Page 154 - Envoys and Political Communication in the Late Antique West 411 - 533

Envoys and Political Communication,411–533

celeritas, nec mora; ‘instead of peace and rest...after his overseas exertions
he entered into the labours of a journey on land’. 51 Both the repeti-
tiveness of the demands for Germanus’ advocacy, and his appearance as
a traveller, are lightly underscored by one of Constantius’ few explicit
biblical citations, describing Germanus’ journey to Ravenna: ‘this alone
sufficed for him, that he should never be free from labour to enjoy peace,
but, as the prophet says, “he travelled from strength to strength” (Psalms
83 [84] 8)’. 52
Though Germanus ‘delighted in his labours and gladly expended him-
self for Christ’, such exertions prove exhausting: returning from Britian
for the second time, he is fatigued, and on the journey to Ravenna he
needs to pause for rests. 53 Ultimately Germanus’ labores kill him, for he
dies exhausted after a short illness, ‘worn out by his labours’. 54 Con-
stantius employs the image of Germanus constantly undertaking tiring
journeys notonly to shape his persona, but also to prepare the ‘climax’ of
the Vita, the saint’s death and passage to eternal life:

When, on a certain day, following the solemnity of Matins, a discussion on faith
was being held with the other bishops [also in Ravenna], Germanus raised a sad
subject, saying, ‘Dearest brothers, I commend to you my passing. In my sleep at
night, I saw myself, about to sojourn abroad, receiving from our Lord supplies for
the journey; and when I asked for the business [causa] of my departure, he said,
“Fear not. I send you to your homeland, not on a foreign sojourn. There you
will have eternal peace and rest.” ’ The bishops sought another interpretation of
the dream, but he more firmly commended to them his end, saying, ‘I know
well what homeland God promises in reward to his servants.’
Some days later an illness followed; as it grew worse, the whole city was
troubled. He who was calling him to glory hastened his passing, and the Lord
invited the hero worn out by his labours to his rewards...On the seventh day
of his illness, his faithful and blessed soul was borne to the heavens. 55

51 Constantius, Vita Germani: 19 (pro quiete vel requie . . . post marina discrimina labores terranae expedi-
tionis ingreditur), 25, 28 ( festinus), 12 (promptius,celeritas), 28 (nec mora). On celeritas as a panegyrical
topos: G. M. Cook (trans.), Ennodius: Life of St Epiphanius (Washington, DC, 1942), 174–5.
52
Constantius, Vita Germani, 29: cui id solum sufficeret,ne umquam labore vacuus quiete frueretur; sed ut
propheta ait,ambulabat de virtute in virtutem. Borius, n. ad loc., cites the Vulgate: ibunt de virtute in
virtutem (Biblia sacra iuxta vulgatam versionem, ed. R. Weber and R. Gryson, 4th edn (Stuttgart,
1994), Psalm 83.8, 876), butseveral vetus Latina versions of the Psalms give ambulabunt (Bibliorum
sacrorum Latinae versiones antiquae, ed. P. Sabatier (Rheims 1743–9; repr. Turnhout, 1983), ii, 170,
Psalm 84.8).
53
Constantius, Vita Germani, 25: et laboribus delectatur et Christo se gratanter inpendit; 28: fatigatio; 33:
iter sensim moris felicibus carpit (cf. 34: interea gradum accelerant).
54
Constantius, Vita Germani, 42: fessus . . . laboribus.
55
Constantius, Vita Germani, 41–2:(41) Quadam die,matutinale sollemnitate perfecta,dum cum episcopis
sermo de religione confertur,tristissimam protulit mentionem,inquiens: ‘Commendo vobis,fratres karissimi,
transitum meum. Videbar mihi per nocturnum soporem a Domino nostro viaticum peregrinaturus accipere,et
cum causam profectionis inquirerem: “Ne metuas”,inquit,“ad patriam,non ad peregrinationem te dirigo,ubi
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