Author unknown11th c. AD
trans RMBullard
Latin (Medieval Era)
CARMEN IN VICTORIAM PISANORUM
Anonymous (1088 A.D.)
1. Inclitorum Pisanorum scripturus istoriam,
antiquorum Romanorum renovo memoriam:
[I, who am about to describe the history of famous men from Pisa, now call back the memory of the ancient Romans.]
nam extendit modo Pisa laudem admirabilem,
[you see, Pisa already stretches forth its wondrous cause of praise,]
quam recepit olim Roma vincendo Cartaginem.
[since the very time when Rome once received the city of Carthage after defeating her.]
2. Manum primo Redemptoris collaudo fortissimam, 5
[In the first place do I praise completely the strongest hand there is, that of the Redeemer,]
qua destruxit gens Pisana gentem impiissimam.
[by which the Pisan people destroyed that most wicked nation.]
Fit hoc totum Gedeonis simile miraculo,
[This turns out completely the same as Gideon's miracle]
quod perfecit sub unius Deus noctis spatio.
[a miracle which God performed in the space of a single night.]
3. Hic cum tubis et lanternis processit ad prelium,
[He processed to battle with trumpets and lanterns,]
nil armorum vel scutorum protendit in medium: 10
[He stretched forth no piece of arms or shields in the very midst of it:]
sola virtus Creatoris pugnat terribiliter,
[The courage of the Creator alone fought most dreadfully,]
inter se Madianitis cesis mirabiliter.
[and by miracle, the Madiani caused their own slaughter.]
4. Sunt et [hi] Madianite signati ex nomine:
[And these men were appointed by the Madian name:]
hos in malo nam Madia nutriebat omine,
[that is, those men whom Madia used to nourish with a ill leader <name?>,]
sita pulchro loco maris,
[here is the site in its fine-looking spot near the sea,]
civitas hec impia, 15
[this is its unholy city]
que captivos constringebat plus centena milia.
[which once put in chains more than 100,000 prisoners.]
5. Hic Timinus presidebat,
[There Timinos used to rule]
Saracenus impius,
[and wicked Saracens]
similatus Antichristo, draco crudelissimus,
[both like to the Antichrist, the most cruel serpent you can find]
habens portum iuxta urbem factum artificio,
[a man holding the gate by city, fashioned by ruse]
circumseptum muris magnis et plenum navigio. 20
[a open to the sea and surrounded by great walls.]
6. Hic tenebat duas urbes opibus ditissimas
[This man held control of two of the richest cities]
et Saracenorum multas gentes robustissimas,
[and many of the strongest nations of Saracens,]
stultus et superbus nimis,
[but he was foolish, and much too proud,]
elatus in gloria,
[and carried away in his glory,]
qua de causa Pisanorum fit clara victoria.
[and this is the reason that Pisa's victory manifested.]
7. Hic cum suis Saracenis devastabat Galliam,
[This man, while he was setting destruction upon Gaul with his Saracens forces,]
25
captivabat omnes gentes que tenent Ispaniam
[he began to take prisoner all of the tribes that control Spain]
et in tota ripa maris turbabat Italiam,
[and he put Italy in disarray along the entire coast of its sea,]
predabatur Romaniam usque Alexandriam.
[and he plundered lands from Romania all the way to Alexandria.]
8. Non est locus toto mundo neque maris insula,
[There is not a place in the entire world, nor an island in the sea,]
quam Timini non turbaret orrenda perfidia: 30
[that the horrendous treachery of Timinus did not wreck:]
Rodus, Ciprus, Creta [simul], simul et Sardinia
vexabantur,
[Rhodes, Cyprus, Crete, and Sardinia, all were put to panic at the same time,]
et cum illis nobilis Sicilia.
[and along with those, noble Sicily.]
9. Hinc captivi Redemptorem clamabant altissime
[From then on, the captives began to shout the name of the Redeemer, at their highest voice]
et per orbem universum flebant amarissime:
[and most bitterly as possible, they began to weep for the fate of the entire world,]
reclamabant ad Pisanos planctu miserabili, 35
[and they were calling back to the Pisans, in miserable weeping,]
concitabant Genuenses fletu lacrimabili.
[the Genovans stirred up a commotion with tearful crying.]
10. Hoc permotus terremotu hic uterque populus
iniecerunt manus suas ad hoc opus protinus
[And stricken by this kind of shaking of the earth, both of these peoples threw their hands upon the following endeavor, all at once,]
et componunt mille naves solis tribus mensibus,
[and for only space of three months, they gathered a thousands ships,]
quibus bene preparatus stolus lucet inclitus. 40
[in which a well-prepared journey shine out, and become famous.]
11. Convenerunt Genuenses virtute mirabili
[The Genovans came together with miraculous courage]
et adiungunt se Pisanis amore amabili.
[and allied themselves to the Pisans, with an admirable sense of passion.]
Non curant de vita mundi nec de suis filiis,
[They did not care about this world's life, nor even their own children,]
pro amore Redemptoris se donant periculis.
[they gave themselves to danger for the love of the Redeemer.]
