Primary source · Latin
The Dialogues
Gregory the Great · AD 593
What this text is
Gregory's four books of the saints of Italy — Benedict's life at their center — and, in Book III, the flood-miracle at the church of Zeno that fixed the Veronese bishop's cult two centuries after his death.
Public-domain translations
Working translation (from the Latin)
When the Adige overflowed and rose to the very windows of the church of Zeno the martyr, the water stood at the open doors as if it were a wall, and did not enter; and the people within stood dry at their prayers. (Dial. III.19)
Manuscript witnesses
Early medieval tradition
8th c. onwardAmong the most widely copied books of the Latin Middle Ages.
Patrologia Latina, vol. 77 (Migne)
1849Standard pre-critical text.
Provenance
Rome; miracles of the Italian fathers, told to the deacon Peter
Editions & scholarship
Critical editions and standard translations behind the text above.
- Grégoire le Grand: Dialogues (SC 251, 260, 265)Adalbert de Vogüé, 1978–1980The critical edition with French translation.
- Saint Gregory the Great: Dialogues (FOC 39)Odo John Zimmerman, 1959Standard English translation.