The Legend Of The Quatuor Coronati.

faciebat , non erant convenientia . Quodam autem die dixit ad Symplicium Nicostratus : Prater , quomodo tibi ferramentum tunm conf ringitur ? Simplicius dicit , Rogo te tempera mihri ut non confringatnr . Respondit

Claudius , et dixit : Da mihi omne ingenium artis . Et dum dedisset omnem sculpturam ferri , dixit Claudius : In nomine domini Ihesu Christi , sit hoc ferrum forte , et sannm ad facienda opera . Et ab eadem hora cepit

Simplicius omnen artem quadratariam cum ferramento suo , sicnt Simphorianus bene et recte operari . Tunc Simplicius miro amore et studio cepit inquirere a Simphoriano quod esset genus temperamenti , quia

nunqnam frangebantur argumenta ferramentorum , quod ante nonita erat . Dicit ei Simphorianus , unacum Claudio : Ergo frater miraris intemperatione ferramentorum ? Creator qui est omnium ipse facturam suam

confortabit . Respondit Simplicius ad Simphorianum et dixit . Nunquid deus Jovis ipse non fecit omnia hec ? Respondit Claudius : Frater age

pemtentiam quia blasphemasti , nesciens quid loquaris . Deus quern nos confitemur ipse omnia creavit , et Ihesus . Christus Alius ejus dominus noster et spiritus sanctus , non autem quem tu dicis dominum . Quare non cognoscis quia ex nostris

manibus exculpitnr ? Nescis quia et solemnospersculpturam artis fecimus , et ipsum ninhil est ? Eadem die ipsis altercantibus , jussit Diocilitianus Augustus ex metallo porphyritico pegas et conchas siillis

g ornatas cavari . Tunc Simphorianus , Claudius , Castorius et Nicostratus ceperunt in nomine Christi cavare conchas , et pegas , et lacos cum sigillis et centaris , cum magna tennitate artis . Simplicius vero

quicquid in artem misisset mann , confringebatur . Tunc dixit ad Simphorianum : Adjnro te per deum Solem , ut dicas mihi quis est iste deus qui omnia creavit , in cujus nomine vos artem bene operamini . Respondit

Claudius ad Simplicium , et dixit : Placitum est insensu et visu oculorum tuorum quod nos facimus ? Respondit Simplicius et dixit : video nescio

whatever he did was of no use . But on a certain clay Nicostratus said to Simplicius : My brother , how is it your tool is broken ? Simplicius said : I teg you temper it for me that it may not break . Claudius replied , and

said : Give me all the implements of your art . And when he had given him his carving tools , Claudius said : In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ let this iron he strong and fit to work with . And from that hour Simplicius began his carving with his own tool , like Simphorian , well and properly .

Then Simplicius , in his wonderful love and zeal , began to enquire what was the kind of tempering , because the fittings of his tools were never broken , which was not so before . Simphorian and' Claudius say to him : Da yon ,

then , brother , wonder at the tempering of the tools ? He who is the Creator of all things will show kindness to his creation . Simplicius replied , to Simphorian , and said : Did not the God of Jove Himself do all these things ?

Claudius replied : M y brother , repent , for thou hast blasphemed , not knowing what you say . The God whom we confess Himself created all things , and Jesus Christ , His son , is our Lord , but not whom you call Lord .

Why , do ye not know that we carve with our own hands ? and do ye not know by our art of carving we fashion this image of the sun , which in itself is nothing : ?

On the same day as they were disputing , Dioclitian Augustus gave orders for fountains and shells ornamented with images , to be hollowed out of the metal of pophyry . Then Simphorian , Claudius , Castorius , and

Nicostratus began , in the name of Christ , to hollow shells , fountains , tanks with images and drinking cups , with a great delicacy of art . But whatever Simplicius took in his hand for his work was broken in pieces .

Then he said to Simphorian : I adjure thee , by the god , the sun , to tell me who is that God of yours who created all things , in whose name you do your work so well ? Claudius replied to him , and said : Is what we do agreeable . toyoursenseandsightP Simplicius Q 2