§1.1Omnes qui gaudetis de pace, modo uerum iudicate.
All you who rejoice in peace, now judge what is true.
§1.2Abundantia peccatorum solet fratres conturbare.
The abundance of sins is accustomed to disturb the brothers.
§1.3propter hoc dominus noster uoluit nos praemonere §1.4comparans regnum caelorum reticulo misso in mare §1.5congreganti multos pisces omne genus hinc et inde.
For this reason our Lord wished to forewarn us, comparing the kingdom of heaven to a net cast into the sea, gathering many fish of every kind from here and there.
§1.6quos cum traxissent ad litus, tunc coeperunt separare, §1.7bonos in uasa miserunt, reliquos malos in mare.
When they had dragged it to the shore, then they began to separate them, they put the good into vessels, and the remaining bad ones they threw into the sea.
§1.8quisquis nouit euangelium, recognoscat cum timore.
Whoever knows the Gospel should recognize this with fear.
§1.9uidet reticulum ecclesiam, uidet hoc saeculum mare; §1.10genus autem mixtum piscis iustus est cum peccatore; §1.11saeculi finis est litus: tunc est tempus separare; §1.12qui modo retia ruperunt, multum dilexerunt mare; §1.13uasa sunt sedes sanctorum, quo non possunt peruenire.
He sees the net as the Church, he sees this world as the sea; and the mixed kind of fish is the righteous along with the sinner; the end of the age is the shore: then is the time to separate; those who have now torn the nets have loved the sea too much; the vessels are the dwellings of the saints, where they cannot arrive.
§1.14Omnes qui gaudetis de pace, modo uerum iudicate.
All you who rejoice in peace, now judge what is true.
§1.15Bonus auditor fortasse quaerit, qui ruperint rete.
A good listener perhaps asks who tore the net.
§1.16homines multum superbi, qui iustos se dicunt esse.
Extremely proud men, who say that they themselves are righteous.
§1.17sic fecerunt (et) scissuram et altare contra altare.
Thus they made both a tear and an altar against an altar.
§1.18diabolo se tradiderunt, cum pugnant de traditione §1.19et crimen quod commiserunt in alios uolunt transferre.
They handed themselves over to the devil, while they fight about the handing over, and want to transfer the crime which they committed onto others.
§1.20ipsi tradiderunt libros et nos audent accusare, §1.21ut peius committant scelus quam commiserunt et ante.
They themselves handed over the books and dare to accuse us, so that they commit a worse crime than they committed before.
§1.22qui possent causam librorum excusare de timore, §1.23quia Petrus Christum negauit, dum terreretur de morte, §1.24modo quo pacto excusabunt factum altare contra altare §1.25et pace Christi conscissa spem reponunt in homine?
Though they might have been able to excuse the matter of the books out of fear, because Peter denied Christ while he was terrified of death, now in what way will they excuse making an altar against an altar, and, having torn the peace of Christ, placing their hope in man?
§1.26quod persecutio non fecit, ipsi fecerunt in pace.
What persecution did not do, they themselves did in peace.
§1.27Omnes qui gaudetis de pace, modo uerum iudicate.
All you who rejoice in peace, now judge what is true.
§1.28Custos noster, deus magne, tu nos potes liberare §1.29a pseudoprophetis istis, qui nos quaerunt deuorare.
Our guardian, great God, you can deliver us from those false prophets who seek to devour us.
§1.30maledictum cor lupinum contegunt ouina pelle.
They cover their cursed wolfish heart with a sheep's skin.
§1.31nomen iusti ouina pellis, schisma est in lupino corde.
The name of "righteous" is the sheep's skin, and schism is in the wolfish heart.
§1.32qui non nouerunt scripturas, hos solent circumuenire; §1.33audiunt enim \'traditores\' et nesciunt quid gestum est ante.
They are accustomed to deceive those who do not know the scriptures; for they hear "traitors" and do not know what was done before.
§1.34quibus si dicam: \'probate\', non habent quid respondere.
If I say to them: "prove it", they have nothing to answer.
§1.35suis se dicunt credidisse: dico ego mentitos esse; §1.36quia et nos credidimus nostris, qui eos dicunt tradidisse.
They say that they believed their own people: I say that they have lied; because we too believed our own people, who say that they handed over.
§1.37uis nosse qui dicant falsum? qui non sunt in unitate.
Do you wish to know who speak falsehood? Those who are not in unity.
§1.38olim iam causa finita est, quod uos non statis in pace.
Already long ago the case was decided, because you do not stand in peace.
§1.39Omnes qui gaudetis de pace, modo uerum iudicate.
All you who rejoice in peace, now judge what is true.
§1.40Dixerunt maiores nostri et libros fecerunt inde, §1.41qui tunc causam cognouerunt, quo recens possent probare: §1.42erant quidam traditores librorum de sancta lege §1.43episcopi de Numidia et non quilibet de plebe.
Our ancestors spoke and made books about it, who then knew the case, so that they might prove it while it was fresh: there were certain handers-over of the books of the holy law, bishops of Numidia and not just anyone from the common people.
§1.44cum Carthaginem uenissent episcopum ordinare, §1.45inuenerunt Caecilianum iam ordinatum in sua sede.
When they had come to Carthage to ordain a bishop, they found Caecilian already ordained in his see.
§1.46irati sunt, quia ipsi non potuerunt ordinare.
They were angry because they themselves could not ordain him.
§1.47erant Botrus et Caelestius hostes Caeciliano ualde, §1.48impii fures superbi, de quibus longum est referre.
Botrus and Caelestius were very great enemies to Caecilian, impious, proud thieves, of whom it is a long story to relate.
§1.49iunxerunt se simul omnes crimen in illum conflare, §1.50dicunt ordinatorem eius sanctos libros tradidisse.
They all joined together to forge a charge against him, they say that his ordainer had handed over the holy books.
§1.51sic pacis retia ruperunt et errant modo per mare.
Thus they tore the nets of peace and now wander through the sea.
§1.52Omnes qui gaudetis de pace, modo uerum iudicate.
All you who rejoice in peace, now judge what is true.
§1.53Ecce quam bonum et iocundum fratres in unum habitare!!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity!
§1.54audite uocem prophetae, ut sitis in unitate.
Hear the voice of the prophet, so that you may be in unity.
§1.55crimen nobis quis probauit antiquum de traditione?
Who proved against us the ancient crime of handing over?
§1.56quis obiecit in iudicio? qui sederunt iudicare?
Who objected in court? Who sat to judge?
§1.57quibus testibus conuicit, quis ausus est affirmare?
With what witnesses did he convict, who dared to affirm it?
§1.58sed hoc libenter finxerunt, quod se nouerant fecisse.
But they willingly fabricated this, which they knew they themselves had done.