945-1004 AD
translated by RmBullard
[Medieval Latin]
ABBO FLORIACENSIS
(945/50 - 1004 A.D.)
(945/50 - 1004 A.D.)
PASSIO SANCTI EDMUNDI REGIS ET MARTYRIS
Domino sanctae metropolitanae Dorobernensium ecclesiae archiepiscopo Dunstano, vere moribus et aetate maturo, Abbo Floriacensis monachus levita, etsi indignus, a Christo Domino irriguum superius et irriguum inferius.
1 [To the leader of the sacred metropolitan church of the Dorobernenses, the archbishop Dunstanus, who is truly mature in respect to his customs and age, so writes Abbo, the monk of Fleury, with all due respect--and really not worthy--made more confident by the inspiration of our Lord Christ, but also not worthy of His inspiration.]
Postquam a te, venerabilis pater, digressus sum cum multa alacritate cordis et ad monasterium, quod nosti, festinus redii, coeperunt me obnixe hi, cum quibus, fraterna caritate detentus hospitando hactenus degui, pulsare manu sancti desiderii,
2 [Hail, venerable father, I have left your side, with much alacrity of the heart, and I have readily returned to the monastery that I have come to know--these man have begun to be my support, and with these men, I, detained through their brotherly care, have grown quite accustomed to their hospitality, and to write with a hand of sacred passion]
ut mirabilium patratoris Edmundi regis et martyris passionem litteris digererem, asserentes, id posteris profuturum, tibi gratum, ac meae parvitatis apud Anglorum ecclesias non inutile monimentum.
3 [, so that I could discuss the miraculous experience of your family's royal ancestor and martyr Edmund, since you asked it to be done as gift to you: this will be a useful monument of my small effort within the churches of the English.]
Audierant enim, quod eam pluribus ignotam, a nemine scriptam, tua sanctitas ex antiquitatis memoria collectam historialiter, me praesente, retulisset domino Rofensis ecclesiae episcopo et abbati monasterii,
4 [So people have heard that this story has yet to be written by anybody, and is unknown to a great deal of people, so your holiness should bring it back, collected from the memory of antiquity, while I am present with Lord Rofensis, the bishop of this church, and the abbot of the monastery.]
