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E05214: A hymn (Victor Nabor Felix pii), almost certainly by Ambrose of Milan, is written in Latin in Milan (northern Italy) most likely after 386, for *Nabor and Felix (soldiers and martyrs, buried in Milan, S00609) and *Victor ('Maurus'/the Moor, soldier and martyr of Milan, S00312).
online resource
posted on 2018-03-19, 00:00 authored by francesAmbrose of Milan, Victor Nabor Felix pii
Victor Nabor Felix pii
Mediolani martyres,
solo hospites, Mauri genus
terrisque nostris aduenae
torrens harena quos dedit [5]
anhela solis aestibus,
extrema terrae finium
exulque nostri nominis.
Suscepit hospites Padus
mercede magna sanguinis, [10]
sancto repleuit spiritu
almae fides ecclesiae.
et se coronauit trium
cruore sacro martyrum
castrisque raptos impiis [15]
Christo sacrauit milites.
Profecit ad fidem labor
armisque docti bellicis
pro rege uitam ponere,
decere pro Christo pati, [20]
non tela quaerunt ferrea,
non arma Christi milites;
munitus armis ambulat
ueram fidem qui possidet.
Scutum uiro sua est fides [25]
et mors triumphus, quem inuidens
nobis tyrannus ad oppidum
Laudense misit martyres.
Sed reddiderunt hostias;
rapti quadrigis corpora, [30]
reuecti in ora principum
plaustri triumphalis modo.
‘Devoted Victor, Nabor, Felix
the martyrs of Milan,
guests on our soil, Moorish born,
and foreigners in our lands,
The scorching sand surrendered them, [5]
sand that pants from the heat of the sun,
an exile of our name
from outside the boundaries of our land.
The Po received them as guests,
Through the high price of their blood, [10]
The faith of the mother church
Filled them with the holy spirit.
And she crowned herself
by three martyrs’ holy blood,
she snatched them from the camps of the godless [15]
and consecrated them as soldiers for Christ.
Suffering brought them to faith,
They were trained in the art of war
And to give their life for a king,
Yet it suited them to suffer for Christ. [20]
Not spears nor weapons of iron
Did these soldiers of Christ seek;
He who possesses true faith
Walks protected by arms.
For man, their faith is a shield, [25]
And death a triumph,
whom a tyrant, envious of us,
sent to the town of Lodi as martyrs.
But they returned the victims,
Which were carried off on chariots, [30]
Returned in gold in a princely manner
On a triumphal chariot.’
Text: Fontaine 1992. Translation: Dunkle 2016, adapted.
Victor Nabor Felix pii
Mediolani martyres,
solo hospites, Mauri genus
terrisque nostris aduenae
torrens harena quos dedit [5]
anhela solis aestibus,
extrema terrae finium
exulque nostri nominis.
Suscepit hospites Padus
mercede magna sanguinis, [10]
sancto repleuit spiritu
almae fides ecclesiae.
et se coronauit trium
cruore sacro martyrum
castrisque raptos impiis [15]
Christo sacrauit milites.
Profecit ad fidem labor
armisque docti bellicis
pro rege uitam ponere,
decere pro Christo pati, [20]
non tela quaerunt ferrea,
non arma Christi milites;
munitus armis ambulat
ueram fidem qui possidet.
Scutum uiro sua est fides [25]
et mors triumphus, quem inuidens
nobis tyrannus ad oppidum
Laudense misit martyres.
Sed reddiderunt hostias;
rapti quadrigis corpora, [30]
reuecti in ora principum
plaustri triumphalis modo.
‘Devoted Victor, Nabor, Felix
the martyrs of Milan,
guests on our soil, Moorish born,
and foreigners in our lands,
The scorching sand surrendered them, [5]
sand that pants from the heat of the sun,
an exile of our name
from outside the boundaries of our land.
The Po received them as guests,
Through the high price of their blood, [10]
The faith of the mother church
Filled them with the holy spirit.
And she crowned herself
by three martyrs’ holy blood,
she snatched them from the camps of the godless [15]
and consecrated them as soldiers for Christ.
Suffering brought them to faith,
They were trained in the art of war
And to give their life for a king,
Yet it suited them to suffer for Christ. [20]
Not spears nor weapons of iron
Did these soldiers of Christ seek;
He who possesses true faith
Walks protected by arms.
For man, their faith is a shield, [25]
And death a triumph,
whom a tyrant, envious of us,
sent to the town of Lodi as martyrs.
But they returned the victims,
Which were carried off on chariots, [30]
Returned in gold in a princely manner
On a triumphal chariot.’
Text: Fontaine 1992. Translation: Dunkle 2016, adapted.
History
Evidence ID
E05214Saint Name
Nabor and Felix, martyrs in Lodi, ob. c. 303-305 : S00609 Victor 'Maurus'/the Moor, soldier and martyr of Milan : S00312Saint Name in Source
Nabor, Felix VictorRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Liturgical texts - HymnsLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
380Evidence not after
397Activity not before
380Activity not after
397Place of Evidence - Region
Italy north of Rome with Corsica and SardiniaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
MilanPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Milan Sardinia Sardinia Sardegna SardiniaMajor author/Major anonymous work
Ambrose of MilanCult activities - Liturgical Activity
- Chant and religious singing