EVAGRIUS PONTICUS
33 KEPHALAIA  §17-33
(Chapters / Sentences: Definitions on Proverbs)
 

 

Translation by Luke Dysinger, O.S.B.  (translation in public domain)

Sentences 18-33 of the 33 Kephalaia shift from allegorical definitions of diseases mentioned in the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy to terms found in Proverbs 30.  This collection is sometimes referred to as Definitions on Proverbs (as distinct from the Scholia on Proverbs)  In his translation of these texts Sinkewicz (229-230) found it helpful to list the relevant sections from the Book of Proverbs.  I have followed his example here: but it should be noted that this is a collection of sentences, rather than scholia, and that these underlying biblical texts are not found in Evagrius text.

33 Chapters § 17-33 text

 

 

 

 

EVAGRIUS the MONK: 33 KEPHALAIA §17-33
 ARRANGED in an ORDERLY SEQUENCE
(alt.title in PG & CPG: Definitions of  the Reasoning Soul's Passions
 Capitula xxxiii: definitiones passionum animae rationalis )

ΕΥΑΓΡΙΟΥ ΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ ΚΕΦΑΛΙΑ ΛΓ´  ΚΑΤ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΑΝ
Οροι παθων ψυχης λογικης

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (from CPG: Codd., var. readings: J. Muyldermans, À Travers, p. 70, ff. (see below).  Note ch. 17-33 “sumpta videntur e quodam” Evagrius, Schol. on Proverbs; c.f. A. & C. Guillaumont in Dsp IV (1960) col 1735. ff.  Gehin, Sources Chretiennes, 340, (Paris: Cerf, 1987), 486

CPG 2442 PG 40.1264D-1268B) [Capitula xxxiii: Clavis PG 2442;  Patrologia Graeca 40:1264D-1268B = Suarèz (1673).].

 

 

24 And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:  25 the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer; 26 the hedgehogs also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks. 27 The locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command.  28 And the [gecko], which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
          Proverbs 30.24-28

 24  τέσσαρα δέ ἐστιν ἐλάχιστα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ταῦτα δέ ἐστιν σοφώτερα τῶν σοφῶν 25  οἱ μύρμηκες οἷς μὴ ἔστιν ἰσχὺς καὶ ἑτοιμάζονται θέρους τὴν τροφήν 26  καὶ οἱ χοιρογρύλλιοι ἔθνος οὐκ ἰσχυρόν οἳ ἐποιήσαντο ἐν πέτραις τοὺς ἑαυτῶν οἴκους 27  ἀβασίλευτόν ἐστιν ἡ ἀκρὶς καὶ ἐκστρατεύει ἀφ᾽ ἑνὸς κελεύσματος εὐτάκτως 28  καὶ καλαβώτης χερσὶν ἐρειδόμενος καὶ εὐάλωτος ὢν κατοικεῖ ἐν ὀχυρώμασιν βασιλέως

 

 

  17.  The ant is an ascetical (praktikos) human being who gathers his nourishment in this present age.

ΙΖʹ. Μύρμηξ, ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος πρακτικὸς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τροφὴν ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ παρασκευάζων.

 

 

  18. Hedgehogs (Ps.103:18) are the unclean peoples who receive the commandments of our Savior Christ.

ΙΗʹ. Χοιρογρύλλιοι, εἰσὶν ἔθνη ἀκάθαρτα τὰς ἐντολὰς δεξάμενα τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Χριστοῦ.

 

 

  19 Kingless locusts (Pr 30:27; Lev 11:30) are the reasoning souls unshaken by death and nourished by the seeds.

ΙΘʹ. Ἀβασίλευτοι ἀκρίδες, ψυχαὶ λογικαὶ μὴ σαλευόμεναι ὑπὸ τοῦ θανάτου καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν σπερμάτων διατρεφόμεναι.

 

 

  20.Gecko (spotted lizard) (Pr 30:28; Lev 11:30) is the ascetic (praktikos) intellect that relies on the virtues and dwells in the knowledge of the heavenly powers.

Κʹ. Ἀσκαλαβότης, ἔστι νοῦς πρακτικὸς, ἐπερειδόμενος ἀρεταῖς καὶ κατοικῶν ἐν ταῖς γνώσεσι τῶν οὐρανίων δυνάμεων.

 

 
[Gehin: 8] King is a human being worthy of the kingdom of heaven, trained to teach others. [Gehin 8 ] Βασιλεύς ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος καταξιωθεὶς τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν διδάσκειν ἑτέρους πεπαιδευμένος.

Not in PG: See Paul Gehin (ed.), Evagre le Pontique, Scholies aux Proverbes, Sources Chretiennes, 340, (Paris: Cerf, 1987), 486.   MS. Ambrosianus C 69 sup, fol. 212r.

  

 

 


And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.30 A lion cub, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast; 31 and a rooster walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
          Proverbs 30.29-31

29 τρία δέ ἐστιν ἃ εὐόδως πορεύεται καὶ τὸ τέταρτον ὃ καλῶς διαβαίνει 30  σκύμνος λέοντος ἰσχυρότερος κτηνῶν ὃς οὐκ ἀποστρέφεται οὐδὲ καταπτήσσει κτῆνος 31  καὶ ἀλέκτωρ ἐμπεριπατῶν θηλείαις εὔψυχος καὶ τράγος ἡγούμενος αἰπολίου καὶ βασιλεὺς δημηγορῶν ἐν ἔθνει

  21. The lion cub (Pr. 30.30)  is the dispassionate human being ruling over the beasts that come into being within him.

ΚΑʹ. Σκύμνος λέοντος, ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ἀπαθὴς τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ γενομένων βασιλεύσας θηρίων. 40.1268

 

 

  22. Rooster (Pr 30:31) is the spiritual human being filled with knowledge who proclaims to other souls the good news of the day brought into being by the noetic [intelligible] sun

ΚΒʹ. Ἀλεκτρυὼν, ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος πνευματικὸς πληρούμενος γνώσεως καὶ ἑτέραις εὐαγγελιζόμενος ψυχαῖς τὴν παρὰ τοῦ νοητοῦ ἡλίου γενομένην ἡμέραν.

 

 

  23.  Goat (Pr 30:31) is the ascetic (praktikos) who properly governs the disorderly [tempting-]thoughts within him.

ΚΓʹ. Τράγος, ἔστιν ἀνὴρ πρακτικὸς τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ ἀτάκτων λογισμῶν ὀρθῶς καθηγούμενος.

 

 


15 The leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.  16 Hades, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.  17 The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the crows of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
          Proverbs 30.15-17

 15  τῇ βδέλλῃ τρεῖς θυγατέρες ἦσαν ἀγαπήσει ἀγαπώμεναι καὶ αἱ τρεῖς αὗται οὐκ ἐνεπίμπλασαν αὐτήν καὶ ἡ τετάρτη οὐκ ἠρκέσθη εἰπεῖν ἱκανόν  16  ᾅδης καὶ ἔρως γυναικὸς καὶ τάρταρος καὶ γῆ οὐκ ἐμπιπλαμένη ὕδατος καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ πῦρ οὐ μὴ εἴπωσιν ἀρκεῖ  17  ὀφθαλμὸν καταγελῶντα πατρὸς καὶ ἀτιμάζοντα γῆρας μητρός ἐκκόψαισαν αὐτὸν κόρακες ἐκ τῶν φαράγγων καὶ καταφάγοισαν αὐτὸν νεοσσοὶ ἀετῶν

 

 

  24.  Leech (Pr. 30:15) is impure nature sucking the just blood from reasoning souls.

Κ∆ʹ. Βδέλλα, ἔστι φύσις ἀκάθαρτος τὸ δίκαιον αἶμα ἐκ τῶν λογικῶν ψυχῶν ἐκμυζῶσα.

 

 

  25.  Hades (Pr 30:16) is ignorance of the reasoning nature, arising from its deprival of the contemplation of God

ΚΕʹ. Ἅδης, ἔστιν ἄγνοια φύσεως λογικῆς κατὰ στέρησιν τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ θεωρίας ἐπισυμβαίνουσα.

adding τῆς per Suarez and Muyld. p. 71.

  

 

 

  26.  Woman (Pr 30:16) is imprudence of the reasoning soul summoning the soul to impurity.

Κϛʹ. Γυνὴ, ἔστιν ἀφροσύνη λογικὰς ψυχὰς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίαν προσκαλουμένη.

 

 

  27.  Earth (Pr 30:16) is the worst habit, compounded of impiety and lawlessness.

ΚΖʹ. Γῆ, ἔστιν ἕξις χειρίστη ἐξ ἀσεβείας καὶ παρανομίας συλλεγομένη.

 

 

  28. Fire (Pr 30:16) is the reasoning nature’s vice, destroying the virtues of God

ΚΗʹ. Πῦρ, ἔστι κακία φύσεως λογικῆς φθαρτικὴ τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀρετῶν.

 

 

  29. Water (Pr 30:16) is false knowledge that quenches true knowledge

ΚΘʹ. Ὕδωρ, ἔστι γνῶσις ψευδὴς σβεστικὴ γνώσεως ἀληθοῦς.

 

 

  30.  The scornful eye (Pr 30.17) is the unclean nature that scorns the knowledge of God and has contempt for the wisdom that is in beings.

Λʹ. Ὀφθαλμὸς καταγελῶν, ἔστι φύσις ἀκάθαρτος τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ καταγελῶσα γνώσεως καὶ ἀτιμάζουσα τὴν ἐν τοῖς γεγονόσι σοφίαν.

 

 

  31.  Crows (Pr 30.17) are holy powers destroying the vices.

ΛΑʹ. Κόρακες, εἰσὶ δυνάμεις ἅγιαι, φθαρτικαὶ τῶν κακιῶν.

In Pr 294 (pp.386-387)

  

 

 

  32.  Valleys  (Pr 30.17) are reasoning souls emptied out by vice and ignorance.

ΛΒʹ. Φάραγγες, [3]εἰσὶ ψυχαὶ λογικαὶ κοιλανθεῖσαι ἀπὸ κακίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας.

* In Pr 294 (pp.386-387)

  

 

 

  33.  Young eagles (Pr 30.17) are holy powers entrusted with striking down the impure.

ΛΓʹ. Νεοσσοὶ ἀετῶν, [4]εἰσὶ δυνάμεις ἅγιαι τοὺς ἀκαθάρτους καταβάλλειν πεπιστευμέναι.

In Pr 294 (pp.386-387) See Oct Spir 1 for another def. of young eagles.

  

 

 

 

 

 

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