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E07730: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (1.47), narrates the story of the *Two chaste spouses/lovers of Clermont (late 4th c., S01256) and the posthumous miracle of the movement of their tombs. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.
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posted on 2019-08-16, 00:00 authored by dlambertGregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 1.47
Gregory tells the story of the two chaste spouses, which he had already given in Glory of the Confessors 31, as summarised in E02583:
'Ancient tradition records (refert antiquitas) the story of a married couple of Clermont who lived together in chastity. It was a secret between themselves. After many years and by mutual consent, he was tonsured as a cleric and she became a nun. When the woman died, her husband buried her and revealed their secret. A short time later the man too died and was buried in the same church, but against a different wall. At dawn the next day the tombs were discovered next to each other. 'Because of this the inhabitants call them the two lovers and they are venerated with great honour' (Idcirco nunc incolae duos amantes vocitant et summo venerantur honore).'
Gregory's account in Histories 1.47 is considerably longer than that which he gives in Glory of the Confessors, with more dialogue between the two spouses and additional details, such as the name of the husband, Injuriosus, and that the spouses were contemporaries of Bishop Nepotianus of Clermont (late 4th c.). As recounted in the Histories, it was the unnamed wife who persuaded her initially reluctant husband that they should live together in chastity.
Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 30-31. Summary: Katarzyna Wojtalik/David Lambert.
Gregory tells the story of the two chaste spouses, which he had already given in Glory of the Confessors 31, as summarised in E02583:
'Ancient tradition records (refert antiquitas) the story of a married couple of Clermont who lived together in chastity. It was a secret between themselves. After many years and by mutual consent, he was tonsured as a cleric and she became a nun. When the woman died, her husband buried her and revealed their secret. A short time later the man too died and was buried in the same church, but against a different wall. At dawn the next day the tombs were discovered next to each other. 'Because of this the inhabitants call them the two lovers and they are venerated with great honour' (Idcirco nunc incolae duos amantes vocitant et summo venerantur honore).'
Gregory's account in Histories 1.47 is considerably longer than that which he gives in Glory of the Confessors, with more dialogue between the two spouses and additional details, such as the name of the husband, Injuriosus, and that the spouses were contemporaries of Bishop Nepotianus of Clermont (late 4th c.). As recounted in the Histories, it was the unnamed wife who persuaded her initially reluctant husband that they should live together in chastity.
Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 30-31. Summary: Katarzyna Wojtalik/David Lambert.
History
Evidence ID
E07730Saint Name
Two chaste lovers from Clermont (central Gaul), ob. 4/5th c. : S01256Related Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)Language
- Latin