Chapter II.
“ have
assembled, my pious and eloquent friends, to hear me; but, as I
presume, you have brought to the task religious rather than learned
ears; for you are to listen to me simply as a witness to the faith, and
not as speaking with the fluency of an orator. Now, I shall not repeat
the things which were spoken yesterday: those who did not hear them can
become acquainted with them by means of the written records. Postumianus expects something new, intending to make known what he hears to the East, that it may not, when Martin is brought into comparison, esteem itself above the West. And first, my mind inclines to set forth an incident respecting which Refrigerius has just whispered in my ear: the affair took place in the city of Carnutes. A certain father of a family ventured to bring to Martin his daughter of twelve years old, who had been dumb from her birth, begging that the blessed man would loose, by his pious merits, her tongue, which was thus tied. He, giving way to the bishops Valentinus and Victricius, who then happened to be by his
side, declared that he was unequal to so great
an undertaking, but that nothing was impossible to them, as if holier
than himself. But they, adding their pious entreaties, with suppliant
voices, to those of the father, begged Martin to accomplish what was
hoped for. He made no further delay,—being admirable in both
respects, in the display, first of all, of humility, and then in not
putting off a pious duty,—but orders the crowd of people standing
round to be removed; and while the bishops only, and the father of the
girl, were present, he prostrates himself in prayer, after his usual
fashion. He then blesses a little oil, while he utters the formula of
exorcism; and holding the tongue of the girl with his fingers, he thus
pours the consecrated liquid into her mouth. Nor did the result of the
power thus exerted disappoint the holy man. He asks her the name of her
father, and she instantly replied. The father cries out, embracing the
knees of Martin, with a mixture of joy and tears; and while all around
are amazed, he confesses that then for the first time he listened to
the voice of his daughter. And that this may not appear incredible to
any one, let Evagrius, who is here, furnish you with a testimony of its
truth; for the thing took place in his very presence.