VP 1.5

English

When Lupicinus had already become an old man he went to see King Chilperic, who then ruled Burgundy and who, he had heard, was living in the city of Geneva. As he entered the gate, the seat of the king, who at that hour was sitting at a meal, trembled. Terrified, the king said to his companions: "There was an earthquake!" Those present replied that they had not felt any movement. And he said: "Run as fast as you can to the gate, in case there is someone who is hostile to our kingdom and wishes to harm us. For this seat did not tremble without cause." Rushing there at once, they ran into an old man clothed in animal skins, and reported back to the king about him; and he said: "Go, bring him into my sight, that I may know what kind of man he is." Led there at once, he stood before the king as Jacob had once stood before the Pharaoh. The king asked: "Who are you and where do you come from? And what is your business? Why do you need to come to us? Speak!"

Lupicinus said to him: "I am the father of the Lord's sheep whom the Lord continuously refreshes by giving them spiritual food, but who lack bodily nourishment. Therefore we implore Your Majesty to grant us some of the food and clothing we need." Hearing this, the king said: "Accept, then, fields and vineyards from which you will be able to live and meet your needs." Lupicinus answered: "We will not accept fields and vineyards, but, if it pleases Your Majesty, send us some of their produce; for it is not fitting for monks to be exalted by worldly resources; they should seek the kingdom of God and his justice with humble heart."

When the king heard these words, he ordered them to be granted three hundred pecks of wheat and the same measure of wine each year, as well as a hundred gold coins to buy the brothers' clothing. They are said still to receive this annually from the administration of the royal domains, even up to present times.

Latin

Lupicinus autem iam senex factus, accessit ad Chilpericum regem, qui tunc Burgundiae praeerat. Andierat enim eum habitare apud urbem Ianubam. Cuius ingressus portam tremuit regis cathedra, qui ea hora ad convivium resedebat. Exterritusque ait suis: 'Terrae motus factus est', inquid. Responderunt qui aderant, nihil se sensisse commotionis. Et ille: 'Occurrite quantotius ad portam, ne forte aliquis adversari cupiens regno nostro adsit, quasi nociturus nobis; non enim sine causa haec sella contremuit'. Qui protinus concurrentes, offenderunt senem in veste pellicia et dixerunt regi de eo. Qui ait: 'Ite, adducite eum in conspectu meo, ut intellegam, cuius ordinis homo sit'. Et statim adductus, stetit coram rege, sicut quondam Iacob coram Pharaone. Cui ille ait: 'Quis es vel unde venisti? Aut quod est opus tuum, vel quid necessitatis aeges, ut venias ad nos? Edicito!' Cui ille: 'Pater sum', inquid, 'dominicarum ovium, quas cum Dominus spiritalibus cibis iugi administratione reficiat, corporalia eis interdum alimenta deficiunt. Ideo petimus potentiae vestrae, ut ad victus vestitusque necessaria aliquid tribuatis'. Rex vero haec audiens, ait: 'Accipite agros vineasque, de quibus possetis vivere ac necessitates vestras explere'. Qui respondit: 'Agros et vineas non accipiemus, sed, si placet potestati vestrae, aliquid de fructibus deligate. Quia non decet, monachos facultatibus mundanis extolli, sed in humilitate cordis Dei regnum iustitiamque eius exquerere'. At rex, cum audisset haec verba, dedit eis praeceptionem, ut annis singulis trecentos modios tritici eiusdemque mensurae numero vinum accipiant et centum aureos ad conparandum fratrum indumenta. Quod usque nunc a fisci ditionibus capere referuntur.