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← Legenda Christiani (Vita et Passio sancti Wenceslai et sanctae Ludmilae aviae eius)/Book 1 · Legenda Christiani
Chapter 6LegC.1.6

Legenda Christiani

The Blossoming of a Holy Youth

As Wenceslaus enters youth, his devotion to learning God's word provokes his mother and her allies to escalating hostility.

With these things thus accomplished, Christ having given His blessing, the once-chosen leader, blessed Wenceslaus, now passing beyond the years of boyhood, was blooming most beautifully in the flower of youth, and turning over in his mind, with deep memory, all the letters of the alphabet that had been handed to him by his tutor, he burned with desire to put into practice what he had received through his ear.1 For this reason his treacherous mother, with certain sons of Belial who were in agreement with her, envious of his deeds and his most holy pursuits, having taken counsel together said: Alas, what are we to do, and where shall we turn ourselves?2 Indeed our prince, who was raised by us to the summit of the kingdom, has been corrupted by the clerics and made into something like a monk, and he does not allow us to walk along the steep and unfamiliar path of our vices.3 And if he does this now in boyhood or adolescence, what do you think he is going to do in youth or old age? From that day onward they began to be excessively troublesome to him, rebuking him with threats and heaping upon him many other wicked deeds, inflicting them upon him without restraint.4

Armed with Faith Under Siege

Wenceslaus endures persecution by the weapons of faith, pursuing secret study and grieving in hidden prayer for his people's hardness of heart.

The man dear to God endured all these things unharmed in spirit, pushing back with the weapons of faith and shielding himself with the buckler of patience.✦ Indeed, both his own clerics and certain religious men — whose teaching was his own nourishment — the impious set upon with constant snares, trying to slaughter him, and terrified him with the greatest threats, because none of them could gain access to him. But he himself, aware of all these things, would secretly seek out back doors with faithful men at his side; and as the sun was setting, having secretly summoned any cleric at all, he would learn through the night everything that served his purpose, and at the first light of dawn he would let his teacher or his dear cleric slip away in secret. Hiding his little book and carrying it under its cover, wherever he found a place of rest he would read it with diligence, and with inner groaning he grieved deeply over the hardness of heart of his own people and their blindness or unbelief.

The Goad of Prophetic Rebuke

Strengthened by God, Wenceslaus confronts his mother and the leading men with the words of Wisdom, declaring his resolve to serve God alone.

At last, strengthened by God and girding himself with strength, he summoned his mother and all the leading men, and rebuked them as was fitting, just as the book of Wisdom testifies: 'The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails driven deep.'✦ Then blessed Wenceslaus spoke as follows: 'Why, O children of wicked men, seed and lying offspring of the wicked, have you kept me from learning the law of our Lord Jesus Christ and obeying his commands?'✦ But if it wearies you to serve Christ, why at least do you hinder others? I, however, if I have lived under your providence or power up to now, from this point on I reject that: I desire to serve God Almighty with a sincere heart.

Division, Exile, and the Return in Chaste Fear

Factional strife divides the court; Wenceslaus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exiles his mother for the blood of Ludmila, yet later recalls her in filial reverence.

Afterwards a dispute arose over this same affair and various other matters, one that caused a deep rift between the leading men themselves — those who had attached themselves to the side of the devout duke, and the rest, who wickedly abetted the most shameful factions of the lady. The counselors turned against each other and the chief men of the land; and thorns of discord sprang up among them, even to the shedding of blood. Yet the party of the righteous, though it was the smallest, prevailed against the manifold faction of the unjust, as it always does. For the aforementioned Duke Wenceslaus, ever anxious to secure peace, with the Holy Spirit inspiring him, conceived in his heart a plan by which he might remove his mother — who was the cause of all the wickedness — from the fatherland; so that, with her driven out and all her like-minded impious men on every side removed, the fury of their discords might be calmed and the peace of the church and kingdom might grow; so that all, possessing the one and the same Lord, might learn the true teaching of Christ most perfectly; and with all matters arranged that were seen to pertain to the peace of the kingdom, and with the sons of discord driven out and banished, and quiet restored, he might once again recall his mother with honor to her own home. All these things he accomplished, with God himself, the maker, helping him. For he drove his mother from the kingdom with the greatest disgrace, as Almighty God rendered worthy punishment upon her for the shedding of the blood of the innocent blessed Ludmila, whom she had caused to be shed without cause. But because he was filled with that chaste fear which endures forever, mindful of the divine precepts by which we must honor father and mother, after some time had passed he led her back — yet she lacked the honor of her former dominion right up to the day of his death.✦ But passing over all these things — how they were done and the enormity of it — let us press forward with what we have begun.

A Father's Grief and a Saint's Remains

Wenceslaus endures the death of his own son and then sends envoys to retrieve the relics of blessed Ludmila from Tetín, weeping and taking counsel with priests.

After enduring many hardships and adversities, he also bore the death of his own son at the hand of his younger son. Then blessed Wenceslaus, calling to mind his own bird, reflected on what great holiness he had possessed in this present life and what great merit of glory he held before the Almighty; drenched entirely with a shower of tears, he took counsel with certain priests and religious men, and sent them to the aforementioned castle of Tetin, instructing them to bring back to him, with worthy reverence, whether it be bones or the dust of his consumed flesh.56

The Journey to the Tomb

Wenceslaus foretells divine signs; the envoys open Ludmila's tomb and discover her body miraculously incorrupt.

He himself, with the Holy Spirit revealing, made known to the few who were joined to him in close fellowship, and he was certain that by divine clemency cooperating, the envoys mentioned would draw certain signs from that place. Fulfilling the commands of their lord, the envoys who had been sent entered the basilica and, rolling away the earth from the tomb, uncovered the slab of the sepulcher by which the venerable soil had been covered — partly consumed by rot — and they feared to lift it. If the wood, they confessed, is rotten, how much more so are the things that lie hidden within? And again they wanted the sarcophagus to be sealed with the utmost diligence. By their plans, one of them — Paul the priest, whom we also mentioned above, who had always been joined to him in friendship while he lived on earth and had always complied with every service — resisted, and said: 'It will by no means be done as you say, but according to the prince's orders; if I find even the dust of consumed flesh, I will take it.' The others unanimously offering their assent to him, they lifted the slab together. As they lifted it, it broke, so that the aforementioned Paul fell with the earth upon the body lying there. He, rising hastily and removing the more quickly, when his companions joined him they found the sacred body separated from every corruption — except what I mentioned above, namely that his face was dusty, which had settled on him from the breaking of the lid while it was being removed.

Honored and Carried to Prague

With great joy the envoys wrap Ludmila's body in precious linens, place it on an altar, and transport it by bier to Prague, where it is found incorrupt after fourteen years.

Blazing with immense joy from that moment on, they offered boundless thanks to the Almighty, lifted her most holy body from the earth, wrapped it in precious linen cloths, as was fitting, and laid it on the altar, rendering praises and boundless thanks to divine mercy.78 Once all the rites had been properly and solemnly completed, they placed her on a bier, loaded it across the backs of two horses, and so that same night they steadily made their way to the metropolitan city — Prague, that is. Moreover, the body of the blessed and devoted handmaid of God, Ludmila, was found to be incorrupt after fourteen years.9 on the Kalends of November, at the twelfth hour, on a Wednesday.10 They brought her into Prague on the third day, a Saturday.11 The twelfth.12 on the Kalends of the same month, with great joy, while all congratulated and praised Christ. Indeed, before her bearers brought her into the city, they sent messengers ahead to the prince bearing the good news.13

The Prince's Joy and the Public Revelation

Wenceslaus rises in joy, meets the bearers with a great procession, and reveals Ludmila's incorrupt body to the people, who marvel and praise Christ.

Those who came and found that he had arranged his limbs in sleep — or rather in death — raised him from that sleep of death, and brought him such great joy, because, with almighty God's favor, they had found the body of so great and noble a matron — hail, indeed, to their own — incorrupt.141516 He immediately got up and hurried to the church with the greatest eagerness, and rendered immense thanks to Christ the Lord. With the sun shining on the earth and its radiance driving away the darkness, he summoned the clergy and a crowd of the faithful, and hastened to meet them with an enormous procession. Those faithful bearers met them, carrying the often-mentioned clod of holy Liudmila. The priests and Levites eagerly lifted it onto their shoulders at once, blessing God with psalms and praises, and brought it into the city; entering the church, they set it before the altar on the floor, and an enormous noise resounded with the sound. Because a popular curiosity of both the faithful and the unfaithful was investigating what had been done, they gathered together and demanded the doors of the church. Then, following a plan initiated by the prince together with the priests, they uncovered the entire body in the presence of the people, so that all would give credit that it had been preserved incorrupt by Christ the Lord. All who looked upon the great deeds of Christ resounded with untiring voices, and no one could resist the truth, because the wholeness of the body and the firmness of the hair were visible to all, and the brightness of the countenance shone as if fixed in this established life; moreover, the beauty and wholeness of the garments shone as if they had been woven on the same day. All who observed the proclamations, exulting with their voices, judged her most worthy of every honor and praise.

The First Burial Attempt and the Flood of Water

When they attempt to bury Ludmila in the church, water floods the trench, convincing the faithful that the place is not pleasing to God.

Then, having dug up the earth and prepared a trench, they tried to bury her in the same church. But from that same trench, water suddenly flooded up. Because many who witnessed this were convinced in their hearts that this burial place was not at all pleasing to the handmaid of Christ. So they filled in the trench again and placed a sarcophagus with the sacred relic over it, waiting for divine help. And so they went happily back to their own homes.

The Bishop's Counsel and the Consecrated Grave

Wenceslaus consults Bishop Tuto of Regensburg, who commands burial in consecrated ground; after the church is dedicated, the water no longer appears and Ludmila is blessedly laid to rest.

After a moderate interval of time had passed, the prince mentioned above sent envoys to Regensburg and consulted the bishop of that same city — whose parishioners at that time were Bohemians — by the name of Tuto, to ask what he thought should be done about the body noted above. Surveying the writings of divine law, he commanded these words in his responses according to the wisdom given him by God — namely, that they should hand over the body for burial, taking its beginning from the very origin of the first-formed man, to whom it was said: "You are earth, and into earth you shall go; you are dust, and into dust you shall return," until they might perceive the glory of Christ.✦ Kindled by an enormous zeal for the divine, the prince with humble prayer besought the aforementioned bishop to deign to come to him in person and himself deliver the body for burial, and to dedicate the basilica, which as yet lacked pontifical blessing. He, however, pretending the infirmity of old age and not being equal to the journey, sent his fellow bishop with a small retinue of clergy to dedicate that church. Arriving, he first consecrated the temple to the Lord. After six days had passed from then, he buried the aforementioned small body in the same place where the water had overflowed. A marvelous thing, and sufficient to declare the merit owed to the servant of Christ — namely that when priests wished to bury her in an unconsecrated place, water arose; but when the fellow bishop arrived and the basilica had been consecrated, it did not appear at all. Fittingly and fully: she who had happily enjoyed a blessed way of life was also blessedly buried with a greater blessing, she who was to be placed with the saints at the right hand of Christ.✦

The Co-Bishop's Departure and the Annual Miracle

After the co-bishop departs, Christ works a healing miracle on the anniversary of the translation: a crippled boy is restored before Ludmila's basilica, and all praise God forever.

Once these things had been duly carried out, the co-bishop was rewarded by the prince, as was fitting, and asked leave to depart.17 Now when the anniversary of his translation had come around and the sacred soil had been moved, Christ the Lord deigned to work a remarkable prodigy, to the glory of his own name and to make known the merit of his handmaid. For as is the custom of the Christian religion, when the clergy had assembled to celebrate the memory of such saints, and when after prayers they were sitting down together at the same time for a bodily meal, a certain small boy, weighed down by weakness of body and bent over, not at all able to look upward — when before the door of the basilica where the body of that great matron rests, he implored the power of Christ and the merit of that same saint — was raised up and properly restored by her power. Those who witnessed this — that very many were singing praises to almighty Christ, and that through his handmaid he had deigned to make known his own great deeds — to whom be glory forever and ever, amen.✦

Read the original Latin

Hiis ita gestis annuente Christo olim electus dux beatus Wenceslaus annos puericie transcendens, gratissime flore iuventutis nitescebat, cunctaque, que a pedagogo apicum sibi tradita fuerant, alta memoria revolvens, animo estuanti opere implere cupiebat, quod aure perceperat. Quapropter genitrix ipsius perfida cum quibusdam sibi assencientibus filiis Belial, invidentes actibus illius studiisque sanctissimis, inito invicem consilio dixerunt: Heu, quid agimus, quove nosmet vertemus? Princeps siquidem noster, qui a nobis in regni fastigio sublimatus est, perversus a clericis et ceu monachus factus, per abruptam et asvetam viciorum nostrorum semitam nos gradi non sinit. Et si hoc nunc in puericia vel adolescencia gerit, quid putas facturus est in iuventute vel senecta? Ab illo ergo die nimis inportuni ei esse ceperunt, minis increpantes aliaque perplura inportune illi ingerentes scelera.

Que cuncta vir deo carus armis fidei repellens et clipeo se paciencie muniens, animo illeso perferebat. Siquidem et clericos eius et quosdam religiosos, quorum doctrina ipse pascebatur, insidiis assiduis impii appetentes, trucidare moliti sunt minisque maximis terruerunt, quia nemo illorum ad eum accessum quiret habere. Ipse vero cunctorum horum scius cum sibi fidelibus viris occulte posterulas agens, ruente sole in occasum clancule clerico quolibet accersito, cuncta que sibi proficua erant, nocte addiscens, crepusculo illucescente didascalum seu sibi clericum carum latenter abire sinebat. Codicellulumque suum occulens subque tegmine gestans, ubicunque locum quietis reperiebat, eum cum diligencia lectitabat et cum gemitu interno de duricia cordis populi sui et cecitate vel incredulitate dolebat nimium. Tandem confortatus a Deo et virtute se precingens, matre sua universisque primariis accitis, ut decuit, increpavit, quemadmodum Sapiencie liber testatur: Verba sapiencium quasi stimuli et velut clavi in altum defixi. Sic inquit beatus Wenceslaus: Cur, [inquit], filii, sceleratorum et semen mendax virique iniqui, prohibuistis me discere legem domini nostri Iesu Christi et obtemperare mandatis illius? Quod si vos tedet Christo servire, cur saltem ceteros impeditis? Ego vero si hactenus vestra sub providencia vel potestate degui, amodo tamen illud respuo, Deo cunctipotenti sincero ex animo deservire cupio.

Orta est postmodum pro eiusdem rei causa variisque rebus aliis dissidio pergrandis viros inter ipsos primarios, qui lateri ducis religiosi inherebant, et inter reliquos, qui partes nequissimas domine impie iuvabant. Divisique sunt consiliarii in invicem et primates terre, discordiarumque inter eos spine pullulaverunt ad sanguinis usque effusionem. Verum pars iustorum, licet minima foret, prevaluit tamen adversus partem multimodam, ut semper, iniquorum. Nam semper memoratus dux Wenceslaus, sollicitus de nanciscenda pace, Spiritu sibi sancto inspirante, corde consilium captavit, quo genitricem suam, que causa tocius nequicie inerat, perturbaret e patria, quatinus ea propulsa cunctisque consentaneis eius viris impiis invicem furor discordiarum sopiretur paxque ecclesie regni accresceret, unum eundemque Dominum cuncti possidentes veram Christi doctrinam perfectissime addiscerent, dispositisque cunctis, que ad pacem regni pertinere cernebantur, proturbatis et expulsis filiis discordie, composita quiete, matrem rursus cum honore ad propria revocaret. Que cuncta, iuvante se opifice Deo, opere complevit. Nam matrem regno cum dedecore maximo pepulit, dignam ei ulcionem omnipotente Deo reddente ob effusionem sanguinis innocentis beate Liudmile, quem causa sine fuderat. Sed quoniam timore casto, qui permanet in seculum seculi, plenus erat, memor preceptorum divinorum, quibus patrem honorare debemus et matrem, eam rursus tempore elapso reduxit, verum honore dominacionis pristine caruit usque ad obitus sui diem. Sed hec cuncta qualiter gesta sint, ob sui enormitatem pretereuntes, cepta prosequamur.

Post multa adversa et incommoda pertulit, eciam filii sui necem ab gnato suo minore.

Recordatus deinde ave sue beatus Wenceslaus, quante sanctitatis in presenti fuisset quanteque claritatis meritum aput Cunctipotentem obtineret, lacrimarum imbre infusus totus, inito consilio sacratissimo cum sacerdotibus et religiosis quibusdam, misit eos in prefatum castellum Tetin, mandans eis, quo vel ossa seu pulverem consumpte carnis digna translacione ad se usque perducerent.

Ipse vero Spiritu sancto revelante, paucis familiaritate iunctis sibimet innotescens, certus erat divina cooperante clemencia aliquid inibi legatos memoratos signorum haurire. Implentes autem iussa domini sui, legati qui fuerant, basilicam ingressi ac monumentum humo revoluto detegentes, tabulam sepulcri, qua venerabilis gleba tegebatur, partim putredine consumptam reperientes, sublevare formidaverunt. Si lignum, fatentes, putridum est, quanto magis ea, que intus latent? Rursumque sarcofagum claudi voluerunt diligencia cum summa. Quorum consiliis unus ex eis, Paulus presbiter, obsistens, cuius et superius mencionem fecimus, qui semper illi, dum in terris deguit, in amiciciis iunctus semperque in omni servicio obsecundatus est, inquit: Nequaquam, ut dicitis, fiet, sed iuxta principis iussa, si vel pulverem consumpte carnis invenero, tollam. Cui ceteri assensum prebentes, unanimiter tabulam sublevaverunt. Quam dum sustollunt, frangitur, ita ut memoratus Paulus cum humo super corpus iacentis caderet. Qui concite surgens humumque velocius amovens, cum sibi iunctis sodalibus invenerunt corpus sacrum ab omni corrupcione seiunctum, preterquam quod supra memini, videlicet vultum eius pulverulentum, quod ei de fractura cooperculi, dum amoveretur, insederat.

Ingenti dehinc gaudio succensi, grates inmensas Cunctipotenti exhibentes, glebam eius sanctissimam de terra sustollentes, linteaminibus preciosis, ut decebat, involventes, altari presentaverunt, laudes gratesque inmensas divine clemencie referentes.

Riteque cunctis sollempniter peractis, feretro eam locantes, duorum terga equorum onerant, sicque eadem nocte metropolim usque ad urbem, Pragam scilicet, constanter properant. Repertum est autem corpus felicis et Deo devote famule Liudmile XIIII. kalendas novembris, hora XII. , feria IIII. Intulerunt autem eam in Pragam die tercio, feria VI. , XII. kalendas eiusdem mensis, leticia cum ingenti, gratulantibus cunctis Christumque laudantibus. Vehitores siquidem ipsius, urbi priusquam eam inferrent, ad principem baiulos boni nuncii premiserunt.

Qui venientes, sopori eum membra collocasse cognoverunt, eumque suscitavere leti taleque ei gaudium intulerunt, quod omnipotente Deo favente corpus tante talisque matrone, ave videlicet sue, incorruptum repperissent.

Qui continuo surgens ecclesiamque summa cum alacritate properans, Christo domino grates immensas persolvit. Sole terram irradiante iubareque tenebras propellente, accito clero turbaque fidelium, processione cum ingenti obvius ire properat. Occurrunt autem illi et fideles geruli, vehentes sepe memoratam glebam sancte Liudmile. Quam statim sacerdotes et levite alacriter suis inponentes humeris, benedicentes Deum cum psalmis ac laudibus, intulerunt urbi ecclesiamque ingressi altari coram pavimento statuere strepitumque sonitu ingentem personavere. Quod popularis tam fidelium quam infidelium curiositas perscrutans, quod factum erat, in unum congregati petunt ecclesie ianuas. Consilio dehinc princeps inito cum sacerdotibus, plebe coram cuncta corpus eius detexerunt, ut omnes fidem adhiberent incorruptam eam a Christo domino fuisse servatam. Cuncti quod intuentes, magnalia Christi indefessis vocibus personavere, nemoque obsistere veritati quibat, quoniam cunctis patebat integritas corporis ac capillorum firmitas vultusque nitescebat, veluti in hac constituta vita, vestimentorum insuper pulchritudo integritasque talis splendebat, ac si eodem texta forent die. Universi quod perspicientes, preconiorum vocibus persultantes, omni eam honore ac laude dignissimam iudicarunt.

Humo dehinc efossa compositaque fossa, in eadem basilica tumulare eandem conati sunt. Sed ex eadem fossa repente aqua inundavit. Plurimi quod intuentes, mente captavere eundem sepulchri locum minime famule Christi placere. Replentesque rursus fossam, sarcofagum cum ipso pignore sacro statuere super eandem, prestolantes divinum auxilium. Sicque ad propria feliciter properavere.

Spacio dehinc temporis elapso modico supra dictus princeps Ratispone missis legatis, pontificem eiusdem civitatis, quia erant Boemi viri ipsius temporis parrochiani sui, consuluit, nomine Tutonem, quidnam sibi agendum foret de supra notato corpore. Qui divine legis scripta perlustrans, secundum datam sibi a Deo sapienciam in responsis hec dicta mandavit, scilicet ut corpus, inicium ab ipso exordio prothoplasti sumens, cui dictum est: Terra es et in terram ibis, pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris, sepulture traderent, gloriam Christi donec cernerent. Ingentique zelo divino accensus princeps prefatum antistitem humili prece exoravit, usque ad se dignaretur quatinus venire ac corpus ipse sepulture daret basilicamque, adhuc que benediccione pontificali carebat, dedicaret. Qui simulata infirmitate senectutis ire non prevalens, coepiscopum suum cum aliquantulis clericorum choris allegavit, quo ecclesiam eandem dedicaret. Adveniensque in primis templum Domino consecravit. Post hinc sex elapsis dierum circulis suprafatum corpusculum tumulavit eodem in loco, quo aqua inundaverat. Mira atque Christi famule declarandum meritum sufficiens res, videlicet quod sacerdotibus inconsecrato cupientibus eam tumulare loco aqua exorta est, adveniente vero coepiscopo sacrataque basilica funditus haut apparuit. Congrue satis, ut que felici conversacionis sue vita fruebatur feliciter, et cum benediccione maiori sepeliretur, que cum sanctis ad Christi locanda erat dextram.

Rite hiis itaque peractis coepiscopus remuneratus, ut dignum fuerat, a principe, propria petivit.

Anniversario autem eius volvente die post translacionem ipsius glebe sacre, ad gloriam nominis sui et ad declarandum meritum famule sue, Christus dominus insigne dignatus est operari prodigium. Nam ut moris est Christiane religioni congregato clero memoriam talium agere, cum post oraciones ad refeccionem corporum una pariter residerent, quidam parvulus infirmitate corporis gravatus curvatusque, sursum omnino non prevalens aspicere, cum ante ostium basilice, corpus ubi tante requiescit matrone, virtutem Christi meritumque ipsius sancte imploraret, erectus est virtutique proprie restitutus. Intuentes quod plurimi, omnipotenti Christo laudes canebant, suam quod per famulam dignatus sit magnalia declarare sua, cui est gloria in secula seculorum, amen.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Eph.6.10-Eph.6.17 — Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Eph.6.11 — Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Eph.6.12 — For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph.6.13 — Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand firm in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Eph.6.14 — Stand firm, then, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Eph.6.15 — and having shod your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace Eph.6.16 — In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph.6.17 — And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
  2. ↩Eccl.12.11 — The words of the wise are like goads, and their collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails, given by one Shepherd.
  3. ↩Isa.57.4 — Against whom do you make sport? Against whom do you open wide your mouth and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit?
  4. ↩Ps.19.9 — The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, giving light to the eyes.
  5. ↩Gen.3.19 — By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
  6. ↩Matt.25.33-Matt.25.34 — And he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at his left. Matt.25.34 — Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'
  7. ↩Rom.16.27 — to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever. Amen.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩'apicum' (genitive plural of apex) rendered as 'letters of the alphabet' following the gloss suggestion; the word could also mean 'summits' or 'peaks,' but the pedagogical context favors letters.
  2. 2 ↩'cum quibusdam...filiis' rendered with 'cum' as a preposition ('with') rather than a temporal conjunction ('when'), following the gloss analysis.
  3. 3 ↩'asvetam' is a rare form, possibly a variant of 'assuetus' (accustomed) with a negative prefix; rendered here as 'unaccustomed' or 'unfamiliar' following the gloss suggestion.
  4. 4 ↩'inportune' rendered as 'without restraint' to capture the sense of importunate, unrestrained harassment; could also mean 'unseasonably' or 'troublesomely.'
  5. 5 ↩The phrase 'ave sue' ('his own bird') is unusual and its sense here is uncertain; it may be a figurative or symbolic expression, or a corruption. The translation reflects the literal surface meaning but the intended sense is unclear.
  6. 6 ↩'claritatis meritum' (merit of glory) is rendered to preserve the theological sense of merit before God.
  7. 7 ↩gleba here refers to the saint's body as it was found in the earth (tomb-earth), not merely a clod of dirt; the term carries the sense of the sacred remains embedded in soil.
  8. 8 ↩ut decebat: comparative/manner ('as was fitting') rather than purpose; the wrapping in precious cloths is presented as an act of reverent propriety.
  9. 9 ↩The Latin is elliptical: 'XIIII' follows the main clause without an explicit preposition or verb. The sense is 'after fourteen years' (i.e., fourteen years after her death), which the surrounding narrative context supports.
  10. 10 ↩feria IIII = the fourth day of the liturgical week (Wednesday in medieval reckoning where feria I = Sunday or feria II = Monday depending on the system). Rendered as 'Wednesday' following standard medieval Latin weekday convention.
  11. 11 ↩die tercio — 'on the third day' likely counts from the Kalends of November (Nov. 1), placing the arrival on Nov. 3. feria VI = Saturday in the medieval liturgical week.
  12. 12 ↩Isolated numeral XII — likely a continuation of the date formula, possibly indicating the twelfth hour or the twelfth day of the month. Rendered conservatively as 'The twelfth' pending fuller context.
  13. 13 ↩vehitores and baiulus are rare nouns; vehitores rendered as 'bearers' (those carrying the bier) and baiulos as 'messengers' based on context of nuncii (news/nuncios).
  14. 14 ↩sopori: ambiguous between dative/ablative of sopor (sleep/death); rendered here as 'in sleep — or rather in death' to capture the likely sense of a death-like repose.
  15. 15 ↩leti: genitive of letum (death); the phrase 'suscitavere leti' rendered as 'raised him from that sleep of death.'
  16. 16 ↩ave videlicet sue: 'ave' as a greeting or exclamation directed to the matron ('hail, indeed, to their own'); the vocative interjection is unusual in this context and may carry a liturgical or honorific tone.
  17. 17 ↩propria petivit rendered 'asked leave to depart' — propria likely refers to his own affairs/return; the sense is that he requested permission to go.

Legenda Christiani (Vita et Passio sancti Wenceslai et sanctae Ludmilae aviae eius) companion

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