Laudator Temporis Acti

Herbord, Dialogue Concerning the Life of Otto, Bishop of Bamberg, 2.31 (anno 1124), tr. Charles H. Robinson in The Life of Otto, Apostle of Pomerania, 1060-1139, by Ebo and Herbordus (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1920), p. 79, with Latin text ed. R. Köpke in Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum, Scriptorum Tomus XII (Hannover: Hahn, 1856), p. 794:

There was also there a large and shady oak tree with a delightful fountain underneath, which the simple-minded people regarded as rendered sacred by the presence of a certain god, and treated with great veneration. After the destruction of the temples the people begged the bishop not to cut it down as he wished to do. They promised moreover that they would never again venerate in the name of religion either that tree or place, and said that it was only for the sake of its shade and its other attractions, which were not in themselves unlawful, that they desired to save it and they did not desire to be saved by it. When the bishop had received this promise he said, "I agree concerning this tree, but there is a living creature from which you obtain oracles which must be taken away, as it is not lawful for Christians to practise augury or soothsaying."

Erat praeterea ibi quercus ingens et frondosa, et fons subter eam amoenissimus, quam plebs simplex numinis alicuius inhabitatione sacram aestimans, magna veneratione colebat. Hanc etiam episcopus cum post destructas continas incidere vellet, rogatus est a populo ne faceret. Promittebant enim nunquam se ulterius sub nomine religionis nec arborem illam colituros nec locum, sed solius umbrae atque amoenitatis gratia, quia hoc peccatum non sit, salvare illam potius quam salvari ab illa se velle. Qua suscepta promissione: Acquiesco, inquit episcopus, de arbore; sed illud unum, vivum numen sortium vestrarum, de medio tolli oportet, quia nec augurium nec sortilegium exercere christianis licet.

Ebo, Life of Otto, Bishop of Bamberg, 3.18-19 (anno 1127), tr. Robinson pp. 166-167, ed. Köpke, p. 873:

There was a certain shrine situated at a distance to which the bishop had sent his faithful and beloved friend, the good priest Udalricus, in order that he might destroy it. There were, however, a few persons who supported the worship of idols, and, when they saw him from the wall as he was coming thither, they tried to break his head by throwing stones and pieces of wood. By the help of God he avoided these and was uninjured, and returning to his father Otto he told him of their plots. The man of God immediately raised the standard of the cross and binding on his episcopal headdress he proceeded without hesitation to undertake this perilous adventure. The barbarians would not endure his presence and dispersed hither and thither, seeking to conceal themselves by flight. When the shrine had been destroyed, and the man of God was returning he found a very large nut tree which was consecrated to the idol together with a fountain the water of which flowed beneath. He at once ordered his companions to cut it down, whereupon the people of Stettin came out and earnestly begged that it should not be cut down because the indigent man who was its guardian obtained his poor subsistence from its fruit. They declared also with an oath that by a general edict they would for ever prohibit the sacrifices which had been there offered to demons. The good teacher, influenced by the justice of their reasonings, acceded to this request. While they were engaged in mutual discussion the barbarian who was the guardian of the tree suddenly came up and, approaching secretly from behind, struck a violent blow with an axe at the sacred head of the bishop. By divine providence he missed his aim and struck the axe with such force into the wooden floor of the bridge on which the bishop was standing that the difficulty of drawing it out again caused delay to the assailant.

When the interpeter, Adalbert, saw this he was struck by so great a fear that he quickly snatched the axe from the hands of the barbarian and ran off. The others, overcome by unaccustomed horror, attacked the sacrilegious man and threatened him with death. The pious Otto, however, interfered to prevent the murderer from suffering any harm and procured for him, unworthy as he was, life and safety. Adalbert burst into tears, and with a devout inclination of the head, saluted the Bamberg mountain dedicated to St. Michael and said, "This blow was doubtless averted by providence from my lord bishop as a result of the prayers of the brethren in the monastery of St. Michael, for this barbarian was by nature skilful and versed in the knowledge of shooting and of striking with the hand, and if the blow were not diverted, he would be able to hit even a circumscribed mark."

Erat autem fanum quoddam longius remotum, ad quod deiciendum fidelem et familiarissimum sibi Uodalricum sacerdotem religiosum direxerat. Sed pauci qui remanserant fautores idolorum de muro prospicientes eum illo tendere iactu lapidum et lignorum caput eius conterere moliebantur; qui tamen Deo protegente illaesus evasit, reversusque ad pium patrem Ottonem insidias eorum retexuit. Vir Domini, statim elato crucis vexillo ac pontificali redimitus infula, semet ipsum huic periculo ingerere non dubitavit; cuius praesentiam barbari non ferentes, hac illacque dispersi, fugae latibula quaesiere. Destructo igitur fano, cum vir Dei reverteretur, arborem nuceam praegrandem idolo consecratam cum fonte qui subter fluebat invenit, quam statim succidere suis inperavit. Accedentes vero Stetinenses suppliciter rogabant, ne succideretur, quia pauperculus ille custos arboris ex fructu eius vitam alebat inopem; se autem iure iurando affirmabant sacrificia quae illic demoniis exhibebantur, generali edicto perpetualiter inhibere. Quorum peticioni doctor piissimus, dictante aequitatis ratione, naviter annuit. Dum vero mutuis haec conferunt sermonibus, ecce, barbaras ille custos arboris ex inproviso accurrit, servoque Dei post tergum clam assistens, eius sanctum verticem francisca annisu forti appeciit; sed Dei nutu frustrato ictu, ponti firmo tabulatu strato, cui tunc forte superstabat, franciscam tam valide infixit, ut difficultate extrahendi moram percussori faceret.

Quo viso Adelbertus interpres, nimio terrore concussus, perniciter franciscam barbari manibus eripit et abscondit, omnesque insolito honore circumfusi sacrilegum invadunt et mortem ei intentant. Sed pietas Ottonis, ne quid mali homicida paciatur, obsistit eique, licet indigno, vitam et salutem impetrat. Adalbertus autem, in lacrimas erumpens et montem sancti Michaelis Babenbergensem devota inclinatione salutans: Hic, ait, ictus sine dubio precibus fratrum coenobii sancti Michaelis a domino meo episcopo divina protectione est aversus, quia barbarus iste, naturali ingenio callens, ita sagittandi tel manu feríendi peritia est imbutus, ut etiam angustí foraminis orbem non frustrato ictu oppetere idoneus esset.

Labels: arboricide