{"prosper-epigrammata-obtrectatorem/1":{"o":"Quidam dictiloqui libros senis Augustini / Carpere, et adversum condere fertur opus. / Usque adeone bonum ingenium, et facundia dives, / Ostentare artem non aliter potuit; / In nova prostratas acies nisi bella cieret, / Impiaque exstinctis hostibus arma daret. / Hæc pugna, incentor, mors est tua, te stylus iste / Conficit, et verbis perderis ipse tuis. / Dumque doces quantum valeat mens libera, monstras / Velle tuum tibimet sufficere ut pereas. / Verte gradum, fuge perniciem; stratosque rebelles / Oris apostolici fulmine ubique vide. / Nec te mutato defendi nomine credas. / Si pastorem ovium lædere vis, lupus es.","t":"A certain wordy man is said to be picking at the books\nof old Augustine and composing a work against them.\nCould so good a talent and so rich an eloquence\nshow off its art in no other way\nthan by stirring the routed ranks to new wars\nand giving impious arms to enemies already dead?\nThis fight, instigator, is your death; that pen of yours\ndestroys you, and you perish by your own words.\nAnd while you teach how much the free mind can do, you show\nthat your own will is enough for you to perish.\nTurn your step, flee destruction; and see the rebels\nlaid low everywhere by the lightning of the apostolic mouth.\nAnd do not think yourself defended by a change of name:\nif you wish to hurt the shepherd of the sheep, you are a wolf.","f":"Prosper of Aquitaine, <i>Epigr. obtr.</i> 1 (PL 51; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prosper-epigrammata-obtrectatorem/1)."},"prosper-epigrammata-obtrectatorem/15":{"o":"Contra Augustinum narratur serpere quidam / Scriptor, quem dudum livor adussit edax: / Qui captum obscuris contectum utcumque cavernis / Tollere humo miserum perpulit anguiculum. / Aut hunc fruge sua æquorei pavere Britanni, / Aut huic Campano gramine corda tument. Quæ concepta fovet promat, quæ parturit edat; Seu vetere armatur dogmate, sive novo. / In quoscumque sinus spirarum torqueat orbes, / Et fallax multa contegat arte caput; / Currentem attritos super aspidas et basiliscos / Declinare senem vipera non poterit.","t":"A certain writer is said to be creeping against Augustine,\none whom devouring envy has long since scorched;\nwho drove the wretched little snake, hidden somehow\nin dark caves, to lift itself from the ground.\nEither the Britons of the sea fed this man with their crop,\nor his heart swells with Campanian grass.\nLet him bring out what he has conceived and cherishes, give birth to what he is in labor with,\nwhether he arms himself with an old dogma or a new one.\nInto whatever folds he twists the coils of his body,\nand however much art he uses to cover his deceitful head,\nthe viper will not be able to turn aside the old man\nas he runs over trampled asps and basilisks.","f":"Prosper of Aquitaine, <i>Epigr. obtr.</i> 15 (PL 51:151; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prosper-epigrammata-obtrectatorem/15)."}}