Benjamin Suib
Fall 2014
EPISTOLA PRIMA
Beatissimo augusto GRATIANO, et christianissimo principi AMBROSIUS episcopus.
[1] Non mihi affectus defuit, christianissime principum; nihil enim habeo, quod hoc verius et
gloriosius dicam: non, inquam, mihi affectus defuit, sed affectum verecundia retardavit,
quominus clementiae tuae occurrerem. Revertenti tamen si non occurri vestigio, occurri animo,
occurri voto, in quo majora sunt officia sacerdotis. Occurri, dico? Quando enim abfui, quem
toto sequebar affectu, cui sensu ac mentibus inhaerebam? Et certe major animorum praesentia
est. Tuum quotidianum iter legebam, nocte ac die in tuis castris cura et sensu locatus,
orationum excubiis praetendebam: et si invalidus merito, sed affectu sedulus.
[2] Et haec quidem cum pro tua salute deferebamus, pro nobis faciebamus. Nihil hic adulationis
est, quam tu non requiris, ego alienam nostro duco officio: sed plurimum gratiae, quam dedisti.
Scit ipse nostri arbiter, quem fateris, et in quem pie credis, refici viscera mea tua fide, tua
salute, tua gloria: meque non solum officio publico debitas pendere preces, sed etiam amore
privato. Reddidisti enim mihi quietem Ecclesiae, perfidorum ora, atque utinam et corda,
clausisti: et hoc non minore fidei, quam potestatis auctoritate fecisti.
[3] Nam quid de litteris recentibus loquar? Scripsisti tua totam epistolam manu; ut ipsi apices
fidem tuam pietatemque loquerentur. Sic Abraham sua manu quondam vitulum occidit (Gen.
XVIII, 7), ut hospitibus epulantibus ministraret: nec in ministerio religioso aliorum adjumenta
quaesivit. Sed ille privatus aut Domino et angelis, aut Domino in angelis deferebat: tu,
Imperator, dignatione regali honoras infimum sacerdotem. Sed Domino defertur, cum servulus
honoratur; ipse enim dixit: Quod uni horum minimorum fecistis, mihi fecistis (Matth. XXV, 10).
Introduction –
Aurelius Ambrose, commonly known today as St. Ambrose, was a leading ecclesiastical
figure in the 4th century AD who played a pivotal role in the development of the modern
Church. He was a major player in the conflict between the Catholics and the Arians, and was
successful in his relentless persecution of the latter. As Bishop of Milan, which at the time was
the de facto capital of the Western Roman Empire, he fostered and maintained a very close
relationship with the Imperial leadership in Rome. Ambrose lived an austere life as bishop,
devoting the majority of his time to theological study and charity.
As one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church (along with St. Augustine, St.
Jerome, and Pope Gregory I), Ambrose has had a profound impact on Christian ideology. St.
Augustine of Hippo, in fact, thought poorly of Christian preachers up until he heard the sermons
of Ambrose, whose rhetorical talent greatly influenced the young man. His deep scholarship
also greatly influenced the emperor Gratian, to whom this letter is addressed.
This letter is in response to a request from the Emperor that Ambrose come join him in
Rome for private tutoring, and also to petition for a copy of a recent Treatise written by the
Bishop. A translation of the original letter from Gratian is provided below for context. It is
evident from both letters that each man esteems the other quite highly, and that there is a
great deal of mutual respect between the Emperor and the Bishop of Milan.
LETTER OF GRATIAN TO AMBROSE. [A.D.379.]
THE EMPEROR GRATIAN TO AMBROSE BISHOP OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
1. GREAT is my desire that as I remember you though far away, and in spirit am present, with
you, so I may be with you in bodily presence also. Hasten then, holy Bishop of God ; come and
teach me, who am already a sincere believer; not that I am eager for controversy, or seek to
apprehend God in words rather than with my mind, but that the revelation of His Godhead may
sink more deeply into an enlightened breast.
2. For He will teach me, He Whom I deny not, but confess to be my God and my Lord, not
cavilling at that created nature in Him, which I see also in myself. That I can add nothing to
Christ I acknowledge, hut I am desirous by declaring the Son to commend myself to the Father
also; for in God I can fear no jealousy; nor will I suppose myself such an eulogist as that I can
exalt His divinity by my words. Weak and frail, I proclaim Him according to my power, not
according to His Majesty.
3. I beg you to bestow upon me the Treatise you gave me before, adding to it an orthodox
discussion on the Holy Spirit: prove, I beseech you, both by Scripture and reason, that He is
God. God keep you for many years, my father, servant of the eternal God, Whom we worship,
even Jesus Christ.
Commentary –
[1]
non mihi… defuit – “desum” takes dative.
christianissime principium – partitive genitive with a superlative adj. in the vocative
quod… dicam – relative clause of characteristic with “nihil” as its antecedent
hoc verius et gloriosius – abl. of comparison with two comparative advs.
retardavit quominus… occurrerem – with verbs of hindrance or prevention, “quominus”
introduces the subordinate clause that contains the action impeded upon. The verb of that
clause is always in the subjunctive and follows the sequence of tenses.
clementiae tuae – a common way to address royalty, which can be translated effectively as
“your grace”.
Revertendti – gerund in the dative; supply “tibi”.
quem… sequebar – relative clause of characteristic with antecedent omitted
locatus – supply “eram”
[2]
nihil… adulationis est – partitive genitive
alienam – takes “adulationis” as its referent
plurimum gratiae – another partitive genitive
quam dedisti – antecedent omitted – possibly “rem”
Scit ipse nostri arbiter,
Two instances of O.O. governed by “Scit”
quem fateris,
et in quem pie credis,
refici viscera mea tua fide, tua salute, tua gloria:
1
meque non solum officio publico debitas pendere preces,
2
sed etiam amore privato.
fateris – 2nd person deponent
refici – passive infinitive
debitas – perfect passive participle of debeo modifying “preces”
Redidisti… clausisti - The Emperor Gratian enacted many measures to suppress the pagan
religions of old under the direct influence of Ambrose. Within his lifetime, he issued a decree
that all subjects throughout the empire profess their faith in the Nicene Creed (The Church of
Rome), appropriated the wealth of the Vestal Virgins, renounced his official title of Pontifex
Maximus, and removed the Altar of Victory from the senate house, which had been dedicated
in 29 BC by Augustus. Although thankful for Gratian’s cooperation, it seems that Ambrose
would’ve still advised harsher consequences for the “perfidi”.
[3]
loquar – deliberative subjunctive
ut… loquerentur – result clause in secondary sequence, dependent on “scripsisti”
(Gen. XVIII,7) - 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly
three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And
Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young
man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And
he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and
he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
ut… ministraret – purpose clause in secondary sequence, dependent on “occidit”; ministro
takes the dative.
epulantibus – gerund of epulor in the dative plural
Tu, Imperator… sacerdotem – Sentential object of “deferebat”
(Matth. XXV, 10) – The verse quoted here is actually Matth. XXV, 40 in the King James Version:
“40 And
the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Text from: <http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/ambrose/epistvaria.html>
Translation of Gratian’s letter to Ambrose from:
<http://www.ccel.org/ccel/pearse/morefathers/files/ambrose_letters_01_letters01_10.htm>
Bible Verses quoted from: <https://www.biblegateway.com>
Other resources: Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar (1903)
Oxford Latin Pocket Dictionary (2005)
Vocabulary –
Abraham – Abraham (biblical patriarch)
absum – to be absent
adiumentum, i, nt – help
adulation, onis f – flattery
affectus, us, m – affection
alienus, a, um – contrary, unfavorable
angelus, i, m – angel
animus, i, m – spirit
apices, um, m – letters (of the alphabet)
arbiter, tri, m – lord, master
auctoritas, atis, f – power, authority
castra, orum, nt – military camp
certe – surely
christianus, a, um – Christian
claudo – to close
clementia, ae – clemency
cor, rdis, nt – heart
credo – to believe
cura, ae, f – care, concern
defero – to bestow, present
desum, esse, fui – to lack (+dat)
dico – to say
dies, diei, m - day
dignatio, onis, f – esteem
do, dare, dedi, datus – to give
Domino – God
duco – to esteem
Ecclesia – The Church
enim – for
epistola, ae, f – letter
epulor – to feast
excubiae, arum, f – watching
facio – to do, make
fateor – to acknowledge
fides, ei, f – faith
gloria, ae, f –glory
gloriosus, a, um – full of glory
gratia, ae, f –thanks
habeo, habere, habui - to have
honoro – to honor
hospes, itis, m – guest
Imperator – Emperor
infimus, a, um – lowest
inhaereo, haesi, haesum – to be firmly attached to
inquam, inquit – to say
invalius, a, um – weak, ineffectual
ipse, ipsa, ipsum – himself, herself, itself
iter, itineris, nt – journey
lego – to read of, study
litterae, arum, f – letters
loco – to place
loquor – to say
maior, ius – greater
manus, u, f – hand
mens, mentis, f – mind
meritus, a, um - deserved
minimus, a, um – smallest
ministerium, i, nt – service
ministro – to serve (+dat)
minor, is – minor
nihil – nothing (indec.)
nox, noctis, f – night
occido, - to kill
occuro (3) – to meet (+dat)
officium, i, nt – duty
oratio, orationis, f – prayer
os, oris, nt – mouth
pendeo – to hang down
perfidus, a, um – unfaithful
pietas, atis f – piety
pius, a, um – faithful
plurimus, a, um – many
potestas, atis, f – ability
praesens, ntis – being present, at hand
praetendo – to offer
preces, um, f – prayer
princeps, ipis – prince (lit. first person)
privatus, a, um – private
publicus, a, um – public
quaero – to look for
quando – when
quies, etis f – quiet
quominus – so that (used after verbs of hindrance with a subj.)
quondam – formerly
quotidianum – day by day
recens, ntis – recent
reddo – to restore
reficio – to restore, repair
regalis, e – kingly
religiosus, a, um – religious
requiro – to need
retardo (1) – to slow down
reverto – to return
sacerdos, otis, mf – priest, bishop
salus, salutis, f – health
scio – to know
Scribo – to write
sedulus, a, um – sedulous, attentive
sensus, us, m – emotion, sense
sequor – to follow
servulus, i, m – young slave
solum – only
totus, a, um – total
unus, a, um - one
utinam – if only
verecundia, ae – modesty
verus, a, um – true
vestigium, I, nt – vestige
viscera, um – internal organs
vitulus, i, m – calf
votus, I, m –prayer