Sources and translations

This blog provides our draft translation of Carolingian texts, mostly linked to Hincmar of Rheims or the divorce of Lothar II and Theutberga.


The texts translated are as follows:


Page references are given in square brackets in the translation. All these translations are works in progress and have not been checked for errors or readability. Readers are strongly advised to check the Latin text themselves.


Saturday 27 January 2007

Interrogatio 13

And tell us in the sixth chapter, if this king, after he heard these things about his aforementioned wife and had suspended carnal business with her, had perhaps committed adultery with a concubine, and this came to the notice of many people, then by what medicinal judgement should it be healed? And if it happens to come about that a man obliges himself by oath to try to do something which is illicit, should he fulfil his oath so that he does not commit perjury, or should he not do what he wrongly swore to do, so that he does not usher in a crime? And whether it is true, as many men say, that there are women who by their evildoing are able to provoke inreconcilable hatred between man and wife, and to sow an ineffable love between a man and woman. [So that] a man is unable to engage in marital commerce with his wife, yet is able to sleep with other women; but that by the same evil doing, the power of sleeping with someone and of love, formerly enjoyed, can be restored by the art of witches. And tell us what is the reason for which God allows such things, it is said, to happen in legitimate marriage. And if such male sorcerers or female witches should be found, what should be done about them?

No comments: