Vita Wenceslai (Legenda Gumpoldi)
The Treacherous Invitation
Boleslav hosts a lavish feast under the guise of brotherly love, and Wenceslaus joyfully accepts the invitation to dine.
But on a certain festival day, as the joyful light dawned, that treacherous friend of deception, with his whole house richly furnished with every kind of ornament that this people had ever customarily displayed on such occasions, eagerly prepared a feast more lavish than usual and announced it to his servants; under the appearance of cheerfulness he invited his friends, and as a suppliant he entered the prince's palace, where he arranged for him to be present first of all at the fraternal banquets, so that he might deign to be gathered in. Wenceslaus, though this meekness was false, was greatly pleased before God, and with hands joined together in turn, they enter the house with joy. They recline at the feast.
The Thwarted Conspiracy
Inflamed by wine, the conspirators attempt to strike but are mysteriously weakened, while Wenceslaus remains calmly fearless under divine protection.
And when wine had long since filled some of the fierce guests, the treachery, inflamed and not knowing how much longer it had been hidden, stirred them up as if with one accord to kill the holy man. But they, malicious men with swords now hidden beneath their garments, rising three times and three times settling back into their seats as if somehow weary, were at last entirely softened in strength and boldness, because the hour of suffering ordained by God had not yet come, and they let him go unharmed. He himself was not unaware of this matter, yet he was not afraid of the danger; rather, emboldened by the security of divine protection, although he was being forewarned by the caution of a certain client whispering in his ear about how they had plotted against him, he did not leave his seat, but lovingly asked his brother and the others sitting with him to be cheerful, as if taking the welcome place of a host.
The Cup of Peace
Wenceslaus offers a loving toast invoking Christ and Saint Michael, sharing the cup and a kiss with the very men who sought his life.
And shortly after, when the table was removed, he rose, and with a cup filled with wine, having spoken a modest greeting, he addressed all of them sweetly in this way: 'May Christ, the salvation of all, greet you!' The cup that I hold in my hand — let none of you hesitate to drink it in the love of the holy archangel Michael, revering his spiritual depth as best we can, so that at whatever hour the law of nature leads us to our last breath, the merciful and ready receiver of our souls may deign to become our helper into the delights of paradise — let us pray in the depths of our hearts! And right after his cheerful words, he drank, and then with the same love he offered each of them their cups to drink from, one by one, with the most gracious kiss.
Safe Return by God's Decree
Because God's appointed hour has not yet come, Wenceslaus departs the feast unharmed and returns home undaunted.
But he, undaunted — since by God's command the matter is being deferred — returns home unharmed, having been entertained so honorably at the feast.
Read the original Latin
Sub cuiusdam vero festivae diei exultabili ortu infelix ille fraudis amicus domum propriam omni ornamentorum copia, quae huic genti umquam moris erant habenda, quam studiose fulgidam fecit; convivium plus solito parandum ministris indixit; amicos sub hylaritatis specie invitavit; ipsiusque principis supplex ingressus palatium, conviviis eum interesse fraternis primo omnium quo dignaretur corrogavit. Cuius mansuetudini quamvis falsae deo dignus Vencezlaus multum congaudens, atque consertis invicem manibus, domum gaudio introeunt. Epulis discumbunt. Vinoque post longum quibusdam ferocium convivarum saturatis, fraus conflata diu latere nesciens, eos quasi unanimiter in sancti viri necem accendit. Qui malivoli, mucronibus veste iam tectis, ter surgentes, terque iterum quasi quodammodo lassi sedibus se inclinantes, viribus saltim et audatia omnino emolliti, eo quod nondum divinitus iussa venerit passionis hora, inlaesum eum dimiserunt. Huius rei ipse haud inscius, periculo non pavidus, divini tutaminis securitate animatus, quamvis cuiusdam clientuli in aurem susurrantis cautela, quomodo contra eum moliti fuerint, praestrueretur, sede tamen non motus, fratrem ceterosque considentes exhilarari, quasi hospitis grata vice, amabiliter rogavit. Et paulo post amota mensa surgit, impletaque vino patera, modestae salutacionis dicto, omnes dulciter huiusmodi alloquitur: Salutet vos salus omnium Christus! Calicem, quem manu teneo, in sancti archangeli Michahelis amorem ebibere, unumquemque nostrum ne pigeat, hoc amore spiritalitatis eius altitudinem pro posse venerantes, ut quacumque hora lex naturae ad extrema nos deduxerit, animarum nostrarum paratus susceptor clemensque in paradisi voluptates dignetur fieri subvector, cordium imis precemur!
Statimque post verbum laetus ebibit, singillatim omnibus eodem amore singulos scyphos ebibendos blandissimo propinat osculo. Intrepidus autem, sumptis tam honeste epulis, uti divino iussu res differtur, domum inlaesus revisit.
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