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E06928: Aldhelm, in his poem On the Altars of the Twelve Apostles, records the dedication of an altar to *Matthew (Apostle and Evagelist, S00791), presumably in Britain. Written in Latin in southern Britain, c. 670/710.
online resource
posted on 2018-10-17, 00:00 authored by bsavillAldhelm, Carmina Ecclesiastica, 4.10
X. IN SANCTI MATHEI
Matheus egregium describens dogma salutis
Ebrea per simplum digessit dicta libellum
Plurima sanctificis narrans miracula scedis,
Quae modo per mundum divulgant scripta triquadrum;
Quem Fison fluvius paradisi fonte redundans
Mire portendit pandens misteria rerum:
Fontis designat salvator iure figuram,
De quo quadrifluis decurrunt flumina rivis:
Quattuor ut quondam nascentis origine saecli
Limpida per latum fluxerunt flumina mundum,
Quae rubros flores et prata virentia glebis
Gurgitibus puris et glauco rore rigabant,
Sic doctrina Dei fluxit de fonte quaterno
Arida divinis irrorans corda scatebris.
Hanc scriptor verax expressit Matheus olim
Quemque profeta Dei sacro spiramine plenus
Humana specie vidit signarier olim,
Quod Christi patres et avos numeraret avorum,
E quis salvator nostrae cunabula sarcis
Sumpserat in mundo scelerata piacula demens.
'x. On St Matthew
Matthew, in setting down the excellent doctrine of salvation, produced his account in Hebrew in (the form of) a simple book, narrating many miracles in these holy pages which scripture now makes known throughout the tripartite world. The River Fison, emanating from the fountainhead of Paradise and opening the hidden mysteries of things, symbolizes Matthew, in wondrous fashion. The symbol of the fountainhead itself properly signifies the Saviour from Whom the rivers flow in four channels since, in the beginning of the world, four clear rivers once flowed through the wide world and irrigated with their pure streams and crystal-clear waters the red flowers and the meadows growing green in the land: thus did the teaching of God flow from the four-fold fountainhead, irrigating parched hearts with its holy streams.
Matthew, the trustworthy narrator, was represented by that (symbol). The prophet of God [i.e. Ezechiel], filled with the Holy Spirit, once saw him to be symbolized by human likeness, because he [i.e. Matthew] had enumerated the (human) forebears of Christ and the forefathers of their forefathers, from whom the Saviour of this world had entered the cradle of our flesh, (thereby) removing the guilt of our sins.'
Text: Ehwald 1919, 28-9. Translation: Lapidge and Rosier 1985, 56.
X. IN SANCTI MATHEI
Matheus egregium describens dogma salutis
Ebrea per simplum digessit dicta libellum
Plurima sanctificis narrans miracula scedis,
Quae modo per mundum divulgant scripta triquadrum;
Quem Fison fluvius paradisi fonte redundans
Mire portendit pandens misteria rerum:
Fontis designat salvator iure figuram,
De quo quadrifluis decurrunt flumina rivis:
Quattuor ut quondam nascentis origine saecli
Limpida per latum fluxerunt flumina mundum,
Quae rubros flores et prata virentia glebis
Gurgitibus puris et glauco rore rigabant,
Sic doctrina Dei fluxit de fonte quaterno
Arida divinis irrorans corda scatebris.
Hanc scriptor verax expressit Matheus olim
Quemque profeta Dei sacro spiramine plenus
Humana specie vidit signarier olim,
Quod Christi patres et avos numeraret avorum,
E quis salvator nostrae cunabula sarcis
Sumpserat in mundo scelerata piacula demens.
'x. On St Matthew
Matthew, in setting down the excellent doctrine of salvation, produced his account in Hebrew in (the form of) a simple book, narrating many miracles in these holy pages which scripture now makes known throughout the tripartite world. The River Fison, emanating from the fountainhead of Paradise and opening the hidden mysteries of things, symbolizes Matthew, in wondrous fashion. The symbol of the fountainhead itself properly signifies the Saviour from Whom the rivers flow in four channels since, in the beginning of the world, four clear rivers once flowed through the wide world and irrigated with their pure streams and crystal-clear waters the red flowers and the meadows growing green in the land: thus did the teaching of God flow from the four-fold fountainhead, irrigating parched hearts with its holy streams.
Matthew, the trustworthy narrator, was represented by that (symbol). The prophet of God [i.e. Ezechiel], filled with the Holy Spirit, once saw him to be symbolized by human likeness, because he [i.e. Matthew] had enumerated the (human) forebears of Christ and the forefathers of their forefathers, from whom the Saviour of this world had entered the cradle of our flesh, (thereby) removing the guilt of our sins.'
Text: Ehwald 1919, 28-9. Translation: Lapidge and Rosier 1985, 56.
History
Evidence ID
E06928Saint Name
Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist : S00791Saint Name in Source
MatheusRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - PoemsLanguage
- Latin