P A U L T H E D EA C ON
The Historia Langobardorum, excerpted here, was exceptionally nuntur. E quibus dum unum quidam cupiditate stimulatus vellet exuere,
popular in the Middle Ages. It is a storehouse of information that would
otherwise be lost, but it is also a coherent and strategically written con­
sideration of the Lombard past in the context of Christian history, con­
structed carefully with literary and pedagogical aims in mind. Paul's
poetry, on the other hand, evinces a sound knowledge of the classical
poetical tradition but at the same time a willingness to forge ahead into
new poetical practices that center on the liberation of genre, meter, and
diction from rigid classical norms. In this regard, especially, Paul stands
as one of the key figures in the development of ML verse.
The poetry of Paul the Deacon has been edited by E. Duemmler
(Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Poetae Latini Aevi Carolini, vol. 1 ,
Berlin, 1 8 8 1 , pp. 35-86); and b y K . Neff (Die Gedichte des Paulus Dia­
conus, Munich, 1 908). The Historia Langobardorum has been edited by
G. Waitz (Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores Rerum Lango­
bardicarum et Italicarum, Hanover, 1 878, repr. 1 978). The Historia has
been translated by R. J. Deferarri et a1. (The Fathers of the Church, New
York, 1 95 3 ) and by W. D. Foulke (The History of the Lombards of Paul
the Deacon, New York, 1 907). Raby 1, 1 62ff. discusses Paul's poetry in
some detail. Goffart 329-431 offers a full and up-to-date treatment of
the Historia and of Paul's intellectual world. Godman 86-89 translates
Carm. 12. The text of Waitz is reprinted here for the Historia, Duemml­
er's for the poetry, both without change.
T H E SEVEN S L E E P E RS
Haut ab re esse arbitror, paulisper narrandi ordinem postponere, et
quia adhuc stilus in Germania vertitur, miraculum, quod illic apud omnes
celebre habetur, seu et quaedam alia breviter intimare. In extremis circium
versus Germaniae finibus, in ipso oceani littore, antrum sub eminenti
5 rupe conspicitur, ubi septem viri, incertum ex quo tempore, longo sopiti
sopore quiescunt, ita inlaesis non solum corporibus, sed etiam vesti­
mentis, ut ex hoc ipso, quod sine ulla per tot annorum curricula corrupti­
one perdurant, apud indociles easdem et barbaras nationes veneratione
habeantur. Hi denique, quantum ad habitum spectat, Romani esse cer-
1. haut = CL haud. ab re: idiomatic phrase meaning "contrary to interests;' here
with the negative adverb haut and esse arbitror = "I do no): think it to be contrary to
my purposes . . . ." The infinitives postponere and intimare are dependent on arbitror.
2. illic: i.e., in Germania. 3. circium versus: i.e., "toward the northwest." 7. ut ex
hoc ipso: lit., "that from this fact itself," proleptic of the subsequent quod clause.
9. quantum . . . spectat: lit., "how much attends to their dress."
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T H E M A E LSTROM
mox eius, ut dicitur, brachia aruerunt, poenaque sua ceteros perterruit,
ne quis eos ulterius contingere auderet. Videres ad quod eos profectum
per tot tempora providentia divina conservet. Fortasse horum quando­
que, quia non aliter nisi christiani esse putantur, gentes illae praedicatione 5
salvandae sunt.
-Hist Lang. 1 .4.
THE MAELSTROM
Nec satis procul ab hoc de quo praemisimus litore, contra occidenta­
lem partem, qua sine fine oceanum pelagus patet, profundissima
aquarum illa vorago est, quam usitato nomine maris umbilicum vocamus.
Quae bis in die fluctus absorbere et rursum evomere dicitur, sicut per uni­
versa ilIa litora accedentibus et recedentibus fluctibus celeritate nimia fieri 5
conprobatur. Huiusmodi vorago sive vertigo a poeta Virgilio Caribdis ap­
pellatur; quam ilIe in freto Siculo esse suo in carmine loquitur, hoc
modo dicens:
Dextrum Scilla latus, laevum inplacata Caribdis
Obsidet, atque imo baratri ter gurgite vastos 10
Sorbet in abruptum fluctus, rursusque sub auras
Erigit alternos, et sidera verberat unda.
Ab hac sane de qua diximus vertigine saepe naves raptim cursimque ad­
trahi adfirmantur tanta celeritate, ut sagittarum per aera lapsus imitari
videantur; et nonnumquam in ilIo baratro horrendo nimis exitu pereunt. 15
Saepe cum iam iamque mergendae sint, subitis undarum molibus retroac-
tae, tanta rursus agilitate exinde elongantur, quanta prius adtractae sunt.
Adfirmant, esse et aliam huiusmodi voraginem inter Brittaniam insu-
3. Videres ad quod . . . profectum: potential subjunctive, "you will perhaps see for
what purpose . . . ;" quod = CL quem, since profer:: tum is masculine; profectum =
perfect passive participle of proficere, but also a fourth declension masculine substan­
tive, as here (LS 1457, s .. v. 3 profectus).
1. praemisimus: the meaning of praemittere is "to send out word in advance,"
but Paul simply means here that he has mentioned this "shore" before. 2. oceanum
pelagus: an example of pleonastic strengthening, Common in LUMUVL, comparable
to an English phrase such as "ocean sea." (cf. Lofstedt 2 1-24). 6. conprobatur =
CL comprobatur; fieri is dependent on it. 9. Aen. 7.420. 1 3 . adtrahi = CL at­
trahi, present passive infinitive, complement of adfirmantur. 14. adfirmantur = CL
af{irmantur; the subject is naves. 16. retroactae: from retroagere. 1 7. adtractae
sunt = CL attractae sunt. 1 8. adfirmant = CL af{irmant; here as elsewhere Paul uses
this verb to mean "they say," "they tell;' etc.
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