Boniface Riddle 7: Patientia ait
NEVILLEMOGFORD
Date: Mon 26 Jul 2021Original text:
Per me probantur veri falsique prophetae,
Atque mali expulsi sanctorum a limite longe.
Tempora non perdunt pro me pia facta peracta.
In proprium meritum pressuras verto reorum,
5 Et miro exemplo scaevorum dira piacla
Nisibus eximiis commuto in premia sancta.
Tetrica multorum per me compescitur ira,
Igneus atque furor rixae cum torribus ardens.
Altrix virtutum, custos et sancta vocabor.
10 Arte mea iugiter conplentur iussa superna,
In caeli cuneo Christi quia sedibus asto.
Tranquilla aeternum regem comitabor in aevum.Translation:
True and false prophets are tested through me,
and the wicked are driven far away from the borders of the saints.
Times do not ruin the good deeds done for me.
I overturn oppression by the guilty as they deserve,
5 and with exceptional labours, I turn the terrible crimes of the wicked
into holy rewards by my wonderous example.
I hold back the fierce rage of many,
and fiery anger, burning with the brands of strife.
I am called the nursemaid and holy guardian of the virtues.
10 Heavenly commands are continually fulfilled by my skill,
because I stand among the army of heaven in the realm of Christ.
I will serve the everlasting king for eternity.Patience
Notes:
This edition is based on Ernst Dümmler, (ed.). Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, Volume 1. Berlin, MGH/Weidmann, 1881. Pages 1-15. Available online here.
Note that this riddle appears as No. 7 (De virtutibus) in Glorie’s edition and No. 7 in Orchard’s edition.
Line 4, meorum > reorum, following Fr. Glorie (ed.), Variae collectiones aenigmatum Merovingicae aetatis. Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina 133A. Turnhout: Brepols, 1968. Page 295.