Return to my Societe Pages index

Return to the St Aubin index


THE LIFE OF ST AUBIN by Venantius Fortunatus:

Author's Prologue


1. I remember, 0 Domitianus, worthy successor of the apostles, that when I came to the city which you rule under the leadership of Christ, to present myself before your eyes, amongst those relics confirmed by maturity with which you seemed to overwhelm me like a torrent with such deep feelings, you quietly mentioned that most holy man, Aubin the Lord Bishop.

Just as his life was manifested to abound in superlative merit and has been recorded in scarce literature to build up his people, so alas it has been established by human authority and committed to writing. Those who reflected on this received a two-fold blessing for they saw in Aubin such admirable qualities for them to emulate and also perceived what wise improvements came to be effected in themselves; in other words, while they recognised in this one man so many laudable qualities, they did not delay to emend things in their own lives - seeing that the unique story of this blessed man was to become a healing grace to all who heard it.

2. I quickly realised that in recording events that are past, mistakes of memory can be made and I am afraid of giving any inaccurate information about the life of this most holy man which would very quickly be recognised as false - for it could not easily be rectified once it was overtaken by "the stealthy oblivion" of time.

A certain man who was concerned about this very thing (following the instructions of your Holiness) asked me whether I agreed, adding that all he had faithfully discovered about the deeds of this holy man could undoubtedly be underlined by what I had introduced. In this way, he put an end to countless disputes because he supplied facts which were worth relating, which had been given previously by another person in secret.

This man had searched hard for the truth but did not deserve to received praise alone, because he had forgotten some of the things which he had known and written down. But as far as the things which he did remember are concerned, he wrote those without any ambiguity using his own first-hand evidence and so satisfied the people, who agreed with him. Certainly there is no doubt about those past records of his and today they are even more reliable in individual cases.

3. I thanked this man who was prepared to give me this information because he had "grown up", as it were, under your training and had so efficiently completed the task laid upon him, and of his own accord had offered an accurate account which was most acceptable - indeed, had he wished he could have revealed elsewhere what was demanded of him.

If anything is said about him it will be reckoned as having your support and authorisation since he has won commendation from his master and praise from his pupil, and his expertise in this task is indeed the hallmark of a high priest. I was very conscious of my shortcomings and I feared to contact him; for I knew that these truths should be entrusted to those who were obviously skilled, eloquent in speech, devoted to duty, people of tested fluency, rich in feeling, often pouring out words like a torrent, of swift enthusiasm, and of brilliant gifts of writing. The eloquence of Cicero himself, I suspect, would scarcely bear comparison with your skill and he who could speak freely at Rome in Caesar's house would perhaps fear to make use of a judge in Aquitania.

4. What mighty achievement is required of me as I hide myself behind the footsteps of this learned man? What skill in writing can my experience give me? For I am neither fluent by nature nor gifted academically, I am drawn to my task by my vows, but I am deterred by the magnitude of the undertaking. The faltering speed of this reluctant author dims the radiance of Aubin’s life and what ought to be illuminated, is darkened by the cloud of my words.

If you were to ask others, you would discover that these things could be done better than by me. I certainly realise that you do not need this sort of labour on my part - any information provided by outsiders will not, of course, be withheld from you, but my modicum of knowledge cannot be compared to yours - that would be like comparing a scanty crop of barley to a rich harvest of wheat. For I hold in balance of judgement the causes of my ambiguity. I choose to be known through my obedience like a simple peasant, rather than to be successful through my learning and yet be of little faith.

You can dislike a person's eloquence but you canal least approve of his disposition. Clearly, in this work of mine, I must give this warning beforehand so that nothing less intelligible should reach the ears of the people. Therefore I am content with the entire mediocrity of this work, even though I relate it very badly, for I wish to make known briefly the details of this blessed life. There is one who knows how to achieve a better result and himself give the support of his right hand to these uncertain pages.