Migne Reading Room

PL 54 · cols. 917–920

Leo the Great, Letters

Letters LXXXII–LXXXIII

PL 54:917
nobis constituta fuerint exsequantur. Data idibus Aprilis, Adelfio viro clarissimo consule.
[…] have been decided by us. Given on the Ides of April, Adelfius, a man of clarissimus rank, being consul.
EPISTOLA LXXXII.
LETTER LXXXII.
AD MARCIANUM AUGUSTUM.
TO MARCIAN AUGUSTUS.
LEO episcopus MARCIANO Augusto.
LEO, bishop, TO MARCIAN Augustus.
CAP. I. — Quamvis per Constantinopolitanos clericos ad pietatem tuam ante rescripserim, sumptis tamen clementiae vestrae litteris per virum illustrem praefectum urbis filium meum Tatianum, magnam materiam gratulationis accepi: quia studiosissimos vos ecclesiasticae pacis agnovi. Cui sancto desiderio digna aequitate confertur, ut quem statum esse cupitis religionis, eumdem habeatis et regni. Nam inter principes Christianos Spiritu Dei confirmante concordiam, gemina per totum mundum fiducia roboratur: quia profectus charitatis et fidei utrorumque armorum potentiam insuperabilem facit, ut propitiato per unam confessionem Deo, simul et haeretica falsitas et barbara destruatur hostilitas, gloriosissime imperator. Aucta igitur per imperialem amicitiam spe coelestis auxilii, confidentius pietatem vestram pro sacramento salutis humanae incitare praesumo: ne cujusquam procaci impudentique
CHAP. I. — Although I have already written in reply to your piety through the clerics of Constantinople, yet on receiving the letter of your clemency through the illustrious man, the prefect of the city, my son Tatianus, I received great matter for rejoicing: because I recognized that you are most zealous for the peace of the Church. On this holy desire it is bestowed, with fitting justice, that you should have the same state of the realm as you desire there to be of religion. For when the Spirit of God strengthens concord among Christian princes, a twofold confidence is made firm throughout the whole world: because the advance of charity and of faith makes the might of both kinds of arms invincible, so that, God having been propitiated through one confession, both heretical falsehood and barbarian hostility are destroyed together, most glorious emperor. With my hope of heavenly help increased, therefore, through the imperial friendship, I venture the more confidently to urge your piety on behalf of the mystery of human salvation: that no one's insolent and shameless […]
Editors' notes and page, col. 917

Footnotes

(a) ‹anchor: "EPISTOLA"› · printed under col 917

Al. 62. Quae autem antea 82 erat, nunc 103. Scripta 13 Aprilis an. 451.

Elsewhere 62. That which was formerly 82 is now 103. Written 13 April in the year 451.

(b) ‹anchor: heading "AD MARCIANUM"› · printed under col 917

Exstat in mss. collect. Hisp. Isid. 11, 12, 18 et 21 usque ad 24, ac in exemplo Sichardi.

It survives in the manuscripts of the collections Hispana, Isidorian, 11, 12, 18 and 21 to 24, and in Sichard's exemplar.

(c) ‹anchor: "SYNOPSIS"› · printed under col 917

In Hispanica: Ejusdem Leonis ad Marcianum Augustum, ubi de illo pro conservatione catholicae fidei gratulatur.

In the Hispana: Of the same Leo to Marcian Augustus, where he congratulates him on the preservation of the catholic faith.

(d) ‹anchor: "CAP. I. —"› · printed under col 917

Exemplum Sichardi, Etsi per Constantinopolitanos. Post pauca, ad pietatem vestram in editis ante Quesn. cum mss. collect. 24.

Sichard's exemplar: Etsi per Constantinopolitanos [Even if through the Constantinopolitan (clerics)]. A little after, ad pietatem vestram [to your (plural) piety] in the editions before Quesnel, with the manuscripts of collection 24.

(e) ‹anchor: "tuam ante"› · printed under col 917

Indicatur epistola 78.

Letter 78 is meant.

(f) ‹anchor: "clementiae vestrae"› · printed under col 917

Hae Marciani litterae a Tatiano delatae, diversae sunt a praecedentibus 73 et 76. Haec enim ultima data fuit die 22 Novembris an. 450. Tatianus vero praefectus urbis Constantinopolitanae nondum Constantinopoli discesserat die 18 Decembris anni ejusdem, ut liquet ex lege 2 Cod. Justinianei, tit. de Officio praetorum, quae eidem Tatiano inscribitur, data XV kal. Januarii Constantinopoli Valentiniano VII et Avieno coss., ubi perperam praefectus praetorio appellatur, cum et apud Leonem et in aliis documentis ann. 451 et 452 semper praefectus urbis nominetur. Hunc quidem Tatianum post traditam Constantinopolitanis clericis epistolam 78 signatam die 13 Aprilis Romam advenisse, et imperiales litteras Leoni tradidisse hoc loco non obscure significatur. Hae igitur Marciani litterae, quibus Leo hic respondet, desiderantur.

This letter of Marcian, brought by Tatianus, is different from the preceding ones, 73 and 76. For the latter was dated 22 November in the year 450. But Tatianus, prefect of the city of Constantinople, had not yet left Constantinople on 18 December of the same year, as is clear from law 2 of the Justinian Code, title On the office of the praetors, which is addressed to this same Tatianus, given on the 15th day before the Kalends of January at Constantinople, Valentinian being consul for the 7th time, and Avienus, where he is wrongly called praetorian prefect, since both in Leo and in other documents of the years 451 and 452 he is always named prefect of the city. That this Tatianus came to Rome after Letter 78, dated 13 April, had been handed to the Constantinopolitan clerics, and delivered the imperial letter to Leo, is plainly indicated in this place. This letter of Marcian, then, to which Leo here replies, is lost.

(g) ‹anchor: "filium"› · printed under col 917

Vindebon. Hisp., nostrum. Grim. perperam, Titianum.

The Vienna Hispana: nostrum [our]. The Grimani wrongly: Titianum.

(h) ‹anchor: "desiderio"› · printed under col 917

Quesnellus, divina. Anteriorum lectionem restituimus, quippe quam omnes nostri codices et exemplar Sichardi approbant.

Quesnel: divina [divine]. We have restored the reading of the earlier [editions], since all our manuscripts and Sichard's exemplar confirm it.

(i) ‹anchor: "procaci"› · printed under col 917

Vat. Hisp. et Isid., imprudentique.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian: imprudentique [and imprudent].

(j) printed under col 917; its call is in col 918, set in n918.

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — I. Pro conservatione catholicae fidei gratulatur, cui pax imperii rependitur. — II. De solis errantibus agendum esse, non de fide vel Scripturis, quas aliter quam SS. Patres interpretari nefas sit.

SYNOPSIS. — I. He congratulates [Marcian] on the preservation of the catholic faith, for which the peace of the empire is the reward. — II. That action is to be taken concerning the erring alone, not concerning the faith or the Scriptures, which it is wrong to interpret otherwise than the holy Fathers.

Page

  • running head: 917 EPISTOLA LXXXII. (continuing across the page: 918)
  • marginal letters: A ‹nobis constituta fuerint›; B ‹sissimos vos ecclesiasticae›; C ‹(b) Exstat in mss.› (in the footnotes); D ‹ann. 451 et 452› (in the footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1044 after ‹praefectum›
  • signature: none
  • other: Letter LXXXI ends and Letter LXXXII begins in this column.
PL 54:918
versutia quasi de incerto quid sequendum sit sinatis inquiri. Et cum ab evangelica apostolicaque doctrina ne uno quidem verbo liceat dissidere, aut aliter de Scripturis divinis sapere, quam beati apostoli et patres nostri didicerunt atque docuerunt, nunc demum indisciplinatae moventur et impiae quaestiones, quas olim mox ut eas per apta sibi corda diabolus excitavit, per discipulos veritatis Spiritus sanctus exstinxit.
[…] cunning you allow an inquiry, as though about something uncertain, into what is to be followed. And since it is not permitted to depart from the evangelical and apostolic teaching by even one word, or to think otherwise about the divine Scriptures than the blessed apostles and our fathers learned and taught, now at last undisciplined and impious questions are being stirred up, which long ago, as soon as the devil had raised them through hearts suited to him, the Holy Spirit extinguished through the disciples of the truth.
CAP. II. — Nimis autem iniquum est ut per paucorum insipientiam ad conjecturas opinionum et ad carnalium disputationum bella revocemur, tamquam reparata disceptatione tractandum sit utrum Eutyches impie senserit, et utrum perverse Dioscorus judicarit, qui in sanctae memoriae Flaviani condemnatione se perculit, et simpliciores quosque, ut in eamdem ruinam provolverentur, impegit. Quorum multis jam, ut cognovimus, ad satisfactionis remedia conversis, et veniam de inconstanti trepidatione poscentibus, non cujusmodi sit fides tenenda tractandum est, sed quorum precibus et qualiter annuendum. Unde piissimae sollicitudini vestrae, quam de indicenda synodo habere dignamini, per legationem, quae confestim ad clementiam vestram, Deo annuente, perveniet, quidquid ad causae utilitatem arbitror pertinere, plenius atque opportunius suggeretur. Data nono kalendas Maii, Adelfio viro clarissimo consule.
CHAP. II. — But it is exceedingly unjust that through the folly of a few we should be called back to the conjectures of opinions and to the wars of carnal disputations, as though, with the debate renewed, it had to be discussed whether Eutyches thought impiously, and whether Dioscorus judged perversely, who in the condemnation of Flavian of holy memory struck himself down, and drove all the simpler men on so that they were rolled into the same ruin. Since many of these, as we have learned, have now turned to the remedies of satisfaction and are asking pardon for their inconstant fear, what must be discussed is not of what kind the faith to be held is, but to whose prayers and in what way assent is to be given. Accordingly, to the most pious solicitude which you deign to have about summoning a synod, whatever I judge to pertain to the advantage of the cause will be more fully and more fittingly suggested through the legation which, God granting, will shortly reach your clemency. Given on the ninth day before the Kalends of May, Adelfius, a man of clarissimus rank, being consul.
Editors' notes and page, col. 918

Footnotes

(j) ‹anchor: "apostolicaque doctrina"› · printed under col 917

Utrique Hisp. et Vat. Isid., nec in uno quidem. Duo alii codd. cum Sichardo, nec uno. Mox, deviare pro dissidere in mss. collect. 21. Dein habere pro sapere in Vat. Hisp. et Isid.

Both Hispana manuscripts and the Vatican Isidorian: nec in uno quidem [not even in one]. Two other manuscripts, with Sichard: nec uno [not one]. Shortly after, deviare [to stray] for dissidere [to depart] in the manuscripts of collection 21. Then habere [to hold] for sapere [to think] in the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian.

(k) ‹anchor: "indisciplinatae"› · printed under col 918

Editi cum nonnullis mss., moveantur. Ne autem, sensus maneat suspensus, magis placuit moventur ex Vat. Hisp. et Isid. Mox, pro quaestiones Vat. collect. 11 habet suggestiones.

The printed editions, with some manuscripts: moveantur [should be stirred up]. But lest the sense remain in suspense, we preferred moventur [are stirred up] from the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian. Shortly after, for quaestiones [questions] the Vatican [manuscript] of collection 11 has suggestiones [suggestions].

(l) ‹anchor: "Nimis autem"› · printed under col 918

Vat. Hisp. et Isid., inimicum.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian: inimicum [hostile].

(m) ‹anchor: "opinionum et"› · printed under col 918

Editi ante Quesn., ad carnalium disceptationum bella provocemur. Exemplar Sichardi et mss. collect. 24 omittunt ad carnalium disceptationum. Mox Quesnellus, reparata disputatione. Secuti sumus lectionem cod. Vindebon. Hisp. et mss. collect. 21.

The editions before Quesnel: we should be challenged to the wars of carnal debates. Sichard's exemplar and the manuscripts of collection 24 omit ad carnalium disceptationum [to (the wars) of carnal debates]. Shortly after, Quesnel: reparata disputatione [the disputation renewed]. We have followed the reading of the Vienna Hispana manuscript and the manuscripts of collection 21.

(n) ‹anchor: "tractandum sit"› · printed under col 918

Cod. Griman. transilit quinque subsequentes voces librarii saltu ab utrum Eutyches ad utrum perverse: ubi editi cum mss. collect. 24 pro perverse habent impie. Hic autem notandum est Leonem noluisse in disputationem adduci vel fidem quam ipse contra Eutychem definierat, vel judicium Dioscori, sive Pseudoephesinum adversus S. Flavianum, quod jam antea irritum declaraverat. De solis lapsis qui reconciliationem petebant agendum credidit, ut pateret quorum precibus et qualiter annuendum; et in hanc rem legatos Constantinopolim die 9 Junii direxit.

The Grimani manuscript skips the five following words by a copyist's leap from utrum Eutyches to utrum perverse; where the printed editions, with the manuscripts of collection 24, have impie [impiously] for perverse [perversely]. Here, however, it should be noted that Leo refused to have brought into dispute either the faith which he himself had defined against Eutyches, or the judgement of Dioscorus, that is, the Pseudo-Ephesine [council] against St Flavian, which he had already before declared void. He believed that action should be taken only about the lapsed who were asking for reconciliation, so that it might be clear to whose prayers and in what way assent is to be given; and for this matter he sent legates to Constantinople on 9 June.

(o) ‹anchor: "sit fides"› · printed under col 918

Exemplar Sichardi et codd. collect. 24 omittunt tenenda.

Sichard's exemplar and the manuscripts of collection 24 omit tenenda [to be held].

(p) ‹anchor: "tractandum est,"› · printed under col 918

Vat. Hisp. et Isid. ac mss. collect. 11 et 21, sed eorum precibus qualiter sit annuendum, quibus affines sunt editiones ante Quesnellum ac exemplar Sichardi, in quibus tantum deletur sit.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian and the manuscripts of collections 11 and 21: but in what way assent is to be given to their prayers; close to these are the editions before Quesnel and Sichard's exemplar, in which only sit is deleted.

(q) ‹anchor: "quam"› · printed under col 918

Iidem codd., de colligenda synodo. Cur responsionem quoad synodum legatorum instructioni remiserit, diximus annot. 7 (Col. 909, n. d) in epist. 78.

The same manuscripts: de colligenda synodo [about assembling a synod]. Why he deferred his answer concerning the synod to the instructions of the legates we have said in note 7 (col. 909, n. d) on Letter 78.

(r) ‹anchor: "vestram,"› · printed under col 918

In Vindebon. Hisp. erronee omittitur Deo. Hunc defectum supplevit auctor collect. Vat. Hisp., scribens, annuente Christo, et inde haec lectio in Vat. Isid. aliosque similes codices manavit.

In the Vienna Hispana Deo [God] is wrongly omitted. The compiler of the Vatican Hispana collection supplied this defect, writing annuente Christo [Christ granting], and from there this reading spread into the Vatican Isidorian and other similar manuscripts.

(s) ‹anchor: "Data"› · printed under col 918

Ita cum editis omnes nostri codices. Quesnellus in margine. Al., VIII kal.

So all our manuscripts, with the editions. Quesnel in the margin: elsewhere, the eighth [day before the] Kalends.

Page

  • running head: EPISTOLA LXXXII. 918 (shared with col 917)
  • marginal letters: A ‹versutia quasi de incerto›; B ‹ut in eamdem ruinam›; C ‹sensus maneat suspensus› (in the footnotes); D ‹direxit.› (in the footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1045 after ‹disceptatione›
  • signature: none
  • other: Letter LXXXII ends in this column; the rest of the column is footnotes.
PL 54:919
EPISTOLA LXXXIII.
LETTER LXXXIII.
AD EUMDEM MARCIANUM.
TO THE SAME MARCIAN.
LEO episcopus MARCIANO Augusto.
LEO, bishop, TO MARCIAN Augustus.
CAP. I. — Multam mihi fiduciam scribendi ad clementiam vestram, et litterae vestrae, quas veneranter accepi, et coepiscopi mei revertentes a Constantinopoli praebuerunt, non sola assertione verborum, sed ipsis jam operum effectibus demonstrantes, ad defensionem catholicae fidei divinum in vobis vigere praesidium. Quo utique non solum Ecclesiae status, sed etiam vestri robur munitur imperii: ut merito ejus expectetis protectionem, cujus colitis veritatem, gloriosissime imperator.
CHAP. I. — Great confidence in writing to your clemency has been given me both by your letter, which I received with reverence, and by my fellow bishops returning from Constantinople, who show, not by the mere assertion of words but now by the very effects of deeds, that a divine protection is strong in you for the defence of the catholic faith. By this, assuredly, not only the state of the Church but also the strength of your empire is fortified: so that you may rightly expect the protection of Him Whose truth you worship, most glorious emperor.
Nam ut et fratris mei Anatolii citius manifestaretur integritas, et olim damnati erroris redivivus assertor locum in Christi Ecclesia non haberet: ut catholici episcopi, quos nuper haereticorum persecutio depravare non potuit, ab injustis revocarentur exsiliis; utque reliquiis beatae memoriae Flaviani digno honore susceptis, impietatem suam condemnator ejus agnosceret: vestrae virtutis titulus, vestrae pietatis est fructus. Cui confido etiam aliarum insignia accumulanda palmarum: ut sicut Constantinopolitana Ecclesia, recepta apostolicae fidei libertate, laetatur, ita omnes regni vestri provinciae emundatas se esse a diabolici dogmatis contagio glorientur. Ut ergo praecedentibus litteris indicavi, fratres meos Lucentium episcopum et Basilium presbyterum, qui sollicitudinis meae partes possint implere, direxi: favori eos pietatis vestrae in omnibus quae
For that the integrity of my brother Anatolius was the more quickly made manifest, and that the revived champion of an error long ago condemned had no place in the Church of Christ; that the catholic bishops, whom the recent persecution of the heretics could not corrupt, were recalled from unjust exile; and that, when the remains of Flavian of blessed memory had been received with fitting honour, his condemner should acknowledge his own impiety: this is the glory of your virtue, the fruit of your piety. To which, I trust, the distinctions of other palms also are to be added: so that, as the Church of Constantinople rejoices at having recovered the freedom of the apostolic faith, so all the provinces of your realm may glory in having been cleansed from the contagion of the devilish doctrine. As I indicated, then, in my previous letter, I have sent my brothers Lucentius the bishop and Basil the presbyter, who can fulfil the part of my solicitude, commending them to the favour of your piety in all things that […]
Editors' notes and page, col. 919

Footnotes

(a) ‹anchor: "EPISTOLA"› · printed under col 919

Al. 63. Quae autem antea 83 erat, nunc 108. Scripta 9 Junii an. 451.

Elsewhere 63. That which was formerly 83 is now 108. Written 9 June in the year 451.

(b) ‹anchor: heading "AD EUMDEM"› · printed under col 919

Existit in mss. collect. Hisp. Isid. 11, 12, 18, 19 et 21 usque ad 24, ac in exemplo Sichardi.

It is found in the manuscripts of the collections Hispana, Isidorian, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 21 to 24, and in Sichard's exemplar.

(c) ‹anchor: "SYNOPSIS"› · printed under col 919

In Hisp. hic titulus cum editis ante Quesn. exhibetur: Ubi inter caetera pro defensione fidei catholicae gratulatur.

In the Hispana this title is shown, with the editions before Quesnel: Where among other things he congratulates [him] on the defence of the catholic faith.

(d) ‹anchor: "fiduciam"› · printed under col 919

Quesnellus, rescribendi, ut in nostris mss. collect. 21. Ex Ratisp. utrisque Hisp. Vat. Isid. aliisque codicibus anteriorum editionum lectionem revocavimus.

Quesnel: rescribendi [of writing in reply], as in our manuscripts of collection 21. From the Ratisbon, both Hispana, the Vatican Isidorian and other manuscripts we have restored the reading of the earlier editions.

(e) ‹anchor: "accepi, et"› · printed under col 919

Cum hi Leonis legati Constantinopoli in Urbem reduces novas imperatoris litteras ad eumdem pontificem attulerint, quibus nunc respondet, paulo ante hoc tempus Romam pervenisse noscuntur.

Since these legates of Leo, returning from Constantinople to the City, brought to the same pontiff a new letter of the emperor, to which he now replies, they are known to have reached Rome shortly before this time.

(f) ‹anchor: "ipsis jam"› · printed under col 919

Ms. Ratisp. delet operum.

The Ratisbon manuscript deletes operum [of deeds].

(g) ‹anchor: "merito"› · printed under col 919

Idem codex, expectatis. Mox editi ante Quesn., nullus tum ejus tum nostris mss. suffragantibus, cujus colitis religionem et veritatem.

The same manuscript: expectatis [you expect]. Shortly after, the editions before Quesnel, with none of either his or our manuscripts supporting them: whose religion and truth you worship.

(h) ‹anchor: "damnati erroris"› · printed under col 919

Vat. Hisp. et Isid., qui redivivus affertur, locum, etc.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian: who is brought forward revived, place, etc.

(i) ‹anchor: "impietatem suam"› · printed under col 919

Iidem codd., condemnatus agnosceret.

The same manuscripts: condemnatus agnosceret [having been condemned, should acknowledge].

(j) ‹anchor: "emundatas"› · printed under col 919

Vindebon. Hisp. delet se. Ratisp. et Sichardus delent esse. Mox, contagione in sex nostris codicibus.

The Vienna Hispana deletes se. The Ratisbon and Sichard delete esse. Shortly after, contagione in six of our manuscripts.

(k) ‹anchor: "praecedentibus"› · printed under col 919

Intelliguntur epist. 78 et 82.

Letters 78 and 82 are meant.

(l) ‹anchor: "fratres meos"› · printed under col 919

Ratisp. hic habet Lucensium, in tribus autem sequentibus epistolis Lucensem; quemadmodum hac in epistola praeferunt etiam utrique Hisp. Vat. Isid., alius Vat. collect. 11 et exemplar Sichardi; sed in aliis litteris habent Lucentium.

The Ratisbon has Lucensium here, but in the three following letters Lucensem; as in this letter both Hispana, the Vatican Isidorian, another Vatican [manuscript] of collection 11 and Sichard's exemplar also show; but in the other letters they have Lucentium.

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — I. Pro patefacta Anatolii fide, Eutyche represso, revocatis episcopis, reductis in urbem S. Flaviani reliquiis, gratulatur. — II. Legatos se mittere pro reconciliandis lapsis episcopis. Concilio convocando opportunum tempus non esse.

SYNOPSIS. — I. He congratulates [the emperor] on the faith of Anatolius having been made manifest, Eutyches repressed, the bishops recalled, and the remains of St Flavian brought back to the city. — II. That he is sending legates to reconcile the lapsed bishops. That the time is not opportune for convoking a council.

Page

  • running head: 919 S. LEONIS MAGNI (continuing across the page: EPISTOLAE. 920)
  • marginal letters: A ‹EPISTOLA (a) LXXXIII›; B ‹status, sed etiam vestri›; C ‹ergo praecedentibus›; D ‹tificem attulerint› (in the footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1046 before ‹LEO episcopus MARCIANO›
  • signature: none
  • other: Letter LXXXIII begins at the head of this column.
PL 54:920
sunt agenda commendans. Nam cum et fratris mei Anatolii scriptis, et nostrorum sermone cognoverim multos de his qui apud Ephesum Dioscori factione compulsi detestabilibus statutis poenitendum praebuere consensum, inconstantiae suae veniam postulare, et communionem catholicam per satisfactionem correctionis expetere, non fuit talium negligenda conversio, qui non proprio sensu, sed improbi praesumptoris impulsu in haec incidisse noscuntur, in quibus liberum non habuerant judicium.
[…] are to be done. For since I have learned, both from the letter of my brother Anatolius and from the account of our [legates], that many of those who at Ephesus, compelled by the faction of Dioscorus, gave a consent to be repented of to detestable decrees, are asking pardon for their inconstancy and seeking catholic communion through the satisfaction of amendment, the conversion of such men was not to be neglected, who are known to have fallen into these things not by their own judgement but by the impulse of a wicked usurper, in matters in which they had not had free judgement.
CAP. II. — Ne igitur vel resipiscentium desideria mora longior fatigaret, vel incuriosa facilitas temere aliquos ac sine discretione susciperet, injunctum est ab apostolica sede directis, ut in consortium suae deliberationis adscito Constantinopolitanae urbis antistite, et pestilentiae contagia non admittantur, et sanitatis remedia non negentur. Quae industria in omnibus quae nequiter gesta sunt emendandis, celerem juvante Domino consequetur effectum, si reparationi pacis ecclesiasticae opem suam vestra pietas dignetur adjungere: ut vobis ita regnantibus, et Dei regnum intra vos habere mereamini, et catholicam fidem nulla falsitas violet, nulla haeresis inquietet; nec cuiquam liceat doctrinam evangelicam deserere, et sacerdotali honore gaudere. Synodum vero fieri, ut meminit clementia vestra, etiam ipsi poposcimus. Sed sacerdotes provinciarum omnium congregari praesentis temporis necessitas nulla ratione permittit: quoniam illae provinciae, de quibus maxime sunt evocandi, inquietatae bello ab Ecclesiis suis eos non patiuntur abscedere. Unde opportuniori tempori, propitiante Domino, cum firmior fuerit restituta securitas, jubeat vestra clementia reservari. De qua re plenius
CHAP. II. — So, then, that neither a longer delay should weary the desires of those who are coming to their senses, nor careless indulgence receive any rashly and without discernment, those sent by the apostolic see have been charged, having taken the bishop of the city of Constantinople into the fellowship of their deliberation, both not to admit the contagion of the plague and not to deny the remedies of health. This diligence in correcting all the things that were wickedly done will, with the Lord's help, achieve a swift effect, if your piety deigns to add its aid to the restoration of the Church's peace: so that, while you reign thus, you may both deserve to have the kingdom of God within you, and no falsehood may violate the catholic faith, no heresy disturb it; nor may anyone be allowed to abandon the teaching of the Gospel and [yet] enjoy the honour of the priesthood. That a synod be held, as your clemency remembers, we ourselves also asked. But the necessity of the present time by no means permits the bishops of all the provinces to be assembled: since those provinces from which they would chiefly have to be summoned, disturbed by war, do not allow them to leave their Churches. Let your clemency, therefore, order [it] to be reserved for a more opportune time, the Lord being propitious, when security has been more firmly restored. On this matter more fully […]
Editors' notes and page, col. 920

Footnotes

(m) ‹anchor: "commendans. Nam"› · printed under col 920

Vat. Hisp. ac Isid. et alius collect. 11 cum Vindebon. Hisp. omittunt cum; sed illi, non autem Vindebon. postea pro cognoverim emendarunt recognovi, vel cognovi.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian and another of collection 11, with the Vienna Hispana, omit cum [since]; but those, though not the Vienna, afterwards corrected cognoverim to recognovi or cognovi [I learned].

(n) ‹anchor: "detestabilibus statutis"› · printed under col 920

Editi antiquiores, praebuere consensum poenitendo Quesnellus emendavit ex Grimanico tribusque aliis codicibus, quibus addi possunt octo nostri ac exemplum Sichardi.

The older editions: gave consent by repenting. Quesnel corrected [it] from the Grimani and three other manuscripts, to which eight of ours and Sichard's exemplar can be added.

(o) ‹anchor: "sed"› · printed under col 920

Editi anteriores, Quesn. cum mss. collect. 24, impii.

The earlier editions [and] Quesnel, with the manuscripts of collection 24: impii [impious].

(p) ‹anchor: "CAP. II. — Ne"› · printed under col 920

Ratisp. Vindebon. Hisp. et mss. collect. 11 ac 24 cum Sichardo, Ne itaque.

The Ratisbon, the Vienna Hispana and the manuscripts of collections 11 and 24, with Sichard: Ne itaque [So that not, therefore].

(q) ‹anchor: "in consortium"› · printed under col 920

Codd. collect. 21 omittunt suae. Dein, adscito ex Ratisp. et duobus aliis codd. magis placuit quam in Vulg., accito; Constantinopolitanum enim antistitem legatis adjunctum innuit. Postea in Vindebon. Hisp. Constantinopolitanae antistite; correctum in Vat. Hisp., et Isid., Constantinopolitano episcopo.

The manuscripts of collection 21 omit suae [their]. Then adscito [taken in as associate], from the Ratisbon and two other manuscripts, was preferred to accito [summoned] in the common text; for he indicates that the bishop of Constantinople was joined to the legates. Afterwards in the Vienna Hispana: Constantinopolitanae antistite; corrected in the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian to Constantinopolitano episcopo [the bishop of Constantinople].

(r) ‹anchor: "ut"› · printed under col 920

Editi ante Quesn. cum mss. collect 24, vobis in terra regnantibus.

The editions before Quesnel, with the manuscripts of collection 24: while you reign on earth.

(s) ‹anchor: "evocandi,"› · printed under col 920

Editi antiquiores cum Vat. Hisp. Isid. et mss. collect. 11, 21 et 24 atque Sichardo, inquietante bello. Quesnellus cum nostro Vindebon. Hisp., inquieta bellorum. Ratisponensis lectionem praetulimus. Indicatur bellum quod Attila hoc anno adversus Valentinianum commoverat, unde Occidentis provinciae perturbatae fuerunt.

The older editions, with the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian and the manuscripts of collections 11, 21 and 24, and Sichard: inquietante bello [war disturbing (them)]. Quesnel, with our Vienna Hispana: inquieta bellorum [the disturbances of wars]. We have preferred the reading of the Ratisbon. The war is meant which Attila had stirred up this year against Valentinian, by which the provinces of the West were thrown into confusion.

(t) ‹anchor: "tempori,"› · printed under col 920

Ratisp. et codd. collect. 24 cum Sichardo, propitiato Domino.

The Ratisbon and the manuscripts of collection 24, with Sichard: propitiato Domino [the Lord having been propitiated].

Page

  • running head: S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 920 (shared with col 919)
  • marginal letters: A ‹sunt agenda commendans›; B ‹(q) suae deliberationis›; C ‹quietatae bello›; D ‹Ratisp. et duobus aliis› (in the footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1047 after ‹Nam cum et›
  • signature: none
  • other: none