventantibus bonis viris et nobis charissimis collegis nostris Pompeio et Stephano, a quibus haec omnia nobis cum laetitia communi asseverata sunt
and Fortunatus, so that not only by the persuasion of our letters but by their own presence and the counsel of all of you they might strive, as far as they could, and labour to bring the members of the torn body back together into the unity of the Catholic Church, and to join them in the bond of Christian charity. But since the obstinate and inflexible pertinacity of the opposing party not only refused the bosom and embrace of the root and mother, but also, as the discord grew and broke out afresh for the worse, set up a bishop for itself, and, against the once-delivered sacrament of the divine ordinance and of Catholic unity, made an adulterous and contrary head outside the Church; having received letters both from you and from our colleagues, and also on the arrival of good men, our very dear colleagues Pompeius and Stephen, by whom all these things were affirmed to us with common joy
Editors' notes and page, col. 726
Footnotes
(13) ‹anchor: Obstinata pertinacia› · call in col 726 (by position)
Obstinata pertinacia. Honorii Aug. constitutio adversus Pelagium et Cœlestium: Sed quia obtinatorum nimis pertinax malum ut constitutio geminaretur exigit. Pertinacia sumitur, ut plurimum. in malam partem. ut monuimus in notis ad Capitularia, pag. 1110. BALUZ.
"Obstinate stubbornness." The constitution of the Emperor Honorius against Pelagius and Caelestius: "But because the all too stubborn evil of the obstinate has required that the constitution be repeated." "Pertinacia" is mostly taken in a bad sense, as we pointed out in the notes on the Capitularies, p. 1110. BALUZ.
(printed under page 414)
(14) ‹anchor: Gliscente› · call in col 726 (by position)
Gliscente. Mox Cyprianus respiciens ad illud Pauli, Ephes. V, 32: Sacramentum hoc magnum est, ego autem dica, in Christo et in Ecclesia, episcopum ecclesiæ, qui legitime ordinatur, sponsum censet; adeoque adulterum haberi vult, qui in eamdem ecclesiam contra fas et sacramentum divinæ dispositionis inducitur. Hinc et episcopos ecclesiarum, quibus astringuntur, sponsos censendi morem et antiquum esse, et ipsis Pauli verbis niti patet. COUSTANT.
"Growing." Shortly after, Cyprian, with an eye to Paul's words in Ephesians 5:32, "This is a great sacrament, but I speak ("dica", as printed) in Christ and in the Church," regards the bishop of a church who is lawfully ordained as its bridegroom; and so he would have the man who is brought into the same church against right and against the sacrament of the divine ordering held an adulterer. Hence it is clear that the custom of regarding bishops as the bridegrooms of the churches to which they are bound is both ancient and grounded in Paul's own words. COUSTANT.
(printed under page 414)
(15) ‹anchor: Episcopum sibi› · call in col 726 (by position)
Episcopum sibi Novatianum. Istud evenisse anno 254 scripsit Baronius, Pearsonius 251. BAL.
"Novatian as bishop for himself." Baronius wrote that this happened in the year 254, Pearson in 251. BAL.
(printed under page 414)
(16) ‹anchor: Collegarum› · call in col 726 (by position)
Collegarum. Hoc est episcoporum qui Cornelii ordinationi interfuerant. Ei autem interfuerunt sexdecim, inter qnos duos Afri, Caldonius scilicet ac Fortunatus. recensetur. Ex his litteris quibus nuntiabatur Cornelii ordinatio nullæ exstant. COUSTANT.
"Of colleagues." That is, of the bishops who had been present at Cornelius's ordination. Sixteen were present at it, among whom two Africans, namely Caldonius and Fortunatus, are counted. Of these letters announcing Cornelius's ordination none survives. COUSTANT.
(printed under page 414)
(17) ‹anchor: Cum lætitia› · call in col 726 (by position)
Cum lætitia. Ita omnia vetera exemplaria tam nostra quam Anglicana et omnes editiones ante Rigaltianam. Quare valde miror virum doctissimum auctoritatem codicis Beneventani, in quo scriptum esse ait cum tristitia, prætulisse consensui veterum exemplarium et editionum. Quamvis enim hæc lectio possit esse bona referendo eam ad pertinaciam schismaticorum, tamen quia nullum aliud exemplar ei suffragatur, reliqua omnia repugnant, non puto eam præferri debere lectioni quæ tot auctoritatibus nititur præsertim cum ea quam ego cum Reinharto revoco habeat optimum sensum, referendo illum ad Maximum, Urbanum, et cæteros schismaticos, quos fama erat, quamvis non admodum certa, rediisse ad Ecclesiam. Quo nuntio accepto per litteras Caldoni et Fortunati et per relationem Pompei et Stephani, surrexerat in clero Carthaginensi lætitia, quamvis non integra propter incertam famam, ut patet etiam ex Epistola XLVI, pag. 60. BALUZ.
"With joy." So all the old copies, ours as well as the English ones, and all the editions before Rigault's. I therefore wonder greatly that that most learned man preferred the authority of the Benevento codex, in which he says "cum tristitia" (with sadness) is written, to the agreement of the old copies and editions. For although this reading could be good if referred to the stubbornness of the schismatics, yet since no other copy supports it and all the rest are against it, I do not think it should be preferred to a reading resting on so many authorities, especially since the one I restore with Reinhart gives an excellent sense, referring it to Maximus, Urbanus and the other schismatics, who were reported, though not very reliably, to have returned to the Church. When this news was received through the letters of Caldonius and Fortunatus and the report of Pompeius and Stephen, joy had arisen among the clergy of Carthage, though not complete because of the uncertain report, as is clear also from Letter XLVI, p. 60. BALUZ.
(printed under page 414)
Page
- running head: EPISTOLÆ. 726
- marginal letters: A ‹nium et Fortunatum›; B ‹tibus bonis viris et nobis›; C ‹Capitularia, pag. 1110› (in the page-foot notes); D ‹tam nostra quam Anglicana› (in the page-foot notes)
- old-edition numerals: 704 after ‹inflexibilis›
- misprints kept as printed: "e" (for et) in ‹componerent, e Christianae›, set e⟨t⟩
firmiter et probata, secundum quod divinae traditionis et ecclesiasticae institutionis sanctitas pariter ac veritas exigebat, litteras nostras ad te direximus. Sed et per provinciam nostram haec eadem collegis singulis in notitiam perferentes, ab his quoque fratres nostros cum litteris dirigendos esse mandavimus.
firmly and approved, in accordance with what the sanctity and likewise the truth of divine tradition and of ecclesiastical institution required, we directed our letter to you. And also, bringing these same things to the notice of our colleagues one by one throughout our province, we instructed that our brethren too should be sent by them with letters.
II. Quanquam mens nostra, et propositum jam tunc fratribus et plebi istic universae manifestatum fuisset, quando litteris nuper ab utraque parte susceptis, tuas litteras legimus, et episcopatus tui ordinationem singulorum auribus intimavimus: honoris etiam communis memores, et gravitatis sacerdotalis ac sanctitatis respectum tenentes, ea quae ex diverso in libram ad nos transmissum congesta fuerant acerbationibus criminosis. respuimus; considerantes pariter et ponderantes quod in tanto fratrum religiosoque conventu considentibus Dei sacerdotibus et altari posito nec legi debeant, nec audiri. Neque enim facile promenda sunt, et incaute ac temere publicanda, quae discordioso stylo audientibus scandalum moveant et fratres longe positos ac trans mare constitutos incerta opinione confundant. Viderint qui vel furori suo, vel libidini servientes, et divinae legis ac sanctitatis immemores, vel jactitare
II. Although our mind and purpose had already at that time been made manifest to the brethren and to the whole people here, when, having lately received letters from both parties, we read your letter and made known the ordination of your episcopate to the ears of each one: mindful also of our common honour, and keeping regard for priestly gravity and sanctity, we rejected the things which had been heaped up from the opposing side with criminous exasperations in the book sent to us; considering and weighing alike that in so great and so religious an assembly of brethren, with the priests of God sitting together and the altar set up, they ought neither to be read nor to be heard. For those things are not readily to be brought forth, and incautiously and rashly made public, which with a quarrelsome pen stir up scandal in the hearers and confound with uncertain opinion brethren placed far off and settled across the sea. Let those see to it who, serving either their own fury or their lust, and unmindful of the divine law and of sanctity, are even eager to bandy about
Editors' notes and page, col. 727
Footnotes
[Variæ lectiones / Variant readings] (printed under page 415) (²¹) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible) Probata quibus cognitis secundum Ver.
"Probata quibus cognitis secundum" Ver.
(printed under page 415) (²²) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible; the numeral is blurred and could be read ²³) Redigendos Bod. 3 Lin. Ebor. N C. 1. Foss. Vict. Mich.
"Redigendos" Bod. 3, Lin., Ebor., NC. 1, Foss., Vict., Mich.
(printed under page 415) (²³) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible) Manifestum Colb. Bod. 3.
"Manifestum" Colb., Bod. 3.
(printed under page 415) (²⁴) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible) Ita vetus codex Colb. At recens, et codex Fux. Discordiosis et inaudientibus, forte pro discordiosis et inobaudientibus ceu inobedientibus. In vulgatis autem. Discordioso stylo scripta audientibus. Quæ discordioso stylo scandalum. Bod. 1, 2. N C. Lin. Ebor. Thu. Foss. Mich. Vict.
So the old Colbert codex. But the recent one, and the Fux codex: "Discordiosis et inaudientibus", perhaps for "discordiosis et inobaudientibus", that is, "inobedientibus" (to the quarrelsome and disobedient). But in the printed editions: "Discordioso stylo scripta audientibus". "Quæ discordioso stylo scandalum" Bod. 1, 2, NC., Lin., Ebor., Thu., Foss., Mich., Vict.
(printed under page 415) (²⁵) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible) Impingere cod. Lamon.
"Impingere" the Lamoignon codex.
(printed under page 415) (²⁶) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible) Loquantur dolum Lam. Ebor N C. 1. Bod. 1.
"Loquantur dolum" Lam., Ebor., NC. 1, Bod. 1.
(printed under page 415) (²⁷) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible) Non exeat Lin. N C.
"Non exeat" Lin., NC.
(printed under page 415) (²⁸) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 727 or 728 (not visible) Sed si quis bonus Lam. Ebor NC. 1 Bod. 1.
"Sed si quis bonus" Lam., Ebor., NC. 1, Bod. 1.
[Variorum notæ / Notes of various editors] (printed under page 415)
(18) ‹anchor: Provinciam nostram› · call in col 727 (by position)
Provinciam nostram. Infra Epist. XLV, pag. 29: Sed quoniam latius fusa est nostra provincia. Habet enim Numidiam et Mauritaniam sibi cohærentes. Hinc ergo collegerunt Angli per provinciam istic intelligi Africam, Numidiam et Mauritaniam, quæ sedi Carthaginiensi subjectæ erant. Certo Aurelius episcopus Carthaginensis ait in codice canonum ecclesiæ Africanæ, cap. LV, se cunctorum Ecclesiarum sollicitudinem sustinere. Hanc porro Anglorum interpretationem adjuvare posse videtur lectio codicis Remensis sancti Dionysii, in quo legitur provincias nostras. Salvianus lib. IV, cap. 4, Sciunt Africæ. BALUZ.
"Our province." Below, Letter XLV, p. 29: "But since our province is spread more widely; for it has Numidia and Mauretania joined to it." From this the English editors gathered that by "province" here is meant Africa, Numidia and Mauretania, which were subject to the see of Carthage. Certainly Aurelius, bishop of Carthage, says in the code of canons of the African church, ch. LV, that he bears the care of all the Churches. This interpretation of the English editors seems further supported by the reading of the codex of Saint-Denis of Reims, in which one reads "provincias nostras" (our provinces). Salvian, book IV, ch. 4: "The Africas know." BALUZ.
(printed under page 415)
(19) ‹anchor: Dirigendos esse› · call in col 727 (by position)
Dirigendos esse. Supple ad te, ut nimirum communionem ipsius probare ac tenere se profiterentur, ut infra epist. IV explicatur. COUSTANT.
"Were to be directed." Supply "to you", that is, so that they would profess that they approved and held communion with him, as is explained below in Letter IV. COUSTANT.
(printed under page 415)
(20) ‹anchor: Manifestatum› · call in col 727 (by position)
Manifestatum. Litteræ utriusque partis eæ intelligendæ sunt quæ cum Cornelii, tum Novatiani ordinationem significabant. COUSTANT.
"Made known." The letters of both parties are to be understood as those which announced the ordination of Cornelius and that of Novatian. COUSTANT.
(printed under page 415)
(21) ‹anchor: Librum transmissum› · call in col 727 (by position)
Librum transmissum. Librum famosum missum adversus Cornelium. Vide quæ notantur ad epist. LII, in causa Cornelii. BALUZ.
"The book sent across." A defamatory pamphlet sent against Cornelius. See what is noted on Letter LII, in the case of Cornelius. BALUZ.
(printed under page 415)
(22) ‹anchor: Altari posito› · call in col 727 (by position)
Altari posito. Notandus mos in cœtu fidelium, qui ad sacram synaxim, altari posito in quo sacrificium esset celebrandum, convenerant, ea legendi scripta quæ ad ecclesiasticas causas pertinerent. Idem usus et Romanis pontificibus non insolens fuit. Anno 354, Liberius epist. IV, ad Constantium scribens, n. 2, cum Arianis expostulat, qui confinxerunt, inquit, me litteras suppressisse, ne crimina ejus quem dicebantur condemnasse (hoc est Athanasii) omnibus paterent... At satis omnibus clarum est, nec quisquam negat, nos Orientalium litteras intimasse, LEGISSE ECCLESIÆ, legisse concilio. Hic cœtus in superiori epistola n. 1, statio nuncupatur. COUSTANT.
"When the altar had been set." Note the custom, in the assembly of the faithful who had gathered for the holy synaxis once the altar on which the sacrifice was to be celebrated had been set, of reading those writings that concerned church business. The same practice was not unusual with the Roman pontiffs too. In the year 354 Liberius, writing to Constantius in Letter IV, n. 2, remonstrates with the Arians, "who have invented," he says, "that I suppressed the letters, so that the crimes of the man they were said to have condemned (that is, Athanasius) should not be made plain to all... But it is clear enough to all, and no one denies, that we made known the letters of the Easterners, READ THEM TO THE CHURCH, read them to the council." In the preceding letter, n. 1, this assembly is called a "statio". COUSTANT.
(printed under page 415)
Page
- running head: 727 S. CORNELII PAP[...] (cut off at the image edge)
- marginal letters: A firmiter et probata (beside the first line, between the columns); B missum (21) congesta fuerant acerbationibus; C (18) Provinciam nostram (in the foot notes); D (21) Librum transmissum (in the foot notes)
- old-edition numerals: 705 after jam
- other: "criminosis. respuimus" printed with a full stop where a comma is expected, set as printed; last word "ja-" broken at the column end; full-width headings "Variae lectiones." and "Variorum notae." stand above the foot apparatus and are not set; the Variae lectiones and Variorum notae (Baluze, Coustant) at the page foot are left for the later pass; note calls 21-24 and (18)-(23) omitted
interim gestiunt quae probare non possunt, et cum innocentiam destruere atque expugnare non valeant, satis habent fama mendaci et falso rumore maculas inspergere. Certe quod praepositis et sacerdotibus congruit, danda opera est, ut talia, cum a quibusdam scribuntur, per nos respuantur. Ubi enim erit quod discimus ac docemus scriptum esse. Contine linguam tuam a malo, et labia tua ne loquantur insidiose (Psal. XXXIX, 13); item alibi: Os tuum abundavit malitia, et lingua tua complectebatur insidias, sedens adversus fratrem tuum detrahebas, et adversus filium matris tuae ponebas scandalum (Ps. XLIX, 20); item quod Apostolus dicit: Omnis sermo malus de ore vestro non procedat, sed bonus ad aedificationem fidei, ut det gratiam audientibus (Eph. IV, 29). Porro haec fieri debere ostendimus, si quando talia quorumdam calumniosa temeritate conscripta sunt, legi, apud nos non patimur. Et idcirco frater charissime, cum ad me talia adversum te et compresbyteri tecum considentis scripta venissent; clero et plebi legi praecepi quae religiosam simplicitatem sonabant, nec ullis maledictorum et conviciorum latratibus perstrepebant.
meanwhile the things which they cannot prove, and since they are not able to destroy and overthrow innocence, they are content to sprinkle stains upon it by lying report and false rumour. Certainly, as befits those set over others and priests, effort must be made that such things, when they are written by certain people, should be rejected by us. For where will be that which we learn and teach to be written: Keep your tongue from evil, and let your lips not speak treacherously (Ps. 39:13); likewise elsewhere: Your mouth has abounded in malice, and your tongue has framed treacheries; sitting, you disparaged your brother, and against the son of your mother you laid a stumbling-block (Ps. 49:20); likewise what the Apostle says: Let no evil speech proceed out of your mouth, but good speech, to the edification of faith, that it may give grace to those who hear (Eph. 4:29). Moreover, we show that these things ought to be done, if ever such things have been written by the slanderous rashness of certain people, [namely] that we do not allow them to be read among us. And therefore, dearest brother, when writings of this kind had come to me against you and the fellow presbyter sitting with you, I ordered to be read to the clergy and the people those which sounded of religious simplicity and did not resound with any barkings of curses and abuse.
III. Quod autem scripta collegarum nostrorum, qui illic ordinationi tuae adfuerant, desideravimus,
III. But as for our having desired the writings of our colleagues who had been present there at your ordination,
Editors' notes and page, col. 728
Footnotes
(23) ‹anchor: Discordioso stylo› · call in col 728 (by position)
Discordioso stylo. Sallustius in Jugurtha: Nam vulgus, ut plerumque solet, et maxime Numidarum, ingenio mobili, seditiosum atque discordiosum. Sidonius lib. VI, epist. 2: domum discordiosam; et lib. IX, epist. 3: per conditiones discordiosas.
"In a quarrelsome style." Sallust in the Jugurtha: "For the common people, as is usual, and the Numidians' most of all, being of fickle temper, were seditious and quarrelsome." Sidonius, book VI, letter 2: "a quarrelsome house"; and book IX, letter 3: "through quarrelsome conditions".
(printed under page 415)
(24) ‹anchor: Inspergere› · call in col 728 (by position)
Inspergere. Codex Lamonii impingere. Quare quod præpositis BALUZ.
"To sprinkle on." Lamoignon's codex has "impingere" (to thrust on). Wherefore "quod præpositis" [so printed; the sense is incomplete]. BALUZ.
(printed under page 415)
(25) ‹anchor: Adversum te› · call in col 728 (by position)
Adversum te, Pamel,, et compresbyteros tecum considentes. Oxon., de te et compresbyteris tecum considentibus. Mugis placet cum nostris mss. adversum te et compresbyteri tecum considentis, hoc est Novatiani, qui sedis Romanæ, in qua legitime sedebat Cornelius, sese præsulem jactitabat. Et vero scripta illa, ut ex superiore epistola liquet, adversus unum Cornelium composita erant. COUSTANT. — Hæc est lectio omnium editionum quæ antecesserunt Rigaltianam. Eam præferunt etiam omnes libri veteres. Est autem optima. Et tamen ego editionem Rigaltii, quæ habet de te et presbyteris tecum considentibus, libenter præferrem, si tanta non esset veterum librorum et editionum repugnantia. Laudat autem istic Cyprianus adversarios Cornelii quod cum adversus eum ad se scripsissent, modeste tamen scripserant, nec conviciorum plaustra in eum jecerant. Hanc puto esse verum sensum verborum Cypriani BALUZ.
"Against you", Pamelius, "and the fellow presbyters sitting with you." Oxford: "about you and the fellow presbyters sitting with you." We prefer ("Mugis", a misprint for "Magis"), with our manuscripts, "against you and the fellow presbyter sitting with you", that is, Novatian, who boasted himself bishop of the Roman see, in which Cornelius lawfully sat. And indeed those writings, as is plain from the preceding letter, had been composed against Cornelius alone. COUSTANT. — This is the reading of all the editions before Rigault's, and all the old books also give it; and it is excellent. Yet I would gladly prefer Rigault's edition, which has "about you and the presbyters sitting with you", were the old books and editions not so strongly against it. Here Cyprian praises Cornelius's opponents because, although they had written to him against Cornelius, they had written with restraint and had not hurled cartloads of abuse at him. This I take to be the true sense of Cyprian's words. BALUZ.
(printed under page 415)
(26) ‹anchor: Collegarum nostrorum› · call in col 728 (by position)
Collegarum nostrorum. Non tantum Caldenii et Fortunati Afrorum episcoporum, sed et aliorum, (continues)
"Of our colleagues." Not only of Caldonius ("Caldenii" as printed) and Fortunatus, the African bishops, but also of others, (continues)
(printed under page 415)
Page
- running head: ...ORNELII PAPAE 728 (left part cut off at the image edge; printed with ligature PAPÆ)
- marginal letters: A ctitare interim gestiunt; B haec fieri debere ostendimus; C and D stand beside the editors' Variorum notae at the page foot, not beside the text
- old-edition numerals: 706 after Os
non veteres mores obliti, novum aliquid quaerebamus. Nam satis erat, ut tu te episcopum factis litteris nuntiares; nisi ess⟨e⟩t ex diverso discrepans factio, quae criminosis et calumniosis commentis suis collegarum pariter ac fratrum plurimum turbaret mentes, et corda confunderet. Cui rei sopiendae necessarium duximus, ut scribentium nobis inde collegarum nostrorum firma et solida auctoritas pararetur: qui moribus ac vitae et disciplinae tuae condigna litterarum suarum testimonia praedicantes, aemulis quoque, et rerum vel novitate vel pravitate gaudentibus, omnem ambigendi et discrepandi scrupulum sustulerunt; et, secundum consilium nostrum salubri ratione libratum, in hoc fluctu aestuantium fratrum mentes sincere ac firmiter tuum sacerdotium probaverunt. Hoc enim vel maxime, frat⟨e⟩r, et laboramus et laborare debemus, ut unitatem a Domino et per apostolos nobis successoribus traditam, quantum possumus, obtinere curemus; et, quod in nobis est palabundas et errantes oves quas quorumdam
we were not, forgetful of the old customs, seeking anything new. For it was enough that you should announce yourself as bishop by letters sent; were it not that there was a dissenting faction on the opposite side, which with its criminal and slanderous fabrications was greatly disturbing the minds and confusing the hearts of colleagues and brothers alike. To lay this matter to rest we thought it necessary that the firm and solid authority of our colleagues who were writing to us from there should be secured: and they, proclaiming in their letters testimonies worthy of your character and life and discipline, removed every scruple of doubt and dissent even from your rivals and from those who delight in either the novelty or the perversity of affairs; and, in accordance with our counsel weighed with sound reasoning, in this tide the minds of the seething brethren have sincerely and firmly approved your priesthood. For this above all, brother, we both labour and ought to labour, that we take care to maintain, as far as we can, the unity handed down by the Lord and through the apostles to us their successors; and, so far as lies in us, the wandering and straying sheep which certain people's
Editors' notes and page, col. 729
Footnotes
[Variæ lectiones / Variant readings] (printed under page 416) (²⁹) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) Te factis litteris episcopum. Lam NC. 1. Ebor. Lin.
"Te factis litteris episcopum" Lam., NC. 1, Ebor., Lin.
(printed under page 416) (³⁰) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) Concuteret NC. 1 Bod. 1. 2. Ebor.
"Concuteret" NC. 1, Bod. 1, 2, Ebor.
(printed under page 416) (³¹) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) Vitæ tuæ sine crimine Lin.
"Vitæ tuæ sine crimine" Lin.
(printed under page 416) (³²) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) Libratæ. Oxon. edit. secundum Pamel. Corb. ms. liberatas. Plures alii libratas. Magis placet cum Minutio et vetustiore ms. Colb. libratum. Infra epist. II, n. 4, lecturi sumus, librato de omnium collatione consilio; et. n 3, librata diu et ponderata ratione.
"Libratæ" the Oxford edition, following Pamelius. The Corbie manuscript has "liberatas"; most others "libratas". We prefer, with Minutius (so printed; probably Manutius) and the older Colbert manuscript, "libratum". Below, Letter II, n. 4, we shall read "librato de omnium collatione consilio" (counsel weighed by conferring with all); and n. 3, "librata diu et ponderata ratione" (a course long weighed and pondered).
(printed under page 416) (³³) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) Qui in obstinatione sua vel furore perseveraverunt, aut perseveraverint; Editi corriguntur ope vetustiorum mss. in quibus exstat supersederunt: quod facile irrepsit pro supersedere, quia utrumque aliquando promiscue usurpatur. Verum hic supersedere ad verbum noluerunt refertur. Pamelius in duobus excusis offendisse se notat supersederunt vel perseverarunt Unde istud, vel perseverarunt, scholiastis opera primum esse adjectum ac deinde vel cum verbo supersederunt rejecto, verbum perseverarunt obtinuisse colligitur.
"Qui in obstinatione sua vel furore perseveraverunt", or "perseveraverint". The printed editions are corrected with the help of the older manuscripts, in which "supersederunt" stands; this slipped in easily for "supersedere", since the two are sometimes used interchangeably. But here "supersedere" refers to the word "noluerunt". Pamelius notes that he found in two printed copies "supersederunt vel perseverarunt". From this it is inferred that "vel perseverarunt" was first added by the work of scholiasts, and then, once "vel" was dropped together with the word "supersederunt", the word "perseverarunt" prevailed.
(printed under page 416) (³⁴) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) Presbyterorum Ver NC. 2.
"Presbyterorum" Ver., NC. 2.
(printed under page 416) (³⁵) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) Ad clerum istic, non ad plebem. Apud Manul. in edit. Pamel. et Oxon. ad clerum istic nostrum et ad plebem. In Corb. ms. ad ecclesiam nostram et ad plebem. Præferimus cum Morel. et optimo codice Colb. ad clerum istic necnon et plebem.
"Ad clerum istic", not "ad plebem". In Manutius, and in the editions of Pamelius and Oxford, "ad clerum istic nostrum et ad plebem". In the Corbie manuscript, "ad ecclesiam nostram et ad plebem". We prefer, with Morel and the excellent Colbert codex, "ad clerum istic necnon et plebem" (to the clergy there and also the people).
(printed under page 416) (³⁶) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 729 or 730 (not visible) De ordinatione et ratione rei gestæ; Vetus Colb., Bod. 1, ac deinde loquamur, ubi in plerisque mss. ut in editis loquantur. Magis placet cum recenti Colb. eloquantur. Nempe prima verbi hujus littera facile excidit, quia et superior vox eadem desinebat.
"De ordinatione et ratione rei gestæ": the old Colbert and Bod. 1 have, then, "loquamur", where most manuscripts, like the printed editions, have "loquantur". We prefer, with the recent Colbert, "eloquantur". The first letter of this word dropped out easily, since the preceding word ended in the same letter.
[Variorum notæ / Notes of various editors] (printed under page 416)
(26) (continued) ‹anchor: Collegarum nostrorum› · call on the previous page
qui Cornelii ordinationi interfuerant, testimonia exspectata esse ex subnexis docemur. COUSTANT.
who had been present at Cornelius's ordination, that testimonies were awaited, as we learn from what follows. COUSTANT.
(printed under page 416)
(27) ‹anchor: Factis litteris› · call in col 729 (by position)
Factis litteris. Ita veteres edit. cum nostris mss. Et infra quidem epist. 3 Cyprianum audituri sumus dicentem se litteras breves facere; et epist. 4, n. 4, Litteras inde fecerunt. At Oxon. post Pamel. factum: quod neque a Cypriani stylo abhorrere ultro fatemur. Ex hoc loco unitatis et communionis fovendæ quanta semper ab incunabulis Ecclesiæ cura fuerit, intelligitur. Cum autem unitatis hujus centrum Christi instituto, esset apostolica sedes, ut ejus præsul ignoraretur a nemine, aut ipsi cohærere se nemo non quam primum testaretur, plurimi intereat. COUST.
"Letters having been made." So the old editions with our manuscripts. And indeed below, in Letter 3, we shall hear Cyprian say that he "makes short letters"; and in Letter 4, n. 4, "They made letters from there." But Oxford, after Pamelius, has "factum", which we readily admit is not foreign to Cyprian's style either. From this passage one understands how great a care there always was, from the Church's cradle, to foster unity and communion. And since by Christ's institution the centre of this unity was the apostolic see, it mattered greatly ("intereat" as printed) that its bishop should be unknown to no one, and that everyone should attest as soon as possible that he held to him. COUST.
(printed under page 416)
(28) ‹anchor: Palabundas› · call in col 729 (by position)
Palabundas. Ita quidam libri veteres, Alii habent balabundas, belabundas, volabundas, vagabundas, errabundas, prout placuit veteribus librariis. BALUZ.
"Wandering." So some old books. Others have "balabundas", "belabundas", "volabundas", "vagabundas", "errabundas", as the old scribes pleased. BALUZ.
(printed under page 416)
(29) ‹anchor: Supersederunt› · call in col 729 (by position)
Supersederunt. Hanc lectionem prætulit editio Manutii. Morellius et Pamelius rejecerunt. Et tamen ea reperitur in viginti et tribus vetustis exemplaribus. Ea vero quæ habet perseveraverunt inventa non est nisi in tribus. Sane duo et tres antiquiores editiones habent supersederunt vel perseveraverunt. Sed hic meminisse oportet observationis a me non uno loco factæ, veteres librarios, cum duas viderent varias lectiones, ambigerent autem utra earum retinenda esset, utramque posuisse, lectori judicium integrum relinquentes. Itaque verisimile est vocem perseveraverunt, quæ subsequitur vocem supersederunt in his duobus codicibus et in antiquis editionibus, esse ex glossemate cujusdam studiosi explicare volentis quid in hoc loco significaret vox supersederunt. Pamelius, qui putabat hanc vocem non posse æquivalere voci perseveraverunt, non dubitavit quin ex duabus lectionibus simul junctis in vetustis editionibus et in aliquot libris veteribus, cum una rejicienda esset, retineri deberet ea quæ perseverantiam significabat. Et tamen videre poterat apud Nonium Marcellum supersedere significare manere, perseverare, quasi in voluntate et consilio sedere. BALUZ.
"They persisted." The edition of Manutius preferred this reading; Morel and Pamelius rejected it. Yet it is found in twenty-three old copies, while the one that has "perseveraverunt" is found in only three. True, two or three of the older editions have "supersederunt vel perseveraverunt". But here one must remember an observation I have made in more than one place: when the old scribes saw two different readings and were unsure which of them to keep, they set down both, leaving the reader's judgement free. It is likely, then, that the word "perseveraverunt", which follows "supersederunt" in these two codices and in the old editions, comes from the gloss of some student wishing to explain what the word "supersederunt" meant in this place. Pamelius, who thought this word could not be equivalent to "perseveraverunt", did not doubt that of the two readings joined together in the old editions and in some old books, since one had to be rejected, the one meaning perseverance should be kept. And yet he could have seen in Nonius Marcellus that "supersedere" means to remain, to persevere, as it were to sit firm in one's will and purpose. BALUZ.
(printed under page 416)
Page
- running head: 729 EPISTOLAE.
- marginal letters: A ‹mus, non veteres mores obliti›; B ‹Hoc enim vel maxime, frater› (printed between this line and the line above); C ‹qui Cornelii ordinationi interfuerant› (in the Variorum notae); D ‹tamen ea reperitur in viginti› (in the Variorum notae)
- old-edition numerals: 707 after ‹tuae›
- other: column begins with the fragment "mus" broken from the previous column; "ess⟨e⟩t" printed with a damaged e that looks like o; "frat⟨e⟩r" has a gap or damaged letter in the type; "sincere" printed with a worn initial s; the full-width headings "Variae lectiones" and "Variorum notae" (the latter printed "Variormu") are not set, standing between the text and the page-foot apparatus; the Variae lectiones and the Variorum notae (Coustant, Baluze) at the page foot are left for the later pass
pervicax factio et haeretica tentatio a matre secernit, in Ecclesiam colligamus: illis solis foris remanentibus, qui obstinatione sua vel furore supersedere et ad nos redire noluerunt, discretionis et separationis a se factae, et Ecclesiae derelictae ipsi rationem Domino reddituri.
stubborn faction and heretical temptation separates from the mother, we may gather into the Church, those alone remaining outside who in their obstinacy or madness have refused to leave off and to return to us, and who will themselves render account to the Lord for the division and separation made by them and for the Church they have forsaken.
IV. Quantum vero hic ad presbyterium quorumdam Felicissimi causam pertinet, quid hic actum sit ut scire posses, litteras ad te collegae nostri manu sua subscriptas miserunt: qui auditis eis quid senserint, quid pronuntiaverint, ex eorum litteris disces. Melius autem, frater, facies, si etiam exempla litterarum, quae ad te legenda pro dilectione communi per Caldonium et Fortunatum collegas nostros proxime miseram, quae de eodem Felicissimo, et de presbyterio ejusdem ad clerum istic necnon et ad plebem scripseram, legi illic fratribus jubeas, quae et ordinationem et rationem rei gestae eloquantur, ut tam istic quam illic circa omnia per nos fraternitas instruatur. Exemplaria autem eadem nunc quoque per Mettium
IV. But as far as the case of the presbyterate of certain [adherents] of Felicissimus pertains here, so that you might know what was done here, our colleagues have sent you a letter subscribed with their own hand: from their letter you will learn what they, having heard them, judged and what they pronounced. But you will do better, brother, if you also order that the copies of the letters which I recently sent to you through our colleagues Caldonius and Fortunatus, to be read out of our common love, and which I had written concerning the same Felicissimus and his presbyterate to the clergy here and also to the people, be read there to the brethren, since they set out both the order and the account of what was done, so that both here and there the brotherhood may be instructed by us concerning everything. And these same copies now also through Mettius
Editors' notes and page, col. 730
Footnotes
(30) ‹anchor: Litteris› · call in col 730 (by position)
Litteris. Periisse has litteras temporum injuria dolendum est. EDD.
"By letters." It is to be regretted that these letters have perished through the injury of time. EDD.
(printed under page 416)
(31) ‹anchor: Clerum istic› · call in col 730 (by position)
Clerum istic. Cypriano perinde est atque clerum nostrum. Quocirca superius initio num. 2, plebi istic non auditur nostræ. Exempla similia referre supersedeo, unde in edit. Pamel. et Oxon. nostrum supervacanee adjici manifestum fiat. Etiamnum habentur duæ epistolæ hic memoratæ, scilicet edit. Pamel. 38 et 40. In illa nempe, quæ Caldonio et sociis missa est, ad calcem legitur: Has litteras meas... Carthaginem ad clerum transmittite, additis nominibus eorum, quicunque se Felicissimo junxerunt. Epistola autem 40 conceptis verbis ad plebem de quinque presbyteris factionis Felicissimi inscribitur. COUSTANT.
"The clergy there." For Cyprian this is the same as "our clergy". So above, at the start of n. 2, after "plebi istic" (to the people there) "nostræ" is not heard. I refrain from citing similar examples, by which it would become plain that in the editions of Pamelius and Oxford "nostrum" is added superfluously. The two letters mentioned here are still extant, namely nos. 38 and 40 in Pamelius's edition. In the former, sent to Caldonius and his companions, one reads at the end: "Send these letters of mine... to Carthage to the clergy, adding the names of all who have joined Felicissimus." And Letter 40 is addressed in express words "to the people, concerning the five presbyters of Felicissimus's faction". COUSTANT.
(printed under page 416)
(32) ‹anchor: Mettium› · call in col 730 (by position)
Mettium, cujus etiam mentio est in epistola sequenti. Quanquam autem exigui momenti sit scire verum ejus nomen, admoneo tamen in libris vete- (continues)
"Mettius", who is also mentioned in the following letter. Although it is of small importance to know his true name, I point out nevertheless that in the old books (continues)
(printed under page 416)
Page
- running head: EPISTOLÆ. 730
- marginal letters: A ‹pervicax factio et haeretica›; B ‹istic necnon et ad plebem›; C ‹(beside the notes) supersederunt in his duobus codicibus›; D ‹(beside the notes) Etiamnum habentur duae epistolae›
- old-edition numerals: 708 after ‹Melius›
- other: column begins mid-sentence (pervicax) and ends mid-sentence (per Mettium); B stands between the lines Felicissimo... and istic..., taken with the istic line; supersedere rendered "leave off", sense disputed in the editors' notes; Variae lectiones and Variorum notae at the page foot not set; no full-width line; no editors' matter in the text block