The Society for Ancient Languages

Week Five

English Translation
by Kenneth Swaim

GREGORII EPISCOPI TURONENSIS
LIBER HISTORIARUM

LIBER II

BISHOP GREGORY OF TOURS
BOOK OF HISTORY

BOOK 2
THE CUNNING OF CLOVIS

XLII. Erat autem tunc Ragnacharius rex apud Camaracum tam effrenis in luxoria, ut vix vel propinquis quidem parentibus indulgeret. His habebat Farronem consiliarum simili spurcitia lutolentum, de quo fertur, cum aliquid aut cibi aut muneris vel cuiuslibet rei regi adlatum fuisset, dicere solitum, hoc sibi suoque Farroni sufficere. Pro qua re Franci maxima indignatione tumibant. Unde factum est ut, datis aureis sive armellis vel baltheis, Chlodovechus, sed totum adsimilatum auro--erat enim aereum deauratum sub dolo factum--haec dedit leudibus eius, ut super eum invitaretur. Porro cum exercitum contra eum commovisset, et ille speculatores plerumque ad cognuscendum transmitteret, reversis nuntiis, interrogat, quam valida haec manus foret. Qui responderunt: 'Tibi tuoque Farroni est maximum supplimentum.' Veniens autem Chlodovechus, bellum contra eum instruit. At ille devictum cernens exercitum suum, fuga labi parat, sed ab exercitum conpraehensus ac ligatis postergum manibus in conspectu Chlodovechi una cum Richario fratre suo perducetur. Cui ille: 'Cur,' inquid, 'humiliasti genus nostrum, ut te vincere permitteris? Melius enim tibi fuerat mori.' Et elevatam securem capite eius defixit, conversusque ad fratrem eius, ait: 'Si tu solatium fratri tribuissis, allegatus utique non fuisset;' similiter et hunc secure percussum interfecit. Post quorum mortem cognuscent proditores eorum, aurum, quod a regi acceperant, esse adulterum. Quod cum rege dixissent, ille respondisse fertur: 'Merito,' inquid, 'tale aurum accepit, qui domino suo ad mortem propria voluntate deducit;' hoc illis quod viverent debere sufficere, ne male proditionem dominorum suorum luituri inter tormenta deficerent. Quod ille audientes, optabant gratiam adipisci, illud sibi adserentes sufficere, si vivere mererentur. Fuerunt autem supradicti regis propinqui huius; quorum frater Rignomeris nomen apud Cinomannis civitatem ex iusso Chlodovechi est interfectus.

   42. Moreover, there was then a king at Cambrai, Ragnachar, so unrestrained in his debauchery that indeed with difficulty he indulged even in his near relations. In these things he had Farro as an advisor tainted with similar filth. About the king it is said that, when either any good or any gift or anything whatever was brought to him, he was wont to say that it was adequate for himself and for his Farro. And because of this, the Franks swelled in anger with the greatest indignation. From which it happened that, when gold and arm-rings and sword-belts had been given and although all were counterfeit to gold (indeed the bronze had been gilded and made in deceit), Clovis gave these things to Ragnarchar's leudes so that he might be summoned against their king. When Clovis had moved his army against the king, and when the king sent spies to learn much, after the spies had returned, Ragnachar asked how strong was this armed force. And they answered, "It is a very great supply for you and your Farro."
   And now the coming Clovis prepared war against the king. But, Ragnachar, seeing his own army overcome, prepared to slip away in fright. But, having been arrested by the army and after his arms were tied behind his back, he is led into the presence of Clovis together with his brother Ricchar. And to him Clovis says, "Why have you humiliated our people that you allow us to bind you? Indeed it is better for you to die." and he plunged his raised axe into Ragnachar's head. And having turned to Ragnachar's brother, he says, "If you had given help to your brother, certainly he would not have been bound." And so, likewise Clovis killed this man by the axe.
   And after the death of these men, their traitors learned that the gold that they had received from King Clovis was fake. And when they had discussed this with King Clovis, he is said to have answered, "He received such gold justly who willingly leads his own lord to lasting death. It ought to suffice for them, that they live, lest they, being about to suffer torments, pay for the betrayal of their lords." And hearing that from Clovis, they desired to obtain his grace, saying that it suffice for them if they deserved to live. Likewise, there were kinsmen of this King mentioned before, whose brother had the name of Rignomer. He was killed at the order of Clovis in the lands of the Cinomanni.

Tamen, congregatis suis quadam vice, dixisse fertur de parentibus, quos ipse perdiderat: 'Vae mihi, qui tamquam peregrinus inter extraneus remansi et non habeo de parentibus, qui mihi, si venerit adversitas, possit aliquid adiuvare.' Sed hoc non de morte horum condolens, sed dolo dicebat, si forte potuisset adhuc aliquem repperire, ut interficeret.

Nevertheless, when Clovis' men were gathered together by a certain chance, it is said that he said about his family whom he himself had destroyed, "Woe to me, who remained as if a foreigner among strangers and who has none of his family who is able to bring some aid to me if adversity comes." But, he lamented this not because of the death of his family, but he said it deceitfully so that he might kill if by chance he had been able then to find someone.

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