Loading ...
In 2003 the first two of 13 books in Pius II’s Commentarii appeared as part of a series of Renaissance works from Harvard University Press. I wouldn’t know beans about the Pius II except for my teacher, Reggie, whose favorite pope is Pius II, Aeneas Silvius Bartholomeus de Piccolomini (1405-1464). His Commentarii have the distinction of being, still, the only autobiography penned by a reigning pontiff. The work is of enduring interest, both because of its firsthand accounts of contemporary events as well as because of its smooth, classical Latin prose.
Now I quote from Book I’s initial pages for the delectation of my friend, Iacobus, as well as for the edification and encouragement of others whom I need not name. We read here of Pius II’s father, Silvius:
Hic tamen educatus ingenue litteris ediscendis traditus est; qui liberalibus artibus eruditus ubi adolevit, in militiam profectus variisque casibus actus tandem domum rediit, vendictaque patrimonii tenui portione, Victoriam ex domo Forteguerrarum, qui patroni sunt ecclesiae Senensis, quamvis nobilem virginem tamen pauperem duxit uxorem; quae adeo fecunda fuit, ut saepe gemellos pepererit. Ex ea Silvius duodevinginti liberos sustulit, non tamen ulta decem semel aggregavit, quos urgente inopia Corsiniani (quod est oppidum vallis Urciae) nutrivit. Sed omnes tandem iniqua lues extinxit, duabus tamen sororibus, Laudomia et Catherina, cum Aenea superstitibus.
Educated as a gentleman ought to be, he was directed unto a thorough knowledge of letters; who, once versed in the liberal arts, when he had grown older, joined the army and, having had diverse adventures, returned home, and having claimed a small inheritence, he married a virgin of noble blood, though poor, Victoria, of the house of Forteguerri, who are patrons of the church of Siena; this woman was so fertile that frequently she gave birth to twins. From so rich a soil Silvius reaped a harvest of 18 children, though not more than 10 was his flock at any one time. These he raised, amidst pressing poverty, at Corsignano, which is a town in the Val d’Orcia. But at last the cruel plague snuffed them all out, though there were three survivors: Aeneas and his two sisters, Laodamia and Caterina.
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort,
Pope St. Pius X,
St. Joseph,
St. Ambrose of Milan,
St. Thomas Aquinas,
St. Francis (and St. Clare),
St. Catherine of Siena,
St. Alphonsus Ligouri,
St. John Chrysostom,
Note that Pius I reigned long, long before Pius II. Pius II’s name before his election was Aeneas. I bet that his choice of the name Pius was some sort of allusion to “pius Aeneas,” the usual name-epithet combination that Vergil uses for the founder of the Roman race.
As a long time student and friend of Reginaldus I too was introduced to the joys of reading Pius II’s wonderful Latin and his fascinating stories. As a matter of fact, I have had the volumes of his writings released by the Bibliotheca Apostolica specially bound. I will have to check into these new volumes. Thanks for the tip.
I’m intrigued: how does one get books from the Bibliotheca Apostolica?
I didn’t say this in the post, but the downside to this series from Harvard is that there is an English translation on the facing page. I suppose that, financially, for them, there just wouldn’t be another way to handle it.
The one thing I like about the facing page translation is that you can have the current place-names without consulting a specialized dictionary. Also names of people. And then sometimes you can also see cool etymologies like the following in Book I, Chapter 5, “Ubi, apprehenso portu, Aeneas ex voto decem milia passuum ad Beatam Virginem quam de Alba Ecclesia vocitant nudis pedibus profectus . . .” and the translators indicate that this is the Blessed Virgin of Whitekirk. Kirk, kirche, very interesting to see.
Other place-names which I enjoyed seeing:
Saubadia = Savoy
Aqua Grani = Aix
Leodius = Liege
and so forth.
Here is the link to the book at amazon.com.
“I bet that his choice of the name Pius was some sort of allusion to “pius Aeneas,”"
Wow, that would be clever. I wouldn’t have thought of it.
Yes, Tobias, this was a fine observation. It fits well with Pius’ playful and literary character.