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Speculum finalis retributionis |
The Mirror of the Final |
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egregii sacre theologie doctoris |
by the outstanding Doctor of Sacred Theology, |
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In
quo speculo diffuse elucidatur contemplatio penarum |
In which mirror
there is copiously elucidated |
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Transcriptus ex pp. 5-7 de
manuscripto |
Transcribed from pp. 5-7 of the
manuscript |
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Editio
1495/Paris |
1495/Paris |
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NOVITER EMENDATUM AC PARISIUS IMPRESSUS: INCIPIT |
NEWLY EMENDED AND PRINTED AT PARIS: HERE BEGINS |
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PROLOGUS Fratris Guillerimi Totani, O. P., S. T. D.1 |
PROLOGUE by Friar Guillermo Totani, O. P., S. T. D.1 |
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Aetherum probitates quosdam etiam in sacris codicibus inscriptos varie effecerunt virtutes commendabiles, quamquam ad falsa devius error abduraverit plurimos, virtutis tam nomen habentes, bonorum tam exempla insequi licet. Quosdam enim ornat sincera fides ac hoc spiritualitatis amor. Abraham quippe primus suo ipse Deum coluit, patriam propter Deum dereliquit, ad vitandum fratris sui scandalum iuri suo cessit, angelos hospites suscepti, filium immolare disposuit, et sic « in tentatione inventus est fidelis ».2 Alios vero insignes fecit praeclarae vitae munditia, ut patet in Ioseph qui zelum colendo Dei « suae angustiae tempore custodivit mandatum», et in tam sublimatur honores ut fieret « dominus Aegypti ».3 Quodsi de regibus habendus est sermo David occurret, qui « in sua misericordia consecutus est sedem regni in saecula ».4 Praeter hos alii amore legis multa propessi sibi « nomen aeternum »5 vendicarunt. Alii rempublicam bene regentes charitatem quidem non deferentes, plus insistentes operibus corde puro Deo vero famulantes. Alii arte et industria viventes bonam ex suis operibus famam per universum mundum indeferentes, quorum nomina et numerum hic inserere propter eorum multitudinem praetermitto. Memini etiam legisse philosophantias quosdam ut litterarum studio scire amantes liberius vacerent, urbium frequentiam reliquisse ubi multae sunt oculorum auriumque illecebrae ne per saeculi luxum et rerum temporalium nimiam abundantiam animi fortitudo molesceret et ne mundi huius impudicitia stupraretur. Inde Pictagorici consortium huius seculi nequam deserentes in desertis habitabant locis. Etiam Platonici et Stoici in temporum porticibus versabantur ut honestioris habitaculi sanctitate commoniti nil aliud quam |
Commendable virtues have made men approved of in the world above [aetherum probitates], having in various ways caused certain (of them) to be written of even in the Sacred Books; (and) though devious error has hardened very many against (these) towards false (virtues), it is licit to follow as much after those having a name for virtue, as the examples of good men. For sincere faith and this love of spirituality ornaments certain men. Indeed, Abraham himself, the first of his own (people), worshipped God; he forsook his fatherland for the sake of God, he gave up his own rights to avoid the scandal of his own brother, having received Angels as his guests, he arraigned to immolate his son, and thus « in temptation was found to be faithful ».2 But the cleanliness of an brilliant life has wrought other outstanding (men), as is clear in Joseph who, by cultivating zeal for God, « kept His mandate in the time of his own anguish », and was so exalted among honors that he became « the lord of Egypt ».3 But if concerning kings there is a saying to be had, there is David, who « in His mercy has obtained the throne of a kingdom unto the ages ».4 Besides these, others propelled by much love of the Law, purchased for themselves « an eternal name ».5 Some, ruling the republic well, indeed, not putting aside charity, insisting more on works of a pure heart, serving the True God; some, living by art and industry, not procuring fame throughout the whole world from their works, whose name and number I forego [praetermitto] to insert here on account of their multitude. I also remember to have read that certain philosophers, to more freely have time for the study of letters, have left the concourse of the cities where there are many allurements for eyes and ears, lest through luxury and the exceeding abundance of temporal things the fortitude of the soul grow soft and be ravished by the licentiousness [impudicitia] of this world. Hence the Pythagoreans, deserting the worthless company of this age, used to dwell in deserted places. Even the Platonists and Stoics used to walk back and forth in the porticoes of temples, so that thoroughly admonished by the holiness of a more honest dwelling, they might think of nothing other than virtues. |
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1 Hoc titulum additum est a interprete, sed
ex textu sequente nota sunt. Gens Totani derivat de Aquila in Vestinis, in
Italia. Forse memoria S. Bernadini, OFM, qui mortuus est c. 1450 A.D., conducivus ad Fratrem Guillierimum ad edendum in lucem librum istum, tam exemplificans de
praedicatione minoritica, quam Sanctus propagavit in vita. |
1 This title has been added by the translator, but
the information is taken from the text which follows. The Totani family is
from L'Aquila in Italy, and perhaps it was the memory and example of St.
Bernadine of Sienna, who had died there nearly a half century earlier, that
prompted Friar Guillermo to preserve this work of Franciscan preaching, which
is so characteristic of the reform in the Order of the Friars Minor, which
the Saint had promoted. |
p. 6
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de virtutibus cogitarent. Quod ut de ceteris tacuerim optime fecisse videtur egregius sacrae theologiae doctor magister Petrus Reginaldeti1 Ordinis Fatrum Minorum cuius mentem divina sapientia ita fecundasse arbitror mirabili ac ineffabili modo inebriasse ut nihil terrenum nihilque mundanum cor eius alliceret. Is toto mentis suae conatu intuitur affectu futuram operum bonorum malorumve retributiones contemplaretur, de qua in symbolo Athanasius ait, "Qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam aeternam: Qui vero mala, in ignem aeternum."2 Unde et tanquam de homine non ignarus libellum hunc quem sic ceteris placet, Speculum finalis retributionis3 appello. Non sine magno labore magnaque diligentia composuit stilo grato et fecundo celsaque sententia atque ordine decentissimo ad finem usque perducendo. Cuius utilitatem frequentissime cogitans ego frater Guillermus Totani sacri ordinis fratrum predicatorum humilis doctor et lector insignis ecclesiae primatis Galliarum Sancti Johannis Ludovici, memor prioris charitatis patrum nostrorum dominici scilicet sanctissimi patriarchae nostri viri utique apostolici ac gloriosissimi confessoris Francisci seraphici sacri Ordinis Minorum fundatoris egregii qui adhuc mortales virgine sacratissima Dei Matre procurante coram Deo et Christo Iesu mirabiliter corpore affectu, et effectu convenerunt in unum charitatis ampleribus post visionem mirabilem se invicem osculantes et dicentes quia "Simul pergemus, ad idem conabimur, nostri quoque veri pariter successores." Tantum ergo ac tam utile opus ad gloriam praefati sacri Ordinis Minorum in lucem omnibus praebere volens quo salus plurium valeat procurari, ex exemplari non modicum |
And though I have been silent concerning all the others, the distinguished doctor of sacred theology, Master Peter Reginaldette,1 of the Order of Friars Minor, seems to have done best (of all), whose mind, I judge, has been so wonderfully fecundated by the Divine Wisdom and inebriated in an ineffable manner, that nothing earthly and nothing worldly might allure his heart. He, having worked upon the undertaking with the whole of his own mind, looks upon the future for good works and/or contemplates the retributions for evil ones, concerning which (St.) Athanasius says in the Creed, "Those who have done good shall go unto eternal life. Those who have done evil, into the eternal fire."2 Whence as one not ignorant of the man, I call this little book, which so pleases all others, The Mirror of the Final Retribution.3 Not without much labor and great diligence did he compose it, with a pleasing and fruitful sytle and with lofty consideration [sententia], and also with an order most fitting for leading (the reader) thoroughly to the end. Thinking most frequently of its utility, I, Friar Guillermo Totani, a humble doctor of the Order of Friars Preacher, and a lector to Louis of St. John, the distinguished Primate of Church of the Gauls, mindful of the prior charity of our fathers, namely of our most holy Patriarch, (St.) Dominic, an apostolic man indeed, and of the most glorious confessor (St.) Francis, the outstanding founder of the sacred, seraphic Order of Minors, who while still mortals, with the intercession before God [procurante coram Deo] of the Most Sacred Virgin, the Mother of God, and with a wonderful affection in body for Christ Jesus, and moved [effectu] by a more ample charity, came together, kissing one another after the wonderful vision and saying that "We shall proceed together, we shall strive to the same (goal), as the equally, true successors of one another." Therefore willing, to the glory of the aforesaid sacred Order of Minors, to publish [in lucem praebere] for all so great and so useful a work, by which the salvation of many more may be strongly procured, (and) weakened not by a small measure of example, |
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1 Frater Reginaldetus, de Tauronensio in
Regnum Francorum, fuit peritus ad Concilium Basiliense in 1434 A.D.. |
1 Friar Reginaldette, was a Frenchman from Tours: a member of the Order of Friars Minor, he was a peritus at the Council of Basel in 1434 A.D.. |
p. 7
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viciato, studui quoad potui verum exemplar conficere, de minus bene correctis veniam petens cum orationum suffragiis, de his vero quae sana, utilia, et non in aliquo viciata aut incorrecta legentes reperient gratias Deo, et laudes auctori huius referre laborent.1 |
I have studied how in this regard I could craft together a true copy [exemplar], seeking, with the suffrages of prayers, pardon concerning those (things) less well corrected, but that those reading of those which are wholesome, useful, and not in any (way) vitiated or incorrect, may find God's graces, and labor to refer praise to its Author.1 |
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1 Videbimus tamen infrequenter, recognoscentes quod opus totum Totani per manus omnino factum est. |
1 We, however shall see such infrequently, considering Totanti's work was done entirely by hand. |
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The Latin text is the most coherent reading of the 1495 typography. Spelling as been conformed, as rarely as possible, to standard lexicography. Punctuation is retained as much as possible. Capitalization is occasionally altered for names and proper nouns. Paragraph divisions and chapter headings have been retained. This new Latin text is hereby released to the public domain by its editor. |
The English translation here has been released to the public domain by its author. The / symbol is used to indicate that the text which follows appears on the subsequent page of the 1495 Edition. Items in square [ ] brackets contain Latin terms corresponding to the previous English word(s), or notes added by the English translator. Items in round ( ) brackets are terms implicit in the Latin syntax or which are required for clarity in English. |