THE

LETTERS

OF

SULPITIUS SEVERUS.

Notes by Alexander Roberts


From: A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series, Volume 11

New York, 1894


1. St. Matt. 27:42.

2. Acts 28:4.

3. "magis insignes periculorum suorum": such is the construction of insignis with later writers.

4. This refers to St. Paul, being an echo of the Apostle's own words in Rom. 11:13--egw eqnwn apostolos.

5. The writer here supposes that St. Paul was sunk for three days and three nights in the sea--a mistaken inference from 2 Cor. 11:25. The construction of the very long sentence which soon follows is very confused, and has not been rigidly followed in our translation.

6. "ad dioecesim quandam": it seems certain that diocesis has here the meaning of "parish."

7. "in secretario ecclesiæ": it is very difficult to say what is here meant by "secretarium." It appears from Dial. II. I, that there might be two or more secretaria in one church.

8. "pavimento": this word usually means "a floor," or "pavement," but some take it here to be the same as fornax. This, however, can hardly be the case; and the meaning probably is that the church was heated, as the baths were, by means of a hypocaustum, or flue running below the pavement.

9. Halm here inserts "vere."

10. This salutation is omitted by Halm.

11. "crine purpureo": it is impossible to tell the exact color which is intended.

12. Compare Rev. 7:14.

13. As being peaceful, the imperial power having now passed into the hands of Christians.

14. Roman emperor, A.D. 249-251; his full name was C. Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius.

15. "equileum ascendisset": lit. "would have mounted the wooden horse," an instrument of torture.

16. Some read "perhibeo confisus testimonium veritati," and others "veritatis"; in either case, the construction is confused and irregular.

17. St. Paul is referred to: tradition bears that he was beheaded.

18. A late use of the verb deputare.

19. i.e. martyrdom, "palmam sanguinis."

20. "in tartara."

21. Instead of "justo loro," Halm reads, "justo dolore," i.e. "with just resentment."

22. "notarios": shorthand writers, who wrote from dictation.

23. Halm here reads "obarratos," with what sense I know not: the reading "obæratos," followed in the text seems to yield a very good meaning.

24. The reading "sine dilectu ullo," adopted by Halm, seems preferable to the old reading, "sine delicto ullo."

25. The identity of Tolosa, mentioned in the text with the modern Toulouse, is uncertain.

26. Of course, this is all jocular, and shows the best relations as existing between Sulpitius and his mother-in-law.

27. There is clearly some affectation in the horror which Sulpitius expresses in this and other passages at the thought of his writings being published. It is obvious that he derived gratification from the fact of their being widely read.

28. "præstabo his participem": the construction is peculiar, but the meaning is obvious.

29. There were several towns of this name in Gaul. The one probably here referred to was on the road from Augustodunum (Autun) to Paris. It corresponds to the modern Cosne, at the junction of the stream Nonain with the river Loire.

30. "potenti virtute verborum": Halm reads simply "potenti verbo."

31. A singular and obviously corrupt reading is "quis cos a morsibus nostris prohibebit?" Halm's reading has been followed in the text.

32. Lit. "as he always flowed with bowels of mercy in the Lord."

33. "spes" seems here to mean "longing of heart."

34. "pro castris tuorum."

35. Or, "I am not one to yield," nescius cedere.

36. "nobili illo strato suo": nobilis in one sense, though so humble in another.

37. There is a great variety of readings here; Halm has been followed in the text.

38. Or, "the pomp of a worldly funeral."

39. Halm inserts this last sentence in brackets.



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