E04657: Paulinus of Nola describes two miracles effected by *Paul (the Apostle, S00008) and *Felix (priest and confessor of Nola, S00000). These events are described in a metrical letter in Latin written in Nola (southern Italy), and addressed to Cyntherius, an Aquitanian aristocrat, in c. 400.
Creators: name: Frances
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2018
Subjects: History

description: Paulinus of Nola, Ad Cyntherium (Carmen 24)<br><br>This metrical letter is split into two parts. The first describes a journey conducted by Martinianus – a messenger – which included a shipwreck in southern Gaul (lines 1-529). Martinianus experiences two miracles on his journey from Aquitaine to Nola, which are described and discussed by Paulinus. In the first, he is miraculously saved from drowning when his ship sinks. He was saved because, as he was leaving the ship, he took his copy of the Epistles of Paul the Apostle with him (lines 273-6):<br><br>hunc in pauore codicem sed nesciens <br>rebus relictis sumpserat, <br>uel ille codex spiritu uiuens sacro <br>non sentienti adhaeserat.<br><br>'In a panic when he had left all else behind, he had unconsciously lifted this book, or else that book which is alive with the holy spirit had attached itself to him without his knowledge'.<br><br>Paul’s power was present in the letters, and Martinianus was saved. Paulinus, in a clear reference to Paul's saving of his fellow passengers when shipwrecked off Malta (in Acts 28), also identifies the Apostle's special ability to save sailors (lines 285-298):<br><br>sed in suarum litterarum corpore <br>Paulus magister adfuit <br>amans que puro corde lectorem sui <br>de mortis abduxit manu; <br>iterum eximendos e maris fundo uiros <br>largitus est Paulo deus. <br><br>quae quondam in ipso nauigante apostolo <br>fuit potestas gratiae, <br>haec nunc per eius suffragata litteras <br>Martiniano et ceteris, <br>qui Christianis tunc cohaeserunt fuga, <br>discrimen a discrimine <br>tutum parauit, ut fideles inpiis <br>discriminarat naufragos. <br><br>‘But the master Paul was at hand in the physical presence of his Epistles. He loved this man who read him with a chaste heart, and so he rescued him from the hand of death. Once more God bestowed on Paul the deliverance of men from the depths of the sea. The same power of grace which the apostle possessed when he was himself afloat, having been obtained through his letters for Martinianus and the other Christians who then were clinging together in flight, provided a safe separation from danger, just as he separated the believers among the shipwrecked from the godless.'<br><br>Martinianus gets on another ship and reaches Italy. When travelling on the via Appia to Nola on a mule, he is saved from being thrown from the beast by Felix (lines 413-422).<br><br>nec sente uultum nec lapide artus contudit, <br>Felicis exceptus manu; <br>qui iam propinquantem aedibus fratrem suis. <br><br>non passus occursu mali <br>suis periclum in finibus capessere <br>hostem remouit inuidum, <br>et hunc fidelis conpotem uoti suis <br>confessor induxit locis <br>nostris que iuxta sedibus gratum intulit <br>Felix patronus hospitem.<br><br>‘He did not bruise his face on the thorns nor his limbs on the rocks, for he was rescued by Felix’s hand. Felix did not allow our brother now approaching his shrine to encounter evil and sustain hazard on his own estate. So our confessor dislodged the jealous enemy, and conducted Martinianus into his abode, now that his faithful vow had been completed. This Felix our patron brought his welcome guest to our abode as well.'<br><br>The second half contains instructions to an aristocratic Aquitanian couple – Cyntherius and his wife – on how to raise their son as a candidate for the monastic life (lines 530-931).<br><br>Text: Dolveck 2015. Translation: Walsh 1975, modified.<br>Summary: Frances Trzeciak.