E00583: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (57), recounts the death of *Eugenius (bishop of Carthage, exiled to Albi in Gaul, ob. 505, S00334), his burial in the crypt of *Amarandus (martyr of Albi, S00333) near Albi (south-west Gaul), and the punishment of a false oath at the fair during the feast of the saint. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Pnowakowski
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 57<br><br>After describing the discovery of the body of Amarandus, near Albi (E00582), Gregory continues:<br><br>Huic criptae sociatur et ille Honorificianae persecutionis martyr Eugenius, sacerdotalis infulae maximum decus, quem in hac urbe detrusum exilio, vel ipsius vel sociorum eius passio narrat. Hic cum magnis in saeculo polleret virtutibus et iam victor de tormentis martyrialibus exsilisset, tempus vocationis suae, quo arcessiretur ad gloriam, Domino revelante cognovit. Illud praecipuae, quod populis occulebatur, manifestum noscens, se martyri Amarando socium esse futurum, ad eius sepulchrum diregitur, prostratusque solo, diutissime orationem fudit ad Dominum. Dehinc expansis per pavimentum brachiis, spiritum caelo direxit, qui a christianis collectus, in ipsa qua diximus cripta sepulturae mandatus est. <br><br>Ad cuius festivitatem cum tempore quodam innumeri populi convenirent, negotia multa in atrio protulerunt. Puella vero una ex habitatoribus loci stationem adit, quasi aliquid coemptura, speciemque sibi aptam aspiciens, a negotiatore suscepit. Et statim dicto citius porrectam alteri, negat se accepisse. Negotiator vero intente agebat: "Mea tibi eam manu protuli, tuque rimandam sollicite suscepisti". Illaque negante, ait negotiator: "Si tibi tanta est pertinacia, avaritia stimulante, negandi, iudicet illud beatus martyr Eugenius; ad cuius sepulchrum, si cum sacramenti interpositione dixeris, te non accepisse, damni mihi nihil aestimo, quod amisi".<br>At illa pollicita, se posse ex hoc exsui sacramento, vadit otius ad sepulchrum; elevatisque manibus, ut iuraret, extemplo membris dissolutis inriguit, plantaeque eius adfixae sunt pavimento, vox haesit in gutturae, tantum os patulum a sermone nudum hiabat. Quod negotiator cum reliquo populo cernens, ait: "Prosit tibi", inquid, "virgo, haec species, quam tulisti mihi; sufficit ultio data per martyrem". Et haec dicens, a loco recessit. Illa vero in hoc tormento diutissime detenta, tandem, martyre iubente, locuta, palam confessa est, quod clam latere voluerat ...<br><br>'Eugenius, a martyr during the persecution of Huniric, was buried in this crypt. The account of the suffering of Eugenius and his companions relates that this great ornament of the episcopal honour was sent into exile at Albi.<br>Although he was noted in this world for his great miracles and had already triumphed as a victor over the torments of martyrdom, through the Lord's revelation he learned the moment of his calling when he would be summoned to glory. In particular, that which was unknown to the people had been revealed to him. Knowing that he would be a companion of the martyr Amarandus, he went to his tomb, knelt on the ground, and for a long time prayed to the Lord. Then, with his arms spread out over the pavement, he sent his spirit to heaven. The Christians picked him up and ordered his body to be buried in the crypt I have already mentioned. <br><br>At a certain time when many people have gathered for his festival, they carry out much business in the forecourt [of his church] (Ad cuius festivitatem cum tempore quodam innumeri populi convenirent, negotia multa in atrio protulerunt). A girl, one of the inhabitants of the region, went to a stall as if intending to buy something. When she saw an ornament she liked, she took it from the merchant. Immediately, more swiftly than words [can say], she gave the ornament to someone else and then claimed that she had not received it. But the merchant insisted: "I offered it to you with my hand, and you took it for a closer inspection." When the girl denied [the accusation], the merchant said: "If, under the influence of greed, you so persist in denying, the blessed martyr Eugenius will judge. If you take an oath before his tomb and say that you did not receive the ornament, then I will think that what I misplaced was not a loss." Promising that she could be cleared by this oath, she quickly went to the tomb. When she raised her hands to swear her oath, immediately she lost control of her limbs and became stiff. Her feet were glued to the pavement, her voice stuck in her throat, and her mouth hung open without any words. The merchant and the other people saw this, and he said: "Young girl, let the ornament that you took from me be of use to you. The punishment given by the martyr is sufficient." After saying this, he left the place. For a long time the girl was held in this pain. Finally, at the martyr's command, she spoke and openly confessed what she had wished to conceal in secret ...'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 77-78. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 55-57, lightly modified.