Hi There, I'm working on a medieval sermon, and I'm finding the intro challenging. I have included the intro below and my translation. Thanks for any help you can porovide.
Factum est, etc. Draconi quem propheta factum esse ait ad
Illudendun ei tunc illudimus cum versutias ejus machinamentaque
et praelia subdola per virtutem declinamus. Hoc autem ut nunc et
olim fiat, implorandum est illius auxilium pro qua ad eum comminatus
est Dominus dicens: et ipsa conteret caput tuum. Contrivit enim
quia nulli unquam peccato subjacuit, nec originali quidem; alioquin
caput draconis, initium videlicet peccati, nequaquam contrivisset,
quin potius serpens se Virginis caput prius attrivisse et conculcasse
gloriari potuisset, comminantique Domino quod Maria contereret
caput suum, procaci mordacitate respondere valuisset: et ego
conteram prius suum. Quod a nostra credulitate procul absit, quatenus
de ea pie sentientes piam et nostris precibus exorabilem mereamur.
Cui pro gratia Spiritus Sancti impetranda, praesentemus Ave angelicum
dicentes: Ave Maria.
And there was [a great battle in heaven], etc. (Rev.12.7) We fool the dragon, whom the prophet said was made to play therein (i.e., in the sea. Ps. 103:26), when we deflect his crafts, machinations, and deceitful battles through our virtue. In this, let it be now and in the future, His help must be implored before whom the lord threatened saying, “and she will crush your head” (Gen. 3:15). For, she crushed [the serpent’s head] because she had not ever been subject to any sin, nor, indeed the original [sin]. Otherwise, she would have by no means destroyed the head of the dragon, namely the beginning of sin; but rather the serpent would have been able to boast that he first diminished and trampled the head of the virgin. And to the Lord, then threatening that Mary should have crushed his head, the serpent could have been able to respond with an impudent bite: "and I will crush her [head] first." [But] Let that [idea] be far from our faith, so that by feeling affectionately toward her, we might gain [a Mary who is] devoted and receptive to our prayers. To whom, let us give forth the greeting of the angles, according to the grace that must be obtained of the Holy Spirit, saying “Hail Mary!”
Factum est, etc. Draconi quem propheta factum esse ait ad
Illudendun ei tunc illudimus cum versutias ejus machinamentaque
et praelia subdola per virtutem declinamus. Hoc autem ut nunc et
olim fiat, implorandum est illius auxilium pro qua ad eum comminatus
est Dominus dicens: et ipsa conteret caput tuum. Contrivit enim
quia nulli unquam peccato subjacuit, nec originali quidem; alioquin
caput draconis, initium videlicet peccati, nequaquam contrivisset,
quin potius serpens se Virginis caput prius attrivisse et conculcasse
gloriari potuisset, comminantique Domino quod Maria contereret
caput suum, procaci mordacitate respondere valuisset: et ego
conteram prius suum. Quod a nostra credulitate procul absit, quatenus
de ea pie sentientes piam et nostris precibus exorabilem mereamur.
Cui pro gratia Spiritus Sancti impetranda, praesentemus Ave angelicum
dicentes: Ave Maria.
And there was [a great battle in heaven], etc. (Rev.12.7) We fool the dragon, whom the prophet said was made to play therein (i.e., in the sea. Ps. 103:26), when we deflect his crafts, machinations, and deceitful battles through our virtue. In this, let it be now and in the future, His help must be implored before whom the lord threatened saying, “and she will crush your head” (Gen. 3:15). For, she crushed [the serpent’s head] because she had not ever been subject to any sin, nor, indeed the original [sin]. Otherwise, she would have by no means destroyed the head of the dragon, namely the beginning of sin; but rather the serpent would have been able to boast that he first diminished and trampled the head of the virgin. And to the Lord, then threatening that Mary should have crushed his head, the serpent could have been able to respond with an impudent bite: "and I will crush her [head] first." [But] Let that [idea] be far from our faith, so that by feeling affectionately toward her, we might gain [a Mary who is] devoted and receptive to our prayers. To whom, let us give forth the greeting of the angles, according to the grace that must be obtained of the Holy Spirit, saying “Hail Mary!”
