The Presbyters Project

97. AD EVSYCHIVM PRESBYTERVM

Sanctorum meritis claro semperque beato

Eusychio Eugenius uilis et exiguus.

Accipe conscriptos plebeio carmine uersus,

quos dat, dilecte, pagina maesta tibi.

Cara mihi uestros aduexit epistola questus

et me tristifico perculit inde sono.

Oblitum te namque gemis uilescere nobis

inque meo uultum corde perisse tuum.

Crede meis uerbis, nam fas est credere nobis;

credere nempe licet, cum dubitare nocet.

Testor namque Deum, sanctorum nomina testor

affectum uestri non tepuisse mihi.

Ante polus solis ac lunae luce carebit

quam sim conspectus immemor ipse tui.

Ante quoque nostro discedet pectore uita

quam uestrae mentis dulcis amicitia.

Volvent puncta dies, uoluentur mensibus anni:

semper in ore meo nomer amorque tuus.

En quia deprompsit affectum pagina nostrum,

dilige me nimium, dilige me nimium.

Obsequio cordis persoluens iura salutis

hinc precor ut miseri sis memor, alme, tui.

Christus ubique tuis concedat prospera uotis

et parcat culpis Christus ubique meis.

(ed. P. Farmhouse Alberto 2005: 274-275)

97. TO THE PRESBYTER EUSYCHIUS

Miserable and meagre Eugenius to the blessed Eusychius, famous with the merits of saints. Please, O beloved, take this verse of plebeian chant that is given to you by a sorrowful page. The dear letters brought me your complaints and they upset me with their saddening tone. Because you lament that you became worthless to me and that I forgot you, and that your face disappeared from my heart. Believe my words, because it is right to believe me. Certainly, one shall believe because doubts are harmful. God and saints be my witnesses, my feeling to you has not waned. The sun and moon will rather lose their light than I will forget your face. And my life will rather leave my breast than my sweet fondness for your soul will disappear. The days hastily roll on, month rolls after month, and thus the years pass by, but your name and your love are always on my lips. Lo, because this page shows you my affection, please love me very much, oh, please love me very much. When you pay with your dutiful heart due honour to the law of salvation, I beg you who are so kind, remember then your miserable friend. Let Christ always give you what you desire in your prayers, and let Christ always forgive me my sins.

(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Toledo

About the source:

Author: Eugenius of Toledo
Title: Carmina, Ad Hesychium presbyterum
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Eugenius probably started his clerical career probably in (PRVT 248), and later spent some time in a monastery, and then took a position of archdeacon in the Church of Saragossa, which was ruled at the time by Bishop Braulio. After the death of Bishop Eugenius I of Toledo in AD 646 he became his successor to the see of Toledo and was an archbishop until his death in AD 657. Eugenius composed the final version of his Libellus carminum probably after 653 (some pieces may allude to the rebellion of Froia in AD 653; Thompson 1969: 199-201; Farmhouse Alberto 2005: 15-16).

Edition:

Eugenii Toletani Opera omnia, ed. P. Farmhouse Alberto, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 114, Turnhout 2005.

Bibliography:

E.A. Thompson, The Goths in Spain, Oxford 1969.

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence

PR273.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR273.

Reverenced by

PR273.

Friendship

PR273.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR273.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER638, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=638