LEM 1

ENGLISH

Venerable people report to us a miracle about this most holy bishop and apostolic man so remarkable that it ought not to be kept hidden. This miracle has been truthfully transmitted through the ages by our ancestors who were totally dedicated to the cult of the holy religion. It happened when the venerable bishop had arrived in the aforementioned city where the plague was devastating most of the people of the city. As mentioned before, the amphitheater was then so full of serpents that nobody dared to visit or even to come near to the place. Their venomous breath cruelly killed not only human beings but also horses, oxen, cattle, and other animals. When the holy Clement approached the city, the pestilence was enveloping it, so that nobody could approach it and had to return to a more salubrious place. If someone, compelled by extreme necessity, was to exit or approach the gates, he unfortunately would immediately die because of the strength of the poison. And no wonder that the slippery serpent laid low the people's bodies by means of its chosen vessels, since it had not yet lost its right over their minds by means of the font of holy baptism. But, how can we thank you, brave Jesus, you who have sent to us such great heralds everywhere, in order to cleanse our minds from all the filth of the most savage tyrants thanks to your piety, and to disseminate your virtues, which we must honor so that we will become worthy of becoming citizens of your nation? Regarding the venerable group of missionaries, you knew, even before the creation of the world, that the outstanding bishop Clement would be sent to this region and reveal to us the indescribable gifts of your clemency and would acquire the heavenly citizenship with all the saints. After the admirable worshiper of the divine Trinity began preaching with all the force of his mind, soon an innumerable crowd of sick people strove to get his help, as they had heard he was praising the true God; and they learned from the mouth of the extraordinary shepherd that they had not undeservedly been infected with the poison of the serpent.

Seeing their indescribable misery, Clement did not delay in administering a salutary remedy. He promised that they would quickly obtain the clemency of the true God, if they agreed to abandon the detestable cult of idols. In the end, not only those who were ill, but also the few who had survived, having followed his healthy advice, pledged to repudiate altogether the statues, if they were not deprived of the benefits promised by the worshipper of the highest God. Upon hearing the responses that he had desired for a long time, the man of God, who was committed to taking upon himself responsibility for everyone's perils, immediately paid homage to the Creator on behalf of all. After having gathered together a few brothers, Clement performed the Eucharist, which Lord Christ had instructed the faithful to carry out with devotion in his memory. After Clement fortified himself and them with the sacred libation, he did not fear to start fighting against the old enemy. Placing his hope in the Lord of heaven and earth, he fearlessly approached the caves of the amphitheater in order to fight the old serpent, that is, the devil. When the serpents heard the sound of feet approaching, they started to come out of the cave promptly, wishing to devour the man of God.

Having made the sign of the Cross from a distance, Clement hurried fearlessly toward the serpents. They were not strong enough to resist his strength any further and immediately put down their swollen throats. Then, as is reported by the ancients, the man of God took off the garment that he was wearing around his holy throat, and, before the eyes of all the people, he brought the largest of the serpents to the river Seille, which runs nearby. He carried the bound serpent with his own hands, and after releasing him said: "In the name of the most holy and indivisible Trinity, which, thanks to the preaching of my master, the most holy Peter prince of apostles, I have recognized as the true God, I order you to cross quickly this river with all your pestilential multitude without harming any human beings or animals, and to inhabit those regions where no human residence is possible." As soon as the holy priest said these words, the monstrous serpent started to disappear swiftly with all the others, as the eminent bishop had ordered them. From that day, the aforementioned place was purified from the filth of the serpents so much so that, as has been said above, one can hardly find a little worm there. Then, all the people, who had witnessed such great power being fulfilled by the man of God, impatiently bustled about hearing the word of truth from his mouth, desiring to achieve the promised fruit of his prayer. When the most holy Clement saw how great the people's devotion was, he gave great thanks to the giver of all good things, and he taught them according to the tradition of the Church, so that they could most devoutly prepare themselves to receive the gift of holy baptism. Those who obey his order in every way deserve to be made sharers in the son of the singularly holy mother Church. Having renounced the sordid idols and been cleansed through the water and Holy Spirit by his holy hands, they were freed from all the weaknesses not only of the body but also, which is more important, of the mind. As the gem of priests accomplished these most noble deeds, he strove daily to make progress in virtue by practicing virtue following the words of the psalmist, until he deserved to see the God of gods in Zion [cf. Ps 83:8].

LATIN

Ferunt namque antiquiores nobis a senioribus priscis cultui sancte religionis admodum deditis veracissimo per varios temporum successus relatu vulgatum, huius sanctissimi presulis atque apostolici viri tam ingens, quod occuli non decet, miraculum: eo namque temporis articulo, quo idem venerabilis pontifex ad prefatam devenerat urbem, maxima eiusdem pagi clades devastabat plebem.[1] Amphitheatrum quippe iam superius dictum tanta erat serpentium multitudine plenum,[2] ut non solum venire quisquam, sed nec appropinquare ad eundem auderet locum. Nam ex eorum flatibus veneniferis mortalitas efferbuerat non modo hominum verum etiam equorum, boum, peccorum ceterarumque bestiarum nimium crudelis. Iam vero beatissimo Clemente menia[3] ipsius propinquante civitatis, eadem ita[4] se dilataverat pestis,[5] ut nullus adeundi eam ac redeundi cursus fieret cuiquam salubris.[6] Si quis namque portas eius maxima coactus necessitate vellet exire vel etiam appropinquare, confestim vi attactus veneni interibat miserrime. Nec mirum sane, si anguis lubricus per dilecta sibi vascula, corpora eorum, prosternebat, de quorum mentibus ius proprium adhuc minime per sacri fontem baptismatis amiserat. Sed quas tibi, bone Ihesu, referre quimus grates, qui nobis tantos ubique talesque[7] direxisti precones, qui nostras tua gratuita pietate ab omnibus sevissimi[8] sordibus tyranni mundarent mentes atque tuas[9] iure colendas notificarent virtutes, ut superne valeremus patrie fieri cives. De quorum venerando admodum collegio ante mundi constitutionem eximium prescisti presulem Clementem ad has dirigendum partes, qui nobis ineffabilia clementie tue dona propalaret et celestem municipatum[10] cum sanctis omnibus adquirere posset.[11] Postquam ergo admirabilis Trinitatis deifice cultor delegatum sibi predicationis officium omni cepit mentis conamine explere, mox multitudo innumerabilis languentium[12] ad eius studuit,[13] quem verum[14] audiebant predicare Deum, auxilium confluere, cognoscentes ab ore egregii pastoris non inmerito serpentino se infectos fuisse[15] veneno.

Qui ubi eorum vidit inedicibilem miseriam, statim saluberrimam non distulit conferre medicinal.[16] Spopondit igitur,[17] veri Dei citius affore is[18] clementiam, si ipsi detestabilem idolorum abicere culturam non renuerent. Tandem ergo non solum languentes, sed insuper pauci, qui supererant, saluori inito consilio, sospites cunctis se promisere abrenuntiare simulacris, si beneficis non fraudarentur a summi cultore Dei promissis. Talia autem[19] tamque[20] diu a se desiderata vir[21] Deo plenus audiens affamina,[22] omnia paratus pro eis discrimina ferre, extemplo[23] laudes cunctorum persolvit creatori precipuas. Denique paucis secum aggregatis fratribus, sacre obtulit munus oblationis, quod in sui commemorationem fidelibus devote dominus precepit peragere Christus. At vero posteaquam se suosque sacro munivit libamine, antiqui hostis non est veritus certamina adire, sed spe sua commissa celi terreque domino, cavernas adüt amphitheatri intrepide pugnaturus cum antiquo serpente, videlicet diabolo. Ut autem sonitum[24] pedum senserunt appropinquantium serpentes, mox ex cavernis ceperunt prodire certatim, cupientes devorare hominem Dei. Ille vero facto signo crucis eminus ad eos properabat intrepidus. Cuius dum virtuti resistere non valerent[25] amplius, tumentia colla protinus deposuerunt. Vir autem Dei, sicuti refert antiquitas, stolam, quam sanctissimo gerebat in collo, statim[26] deposuit, maximumque eorum, ea cuncto spectante populo, alligavit atque usque ad fluvium Salie, qui iuxta decurrit, vinctum manibus propris adduxit eumque ibi solvens dixit: "In nomine summe et individue Trinitatis, quam ex beatissimi magistri mei Petri apostolorum principis predicatione verum Deum agnovi, precipio tibi, ut nulli hominum ac bestiarum nocens hoc flumen ocius cum omni coherenti tibi pestifera multitudine pertranseas atque eas partes ad eas, qua[27] nullus habitationis humane[28] usus haberi valeat." Vix ergo sanctus sacerdos verba compleverat, et ecce serpens inmanissimus cum ceteris omnibus cepit festinus abire, ut sibi antistes iusserat egregius Atque post illum diem ita prefatus ab omni inmunditia serpentium mundatus est locus, ut vix aliquando ibi, ut supra notificatum est, parvissimus vermiculus repperiatur.[29] Tunc vero cunctus populus, tam magnam per Dei hominem cernens impleri virtutem, ab eius ore avide satagebant audire veritatis verbum, cupientes sponsionis proprie exequi promissum. Beatissimus igitur Clemens tantam populi cernens devotionem, maximas largitori totius boni reddidit gratias, eosque iuxta morem instruens ecclesiasticum ammonuit,[30] ut se devotissime prepararent ad percipiendum sacri donum baptismatis. Qui iussis illius in omnibus obedientes, unice sancte matris ecclesie filii meruere effici participes. Denique cunctis abrenuntiantes sordious idolorum, per aquam et Spiritum Sanctum ipsius sanctis[31] abluti manibus, universis non solum corporum, sed etiam, quod maius est, animarum languoribus caruere. Hec[32] ergo explenst[33] opera[34] nobilissima gemma presulum cotidieque[35] iuxta psalmographi dictum de virtute studens proficere in virtutem, donec domini[36] deorum cernere mereretur in Syon,

1. plebem] urbem C E

2. plenum] repletum E

3. menia] ad menia D

4. ita] om. E

5.  pestis] tempestas E

6.  salubris] salubre E

7.  ubique talesque] ac tales ubique D

8.  sevissimi] sevissima E

9.  tuas] om. C E

10.  municipatum] mancipatum E

11.  posset] possit B D

12.  languentium] credentium E

13.  studuit] om. D

14.  verum] vere D

15.  fuisse] esse A C E

16.  medicinam] sanitatem E

17.  igitur] om. D

18.  eis] om. E

19.  autem] om. D

20.  tamque] iamque E

21.  vir] sue E

22.  affamina] affamiam E

23.  extemplo] exemplo E

24.  sonitum] sonitus D

25.  Cuius dum virtuti resistere non valerent] Cuius dum virtute non resisterent E

26.  statim] om. E

27.  qua] quia A, quo B D

28.  humane] om. E

29.  parvissimus vermiculus repperiatur] parvus quidem reperiatur vermiculus E

30.  eosque iucta morem instruens ecclesiasticum ammonuit] eosque ut mos est instruens ammonuit E

31.  sanctis] vero sacris E

32.  Hec] His E

33.  explens] expletis E

34.  opera] om. E

35.  cotidieque] cotidie E

36.  domini] Deum E