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Ergo xvi kal. marcii Lodhuvicus et Karolus in civitate que olim Argentaria vocabatur, nunc autem Strazburg vulgo dicitur,
convenerunt et sacramenta que subter notata sunt, Lodhuvicus romana, Karolus vero teudisca lingva, juraverunt. Ac sic, ante
sacramentum circumfusam plebem, alter teudisca, alter romana lingua, alloquuti sunt. Lodhuvicus autem, quia major natu, prior
exorsus sic coepit:
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So, Louis and Charles met on 16th February in the town that used to be called Argentaria but which is commonly now
known as Strazburg, and they swore the oaths given below, Louis in Romance and Charles in German. But before swearing the oaths,
they made speeches in German and Romance. Being the elder, Louis began, as follows:
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“Quotiens Lodharius me et hunc fratrum meum, post obitum patris nostri, insectando usque ad internecionem delere conatus sit
nostis. Cum autem nec fraternitas nec christianitas nec quodlibet ingenium, salva justicia, ut pax inter nos esset, adjuvare
posset, tandem coacti rem ad juditium omnipotentis Dei detulimus, ut suo nutu quid cuique deberetur contenti essemus.
“In quo nos, sicut nostis, per misericordiam Dei victores extitimus, is autem victus una cum suis quo valuit secessit. Hinc
vero, fraterno amore correpti nec non et super populum christianum conpassi, persequi atque delere illos noluimus, sed hactenus,
sicut et antea, ut saltem deinde cuique sua justicia cederetur mandavimus.
“At ille post haec non contentus judicio divino, sed hostili manu iterum et me et hunc fratrem meum persequi non cessat,
insuper et populum nostrum incendiis, rapinis cedibusque devastat. Quamobrem nunc, necessitate coacti, convenimus et, quoniam vos
de nostra stabili fide ac firma fraternitate dubitare credimus, hoc sacramentum inter nos in conspectu vestro jurare
decrevimus.
“Non qualibet iniqua cupiditate illecti hoc agimus, sed ut certiores, si Deus nobis vestro adjutorio quietem dederit, de
communi profectu simus. Si autem, quod absit, sacramentum quod fratri meo juravero violare praesumpsero, a subditione mea necnon
et a juramento quod mihi jurastis *unumquemque vestrum absolvo”
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“Let it be known how many times Lothair has — since our father died — attempted to destroy me and this brother of mine,
committing massacres in his pursuit of us. But since neither brotherhood nor Christianity nor any natural inclination, save
justice, has been able to bring peace between us, we have been forced to take the matter to the judgement of almighty God, so
that we may accept whatever His will is.
“The result was, as you all know, that by the Grace of God we came out as victors, and that he, defeated, went back to his
people where he was stronger. But then, motivated by brotherly love and compassion for Christendom, we decided not to pursue and
destroy them; instead, until now, we have asked him to at least submit to justice as in the past.
“But he, despite this, not content with God's judgement, does not cease to come after me and this brother of mine with his
armies. Moreover, he is devastating our people by burning, pillaging and murdering. That is why we now, driven by necessity, are
having this meeting, and, since we believe that you doubt our firm faith and brotherhood, we shall swear this oath between us
before all of you.
“This act is not in bad faith, but simply so that, if God gives us peace thanks to your help, we may be certain that a common
benefit will come of it. Should I — God forbid — break the oath which I am about to swear to my brother, I release you from my
sovereignty over you and from the oath that you have all sworn to me.”
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“Pro Deo amur et pro Christian poblo et nostro commun salvament, d'ist di in avant, in quant Deus savir et podir me dunat, si
salvarai eo cist meon fradre Karlo et in ajudha et in cadhuna cosa, si cum om per dreit son fradra salvar dift, in o quid il me
altresi fazet, et ab Ludher nul plaid numquam prindrai, qui, meon vol, cist meon fradre Karle in damno sit.”
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“For the love of God and for Christendom and our common salvation, from this day onwards, as God will give me the wisdom and
power, I shall protect this brother of mine Charles, with aid or anything else, as one ought to protect one's brother, so that he
may do the same for me, and I shall never knowingly make any covenant with Lothair that would harm this brother of mine
Charles.”
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“In godes minna ind in thes christiânes folches ind unsêr bêdhero gehaltnissî, fon thesemo dage frammordes, sô fram sô mir got
gewizci indi mahd furgibit, sô haldih thesan mînan bruodher, sôso man mit rehtu sînan bruodher scal, in thiu thaz er mig sô sama
duo, indi mit Ludheren in nohheiniu thing ne gegango, the mînan willon imo ce scadhen werdhên.”
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“For the love of God and Christendom and the salvation of us both, from this day on, as God will give me the wisdom and power,
I shall protect this brother of mine, as one ought to protect one's brother, so that he may do the same for me, and I shall never
go along with Lothair in anything that, by my will, would harm him [Louis].”
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“Si Lodhwigs sagrament que son fradre Karlo jurat conservat et Karlus, meos sendra, de suo part n lostanit, si io returnar non
l'int pois, ne io ne neuls cui eo returnar int pois, in nulla ajudha contra Lodhuwig nun li iu er.”
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“If Louis keeps the oath that he has sworn to his brother Charles, and Charles, my lord, on the other hand breaks it, and if I
cannot dissuade him from it — neither I nor anyone that I can dissuade from it — then I shall not help him in any way against
Louis.”
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“Oba Karl then eid, then er sînemo bruodher Ludhuwîge gesuor, geleistit, indi Ludhuwîg mîn hêrro then er imo gesuor
forbrihchit, ob ih inan es irwenden ne mag: noh ih noh thero nohhein, then ih es irwenden mag, widhar Karlo imo ce follusti ne
wirdhit.”
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“If Charles keeps the oath that he has sworn to his brother Louis, and Louis, my lord, on the other hand breaks the oath he
has sworn, and if I cannot dissuade him from it — neither I nor anyone that I can dissuade from it — then I shall not follow him
against Charles.”
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