PROLOGUS.
Why the Saints Are Written Down
The prologue opens by recalling how earlier authors preserved the deeds of holy lives so that later generations might be stirred to virtue and encouraged by the example of those who have gone before.
We have learned from the careful study of many older authors that illustrious men in their own times made it their practice to write down the deeds and lives of others, and through their writing to preserve forever the memory of those whose blessedness was thought to be everlasting. But they also believed it would greatly benefit later generations not to hide away those who were worthy of being imitated. For nothing stirs and fires the human soul more toward the pursuit of perfection than to read or hear about the virtues of any who have reached it, to learn their ways, and to hold their glory in esteem; since no one should think it impossible for himself to do what he knows another has done, nor should anyone doubt the reward if he has lived well and read of its attainment. This is why our Lord and Savior, from the time the world received the saving faith, willed that there should be some who were perfect among the many weak, so that by their effort others might be drawn to faith or stirred to live by the highest standards. And so, right down to these unhappy times when vice grows common and virtue grows rare, there have always been sons like their fathers, through whose teaching the uninstructed were instructed, by whose authority the weak were upheld, and by whose example they were shaped.
England's Glory in Holy Kings
England is distinguished by the holiness of its kings, some crowned by martyrdom, others by exile, monastic conversion, or humble and just rule.
Yet above all the cities and kingdoms of the earth, England glories in the holiness of her kings: some of them, crowned by martyrdom, have passed from the earthly kingdom to the heavenly; others, choosing exile from their homeland, preferred to die for Christ far away; not a few, laying aside the crown, submitted themselves to monastic discipline; and some, reigning in holiness and justice, chose to serve their subjects rather than to rule over them.
King Edward Shining Among Them
Among these holy kings, Edward shines like a morning star amid clouds and like a full moon in its season.
Among them, like a glorious star, King Edward shone outstanding, gleaming like a morning star in the midst of a cloud, and like a full moon in its season.
The Writer Commission and Purpose
At the bidding of Abbot Laurence, the writer has recorded Edward's miraculous life and addresses the work to King Henry so that he may know Edward's great merit before God and the Church's judgment of his honor.
His life, made remarkable by miracles, I have set down in writing as best I could, at the bidding of the venerable father Laurence, abbot of Westminster, and I have believed it should be addressed to you, most glorious King Henry, so that you may know how great his merit is before God, with whom he reigns in heaven: the same one whom, in your time, while you held royal authority, holy mother Church judged should be raised to higher honor on earth.
Imitating Edwards Justice
The prologue urges King Henry to imitate Edward's justice, marveling at his self-control amid royal riches and pleasures, and noting the special glory that Edward sprang from holy offspring.
For the justice of so great a king is what we should imitate; it's something to wonder at — such great self-control amid so many riches and pleasures: that he drew his human origin from holy offspring is a special glory for our Henry.1
Henry as Englands Cornerstone
Henry himself is proclaimed as the promised consolation of England and, in scriptural imagery, the cornerstone uniting English and Norman peoples.
We believe he promised you yourself to us as the consolation of all England; we've learned that through the parable spoken in prophecy, you, now ruling in these last days, were the one designated — this cornerstone, as it were, on which we rejoice that the two walls of English and Norman stock have met.✦23
Exhortation and Prayer for the King
After briefly setting aside other matters, the prologue calls Henry to commend himself to Edward's prayers and protection, to imitate his holiness, and to seek eternal happiness with him, closing with Amen.
But these matters are for another place. Now then, most illustrious king, you have taken up the kingdom of so great a father by a twofold claim — you deserved a kingdom and noble blood from his father and mother alike — and so you frequently commend yourself to his prayers, you zealously entrust yourself to his protection, and you strive to imitate his holiness as well, so that you may obtain eternal happiness with him.45 Amen.
Read the original Latin
Multis veterum studio fuisse didicimus, illustrium virorum qui suis floruere temporibus actus vitamque describere, styloque illorum perpetuare memoriam, quorum beatitudo perpetua putabatur. Sed et plurimum posteris profuturum arbitrabantur, si nec eos laterent, qui essent imitandi. Nihil enim magis ad aemulationem perfectionis animum humanum provocat et accendit, quam quorumlibet perfectorum legere vel audire virtutes, mores addiscere, gloriam aestimare; cum impossibile sibi nullus debeat arbitrari, quod alium fecisse cognoverit; nec possit haesitare de praemio si bene vixerit, legerit assecutum. Hinc est quod Dominus ac Salvator noster ex quo mundus salutarem suscepit fidem, inter multos infirmos quosdam voluit esse perfectos, quorum industria alii traherentur ad fidem, vel ad mores optimos incitarentur. Ita usque ad haec infelicia tempora in quibus crebrescunt vitia, et rarescunt virtutes, semper pro patribus tales nati sunt filii, doctrina quorum indocti quique instruerentur, auctoritate fulcirentur, informarentur exemplo. Verum prae cunctis civitatibus regnisve terrarum, de sanctitate regum suorum Anglia gloriatur, quorum alii coronati martyrio, de terreno ad coeleste regnum migraverunt; alii exsilium patriae praeferentes, mori pro Christo peregre delegerunt; nonnulli posito diademate, disciplinis se monasticis subdiderunt; quidam in justitia et sanctitate regnantes, prodesse subditis quam praeesse maluerunt. Inter quos velut sidus eximium gloriosus rex Edwardus emicuit, qui quasi stella matutina in medio nebulae, et quasi luna plena in diebus suis luxit. Hujus vitam miraculis insignem, a mea parvitate, jubente venerabili patre Laurencio Westmonasterii abbate, utcunque litteris traditam, tibi, gloriosissime rex Henrice, credidi destinandam, ut scias quanti sit apud Deum meriti, cum quo regnat in coelis, quem tuis temporibus te regiam auctoritatem praebente, sancta mater Ecclesia sublimius extollendum judicavit in terris.
Imitanda enim est tanti regis tanta justitia; mirari dulce est in tot divitiis et deliciis tanta continentia: de sancta ejus progenie traxisse carnis originem, Henrici nostri specialis est gloria. Ipsum te nobis in totius Angliae consolationem credimus promisisse, ipsum te prophetica parabola jam in extremis agentem didicimus designasse, in quem velut lapidem angularem Anglici generis et Normannici gaudemus duos parietes convenisse. Sed haec alias. Nunc autem, rex illustrissime, qui tanti patris regnum duplici jure sumpsisti, de cujus patre simul ac matre regnum ac generosum sanguinem meruisti, ejus te precibus crebro commendes, ejus te sedulo protectioni committas, imitari quoque satagas ejus sanctitatem, ut aeternam cum eo obtineas felicitatem. Amen.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Isa.28.16;Eph.2.20 — Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a firm foundation; the one who believes will not be in haste. Eph.2.20 — built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone
Notes
- 1 ↩Mirari dulce est rendered as 'it's something to wonder at' to keep the exclamatory, reflective tone in natural modern English rather than a stiff literalism.
- 2 ↩Prophetica parabola alludes to a scriptural figure (likely the cornerstone, cf. Isaiah 28:16 / Ephesians 2:20), but the specific biblical source Moses resolution is deferred.
- 3 ↩Extremis agentem rendered 'now ruling in these last days' to capture the eschatological resonance of aetas extrema while keeping it readable.
- 4 ↩Duplici jure is rendered 'by a twofold claim' — the twofold right likely refers to hereditary right through both paternal and maternal lines, but the precise legal sense is left open here.
- 5 ↩Commendes and committas are read as jussive/hortatory subjunctives ('you commend yourself ... you entrust yourself') in keeping with the exhortatory register of the address to the king.
Aelred of Rievaulx, Vita Sancti Edwardi Regis et Confessoris companion
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