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E06559: Aldhelm, in his prose On Virginity, names *Paul (the First Anchorite, S00089) as an exemplary virgin. Written in Latin in southern Britain, for the nuns at the monastery at Barking (south-east Britain), c. 675/686.
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posted on 2018-09-20, 00:00 authored by bsavillAldhelm, prose On Virginity, 28
Paulus itidem inclitus et patrum celeberrimus, qui a pellaci genero caecae cupidinis philargiria decepto contra iura naturae proditus et publicatus a primaevo pubertatis tirocinio Memphiticae solitudinis deserta penetrans, qua carnalis spurcitiae blandimenta fatescunt et mundani luxus oblectamenta vilescunt, horrendos beluarum barritus et truculentos leonum fremitus ardentis fidei defensaculo fretus intrepidus contempserat, consuta dumtaxat palmarum plecta et praedulci dactulorum sagina squalidum sustentans corpusculum naturae debitum solvit. Nonne propter florentis pudicitiae castimoniam finetenus inextricabili repagulo conservatam bis senis temporum lustris id est vicies terna annorum intercapidine bucellam crustulae semiplenam, quam penniger praepes indefessis famulatibus et reciprocis volatibus hiulco advexerat rostro, usque ad decrepitam vitae senectam inexhaustam gratulabundus accepto ferre promeruit?
'PAUL (THE HERMIT), likewise glorious and most renowned of fathers, who, betrayed in violation of the laws of nature by a deceitful brother-in-law (who had been) deceived by the greed of blind avarice, and prostituted from the first immaturity of adolescence, entering the deserts of the Egyptian wilderness – where the attractions of carnal filth grow faint and the pleasures of worldly delight become worthless – fearlessly scorned the horrendous trumpetings of elephants and the savage roars of lions, protected by the rampart of burning faith. Sustaining his starveling little body merely with a woven patchwork of palm-leaves and with the sweet nourishment of dates, he paid his debt to nature. Was he not found worthy, because of the stainlessness of his flowering chastity, preserved to the very end with an indissoluble restrain for twice six lustra – that is, for an interval of sixty years – to receive a half-mouthful of bread which a feathered bird brought in its open beak – and he giving thanks for the gift – with tireless service and recurrent flights, never running our right up to the feeble old age of his life?'
Text: Ehwald 1919, 265. Translation: Lapidge and Herren 1979, 87-8.
Paulus itidem inclitus et patrum celeberrimus, qui a pellaci genero caecae cupidinis philargiria decepto contra iura naturae proditus et publicatus a primaevo pubertatis tirocinio Memphiticae solitudinis deserta penetrans, qua carnalis spurcitiae blandimenta fatescunt et mundani luxus oblectamenta vilescunt, horrendos beluarum barritus et truculentos leonum fremitus ardentis fidei defensaculo fretus intrepidus contempserat, consuta dumtaxat palmarum plecta et praedulci dactulorum sagina squalidum sustentans corpusculum naturae debitum solvit. Nonne propter florentis pudicitiae castimoniam finetenus inextricabili repagulo conservatam bis senis temporum lustris id est vicies terna annorum intercapidine bucellam crustulae semiplenam, quam penniger praepes indefessis famulatibus et reciprocis volatibus hiulco advexerat rostro, usque ad decrepitam vitae senectam inexhaustam gratulabundus accepto ferre promeruit?
'PAUL (THE HERMIT), likewise glorious and most renowned of fathers, who, betrayed in violation of the laws of nature by a deceitful brother-in-law (who had been) deceived by the greed of blind avarice, and prostituted from the first immaturity of adolescence, entering the deserts of the Egyptian wilderness – where the attractions of carnal filth grow faint and the pleasures of worldly delight become worthless – fearlessly scorned the horrendous trumpetings of elephants and the savage roars of lions, protected by the rampart of burning faith. Sustaining his starveling little body merely with a woven patchwork of palm-leaves and with the sweet nourishment of dates, he paid his debt to nature. Was he not found worthy, because of the stainlessness of his flowering chastity, preserved to the very end with an indissoluble restrain for twice six lustra – that is, for an interval of sixty years – to receive a half-mouthful of bread which a feathered bird brought in its open beak – and he giving thanks for the gift – with tireless service and recurrent flights, never running our right up to the feeble old age of his life?'
Text: Ehwald 1919, 265. Translation: Lapidge and Herren 1979, 87-8.
History
Evidence ID
E06559Saint Name
Paul, the First Anchorite : S00089Saint Name in Source
PaulusRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - OtherLanguage
- Latin
