Library › St Gregory of Tours › History of the Franks
History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 4, 33. Of the Abbot Sunniulf
At this time also passed away the abbot of the same monastery, who was succeeded by Sunniulf, a man of perfect singleness and charity. Many a time would he himself wash the feet of guests, and dry them with his own hands His one failing was that he sought to rule the flock committed to his charge not by inspiring fear, but by entreaty. He himself used to relate that he once had a vision in which he was led to a river of flame into which peoples, running together from one part of the bank, plunged like bees seeking their hives. Some were immersed to the waist, others to the armpits, some to the chin; and all cried with lamentations that they were grievously burned. Over the river was built a bridge so narrow that it was scarce broad enough for a single man to pass, and on the farther bank appeared a great house all whitened without. Then he asked those who were with him the signification of these things. But they replied: ‘From this bridge shall fall headlong whosoever shall be found remiss in the strict governance of the flock entrusted to him; but whosoever shall have proved strenuous, passeth without danger, and is brought with joy into the house which thou seest yonder.’ At these words he was roused from his sleep and thereafter showed himself severer to his monks.