PL 54 · cols. 861–865
Leo the Great, Letters
Letters LVII–LVIII
Migne Reading Room
PL 54 · cols. 861–865
Letters LVII–LVIII
(a) ‹quem n⟨uper⟩ adieramus› · printed under col 861
Sic omnes codices et Quesn. in margine. Vulgati perperam, audieramus.
So all the manuscripts and Quesnel in the margin. The printed editions wrongly have "audieramus" [we had heard].
(b) ‹multitudine circumseptus› · printed under col 861
Editiones in margine, quos in unum emirabilibus.
The editions in the margin have "quos in unum emirabilibus".
(c) ‹qui primus imperio splenduit Christianus› · printed under col 861
Ita tres nostri et totidem Baluzii codices. Duo Vatt. omittunt adverbium nuper. Excusi, perturbata sit. Dein in ms. Chig., arbitrio.
So three of our manuscripts and as many of Baluze's. Two Vatican manuscripts omit the adverb "nuper" [lately]. The printed copies have "perturbata sit" [has been thrown into confusion]. Then, in the Chigi manuscript, "arbitrio".
(d) ‹praesentia et metu› · printed under col 861
Sic veteres libri. Editi, impetens.
So the old books. The printed editions have "impetens".
(e) ‹per eos qui› · printed under col 861
Vulgati melius, directi fuerunt ad concilium. Sed veterem interpretationem, quam omnes nostri et Baluzii codices exhibent, emendare noluimus.
The printed editions better, "directi fuerunt ad concilium" [were sent to the council]. But we have not wished to correct the old translation, which all our manuscripts and Baluze's present.
(f) ‹secundum definitiones› · printed under col 861
Indicari videtur canon Sardicensis septimus apud Dionysium, in Graeco autem quintus, ubi de Pontificis legatis agitur, qui ejus nomine et auctoritate in conciliis utantur. Canones autem Sardicenses ex antiqua Romanae praesertim Ecclesiae consuetudine Nicaenis accensitos, et Nicaenorum nomine appellatos alibi ostendimus.
The seventh canon of Sardica in Dionysius, but the fifth in the Greek, seems to be indicated, where the Pontiff's legates are treated of, who are to act in councils in his name and with his authority. And we have shown elsewhere that the canons of Sardica, from the ancient custom especially of the Roman Church, were reckoned with the Nicene ones and called by the name of the Nicene.
(g) ‹per omnia Flaviano,› · printed under col 861, running on under col 862
Ita vetus interpretitio in omnibus et nostris et Baluzii codd. male. Emendatum in vulgatis, et ex Graeco redditum: Ad concilium apostolicae sedis judicium transmittatur; ubi judicium nominativi locum obtinet. Similem Latini interpretis barbaram versionem observabimus etiam in ep. 58, ann. (col. 865f).
So, badly, the old translation in all [the manuscripts], both ours and Baluze's. It is corrected in the printed editions and rendered from the Greek: "Ad concilium apostolicae sedis judicium transmittatur" [let the judgement be transmitted to the council of the apostolic see], where "judicium" holds the place of a nominative. We shall observe a similar barbarous rendering by the Latin translator in letter 58 also, annotation (col. 865, f).
(h) ‹principatum episcopatus› · printed under col 862
Editi ad marginem, ornavit.
The printed editions in the margin have "ornavit" [adorned].
(i) ‹quae domina omnium est› · printed under col 862
Sic mss. Veron. et Colbert. ut in Graeco, et Quesn. in marg. Ita quoque Divion., nisi quod in margine habet: Al., tuarum; lectio Corb. exemplaris, ut notavit Baluzius. Editi cum aliis codd., civitatum.
So the Verona and Colbert manuscripts, as in the Greek, and Quesnel in the margin. So also the Dijon manuscript, except that in the margin it has: "Another [reading], tuarum" [of yours]; the reading of the Corbie copy, as Baluze noted. The printed editions, with other manuscripts, have "civitatum" [of cities].
(j) ‹etiam in hoc› · printed under col 862
Vulgati cum uno Vat., providere..
The printed editions, with one Vatican manuscript, have "providere" [to provide].
(k) ‹nostra generatio custodivit,› · printed under col 862
Sic omnes codd. Editores emendarunt, Sub nobis.
So all the manuscripts. The editors corrected it to "Sub nobis" [under us].
(l) ‹EPISTOLA LVII› · printed under col 862
Quae erat 57, nunc 72. Sc. tempore praecedentis.
Formerly 57, now 72. Written at the time of the preceding.
(m) ‹Domino THEODOSIO inclyto› · printed under col 862
Haec est inscriptio Latinae versionis antiquae. In vulgatis ex Graeco pro inclyto habetur triumphatori, et ante vocem perpetua additur florens.
This is the heading of the ancient Latin version. In the printed editions, from the Greek, "triumphatori" [triumphant] is found in place of "inclyto" [renowned], and "florens" [flourishing] is added before the word "perpetua".
(1) ‹ᾧ καὶ ἔναγχος› · printed under col 862
Ms. Ven., προσείη, atque ita etiam in marg. edit.
The Venice manuscript has "προσείη", and so also in the margin of the edition.
(2) ‹τὸν ἐπίσκοπον τῆς› · printed under col 862
Ms. Ven., Κωνσταντινοπολιτῶν.
The Venice manuscript has "Κωνσταντινοπολιτῶν" [of the Constantinopolitans].
(3) ‹δέσποτα› · printed under col 862
In marg edit. Rom., ἴσως, ἁγιώτατε.
In the margin of the Roman edition, "perhaps ἁγιώτατε" [most holy].
(4) ‹μένοντος ἐν πᾶσι Φλαυιανοῦ,› · printed under col 862
Legendum, εἰς τὴν σύνοδον.
Read "εἰς τὴν σύνοδον" [to the synod].
(5) ‹πασῶν ὑπάρχει τῶν› · printed under col 862
In marg. edit. Rom.. ἴσ. γαιῶν.
In the margin of the Roman edition, "perhaps γαιῶν" [of the lands].
(6) ‹ἐφ' ἡμῶν δόξῃ› · printed under col 862
In marg. edit. Rom., μειοῦσθαι. Lat.
In the margin of the Roman edition, "μειοῦσθαι" [to be diminished]. [So the] Latin.
lorum, quem n⟨uper⟩ adieramus, testem objiciens, episcoporum m⟨u⟩ltitudine circumseptus, quos ex innumerabilibus civitatibus Italiae pro principatu proprii loci seu dignitate collegit; et verbis permiscens lacrymas, ad communionem sui fletus nostros quoque gemitus provocavit. Non enim modicum detrimentum est ex his quae gesta sunt, ut fides quae tantis temporibus regulariter custodita est a sacratissimo patre nostro Constantino, qui primus imperio splenduit Christianus, nuper turbata sit ad arbitrium unius hominis, qui in synodo Ephesinae civitatis odium et contentiones potius exercuisse narratur, millitum praesentia et metu appetens Constantinopolitanae civitatis episcopum Flavianum, eo quod libellum ad apostolicam sedem miserit, et ad omnes episcopos harum partium, per eos qui directi fuerant in concilio a reverendissimo episcopo Romae, qui secundum definitiones Nicaeni concilii consueti sunt interesse, domine sacratissime fili, venerabilis imperator. Hac itaque gratia, tua mansuetudo tantis turbis resistens, veritatem fidei catholicae religionis immaculatam servari praecipiat: ut secundum formam et definitionem apostolicae sedis, quam etiam nos tamquam praecellentem similiter veneramur, in statu sacerdotii illaeso manente per omnia Flaviano, ad concilii et apostolicae sedis judicium transmittatur, in qua primus ille, qui coelestes claves dignus fuit accipere, principatum episcopatus ordinavi; quando scilicet decet nos huic maximae civitati, quae domina omnium est terrarum, in omnibus reverentiam conservare. Diligentius autem etiam in hoc providete, ne quod priscis temporibus nostra generatio custodivit, sub nos imminui videatur, et per praesens exemplum schismata generentur inter episcopos et sanctas Ecclesias. Domino THEODOSIO inclyto, semper Augusto, et patri, LICINIA EUDOXIA piissima et perpetua Augusta filia. Omnibus notum est tuam mansuetudinem, curam
(a) ‹Cum igitur feliciter› · printed under col 863
Editi. Romam et ad limina. Veterum exemplarium quae antiquam versionem praeferunt, lectionem etsi perperam ex Graeco redditam retinuimus: ex his enim erroribus minus periti interpretis versio confirmatur, et originale Latinum excluditur.
The editions: Romam and ad limina. We have kept the reading of the old copies which present the ancient version, even though it is wrongly rendered from the Greek: for by these errors of a less skilled interpreter it is confirmed to be a version, and a Latin original is ruled out.
(b) ‹episcopis postulationem nobis› · printed under col 863
Corbeiensis Baluzii, attulit. Ita etiam Divionensis codex et editi in margine.
Baluze's Corbie manuscript: attulit. So also the Dijon codex and the editions in the margin.
(c) ‹ad confusionem› · printed under col 863
Vulgati in margine, omnino.
The printed editions in the margin: omnino.
(d) ‹clementiam ex hac› · printed under col 863
Iidem vulgati in margine, regione has vel eas litteras.
The same printed editions in the margin: regione has or eas litteras.
(e) ‹justa posco, quatenus› · printed under col 863
Vulgati pariter in margine, his rebus.
The printed editions likewise in the margin: his rebus.
(f) ‹donec omnibus quae› · printed under col 863
Cod Chig., etiam definita. Dein perquiratis pro perquiratur in eodem codice et in vulgatorum margine.
The Chigi codex: etiam definita. Then perquiratis for perquiratur in the same codex and in the margin of the printed editions.
(g) ‹Scriptum est enim› · printed under col 863
Ita omnes nostri codd. et Graecus textus. Editi, hinc.
So all our codices and the Greek text. The editions: hinc.
(h) ‹Flavianus episcopus› · printed under cols 863–864
Editi, ex ecclesiasticis rebus. Omnia vero tum nostra, tum Baluzii exemplaria, quibus et hic et infra epist. 63 congruit Graecus textus, habent ex humanis rebus, id est, ut recte interpretatur idem Baluzius, ab hominum communione remotus, ab humanarum rerum administratione expulsus; neque enim per hoc tempus de Flaviani morte Romae auditum fuerat. In epistola autem 64 Theodosii ad Placidiam tum in Graeca, tum in Latina versione Flavianus ab ecclesiasticis rebus expulsus dicitur. Quare hae duae formulae eodem recidunt.
The editions: ex ecclesiasticis rebus. But all the copies, both ours and Baluze's, with which the Greek text agrees both here and below in letter 63, have ex humanis rebus, that is, as the same Baluze rightly interprets it, removed from the communion of men, expelled from the administration of human affairs; for at this time nothing had yet been heard at Rome of Flavian's death. In letter 64, however, of Theodosius to Placidia, both in the Greek and in the Latin version, Flavian is said to have been expelled ab ecclesiasticis rebus. Therefore these two formulae come to the same thing.
(i) ‹EPISTOLA› · printed under col 864
Quae erat 58, nunc 78. Scripta eodem tempore quo praecedens.
Which was 58, now 78. Written at the same time as the preceding.
(j) ‹GALLAE PLACIDIAE› · printed under col 864
Latina hujus epistolae interpretatio ex mss. Latinis collectionis Chalcedon. solum edita fuerat, antequam Graecam item versionem Cotelerius ederet tom. I Monument. Eccles. Graecae, pag. 62.
The Latin rendering of this letter had been published only from the Latin manuscripts of the Chalcedonian collection, before Cotelier likewise published the Greek version, vol. I of the Monumenta Ecclesiae Graecae, p. 62.
(k) ‹concursionibus adaeque› · printed under col 864
Ita codices. Vulg., desideraremur.
So the codices. The printed editions: desideraremur.
(l) ‹Nos itaque› · printed under col 864
Cod. Veron. 57 sacrilegium.
Verona codex 57: sacrilegium.
(Latin version of Letter LVII continued from col 862; the Greek is layer 1.) atque sollicitudinem habere Christianorum et catholicae fidei, in tantum ut juberetis ad injuriam ejus nihil omnino faciendum. Cum igitur feliciter Romae fuissemus ingressae, et in liminibus basilicae sanctissimi apostoli Petri venissemus, Leo beatissimus Romanae civitatis episcopus, etiam cum aliis plurimis episcopis postulationem nobis obtulit, dicens omne dogma religionis per Orientem fuisse turbatum, et accidisse, quatenus tota Chistianorum fides ad confusionem omnem perduceretur. Nam Flavianum Constantinopolitanae Ecclesiae episcopum propter inimicitias Alexandrini episcopi ingemiscebat expulsum; et hoc cum aliis episcopis postulavit, protestans et ipsorum venerabilium locorum cultum, et mansuetudinis nostrae salutem, quatenus ad tuam clementiam ex hac causa meas litteras destinarem, domine sanctissime pater, et adorabilis imperator. Salutans igitur justa posco, quatenus his litteris curam vestra tranquillitas praebere dignetur. et quae male gesta sunt emendari praecipiat, donec omnibus quae jam definita sunt revocatis, ex integro causa fidei et Christianae religionis, quae mota est, in partibus Italiae congregato concilio, perquiratur. Scriptum est enim hic omnem contentionem motam, quatenus Flavianus episcopus ex humanis rebus potuisset auferri. (Latin version of Letter LVIII, below the full-width heading, which is set in layer 1 under col 864's rail.) GALLA PLACIDIA piissima semper Augusta, AELIAE PULCHERIAE piissimae semper Augustae filiae. Ut Romam frequentibus concursionibus adaeque desideremus inspicere, causa nobis est amplectendae religionis, ut terminis sanctorum nostram exhiberemus praesentiam, quos certum est pro sua virtute in coelestibus constitutos, neque inferiora despicere. Nos itaque sacrilegum esse credimus, si
(h) end, (i), (j), (k), (l): printed under col 864, calls in col 863, set in n863. 1 ‹τίδα ποιεῖσθαι› · printed under col 864 Ms. Ven., τῆς Χριστιανῶν.
The Venice manuscript: τῆς Χριστιανῶν.
2 ‹εἰσεληλύθαμεν, καὶ› · printed under col 864 Ita optime ms. Ven. Male in vulgatis, ταῖς οὐδοῖς.
So, very well, the Venice manuscript. Wrongly in the printed editions: ταῖς οὐδοῖς.
3 ‹καὶ τοῦτο› · printed under col 864 In marg. edit. Rom., συμβεβηκέναι. in L. Hard.
In the margin of the Roman edition: συμβεβηκέναι; in L. Hard.
4 ‹καὶ τῆς› · printed under col 864 In marg. edit. Rom., ἡμετέρας. L.
In the margin of the Roman edition: ἡμετέρας. L.
5 ‹δέσποτα› · printed under col 864 In marg. edit. Rom., ἴσως, ἁγιώτατε.
In the margin of the Roman edition: "perhaps, ἁγιώτατε".
6 ‹διορθωθῆναι› · printed under col 864 In marg. edit. Rom., παρακελεύσοι.
In the margin of the Roman edition: παρακελεύσοι.
7 ‹Ἐγράφη γὰρ› · printed under col 864 In eodem marg., ἐντεῦθεν. L.
In the same margin: ἐντεῦθεν. L.
8 ‹ἐκ τῶν› · printed under col 864 In marg. eodem, ἐκκλησιαστικῶν. L.
In the same margin: ἐκκλησιαστικῶν. L.
(a) ‹desiderium suum verbis› · printed under col 865
Ita codices et Quesnellus in secunda editione. Alii vulg., plene, et ad marginem pene.
So the codices and Quesnel in his second edition. Other printed editions: plene, and in the margin pene.
(b) ‹Constantinopolitanum› · printed under col 865
Baluzii codices, exercitatum. Cotelerius, actum.
Baluze's codices: exercitatum. Cotelier: actum.
(c) ‹damnationem vim› · printed under col 865
Quidam nostri codices omittunt vim.
Some of our codices omit vim.
(d) ‹ut quidquid› · printed under col 865
Codex Chigianus, in illo. Duo alii cod., in illorum. Mox luctuoso pro tumultuoso in duobus mss.
The Chigi codex: in illo. Two other codices: in illorum. Shortly after, luctuoso for tumultuoso in two manuscripts.
(e) ‹omni virtute› · printed under col 865
Sic nostri et Baluzii codices. Editi, removeatur ut omnibus.
So our codices and Baluze's. The editions: removeatur ut omnibus.
(f) ‹integris permanentibus› · printed under col 865
Ita codices et vulgati ante secundam editionem Quesnelli, qui emendavit ad apostolicam sedem, hanc notationem subjiciens: « Ita reponendum censui Graeca secutus, εἰς τὸν ἀποστολικὸν θρόνον, cum antea hiatus esset in Latino textu: ad apostolicae sedis. Epistolam hanc pluribus in locis interpolatam ab interprete Graeco observat Cotelerius, quem videsis in notis p. 723 et 724. » Optime quidem, sed non ita reddidit vetus interpres quem hic exhibemus. Solum, post voces ad apostolicae sedis, deesse videtur vel subintelligitur judicium.
So the codices and the printed editions before Quesnel's second edition, who emended to ad apostolicam sedem, adding this remark: « I judged that it should be restored thus, following the Greek, εἰς τὸν ἀποστολικὸν θρόνον, since before there was a gap in the Latin text: ad apostolicae sedis. Cotelier observes that this letter was interpolated in several places by the Greek interpreter; see him in the notes, pp. 723 and 724. » Very well indeed, but the old interpreter whom we present here did not render it so. Only, after the words ad apostolicae sedis, judicium seems to be missing or is understood.
(g) ‹etiam claves› · printed under col 865
Sic iidem codices. Cotelerius ex Graeco simpliciter, coelorum; vulgati, regni coelestis.
So the same codices. Cotelier, from the Greek, simply coelorum; the printed editions, regni coelestis.
(h) ‹principatum tenuit,› · printed under col 866
Cod. Divion. et Quesnellus in margine episcoporum causa.
The Dijon codex and Quesnel in the margin: episcoporum causa.
(i) ‹EPISTOLA› · printed under col 866
Al. 46. Quae autem antea 50 erat, nunc 79. Scripta circa medium Martium an 450.
Otherwise 46. But what was formerly 50 is now 79. Written about the middle of March, in the year 450.
(j) ‹LIX.› (before the title line) · printed under col 866
Exstat haec epistola in mss. collect. 2, 5, 12, 13, 18 et 20 usque ad 24, ac in exemplo Sichardi.
This letter is extant in the manuscripts of collections 2, 5, 12, 13, 18 and 20 to 24, and in Sichard's copy.
(k) ‹URBIS.› (before the synopsis) · printed under col 866
In tabula collect. 5 hic titulus ligitur cap. 80: Ad Constantinopolitanos super stabilitate fidei ipsorum cohortatio.
In the table of collection 5 this title is read at chapter 80: An exhortation to the Constantinopolitans on the stability of their faith.
(Latin version of Letter LVIII continued from col 863; the Greek is layer 1.) solemnium ordinem denegemus. Cum igitur beato apostolo Petro nostram praesentiam dedissemus, illic multitudine sacerdotum reverendissimus Leo papa circumdatus, pro dignitate sui loci nos primus adiit: qui propter interpositam gemitus sui tristitiam, desiderium suum verbis pene insinuare non poterat. Vicit tamen constantia sapientiae sacerdotis ut lacrymas paululum retineret, et causam violatae fidei, tamquam hujus vindex manifesto sermone proferret. In quo sermone cognovimus nostris temporibus catholicam fidem esse turbatam; quam a divo patre nostro Constantino nostri generis parentes hactenus servaverunt. Secundum voluntatem namque cujusdam, pravum aliquid adversus sacerdotem Constantinopolitanum excitatum dicitur. Nos itaque in Ephesino concilio, in quo nullus ordinem sacerdotum custodivit, neque mensuram, sine consideratione Divinitatis omnia esse gesta cognovimus, quatenus praesumptio et injustitia in quorumdam damnationem vim obtinere dicatur, quae nostris temporibus terribilia esse videntur. Debet itaque fides proprie valere, sanctissima atque venerabilis filia Augusta. Igitur tua clementia secundum catholicam fidem, quod semper nobiscum fecit, et nunc similiter conspirare dignetur, ut quidquid illo tumultuoso miserrimoque consilio constitutum est, omni virtute submoveatur, et omnibus integris permanentibus, ad apostolicae sedis, in qua primus apostolorum beatus Petrus, qui etiam claves regnorum coelestium suscipiens, sacerdotii principatum tenuit, episcopatus causa mittatur. Debemus enim primatum in omnibus immortali conversationi tribuere, quae totum mundum propriae virtutis dominatione complevit, et nostro imperio orbem gubernandum servandumque commisit.
Synopsis. — I. Gratulatur quod et Flaviano semper adhaereant et errori resistant. — II. Veritas carnis in Christo ex mysterio Eucharistiae probatur. — III.— Probatur etiam ex ejus super universa provectione
Synopsis. — I. He congratulates them that they both always adhere to Flavian and resist error. — II. The reality of the flesh in Christ is proved from the mystery of the Eucharist. — III. — It is proved also from His exaltation above all things […]