Edwardus, duodecimo anno regni sui, cum pranderet apud Windlesore, ubi plurimum manere solebat, Godwinus gener suus et proditor, recumbens iuxta eum, dixit: 'Sepe tibi rex falso delatum est me prodicioni tue inuigilasse. Sed si Deus celi uerax et iustus est, hoc panis frustrulum concedat ne michi guttur pertranseat, si umquam te prodere uel cogitauerim.' Deus autem uerax et iustus audiuit uocem proditoris, et mox eodem pane strangulatus, mortem pregustauit eternam.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A lord claims innocence while choking on bread; the author interprets his death as divine punishment for treason.
- In plain terms
- A man denies betrayal but dies instantly after making a holy vow on his food.
- What can you take from it?
- Hypocritical vows can lead to immediate and severe consequences.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can divine justice be verified?
- Is oaths on food a binding vow?
Another view
It frames death as supernatural punishment, which is unprovable.
More from Henry of Huntingdon
Circa hoc tempus Siwardus consul fortissimus Nordhymbre, pene gigas statura, manu uero et mente predura, misit filium suum in Scotiam conquirendam. Quem cum be…
Permalink to quote #4 Siwardus, consul rigidissimus, pro fluuio uentris ductus mortem sensit imminere. Dixitque, 'Quantus pudor me tot in bellis mori non potuisse, et uaccarum morti…
Permalink to quote #6 Quod cum in maximo uigore floreret imperii, sedile suum in littore maris cum ascenderet statui iussit. Dixit autem mari ascendenti: 'Tu mee dicionis es, et ter…
Permalink to quote #3
Related quotes
Stand us against a wall and shoot us, well and good, you are victors. But why should I be brought before a Tribunal like a c-c-c-... I can't even get the word …
Robert LeyRobert Ley quote #1 Accordingly, death is a harbor of peace for the just, but is believed a shipwreck for the wicked.
AmbroseAmbrose quote #1 Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land.
HammurabiHammurabi quote #1