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Duodecim abusivis saeculi
De duodecim abusivis saeculi is a treatise on social and political morality written by an anonymous Irish author between 630 and 700. During the Middle Ages the work was very popular throughout Europe.
Background
The work was first propagated throughout Europe by Irish missionaries in the 8th century. Its authorship was attributed at different times to Saint Patrick, Saint Augustine, but mainly Saint Cyprian of Carthage -- men of such authority that it explains its acceptance and popularity. It was not until 1909 that Siegmund Hellmann revealed its Pseudo-Cyprian origins to an anonymous Irish author of the 7th century. Hellmann points out the extensive influence of the work upon Carolingian and later political literature.
Duodecim abusivis saeculi
De duodecim condemns the following 12 abuses:
| Abusivis | Abuse |
|---|---|
| sapiens sine operibus | the wise man without works |
| senex sine religione | the old man without religion |
| adolescens sine oboedientia | the young man without obedience |
| dives sine elemosyna | the rich man without charity |
| femina sine pudicitia | the woman without modesty |
| dominus sine virtute | the nobleman without virtue |
| Christianius contentiosus | the argumentative Christian |
| pauper superbus | the proud pauper |
| rex iniquus | the unjust king |
| episcopus neglegens | the neglectful bishop |
| plebs sine disciplina | the community without order |
| populus sine lege | the people without a law |
References
- Anton, Hans Hubert (1982), Pseudo-Cyprian: De duodecim abusivis saeculi und sein Einfluss auf den Kontinent, insbesondere auf die karolingischen Furstenspiegel in Lowe (1982), ii, pp. 568-617.
- S. Hellmann, Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, Harnack and Schmidt, vol. 34, Leipzig, 1910
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