E00896: The Life of *Ambrose (bishop of Milan, ob. 397, S00490) by Paulinus of Milan, recounts how clerics in Milan (northern Italy) and North Africa, who spoke badly about the late bishop were punished with sudden death. Written in Latin, probably in North Africa, c. 422.

Paulinus of Milan, Life of Ambrose 54

Igitur Donatus quidam natione Afer, presbyter tamen ecclesiae Mediolanensis, cum in convivio positus, in quo erant nonnulli militares viri religiosi, detraheret memoriae sacerdotis, aspernantibus illis et deserentibus linguam nequam, subito vulnere percussus gravi, de eodem loco in quo iacebat alienis manibus sublatus in lectulum positus est, atque inde ad sepulcrum usque perductus. In urbe etiam Carthaginiensi, cum apud Fortunatum diaconem, fratrem venerabilis viri Aurelii episcopi, ad convivium convenissem una cum Vincentio Colusitano episcopo, Murano etiam episcopo Bolitano, sed et aliis episcopis et diaconibus, tunc Murano episcopo detrahenti sancto viro rettuli exitum presbyteri superius memorati: quod ille de alio dictum de se oraculum maturo sui ictu comprobavit. Nam de eodem loco in quo iacebat, cum subito vulnere ingenti esset percussus, alienis manibus ad lectum usque portatus est, atque inde ad domum in qua hospitabatur reductus diem clausit extremum. Is finis virorum illi detrahentium fuit, quem videntes qui tunc audierant admirati sunt.

'Now, a certain Donatus, an African by race, yet a presbyter of the church at Milan disparaged the memory of Ambrose at a banquet at which were some military men of devout nature, who scorned his scurrilous speech and turned from him. Suddenly he was inflicted with a serious wound and was raised from the spot in which he lay by hands of others and placed on a couch, and from there was carried straight to his grave. Again, in the city of Carthage I went for a meal to the house of the deacon Fortunatus, a brother of the venerable bishop Aurelius. Vincentius, Bishop of Colositanum, Muranus, Bishop of Bolita, as well as other bishops and deacons were also present. When, on this occasion Bishop Muranus was disparaging the holy man, I mentioned to him the fate of the above-mentioned presbyter, and this story concerning another he confirmed by his own early demise. For, from the very place in which he was lying, after being suddenly struck by a huge wound, he was carried to bed by hands of others. And thence, being taken back to the house where he was staying, he brought his last day to a close. Such was the end of those defaming Ambrose, so that those who were present and saw it were struck with awe.'

Text: Bastiaensen 1975, 120. Translation: Lacy 1952, 65, altered by Robert Wiśniewski.