Chapter 50

[ 50 ]


       Then indeed through all of Francia, Burgundy and the other realms is the hearsay of so great a betrayal and so great a deception made public, and Bruno and Tetbold and the other promoters of such a plan and of such cunning are disparaged by everyone. But most holy duke Richard, rescued from the snares of such great deception and cunning, would devotedly give thanks daily to the King of kings who, gracious, rescued him from the danger of death and captivity.
       Thus would he be, in all his works, always subject to the lord Christ, armed with the force of devotion and mildness. Extraordinary in manners and merits, worthy in his advocacy of the sacrosanct Norman church. As much as possible filled full with faith, hardy in hope, bountiful in benevolence. Yielding obedience to God's instructions, full of confidence in divine promises. Opulent in the abundance of all things and goodnesses, ready in wordly and divine worship. Docile in deed, patient in hope. Wise in speech, discreet in deliberation, constant and vehement in correcting, burning with the love of God and neighbor. Long-suffering in adversities, strong in dangers. Gentle in divine and secular teachings, most bountiful in almsgiving. Unremitting in his zeal for good works, anxious in his fear of death. Extraordinary in his fear of God, eminent in the lay habit and order. Extremely devoted before all relics, glorious in mercy and compassion. Well endowed with distinguished talent, active in every deed. Remarkable in judgment and justice, dreadful in his harshness towards the guilty. Gentle in his mildness towards the upright. Inclined to grace towards the deserving, prepared to pardon the offensive. Highest in the ranks of humility, extraordinary in every attention to hospitality. Most compassionate foster-father of monks and canons and all flocks, prudent advocate of his own followers. Faithful distributor of the talent (note 1) entrusted to him, remarkable mitigator of quarrels. On guard against his own transgression, harshly punishing that of others. Cherishing the common people as a father does his children, faithfully fulfilling Christ's instructions. Vanquishing the wanton sometimes by arms, sometimes by forbearance, subjecting pagans to the light and extremely sweet yoke of Christ. Most strong defender of the homeland, most holy supporter of widows.
       Judicious, magnanimous, good and modest, he would draw the people together through established laws. Distinguished father of the exile and the needy and incomparable supporter of the orphan and the minor. He would furnish bountiful food for paupers and he would flashing, an unremitting repairer of churches. He would marvelously honor, before all others, the sacred orders of the ranks of the churches and he would furnish them with every religious thing. He would be attentive, benevolent and docile in every deed and, dissipating complaints, he would balance plaintiff and plaintiff on an equable scale. He would not look with any worshipful reverence upon the persons of the poor or of the mighty in his judgment but, reviewing the complaints of assaulters and assailers, he would decide after having removed any uncertainty of an intricate case. In every matter he would be distinguished, beyond all others, for his merits and deeds, and he would be a marvelous refuge of goodness and esteem for all. He would account the presumptious and the self-willed of slight value, he would punish the insolent and the guilty. He would raise high the humble and the benevolent, he would tread down the ravisher and the wrongful. He would spur the young recruits of his household to serve by rewards and presents, he would copiously endow the older ones with gifts. (note 2) Hardly anyone in his realm would dare to do any damage and no one would dare to pilfer anything from anyone. All would live, untroubled by evils, under his authority and would exert themselves hastily in accelerating all their productive labor.

                            Apostrophe

With profuse prayers, reader, I, a suppliant, speak to you.
An eloquence well and expertly capable of the seven-fold art
Is wanting, I cannot raise up this man
As much as would behoove his innumerable laudable actions,
Neither can I reduce to numbers nor submit to words
What evils he checked, what goods he apportioned,
That good duke, count, marquis, patrician,
Splendid guardian and defender of his homeland.
But if anyone were an extremely eloquent orator,
He would be able to write whatever truth-telling things he desired;
But I, foolish, dull and destitute of all theory,
Do not have the strength to write what I desire to say.
His goodnesses are acknowledged and written down
In the book of the one who sits on the starry throne.


Notes:


1. A Greek coin.

2. Beneficia.


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