Crowns of the Martyrs 11.1–14.97
Latin text: Lanfranchi, Opera (Turin 1898) (Latin text: Lanfranchi, Turin 1898 (public domain), via the Internet Archive OCR).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 11
11.1Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32
Innumeros cineres Sanctorum Romula in urbe Vidimus, o Christi Valeriane sacer. Incisos tumulis titulos, et singula quaeris Nomina? difficile est ut replicare queam. Tantos iustorum populos furor impius hausit, Quum coleret patrios Troia Roma deos. Plurima litterulis signata sepulcra loquuntur Martyris aut nomen, aut epigramma aliquod. Sunt et muta tamen tacitas claudentia tumbas Marmora, quae solum significant numerum. Quanta virum iaceant congestis corpora acervis Nosse licet, quorum nomina nulla legas. Sexaginta illic, defossas mole sub una, Reliquias memini me didicisse hominum, Quorum solus habet comperta vocabula Christus, Utpote quos propriae iunxit amicitiae. Haec dum lustro oculis, et sicubi forte latentes Rerum apices, veterum per monumenta sequor, Invenio Hippolytum, qui quondam schisma Novati Usque ad Martyrii provectum insigne, tulisse Lucida sanguinei praemia supplicii. Nec mirere senem, perversi dogmatis olim, Munere ditatum catholicae fidei. Quum iam vesano victor raperetur ab hoste, Exsultante anima carnis ad exitium, Consultus quaenam secta foret melior, Fugite, o miseri, exsecranda Novati Schismata, catholicis reddite vos populis. Una fides vigeat, prisco quae condita templo est : Quam Paulus retinet, quamque cathedra Petri. His dictis torsit laevo de tramite plebem, Monstravitque sequi, qua via dextra vocat, Seque ducem recti, spretis anfractibus, idem
Countless ashes of saints in the city of Romulus we have seen, O Valerian, consecrated to Christ. Do you ask for the titles cut on the tombs, and the individual names? It is hard for me to be able to unfold them. Impious fury drained such great peoples of the righteous, when Trojan Rome worshiped its ancestral gods. Many tombs, marked with little letters, tell either the name of a martyr or some epigram. But there are also mute marbles shutting in silent tombs, which indicate only the number. You may know how many bodies of men lie in heaped-up piles, of whom you can read no names. I remember learning that there the remains of sixty men lie buried under one mass, whose names Christ alone knows, as those whom he has joined in his own friendship. While I survey these things with my eyes, and follow through the monuments of the ancients any hidden traces of the facts, I find that Hippolytus, who had once [joined] the schism of Novatus, advanced to the glorious mark of martyrdom, bore the bright rewards of a bloody punishment. Do not wonder that the old man, once of a perverse doctrine, was enriched with the gift of the catholic faith. When, already victor, he was being snatched away by the raging enemy, his soul exulting at the death of the flesh, asked which sect was better, [he answered:] “Flee, wretched ones, the accursed schism of Novatus; return to the catholic peoples. Let the one faith flourish which was founded in the ancient temple, which Paul holds, and the chair of Peter.” With these words he turned the people from the left-hand path, and showed them to follow where the right way calls, and, spurning winding ways, he himself, as leader of the right,
Notes and citation
Summary: Writing to Bishop Valerian, the poet describes the countless martyrs’ tombs of Rome, many nameless, and the tomb of Hippolytus, once a follower of Novatian’s schism, who as a martyr urged his followers to return to the catholic Church of Peter and Paul.
- Peristephanon 11, addressed to Valerian (probably bishop of Calahorra). The poet identifies the martyr Hippolytus with a Novatianist presbyter, as written. The scan lacks a pentameter after ‘schisma Novati’ and a hexameter before ‘Consultus’; senses given in brackets. An editor’s footnote leaked into the verse and was removed. ‘Cathedra Petri’: the chair of Peter, as written.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Innumeros cineres Sanctorum Romnla in urbo Vidimus, o Christi Valeriane sacer. ncisos tnmnlis titulos, et singnla qnaeris Noniina? diificile est ut replicare qneam. Tantos instornm popnlos furor impins hausit, Qnum coleret patrios Trola Eoma deos. Pluriina littcrulis signata sepulcra loquuntur Martyris aut nomen, aut epigramma aliquod. Suiit et muta tamen tacitas claudentia tumbas Marmora, quae solum significant numeram. Quanta virum iaccant congestis corpora acervis Nosse licet. quorum nomina nulla leg Sexaginta illic, defossas mole sub una, Reliquias memini me didicisse hominum, Quorum solus habet comperta vocabula Christus, Utpote quos propriae iunxit amicitiae. '"TTaec dum lustro ocnlis, et sicubi forte latcntes Eerum apices, veterum per monumenta sequor, ^ '_ Invenio HirpoLYTVM, qui quondam schisma Novati \ Usque ad Martyrii provectum insigne, tulisse Lucida sanguinei praemia supplicii. Nec mirere senem, perversi dogmatis olim, Munere ditatum catholicae fidei. Quum iam vcsano victor raperetur ab hoste, Exsultante anima carnis ad exitium, Neque illa omittenda, quam ad Traiani, mitissimi ingenii Consultus qnaenam secta forel melior, - fugite, o miseri, exsecranda Novati Schismata, catholicis reddite vos populis. Jne fides vigeat, prisco quae condita templo esl : Qnam Paulus retinet, quamque cathedra Petri. II is ttbi I torsit laevo de tramite plebem, stravitque seqni, qna ?ia dextra ?ocat, Seque dncem recti, Bpretis anfractibns, idem → Innumeros cineres Sanctorum Romula in urbe Vidimus, o Christi Valeriane sacer. Incisos tumulis titulos, et singula quaeris Nomina? difficile est ut replicare queam. Tantos iustorum populos furor impius hausit, Quum coleret patrios Troia Roma deos. Plurima litterulis signata sepulcra loquuntur Martyris aut nomen, aut epigramma aliquod. Sunt et muta tamen tacitas claudentia tumbas Marmora, quae solum significant numerum. Quanta virum iaceant congestis corpora acervis Nosse licet, quorum nomina nulla legas. Sexaginta illic, defossas mole sub una, Reliquias memini me didicisse hominum, Quorum solus habet comperta vocabula Christus, Utpote quos propriae iunxit amicitiae. Haec dum lustro oculis, et sicubi forte latentes Rerum apices, veterum per monumenta sequor, Invenio Hippolytum, qui quondam schisma Novati Usque ad Martyrii provectum insigne, tulisse Lucida sanguinei praemia supplicii. Nec mirere senem, perversi dogmatis olim, Munere ditatum catholicae fidei. Quum iam vesano victor raperetur ab hoste, Exsultante anima carnis ad exitium, Consultus quaenam secta foret melior, Fugite, o miseri, exsecranda Novati Schismata, catholicis reddite vos populis. Una fides vigeat, prisco quae condita templo est : Quam Paulus retinet, quamque cathedra Petri. His dictis torsit laevo de tramite plebem, Monstravitque sequi, qua via dextra vocat, Seque ducem recti, spretis anfractibus, idem.
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.1 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
11.33Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–64
Praebuit, erroris qui prius auctor erat. Sistitur insano rectori, Christicolas tunc Illo namque die Roma secesserat, ipsos Peste suburbanos ut quateret populos. Non contentus humum celsa intra moenia Romae Tinguere iustorum caedibus assiduis : Ianiculum quum iam madidum, fora, Rostra, Suburram Cerneret eluvie sanguinis adfluere, Protulerat rabiem Tyrrheni ad litoris oram, Quaeque loca aequoreus proxima portus habet. Inter carnifices, et constipata sedebat Officia, exstructo celsior in solio. Discipulos fidei, detestandique rebelles Idolii, ardebat dedere perfidiae. Carcereo crinita situ stare agmina contra Iusserat, horrendis excrucianda modis. Inde catenarum tractus, hinc lorea flagra Stridere, virgarum concrepitare fragor. Ungula fixa cavis costarum cratibus altos Pandere secessus, et lacerare iecur. Ac iam lassatis iudex tortoribus ibat In furias, cassa cognitione fremens. Nullus enim Christi ex famulis per tanta repertus Supplicia, auderet qui vitiare animam. Inde furens quaesitor ait: — « Iam, tortor, ab unco Desine ; si vana est quaestio, morte agito. Huic abscide caput, crux istum tollat in auras, Viventesque oculos offerat alitibus. Hos rape praecipites, et vinctos coniice in ignem; Sit pyra quae multos devoret una reos. En tibi quos properes rimosae imponere cumbae
offered himself, who had earlier been the author of error. He is set before the mad governor, [who was then harassing] Christians. For on that day he had withdrawn from Rome, to shake with his plague the suburban peoples themselves. Not content to dye the ground within the high walls of Rome with constant slaughters of the righteous, when he saw the Janiculum already wet, the forums, the Rostra, the Subura, flowing with a flood of blood, he had carried his rage to the edge of the Tyrrhenian shore, and to the places nearest the sea harbor. He sat among the executioners and the crowded attendants, higher on a raised throne. He burned to hand over to perfidy the disciples of the faith, rebels against the detestable idol. He had ordered long-haired columns, from the squalor of the prison, to stand before him, to be tortured in horrid ways. On one side the dragging of chains, on the other leather scourges hissed, the crash of rods resounded. The claw, fixed in the hollow lattice of the ribs, opened the deep recesses and tore the liver. And now, with the torturers tired, the judge was going into fury, roaring at his vain inquiry. For no one among Christ’s servants was found, through such great tortures, who would dare to corrupt his soul. Then the raging inquisitor said: “Now, torturer, stop with the hook; if the inquiry is vain, proceed with death. Cut off this one’s head; let the cross lift that one into the air and offer his living eyes to the birds. Seize these headlong, and throw them bound into the fire; let one pyre devour many accused. See, these you must hurry to put in a leaky boat
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: The governor, having filled Rome with martyrs’ blood, had come to Ostia; he tortures Christians without making any recant, and orders them beheaded, crucified, burned or drowned.
- A pentameter is lost in the scan after line 2 (in the common text ‘Ostia vexanti per Tiberina viros’); its sense is given in brackets. A running head was removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Praebuit, erroris qni prins anctor erat. Sistitnr insano rcctori, Christicolas tunc Illo namqne dio Eom rat, ipsos snbnrbanos ut qnateret popnlos. Xuii oontentns hnmnm celsa intra moenia R ae Tinguere iustorum caedibus assidnis : Ianioulum quum iam madidum, fora, Rostra, Subnrram Cerneret eluvie sansruinis adfluere, A. Putdkntii Opcra. Protulerat rabiem Tyrrheni ad litoria oram, Quaeque loca acquoreus proxima portus habet. Lhter carnifices, et constipata sedebat Officia, exstructo celsior in solio. Discipulos fidci, detestandique rebelles Idolii, ardebat dedere perfidiac. Carcereo crinita situ stare agmina contra Iusserat, horrendis excrucianda modis. Inde catenarum tractns, hinc lorea flagra Stridere, virgarum concrepitare fragor. Uugula fixa cavis costarum cratibus altos Pandere secessus, et lacerare iecur. Ac iam lassatis iudex tortoribus ibat In furias, cassa cognitione fYemens. Nullus enim Christi ex famulis per tanta repertus Supplicia, auderet qui vitiare animam. Inde furens quaesitor ait: — « iam, tortor, ab unco Desine ; si vana est quaestio, morte agito. Huic abside caput, crux istum tollat in auras, Viventesque oculos offerat alitibus. Hos rape praecipites, et vinctos coniice in ignem; Sit pyra quae multos devoret una reos. En tibi quos properes rimosae imponere cumbae (r>) : → Praebuit, erroris qui prius auctor erat. Sistitur insano rectori, Christicolas tunc Illo namque die Roma secesserat, ipsos Peste suburbanos ut quateret populos. Non contentus humum celsa intra moenia Romae Tinguere iustorum caedibus assiduis : Ianiculum quum iam madidum, fora, Rostra, Suburram Cerneret eluvie sanguinis adfluere, Protulerat rabiem Tyrrheni ad litoris oram, Quaeque loca aequoreus proxima portus habet. Inter carnifices, et constipata sedebat Officia, exstructo celsior in solio. Discipulos fidei, detestandique rebelles Idolii, ardebat dedere perfidiae. Carcereo crinita situ stare agmina contra Iusserat, horrendis excrucianda modis. Inde catenarum tractus, hinc lorea flagra Stridere, virgarum concrepitare fragor. Ungula fixa cavis costarum cratibus altos Pandere secessus, et lacerare iecur. Ac iam lassatis iudex tortoribus ibat In furias, cassa cognitione fremens. Nullus enim Christi ex famulis per tanta repertus Supplicia, auderet qui vitiare animam. Inde furens quaesitor ait: — « Iam, tortor, ab unco Desine ; si vana est quaestio, morte agito. Huic abscide caput, crux istum tollat in auras, Viventesque oculos offerat alitibus. Hos rape praecipites, et vinctos coniice in ignem; Sit pyra quae multos devoret una reos. En tibi quos properes rimosae imponere cumbae.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.33 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-33). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-33
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-33) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
11.65Lanfranchi 1:lines 65–96
Pellere et in medii stagna profunda freti: Quos ubi susceptos rapidum male suta per aequor Vexerit, et tumidis caesa laborarit aquis ; Dissociata putrem laxent tabulata carinam, Conceptura bibant undique naufragium. … tabit ventre sepulcrum … cruda cadaveribus. » — Haec persultanti, celsum subito ante tribunal Offertur senior nexibus implicitus. Stipati circum iuvenes clamore ferebant, Ipsum Christicolis esse caput populis. Si foret exstinctum propere caput, omnia vulgi Pectora Romanis sponte sacranda deis. Insolitum leti poscunt genus, et nova poenae Inventa, exemplo quo trepident alii. Ille supinata residens cervice: — « Quis, inquit, Dicitur? » — adfirmant, dicier Hippolytum. — « Ergo sit Hippolytus: quatiat, turbetque iugales, Intereatque feris dilaceratus equis. » — Vix haec ille: duo cogunt animalia, freni Ignara, insueto subdere colla iugo: Non stabulis, blandive manu palpata magistri, Imperiumque equitis ante subacta pati; Quod pavor indomito corde ferinus agit. Iamque reluctantes sociarant vincula bigas, Oraque discordi foedere nexuerant. Temonis vice funis inest, qui terga duorum Dividit, et medius tangit utrumque latus. Deque iugo in longum se post vestigia retro Protendens trahitur, transit et ima pedum. Huius ad extremum, sequitur qua pulvere summo Cornipedum refugas orbita trita vias, Crura viri innectit laqueus, nodoque tenaci Adstringit plantas, cumque rudente ligat.
and drive them into the deep pools of the open sea: when the badly sewn boat has carried them, taken on board, over the rushing sea, and, broken, has labored in the swelling waters, let the planks, separated, loosen the rotten keel and drink in shipwreck from every side. […] a tomb in its belly, […] raw with corpses.” As he was raging thus, suddenly before the high tribunal an old man is brought, entangled in bonds. Young men crowding around reported with a shout that he was the head of the Christian peoples: if the head were quickly destroyed, all the hearts of the people would willingly be consecrated to the Roman gods. They demand an unusual kind of death and new inventions of punishment, by whose example others would tremble. He, sitting with head thrown back, says: “What is he called?” They affirm that he is called Hippolytus. “Then let him be Hippolytus: let him shake and trouble the yoked team, and perish torn apart by wild horses.” Hardly had he said this: they force two animals, ignorant of the bridle, to submit their necks to an unaccustomed yoke: not stroked in the stalls or by the coaxing hand of a trainer, nor tamed before to bear the command of a rider; […] which fear drives in their untamed, wild hearts. And now the chains had joined the resisting pair, and had bound their mouths in a discordant union. In place of a pole there is a rope, which divides the backs of the two, and touches each side in the middle. And from the yoke, stretching out long behind the footsteps, it is dragged and passes beyond the feet. At its far end, where the track worn in the top of the dust follows the fleeing ways of the horn-footed, a noose binds the man’s legs, and with a tight knot fastens his feet and ties them to the rope.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: The aged Hippolytus is brought before the governor as leader of the Christians; hearing his name, the governor orders that, like Hippolytus of legend, he be torn apart by wild horses, and the unbroken horses are yoked with the martyr tied behind.
- The judge alludes to the Hippolytus of Greek legend, son of Theseus, dragged to death by his horses. Two lines at the end of the governor’s speech and a line before ‘Quod pavor’ are damaged or lost in the scan; left as fragments (‘…’). The first word of line 4 (‘Dissociata’) and line 13 (‘Pectora Romanis’) are read by sense. A footnote was removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Pellere et in medii stagna profunda freti: Quos ubi susceptos rapidnm male suta per aequor Vexerit, et tumidis caesa labarit aquis ; putrem laxent tabulata carinam, Conceptnraqne bibant andiqne naufragiuin. tabit ventre sepulcrum imptia cruda cadaveribus. ■■ — Haec persultanti, celsum snbito ante tribunal Offertur senior nexibus implicitus. Stipati circnm iuvenes clamore ferebant, psum Cbristicolis esse capnt populis. t exstijictnm propere caput, omnia vulgi Pi inis sponte Bacranda deis. litum leti poscnnt genus, et nova poenae Inventa, exemplo quo trepident alii. Dle snpinata residens cervice: — « Quis, inquil Dicitnr? » — adfrmant, dicier Hippolytvm. •< — Ergo -;t Htppolttvs: quatiat, turbetqne iugales, ntereatqne feris dilaceratus equis. » — Vix haec ille: dno cogunt animalia, freni gnara insueto snbdere collaingo: Nfon stabulis, blandive mann palpata magistri, mperiumque equitis ante subacta pati; Quod pavor indomito corde ferinns agit. amqne reluctantes sociarant vincnla bigas, 9& Oraque discordi foedere hexuerant. Temonis vice funis inest, qni terga dnorum Dividit, et medins tangit utrumqne latus. iluiii i lit! '!i' i'T. Kaparfoyrr^ — Sit ffippc&ytu Ibjk ; (ab equis dissolutus) Deque iugb in longum so post vestigia retro Protendens trahitur, transit et ima pedum. Huius ad extrcmum, sequitur qua pnlvere summo Cornipeduni refugas orbita trita vias, Crura viri innectit laqueus, nodoque tenaci Adstringit plantas, cumque rudente ligat. → Pellere et in medii stagna profunda freti: Quos ubi susceptos rapidum male suta per aequor Vexerit, et tumidis caesa laborarit aquis ; Dissociata putrem laxent tabulata carinam, Conceptura bibant undique naufragium. … tabit ventre sepulcrum … cruda cadaveribus. » — Haec persultanti, celsum subito ante tribunal Offertur senior nexibus implicitus. Stipati circum iuvenes clamore ferebant, Ipsum Christicolis esse caput populis. Si foret exstinctum propere caput, omnia vulgi Pectora Romanis sponte sacranda deis. Insolitum leti poscunt genus, et nova poenae Inventa, exemplo quo trepident alii. Ille supinata residens cervice: — « Quis, inquit, Dicitur? » — adfirmant, dicier Hippolytum. — « Ergo sit Hippolytus: quatiat, turbetque iugales, Intereatque feris dilaceratus equis. » — Vix haec ille: duo cogunt animalia, freni Ignara, insueto subdere colla iugo: Non stabulis, blandive manu palpata magistri, Imperiumque equitis ante subacta pati; Quod pavor indomito corde ferinus agit. Iamque reluctantes sociarant vincula bigas, Oraque discordi foedere nexuerant. Temonis vice funis inest, qui terga duorum Dividit, et medius tangit utrumque latus. Deque iugo in longum se post vestigia retro Protendens trahitur, transit et ima pedum. Huius ad extremum, sequitur qua pulvere summo Cornipedum refugas orbita trita vias, Crura viri innectit laqueus, nodoque tenaci Adstringit plantas, cumque rudente ligat..
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.65 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 65–96; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-65). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-65
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-65) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
11.97Lanfranchi 1:lines 97–128
Postquam composito satis instruxere paratu Martyris ad poenam verbera, vincla, feros, Instigant subitis clamoribus atque flagellis, Iliaque infestis perfodiunt stimulis. Ultima vox audita senis venerabilis haec est : — « Hi rapiant artus, tu rape, Christe, animam. » — Prorumpunt alacres, caeco et terrore feruntur, Qua sonus atque tremor, qua furor exagitant. Incendit feritas, rapit impetus, et fragor urguet, Nec cursus volucer mobile sentit onus. Per silvas, per saxa ruunt, non ripa retardat Fluminis, aut torrens oppositus cohibet. Prosternunt saepes, et cuncta obstacula rumpunt, Prona, fragosa petunt, ardua transiliunt. Scissa minutatim labefacto corpore frusta Carpit spinigeris stirpibus hirtus ager. Pars summis pendet scopulis, pars sentibus haeret, Parte rubent frondes, parte madescit humus. Exemplar sceleris paries habet inlitus, in quo Multicolor fucus digerit omne nefas. Picta super tumulum species liquidis viget umbris, Effigians tracti membra cruenta viri. Rorantes saxorum apices vidi, optime papa, Purpureasque notas vepribus impositas. Docta manus virides imitando effingere dumos Luserat et minio russeolam saniem. Cernere erat, ruptis compagibus ordine nullo Membra per incertos sparsa iacere situs. Addiderat caros, gressu lacrimisque sequentes, Devia qua fractum semita monstrat iter, Moerore attoniti, atque oculis rimantibus ibant; Implebantque sinus visceribus laceris. Ille caput niveum complectitur, ac reverendam
After they had sufficiently furnished, with ordered preparation, the scourges, chains, beasts for the martyr’s punishment, they spur them on with sudden shouts and whips, and pierce their flanks with hostile goads. The last voice heard from the venerable old man was this: “Let these snatch my limbs; you, Christ, snatch my soul.” They burst forth eagerly and are carried away by blind terror, wherever noise and trembling, wherever frenzy drives them. Wildness inflames them, impetus sweeps them along, the crash urges them, nor does their winged course feel the moving burden. Through woods, through rocks they rush; no river bank slows them, nor does an opposing torrent check them. They throw down hedges and burst all obstacles, make for steep and rugged places, leap over heights. The rough field with its thorny stumps plucks the pieces torn bit by bit from the shattered body. Part hangs from the tops of cliffs, part clings to brambles; with part the leaves grow red, with part the ground grows wet. A painted wall has a likeness of the crime, on which many-colored paint sets out the whole wickedness. Above the tomb a picture lives in clear shades, portraying the bloody limbs of the man who was dragged. I saw the dripping tops of rocks, best father, and purple marks set on the brambles. A hand skilled in imitating had played at shaping the green thickets, and the reddish gore with vermilion. One could see the limbs, their joints broken, lying in no order, scattered through uncertain places. The painter had added his dear ones, following with step and tears where the out-of-the-way path shows the broken route; they went, stunned with grief, with searching eyes, and filled their bosoms with the torn flesh. One embraces the snowy head, and the venerable
Acts 7:59 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: With the prayer “Let these snatch my limbs; you, Christ, snatch my soul,” Hippolytus is dragged to pieces by the horses; a painting over his tomb shows the scene, his friends gathering the scattered remains.
- ‘Best father’ (papa) addresses Bishop Valerian. A wall-painting at the tomb is described.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Postquam composito satis instruxerc paratu Martyris ad poenam, verbera, vincla, feros, Instigant subitis clamoribus atque flagellis, Iliaque infestis perfodiunt stimulis. Ultima vox audita senis venerabilis baec est : » — Hi rapiant artus, tu rape, Christe, anitnam ». — Prorumpunt alacres, caeco et terrore feruntur, Qua sonus atquo tremor, qua furor exagitant. Incendit feritas, rapit impetus, et fragor urguet, Nec cursus volucer mobile sentit onus. Per silvas, per saxa ruunt, non ripa retardat Fluminis, aut torrens oppositus cohibet. Prostemunt saepes, et cuncta obstacula rumpunt, Prona, fragosa petunt, ardua transiliunt. Scissa minutatim labefacto corpore frusta Carpit spinigeris stirpibus hirtus ager. Pars summis pendet scopulis, pars sentibus haeret, Parte rubent frondes, parte madescit humus. Exemplar sceleris paries habet inlitus, in quo Multicolor fucus digerit omne nefas. Picta supor tnuiuluiu Bpeciea Liquidis \ iget ambris f 1 . Effigians tracti merabra cruenta viri. 126 Rorantes saxornm apices vidi, optime papa Purpureasque notaa vepribus impositi manus virides imitando efSngere dui I) e minio russeolam saniem. Cernere erat, ruptia compagibua ordine nullo Membra per incertos sparsa iacere -itus.' Addiderat caros, gressu lacrimisque sequenl Devia qua fractum semita monstrat iter, Koerore attoniti, atque oculi.s rimantibus ibant; 1 ■'<'■> mplebanlque Binua visceribus laceris. 111.' caput uiveum complectitur, ac reverendam → Postquam composito satis instruxere paratu Martyris ad poenam verbera, vincla, feros, Instigant subitis clamoribus atque flagellis, Iliaque infestis perfodiunt stimulis. Ultima vox audita senis venerabilis haec est : — « Hi rapiant artus, tu rape, Christe, animam. » — Prorumpunt alacres, caeco et terrore feruntur, Qua sonus atque tremor, qua furor exagitant. Incendit feritas, rapit impetus, et fragor urguet, Nec cursus volucer mobile sentit onus. Per silvas, per saxa ruunt, non ripa retardat Fluminis, aut torrens oppositus cohibet. Prosternunt saepes, et cuncta obstacula rumpunt, Prona, fragosa petunt, ardua transiliunt. Scissa minutatim labefacto corpore frusta Carpit spinigeris stirpibus hirtus ager. Pars summis pendet scopulis, pars sentibus haeret, Parte rubent frondes, parte madescit humus. Exemplar sceleris paries habet inlitus, in quo Multicolor fucus digerit omne nefas. Picta super tumulum species liquidis viget umbris, Effigians tracti membra cruenta viri. Rorantes saxorum apices vidi, optime papa, Purpureasque notas vepribus impositas. Docta manus virides imitando effingere dumos Luserat et minio russeolam saniem. Cernere erat, ruptis compagibus ordine nullo Membra per incertos sparsa iacere situs. Addiderat caros, gressu lacrimisque sequentes, Devia qua fractum semita monstrat iter, Moerore attoniti, atque oculis rimantibus ibant; Implebantque sinus visceribus laceris. Ille caput niveum complectitur, ac reverendam.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.97 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 97–128; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-97). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-97
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-97) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
11.129Lanfranchi 1:lines 129–160
Canitiem molli confovet in gremio ; Hic humeros truncasque manus, et brachia et ulnas, Et genua, et crurum fragmina nuda legit. Palliolis etiam bibulae siccantur arenae, Ne quis in infecto pulvere ros maneat. Si quis et in sudibus recalenti adspergine sanguis Insidet, hunc omnem spongia pressa rapit. Nec iam densa sacro quidquam de corpore silva Obtinet, aut plenis fraudat ab exsequiis. Quumque recensitis constaret partibus ille, Corporis integri qui fuerat numerus: Nec purgata aliquid deberent avia toto Ex homine, extersis frondibus et scopulis. Metando eligitur tumulo locus : Ostia linquunt: Roma placet, sanctos quae teneat cineres. Haud procul extremo culta ad pomeria vallo Mersa latebrosis crypta patet foveis : Huius in occultum gradibus via prona reflexis Ire per anfractus luce latente docet. Primas namque fores summo tenus intrat hiatu Illustratque dies limina vestibuli. Inde, ubi progressu facili nigrescere visa est Nox obscura, loci per specus ambiguum, Occurrunt caesis immissa foramina tectis, Quae iaciant claros antra super radios. Quamlibet ancipites texant hinc inde recessus, Arta sub umbrosis atria porticibus ; Attamen excisi subter cava viscera montis Crebra terebrato fornice lux penetrat. Sic datur absentis per subterranea solis Cernere fulgorem, luminibusque frui. Talibus Hippolyti corpus mandatur opertis,
white hair he cherishes in his soft lap; this one gathers the shoulders and the cut-off hands, the arms and elbows, the knees, and the bare fragments of the legs. With little cloaks the thirsty sands are also dried, lest any dew remain in the stained dust. If any blood also sits on the stakes with still-warm sprinkling, a pressed sponge snatches it all. Now the dense wood no longer holds anything of the sacred body, nor cheats it of a complete funeral. And when, the parts having been reviewed, it was found to have the number that the whole body had had, and the cleansed pathless places owed nothing of the whole man, the leaves and rocks having been wiped clean, a place is chosen for the tomb by measuring: they leave Ostia: Rome pleases, to hold the holy ashes. Not far from the outermost rampart, by the tilled ground beside the walls, a crypt lies open, sunk in hidden pits: a way sloping down by winding steps teaches one to go into its hidden depth through turnings without light. For daylight enters the first doors as far as the top of the opening, and lights up the threshold of the entrance hall. Then, when, as one goes easily forward, the dark night is seen to grow black through the ambiguous caves of the place, openings let into the cut roofs meet you, which cast bright rays into the caves. However much the uncertain recesses weave on this side and that narrow halls under shady porticoes, yet beneath the hollow inside of the excavated hill the light penetrates frequently through the bored vault. So it is granted to see underground the brightness of the absent sun, and to enjoy its light. To such hidden places the body of Hippolytus is entrusted,
Notes and citation
Summary: Hippolytus’ friends gather every part of his body and every drop of blood and bury him at Rome in a catacomb, which the poet describes with its winding steps and light-shafts.
- A cross-reference note (‘Petri et Pauli, v. 48’) was removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Canitiem molli confuvet in gremio ; Bic ttumeros txuncasque manus, et brachia et olnas, Et genua, et crurum fragmina nuda legit. 1 lo Palliolis etiam libulae siccantur arenae, Ne quis in infocto pulvero ros maneat. Si quia et in sudibus recalenti adspergine sanguis nsidet, hunc orunom spongia pressa rapit. Petri et Pauli, v. 48. Nec iam densa sacro quidquam de corpore sQva Obtinet, aut plenis fraudat ab exequiis. Quumque recensitis constaret partibus ille, Corporis integri qui fuerat numerus: Nec purgata aliquid deberent avia toto Ex homine, extersis frondibus et scopulis. Motando eligitur turaulo locus : Ostia Hnquunt: Boma placet, sanctos quae teneat cineres. Haud proeul extremo culta ad pomeria vallo Mersa latebrosis crypta patet foveis : Huius in occultum gradibus via prona reflexis Ire per anfractus luce latente docet. Primas namque fores sumrao tenus intrat hiatu Hlustratque dies limina vestibnli. Inde, ubi progressu facili nigrescere visa est ISTox obscura, loci per specus ambiguura, 1G0 Occurrunt caesis immissa foramina tectis. Quae iaciant claros antra super radios. Quamlibet ancipites texant hinc inde recessus, Arta sub umbrosis atria porticibus ; Attamen excisi subter cava viscera montis Crebra terebrato fornice lux penetrat. Sic datnr absentis per Bubterranea solis Cernere fulgorem, lnminibnsqne IVui. Talibns Hippolyti corpns mandatur opertis → Canitiem molli confovet in gremio ; Hic humeros truncasque manus, et brachia et ulnas, Et genua, et crurum fragmina nuda legit. Palliolis etiam bibulae siccantur arenae, Ne quis in infecto pulvere ros maneat. Si quis et in sudibus recalenti adspergine sanguis Insidet, hunc omnem spongia pressa rapit. Nec iam densa sacro quidquam de corpore silva Obtinet, aut plenis fraudat ab exsequiis. Quumque recensitis constaret partibus ille, Corporis integri qui fuerat numerus: Nec purgata aliquid deberent avia toto Ex homine, extersis frondibus et scopulis. Metando eligitur tumulo locus : Ostia linquunt: Roma placet, sanctos quae teneat cineres. Haud procul extremo culta ad pomeria vallo Mersa latebrosis crypta patet foveis : Huius in occultum gradibus via prona reflexis Ire per anfractus luce latente docet. Primas namque fores summo tenus intrat hiatu Illustratque dies limina vestibuli. Inde, ubi progressu facili nigrescere visa est Nox obscura, loci per specus ambiguum, Occurrunt caesis immissa foramina tectis, Quae iaciant claros antra super radios. Quamlibet ancipites texant hinc inde recessus, Arta sub umbrosis atria porticibus ; Attamen excisi subter cava viscera montis Crebra terebrato fornice lux penetrat. Sic datur absentis per subterranea solis Cernere fulgorem, luminibusque frui. Talibus Hippolyti corpus mandatur opertis,.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.129 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 129–160; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-129). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-129
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-129) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
11.161Lanfranchi 1:lines 161–192
Propter ubi adposita est ara dicata Deo. Illa Sacramenti donatrix mensa, eademque Custos fida sui Martyris adposita, Servat ad aeterni spem iudicis ossa sepulcro, Pascit item sanctis Tibricolas dapibus. Mira loci pietas, et prompta precantibus ara Spes hominum placida prosperitate iuvat. Hic corruptelis animique et corporis aeger Oravi quoties stratus, opem merui. Quod laetor reditu, quod te, venerande sacerdos, Complecti licitum est, scribo quod haec eadem, Hippolyto scio me debere, Deus cui Christus Posse dedit, quod quis postulet, adnuere. Ipsa, illas animae exuvias quae continet intus, Aedicula argento fulgurat ex solido. Praefixit tabulas dives manus aequore levi, Candentes, recavum quale nitet speculum. Nec Pariis contenta aditus obducere saxis, Addidit ornando clara talenta operi. Mane salutatum concurritur : omnis adorat Pubes; eunt, redeunt, solis ad usque obitum. Conglobat in cuneum Latios simul ac peregrinos Permixtim populos religionis amor. Oscula perspicuo figunt impressa metallo, Balsama defundunt, fletibus ora rigant. Iam quum se renovat decursis mensibus annus, Natalemque diem passio festa refert; Quanta putas studiis certantibus agmina cogi, Quaeve celebrando vota coire Deo? Urbs augusta suos vomit effunditque Quirites, Una et patricios ambitione pari. Confundit plebeia phalanx umbonibus aequis
near where an altar dedicated to God is placed. That table, giver of the Sacrament, and likewise placed as the faithful guardian of its martyr, keeps the bones in the tomb for the hope of the eternal Judge, and also feeds the dwellers by the Tiber with holy food. Wonderful is the holiness of the place, and the altar, ready for those who pray, helps the hopes of men with gentle favor. Here, as often as I prayed prostrate, sick with the corruptions of mind and body, I obtained help. That I rejoice in my return, that I have been allowed to embrace you, venerable bishop, that I write these very things, I know I owe to Hippolytus, to whom Christ, God, has given the power to grant what anyone asks. The little shrine itself, which contains those spoils of the soul within, flashes with solid silver. A rich hand has fixed plates with a smooth surface in front, gleaming like a hollow mirror shining. Not content to cover the entrance with Parian stones, it added splendid sums to adorn the work. In the morning people run together to greet him: all the youth adore; they come, they go, right until sunset. Love of religion gathers into one wedge Latins and strangers alike, peoples mixed together. They fix kisses pressed on the shining metal, pour out balsams, water their faces with tears. Now, when the year renews itself as the months run out, and the festal passion brings back his birthday, how great a crowd do you think gathers with eager zeal, or what prayers come together to celebrate God? The august City pours out and spills forth its Quirites, patricians too with equal ambition. The plebeian phalanx mingles, with equal shields,
Notes and citation
Summary: Beside Hippolytus’ tomb stands the altar of the Eucharist; the poet himself was helped there in prayer and credits Hippolytus with his safe return; crowds kiss the silver shrine daily, and on his feast all Rome flocks there.
- The altar over the martyr’s tomb and the martyr’s power to grant requests, as written.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Propter ul»i adposita esi ara dicata I>''". llla Sacramenti donatrix mensa, eademqne Cnstos fida sui Martyria adpoaita. Servat a<l aeterni spem indieis ossa sepnlcro; it it''iu Banctis Tibricolas dapibns. Ilira loci pietas, el promta precantibus ara - hominum placida prosperitate iuvat. Hic •corruptelis animiqne et corporis aeger Oravi quoties stratus, opem merui. Quod laetor reditu, quod te, venerande sacerdos, implecti licitum est, scribo quod haec eadem, Hippoltto scio me debere, Deus cui Christus 1' — dedit, ijuod huis postulet, adnuere. ]}»a, illas animae exuvias, quae continet intns, Aedicula argento fulgurat ex solido. Praefixit tabulas dives manus aequore levi, Candentes, recavum quale nitet spcculuiu. Nec Pariis contenta aditus obducere saxis (:'»), Addidit ornando clara talenta operi. Mane salutatum concurritur : omnis adorat 189 Pubis; eunt, redeunt, BOlis ad usque obitum. Conglobat in cuneum Latios simul ac peregrinos Pennixtim populos religionis amor. Osaila perspicuo fia^int impressa metallo, Balsama defuudunt, fletibus ora rigant. Iani quum se renovat decursis mensibus annus, Natalemque diem passio festa refert; Quanta putas studiis certantibus agmina cogi, Quaeve celebrando vota coire Deo? Urbs augusta suos vomit effundique Quirites Una et patricios ambitione pari. Confundit plebeia pbalanx umbonibus aequis → Propter ubi adposita est ara dicata Deo. Illa Sacramenti donatrix mensa, eademque Custos fida sui Martyris adposita, Servat ad aeterni spem iudicis ossa sepulcro, Pascit item sanctis Tibricolas dapibus. Mira loci pietas, et prompta precantibus ara Spes hominum placida prosperitate iuvat. Hic corruptelis animique et corporis aeger Oravi quoties stratus, opem merui. Quod laetor reditu, quod te, venerande sacerdos, Complecti licitum est, scribo quod haec eadem, Hippolyto scio me debere, Deus cui Christus Posse dedit, quod quis postulet, adnuere. Ipsa, illas animae exuvias quae continet intus, Aedicula argento fulgurat ex solido. Praefixit tabulas dives manus aequore levi, Candentes, recavum quale nitet speculum. Nec Pariis contenta aditus obducere saxis, Addidit ornando clara talenta operi. Mane salutatum concurritur : omnis adorat Pubes; eunt, redeunt, solis ad usque obitum. Conglobat in cuneum Latios simul ac peregrinos Permixtim populos religionis amor. Oscula perspicuo figunt impressa metallo, Balsama defundunt, fletibus ora rigant. Iam quum se renovat decursis mensibus annus, Natalemque diem passio festa refert; Quanta putas studiis certantibus agmina cogi, Quaeve celebrando vota coire Deo? Urbs augusta suos vomit effunditque Quirites, Una et patricios ambitione pari. Confundit plebeia phalanx umbonibus aequis.
Topics: Martyrdom, Eucharist, Prayer
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.161 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 161–192; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-161). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-161
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-161) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
11.193Lanfranchi 1:lines 193–224
Discrimen procerum, praecipitante fide. Nec minus Albanis acies se candida portis Explicat, et longis ducitur ordinibus. Exsultant fremitus variarum hinc inde viarum, Indigena, et Picens, plebs et Etrusca venit. Concurrit Samnitis atrox habitator, et altae Campanus Capuae, iamque Nolanus adest. Quisque sua laetus cum coniuge, dulcibus et cum Pignoribus, rapidum carpere gestit iter. Vix capiunt patuli populorum gaudia campi, Haeret et in magnis densa cohors spatiis. Angustum tantis illud specus esse catervis Haud dubium est, ampla fauce licet pateat. Stat sed iuxta aliud, quod tanta frequentia templum Tunc adeat, cultu nobile regifico, Parietibus celsum sublimibus, atque superba Maiestate potens, muneribusque opulens. Ordo columnarum geminus laquearia tecti Sustinet, auratis suppositus trabibus. Adduntur graciles tecto breviore recessus, Qui laterum seriem iugiter exsinuent. At medios aperit tractus via latior alti Culminis, exsurgens editiore apice. Fronte sub adversa gradibus sublime tribunal Tollitur, antistes praedicat unde Deum. Plena laborantes aegre domus accipit undas, Artaque confertis aestuat in foribus, Maternum pandens gremium, quo condat alumnos, Ac foveat fetos accumulata sinus. Si bene commemini, colit hunc pulcherrima Roma Idibus Augusti mensis, ut ipsa vocat
the distinctions of the nobles, as faith hurries them headlong. No less does a white-robed line unfold itself from the Alban gates and is led in long ranks. The roars of the various roads on this side and that exult: the native comes, and the Picenian, and the Etruscan people. The fierce dweller of the Samnite land runs together, and the Campanian of lofty Capua, and now the man of Nola is here. Each, glad, with his wife and his sweet children, is eager to make his swift journey. The open plains scarcely hold the joys of the peoples, and the dense throng sticks even in the great spaces. There is no doubt that that cave is narrow for such crowds, though it opens with a wide mouth. But beside it stands another temple, for so great a throng to come to then, noble with royal adornment, lofty with high walls, and powerful in proud majesty, and rich in gifts. A double row of columns supports the panels of the roof, set under gilded beams. Slender aisles are added with lower roof, which hollow out the series of the sides continuously. But a wider way opens the middle tract of the high roof, rising with a loftier summit. Opposite the front, a lofty tribunal is raised by steps, from which the bishop preaches God. The full house receives with difficulty the laboring waves, and seethes, narrow, at the crowded doors, opening its maternal bosom to shelter its nurslings, and, heaped up, to cherish the brood in its lap. If I remember rightly, most beautiful Rome honors it on the Ides of August, as she herself calls
Notes and citation
Summary: On Hippolytus’ feast pilgrims come from all central Italy; since the crypt is too small, they gather in the great basilica beside it, which the poet describes; the feast is kept on 13 August.
- A footnote on the reading ‘exsinuent’ was removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Discrimen procerum, praecipitante lide. JSTec minus Albanis acies se candida portis Explicat, et longis ducitur ordinibus. Exsultant fremitus variarum liinc inde viarum, Indigena, et Picens, plebs et Etrusca venit. Concurrit Samnitis atrox habitator, et altae Campanus Capuae, iamque Nolanus adest. Quisque sua laetus cum coniuge, dulcibus et cum Pignoribus, rapidum carpere gestit iter. Vix capiunt patuli populorum gaudia campi, Haeret et in magnis densa cohors spatiis. Angustum tantis ilrad specus esse catervis Haud dubium est, ampla fauce licet pateat. Stai sed iuxtaaliud, qood tanta freqoentia teuiplum Tonc adeat, cultu uobile reg Parietibus celsum sublimibns, atque Boperba Maiestate potens, moneribosqoe opolens. Ordo coloranarum geminus laqoearia tecti oet, aoratis soppositos trabibos. A'1'luntur graciles tecto breviore recessos, Qoi laterom seriem iogiter exsinuenl. At medios aperif tractus via latior alti Culminis, exsorgens editiore apice. Fronte sub adversa gradibus sublime tribunal (_) Tollitur, antistes praedicat unde Deum. Plena laborantes aegre domus acci]>it undas, Artaque confertis aestuat in foribus, Ifaternum pandens gremium, quo condat alumnos, A.C foveat fetos accumulata siims. si bene commemini colit hunc pulcherrima Roma dibus. Augusti mensis, ut ipsa rooat. ili i.rsinueni. CoJd. et EJitt. — In uno aut altero Vatic, extvnuent, si glossema pro germana loctione accipias. → Discrimen procerum, praecipitante fide. Nec minus Albanis acies se candida portis Explicat, et longis ducitur ordinibus. Exsultant fremitus variarum hinc inde viarum, Indigena, et Picens, plebs et Etrusca venit. Concurrit Samnitis atrox habitator, et altae Campanus Capuae, iamque Nolanus adest. Quisque sua laetus cum coniuge, dulcibus et cum Pignoribus, rapidum carpere gestit iter. Vix capiunt patuli populorum gaudia campi, Haeret et in magnis densa cohors spatiis. Angustum tantis illud specus esse catervis Haud dubium est, ampla fauce licet pateat. Stat sed iuxta aliud, quod tanta frequentia templum Tunc adeat, cultu nobile regifico, Parietibus celsum sublimibus, atque superba Maiestate potens, muneribusque opulens. Ordo columnarum geminus laquearia tecti Sustinet, auratis suppositus trabibus. Adduntur graciles tecto breviore recessus, Qui laterum seriem iugiter exsinuent. At medios aperit tractus via latior alti Culminis, exsurgens editiore apice. Fronte sub adversa gradibus sublime tribunal Tollitur, antistes praedicat unde Deum. Plena laborantes aegre domus accipit undas, Artaque confertis aestuat in foribus, Maternum pandens gremium, quo condat alumnos, Ac foveat fetos accumulata sinus. Si bene commemini, colit hunc pulcherrima Roma Idibus Augusti mensis, ut ipsa vocat.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.193 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 193–224; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-193). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-193
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-193) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
11.225Lanfranchi 1:lines 225–245
Prisco more diem, quem te quoque, sancte magister, Annua festa inter dinumerare velim. Crede, salutigeros feret hic venerantibus ortus, Lucis honoratae praemia restituens. Inter solemnes Cypriani, vel Chelidoni, Eulaliaeque dies currat et iste tibi. Sic te pro populo, cuius tibi credita vita est, Orantem Christus audiat omnipotens. Sic tibi de pleno lupus excludatur ovili, Agna nec ulla tuum capta gregem minuat. Sic me, gramineo remanentem denique campo, Sedulus aegrotam pastor ovem referas. Sic, quum lacteolis caulas compleveris agnis, Raptus et ipse sacro sis comes Hippolyto.
the day, by ancient custom; and I would wish you too, holy master, to count it among your annual feasts. Believe me, it will bring saving risings to those who venerate it, repaying the rewards of the honored light. Among the solemn days of Cyprian, or of Chelidonius, and of Eulalia, let this one too run its course for you. So may Christ almighty hear you praying for the people whose life has been entrusted to you. So may the wolf be shut out from your full fold, and may no lamb, captured, diminish your flock. So may you, careful shepherd, carry me back at last, a sick sheep left behind in the grassy field. So, when you have filled the folds with milk-white lambs, may you yourself, caught up, be the companion of holy Hippolytus.
Luke 15:5 (echo, medium confidence) · John 10:12 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The poet asks Bishop Valerian to add Hippolytus’ feast to the yearly feasts of his church, and prays that Valerian may guard his flock, bring back the poet as a sick sheep, and join Hippolytus in heaven.
- The editor’s prose argument of Peristephanon 12 leaked after the last line and was removed. Luke 15:4–6; John 10:12.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Prisco raore diem, quein te quoque, sancte magister, Annua festa inter dinuinerare velim. Crede, salutigeros feret hic venerantibus urtus, Lucis honoratao praemia restituens. Inter solemnes Cypriani, vel Chelidoni, Eulaliaeque dies currat et iste tibi. Sic te pro populo, cuius tibi credita vita est, Orantem Christus audiat omnipotens. Sic tibi de pleno lupus excludatur ovili, Agna nec ulla tuum capta gregem minnat. Sic me, gramineo remanentem dcnique campo, Sedulus aegrotam pastor ovem referas. Sic, quum lacteolis caulas compleveris agnis, 24o Raptus et ipse sacro sis comes Hippolyto. NKI'1 iit.-i- VNiiN htmnvs \i. nios oiuiiibu-; IsetitiLa laetos ob dicm festuui Bcatorum itolorum podta ait se ridisse; Petri Paulique mar- tvrio breviter narrato , quorum altcr capitc iu terram con sest, addit eorum relliqui is , duorum marty- Triumphalem atque Osticnsem lcctorcm perduHt, ubi a → Prisco more diem, quem te quoque, sancte magister, Annua festa inter dinumerare velim. Crede, salutigeros feret hic venerantibus ortus, Lucis honoratae praemia restituens. Inter solemnes Cypriani, vel Chelidoni, Eulaliaeque dies currat et iste tibi. Sic te pro populo, cuius tibi credita vita est, Orantem Christus audiat omnipotens. Sic tibi de pleno lupus excludatur ovili, Agna nec ulla tuum capta gregem minuat. Sic me, gramineo remanentem denique campo, Sedulus aegrotam pastor ovem referas. Sic, quum lacteolis caulas compleveris agnis, Raptus et ipse sacro sis comes Hippolyto..
Topics: Martyrdom, Prayer, Church office
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 11.225 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 225–245; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-225). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/11-225
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-11-225) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 12
12.1Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32
Romam per omnem cursitant, ovantque. » — — « Festus Apostolici nobis redit hic dies triumphi, Pauli, atque Petri nobilis cruore. Unus utrumque dies, pleno tamen innovatus anno, Vidit superba morte laureatum. Scit Tiberina palus, flumine quae lambitur propinquo, Et crucis, et gladii testis, quibus inrigans easdem Bis fluxit imber sanguinis per herbas. Prima Petrum rapuit sententia legibus Neronis, Pendere iussum praeminente ligno. Ille tamen veritus celsae decus aemulando mortis Ambire tanti gloriam Magistri, Exigit, ut pedibus mersum caput imprimant supinis, Quo spectet imum stipitem cerebro. Figitur ergo manus subter, sola versus in cacumen : Hoc mente maior, quo minor figura. Noverat ex humili caelum citius solere adiri ; Deiecit ora, spiritum daturus. Orbis iter flexi rota percucurrit anni, Evomit in iugulum Pauli Nero fervidum furorem, Iubet feriri gentium magistrum. Ad Christum eundum est, iam resolvor, inquit. Nec hora vatem, nec dies fefellit. Dividit ossa duum Tibris, sacer ex utraque ripa, Inter sacrata dum fluit sepulcra. Canens oliva, murmurans fluento. Namque supercilio saxi liquor ortus excitavit Fontem perennem chrismatis feracem. Nunc pretiosa ruit per marmora, lubricatque clivum, Interior tumuli pars est; ubi lapsibus sonoris
are running about through all Rome, rejoicing.” “This festal day of the apostolic triumph returns to us, glorious with the blood of Paul and Peter. One and the same day, though renewed after a full year, saw each crowned with laurel by a proud death. The Tiber marsh, washed by the nearby river, knows it, witness of the cross and of the sword, by which twice a shower of blood flowed, watering the same grass. The first sentence, by the laws of Nero, seized Peter, ordered to hang on a lofty beam. But he, afraid of seeking the glory of so great a Master by imitating the honor of a lofty death, demands that they press down his head, sunk, with his feet upturned, so that he might look with his head at the bottom of the stake. So his hands are fixed below, his soles turned to the top: greater in mind by as much as he is lesser in posture. He knew that heaven was usually reached more quickly from a low place; he cast down his face as he was about to give up his spirit. [When] the wheel of the turning year had run its circuit, Nero vomits his burning fury against the throat of Paul, and orders the teacher of the nations to be struck. “I must go to Christ; I am now being released,” he said. Neither the hour nor the day deceived the prophet. The Tiber divides the bones of the two, sacred on both banks, as it flows between the consecrated tombs. […] gray with olive, murmuring with its stream. For water, rising at the brow of a rock, has roused an everlasting fountain, fruitful in chrism. Now it rushes over precious marbles, and makes the slope slippery; the inner part of the tomb is where with sounding falls
John 21:18 (echo, medium confidence) · 2 Tim 4:6 (allusion, medium confidence) · Phil 1:23 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A friend explains the Roman feast of Peter and Paul: Peter was crucified head downward at his own request, and a year later on the same day Paul was beheaded; their tombs lie on either side of the Tiber, Peter’s with a fountain.
- Peristephanon 12: Peter and Paul. The first line of the poem (the poet’s question) and several lines of this passage are missing in the scan (e.g. after ‘lambitur propinquo’, after ‘anni’, before ‘Ad Christum’, before ‘Canens oliva’); not supplied. Footnotes and an inscription from the notes were removed. 2 Tim 4:6; Phil 1:23; John 21:18–19.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Romam per omnem cursitant, ovantque. » — — « Fegtus A.postolici uobia redil bic dies triumphi, Pavli, atque Petbj uobilis cruore. Unus utrumque dies, pleno tamen innovatus anno, Vidit superba morte lanreatum. Scil Tiberina palus(l), flumine quaelambitur pfopin- Et crucis, et gladii testis, quibus inrigans easdem Bis fluxit imber sanguinis per berbas. Prima Petrvm rapuit sententia legibus Neronis, Pendere iussum praeminente ligno. Ille tamen vcritus celsae decus aemulando mortis Ambire tanti gloriam Magistri, Exigit, ut pedibus mersum caput iraprimant snpinis, lt Quo spectet imum stipitem cerebro. Figitur ergo raanus subter, sola versus in cacumeD : Hoc mente maior, quo minor figura. JSToverat ex bumili caelum citius solere adiri ; Deiecit ora, spiritum daturus. orbis iter flexi rota percucurrit anni, ESvomit in iugulum r.wi.i Nero fervidum furorem, Iul>-'t feriri gentium magistrum. .VI Cbristum eumdum est. iam resolvor, inquit. 1 hora vatem, non dies fefellit. Dividit ossa duum Tibris, Bacer ei utraque ripa lnter Bacrata dum lluit Bepulcra. Canens oliva, murmurans fluento. Namque supercilio aaxi liquor ortus excitavit Pontem perennem chrismatis feracem. Nunc pretiosa ruit per marmora,lubricatqueclivum, nterior tumuli para est; ubi lapsibus Bonoris Confesaio H. Petri. Romae an. mdcclxxvi. niurrauraiitein. — Tres Vatio . et Weitz. olivo, et te ntem perennem. omues fere. Glossator unius Vatic. → Romam per omnem cursitant, ovantque. » — — « Festus Apostolici nobis redit hic dies triumphi, Pauli, atque Petri nobilis cruore. Unus utrumque dies, pleno tamen innovatus anno, Vidit superba morte laureatum. Scit Tiberina palus, flumine quae lambitur propinquo, Et crucis, et gladii testis, quibus inrigans easdem Bis fluxit imber sanguinis per herbas. Prima Petrum rapuit sententia legibus Neronis, Pendere iussum praeminente ligno. Ille tamen veritus celsae decus aemulando mortis Ambire tanti gloriam Magistri, Exigit, ut pedibus mersum caput imprimant supinis, Quo spectet imum stipitem cerebro. Figitur ergo manus subter, sola versus in cacumen : Hoc mente maior, quo minor figura. Noverat ex humili caelum citius solere adiri ; Deiecit ora, spiritum daturus. Orbis iter flexi rota percucurrit anni, Evomit in iugulum Pauli Nero fervidum furorem, Iubet feriri gentium magistrum. Ad Christum eundum est, iam resolvor, inquit. Nec hora vatem, nec dies fefellit. Dividit ossa duum Tibris, sacer ex utraque ripa, Inter sacrata dum fluit sepulcra. Canens oliva, murmurans fluento. Namque supercilio saxi liquor ortus excitavit Fontem perennem chrismatis feracem. Nunc pretiosa ruit per marmora, lubricatque clivum, Interior tumuli pars est; ubi lapsibus sonoris.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 12.1 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/12-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/12-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-12-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
12.33Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–70
Omnicolor vitreas pictura superne tinguit undas, Musci relucent, et virescit aurum: Cyaneusque latex umbram trahit imminentis ostri; Credas moveri fluctibus lacunar. Pastor oves alit ipse illic gelidi rigore fontis, Videt sitire quas fluenta Christi. Parte alia titulum Pauli via servat Ostiensis, Qua stringit amnis caespitem sinistrum. Regia pompa loci est: princeps bonus has sacravit arces, Lusitque magnis ambitum talentis. Bracteolas trabibus sublevit, ut omnis aurulenta Lux esset intus, ceu iubar sub ortu. Subdidit et Parias fulvis laquearibus columnas, Distinguit illic quas quaternus ordo. Tum camuros hyalo insigni varie cucurrit arcus: Sic prata vernis floribus renident. Ecce duas fidei summo Patre conferente dotes, Urbi colendas quas dedit togatae. Adspice, per bifidas plebs romula funditur plateas, Lux in duobus fervet una festis. Nos ad utrumque tamen gressu properemus incitato, Et his et illis perfruamur hymnis, Ibimus ulterius, qua fert via pontis Hadriani, Laevam deinde fluminis petemus. Transtiberina prius solvit sacra pervigil sacerdos, Mox huc recurrit, duplicatque vota. Haec didicisse sat est Romae tibi : tu domum reversus, Diem bifestum sic colas, memento. » —
Many-colored painting above tinges the glassy waters, the mosses gleam, and the gold grows green; and the dark-blue water takes on the shade of the purple above: you would think the panelled ceiling moved with the waves. There the Shepherd himself feeds his sheep with the cold freshness of the fountain, whom he sees thirsting for the streams of Christ. On the other side the Ostian road keeps the memorial of Paul, where the river grazes the turf on its left. The splendor of the place is royal: the good emperor consecrated these heights, and lavished great sums upon their circuit. He gilded the beams with gold leaf, so that all the light within might be golden, like radiance at sunrise. He set beneath the tawny ceilings columns of Parian marble, which a fourfold row arranges there. Then he ran the curved arches variously with splendid glass: so meadows shine with spring flowers. See two gifts of faith, conferred by the supreme Father, which he gave to the toga-clad City to honor. Look, the people of Romulus pours out through the twin streets; one daylight burns in two feasts. Yet let us hurry with quick step to both, and enjoy both these hymns and those. We shall go further, where the road of Hadrian’s bridge leads, then we shall make for the left side of the river. The wakeful bishop first performs the rites across the Tiber, then hurries back here, and doubles the prayers. It is enough for you to have learned this at Rome: when you return home, remember to keep the doubly festive day in this way.”
John 10:11 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The friend describes the baptistery at St Peter’s and the splendid basilica of St Paul on the Ostian Way built by the emperor; on the feast the people and the bishop go to both shrines in one day.
- A footnote quoting the dedicatory inscription of St Paul’s (Theodosius and Honorius) was removed. The first two lines of Peristephanon 13 had been attached here by the importer; they were moved to 13.1.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): init. — Hei>s., duo tresve codd. mss. secutus. lesjit frondem. Omnicolor vitroas pictura saperne tinguit undas, Musci relucent, ei virescit aurum: Cyaneusque latex umbram trahit imminentia ostri; Credas moveri lluctibus lacunar. Pastor oves alit ipse illic gelidi rigore foutis, Vldet sitire quas fluenta Christi. Parte alia titulum Pavli via servat Ostiensis, Qua stringit amnis cespitem sinistruin. Regia pompa loci est: princeps bonus lias sacravit arces; Luaitque magnis ambitam talentis. Bracteolas trabibus sublevit, ut omnis aurulenta I.u\ essel intus, ceo iubar sub orta. Subdidit >'t Parias falvis laquearibus columnas, Distinguit Qlic quas quaternus ordo. Tmn camuros hyalo insigni varie cucurril arcus: sic prata vernis floribus renident. duas fidei summo Patre conferente dotes, Orbi colendas quas dedit togatae. tiliutn Houorium I ntiuin alii hic putant, de quibus imperatoribus duos versus in medium proferant antiquis- • ir apud Grvtervm, ot Mabillonvh {lfer Ital. Theudosius coopit. perfecit Honorius aulam Doctoris mundi sacratam corpore Pauli. A.dspice, per bifidas plebs romula funditur plateas, Lux in duobus fcrvet una festis. Nos ad utrumque tamen gressu properemus incitato, Et his et illis perfroamur nymnis, Ibimus ulterius cfua fcrt via pontis Hadriani Levam deinde fluminis petemus. Transtiberina prius solvit sacra pervigil sacerdos, Mox huc recurrit, duplicatque vota. HaecdidicissesatestRomaetibi:tudomumreversus, Diem bifestum sic colap, memento. » — (!) per bifidas... plateas, per latiores vias Ostiensem scir lk-et et Triuiuphalem. Punica terra tulit, quo splondeat omne quidquid usquam est, Inde domo Cyprianvm, sed decus orbis et magistrum . → Omnicolor vitreas pictura superne tinguit undas, Musci relucent, et virescit aurum: Cyaneusque latex umbram trahit imminentis ostri; Credas moveri fluctibus lacunar. Pastor oves alit ipse illic gelidi rigore fontis, Videt sitire quas fluenta Christi. Parte alia titulum Pauli via servat Ostiensis, Qua stringit amnis caespitem sinistrum. Regia pompa loci est: princeps bonus has sacravit arces, Lusitque magnis ambitum talentis. Bracteolas trabibus sublevit, ut omnis aurulenta Lux esset intus, ceu iubar sub ortu. Subdidit et Parias fulvis laquearibus columnas, Distinguit illic quas quaternus ordo. Tum camuros hyalo insigni varie cucurrit arcus: Sic prata vernis floribus renident. Ecce duas fidei summo Patre conferente dotes, Urbi colendas quas dedit togatae. Adspice, per bifidas plebs romula funditur plateas, Lux in duobus fervet una festis. Nos ad utrumque tamen gressu properemus incitato, Et his et illis perfruamur hymnis, Ibimus ulterius, qua fert via pontis Hadriani, Laevam deinde fluminis petemus. Transtiberina prius solvit sacra pervigil sacerdos, Mox huc recurrit, duplicatque vota. Haec didicisse sat est Romae tibi : tu domum reversus, Diem bifestum sic colas, memento. » —.
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 12.33 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–70; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/12-33). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/12-33
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-12-33) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 13
13.1Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32
Punica terra tulit, quo splendeat omne quidquid usquam est, Inde domo Cyprianum, sed decus orbis et magistrum. Est proprius patriae martyr, sed amore et ore noster. Incubat in Libya sanguis; sed ubique lingua pollet: Sola superstes agit de corpore, sola obire nescit. Dum genus esse hominum Christus sinet, et vigere mundum, Dum liber ullus erit, dum scrinia sacra litterarum, Te leget omnis amans Christum ; tua, Cypriane, discet. Spiritus ille Dei, qui fluxerat auctor in Prophetas, Fontibus eloquii te caelitus actus inrigavit. O nive candidius linguae genus ! O novum saporem ! Ut liquor ambrosius cor mitigat, imbuit palatum, Sedem animae penetrat, mentem fovet, pererrat artus, Sic Deus interius sentitur, et inditur medullis. Unde bonum subitum terris dederis, Pater, revela. Deerat Apostolicis scriptis opulentus exsecutor: Eligitur locuples facundia, quae doceret orbem, Quaeque voluminibus Pauli famulata disputaret, Quo mage cruda hominum praecordia perpolita nossent, Sive timoris opus, seu mystica vel profunda Christi. Unus erat iuvenum doctissimus artibus sinistris, Fraude pudicitiam perfringere, nil sacrum putare : Saepe etiam magicum cantamen inire per sepulcra, Quo geniale tori ius solveret, aestuante nupta. Luxuriae rabiem tantae cohibet repente Christus, Discutit et tenebras de pectore, pellit et furorem, Implet amore sui, dat credere, dat pudere facti. Iamque figura alia est, quam quae fuit, oris et nitoris : Exuitur tenui vultus cute, transit in severam : Deflua caesaries compescitur ad breves capillos. Ipse modesta loqui, spem quaerere, regulam tenere, Vivere iustitiam Christi, penetrare dogma nostrum. His igitur meritis dignissimus usque episcopale Provehitur solium doctor, capit et sedile summum.
The Punic land brought forth, to make bright all that exists anywhere, Cyprian from its own home, but the glory and teacher of the world. He is the martyr proper to his homeland, but ours in love and speech. His blood lies in Libya, but his tongue is powerful everywhere: it alone survives from the body, it alone knows not how to die. As long as Christ allows the human race to exist and the world to thrive, as long as there is any book, as long as there are sacred cases of letters, everyone who loves Christ will read you, Cyprian, and will learn what is yours. That Spirit of God, who had flowed as author into the Prophets, moved from heaven, watered you with the fountains of eloquence. O kind of speech whiter than snow! O new savor! As ambrosial liquid soothes the heart, steeps the palate, penetrates the seat of the soul, cherishes the mind, travels through the limbs, so God is felt within, and put into the marrow. Reveal, Father, whence you gave this sudden good to the earth. The apostolic writings lacked a rich expounder: a wealthy eloquence is chosen, to teach the world, and, serving the volumes of Paul, to discuss them, so that the crude hearts of men, polished more, might know either the work of fear, or the mystical or deep things of Christ. There was one young man most learned in sinister arts, in breaking chastity by fraud, in thinking nothing sacred, often too in performing magic spells among the tombs, to dissolve the marriage right of the bed by inflaming a bride. Christ suddenly checks the madness of such great wantonness, shakes the darkness from his breast, and drives out the frenzy, fills him with love of himself, gives him to believe, gives him to be ashamed of what he did. And now the form of his face and his appearance is other than it was: his face puts off its delicate skin, passes into a severe one; his flowing hair is checked into short locks. He himself [learns] to speak modestly, to seek hope, to keep the rule, to live the righteousness of Christ, to penetrate our doctrine. For these merits, most worthy, the teacher is promoted to the episcopal throne, and takes the highest seat.
2 Pet 1:21 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Cyprian of Carthage, whose writings will be read as long as the world lasts, was given by the Spirit as an expounder of Paul; once a young magician who used spells to corrupt chastity, he was converted by Christ, changed his life, and became bishop.
- Peristephanon 13: Cyprian of Carthage. The poet joins to him the story of Cyprian the magician (of Antioch), as written. The first two lines were restored here from the end of 12.33, where the importer had placed them. A running head and a page header were removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): 1M proprius patriae martyr, sed amore et ore noster. Incubat in Libya sanguis; sed ubique lingua pollet: A. Pkvdentii Opera. 16 Sola supersteS airit do corporc, sola obire nescit. •"» ])nm genus esse horaiimm Christus sinet , ei vigere mundum, Dum liber ullus erit; dum scrinia sacra litterarum, Te leget omnis amans Christum ; tua, Cypriane, discel Spiritus ille Dei, qui fluxerat auctor in Prophetas, Fontibus eloquii te caelitus actus inrigavit. 1<> 0 nive candidius linguae genus ! 0 novuin saporem ! Ut liquor ambrosius cor mitigat, imbiijt palatum, Sedom animae penetrat, mentem fovet, pererratartus, Sic Deus interius sentitur, et inditur medullis. Unde bonum subitum terris dederis, Pator, revela. 1"» Deerat Apostolicis scriptis opulontus exsecutor: Eligitur locuples facundia, quae doceret orbem, Quaeque voluminibus Pauli famulata disputaret, Quo mage cruda hominum praocordia perpolita nossent, Sive timoris opus , seu mystica vel profunda Christi. ( -1 ) Ili:i'l £TE* .NUN iiymw» \m 243 Unus erat iuvennni doctissimue artibus sinistris, Fraude pudicidiara perfringere, nil sacrum putare : Saepo etiam magicum cantamen inire per aepulcra, Quo geniale tori ius solveret, aestuante nupta. Luxuriae rabiem tantae cohibet repente Christus, Discutil et tenebras de pectore, pellit et furorem, iiii|ilct amore sui, dat credere, dat pudere facti. amque figura alia est, quam quae fuit, oris et nitoris : tur tenui vultus cute, transit in severam : Deflua caesaries compescitur ad breves capillos. :i<> pse modesta loqui, spem qnaerere, regulara tenere, Vivere iustitiam Christi ('■>), penetrare dogma no&trum. ljis igitur meritis dignissimus osque episcopale Provehitur solium doctor, capit et sedile summum. → Punica terra tulit, quo splendeat omne quidquid usquam est, Inde domo Cyprianum, sed decus orbis et magistrum. Est proprius patriae martyr, sed amore et ore noster. Incubat in Libya sanguis; sed ubique lingua pollet: Sola superstes agit de corpore, sola obire nescit. Dum genus esse hominum Christus sinet, et vigere mundum, Dum liber ullus erit, dum scrinia sacra litterarum, Te leget omnis amans Christum ; tua, Cypriane, discet. Spiritus ille Dei, qui fluxerat auctor in Prophetas, Fontibus eloquii te caelitus actus inrigavit. O nive candidius linguae genus ! O novum saporem ! Ut liquor ambrosius cor mitigat, imbuit palatum, Sedem animae penetrat, mentem fovet, pererrat artus, Sic Deus interius sentitur, et inditur medullis. Unde bonum subitum terris dederis, Pater, revela. Deerat Apostolicis scriptis opulentus exsecutor: Eligitur locuples facundia, quae doceret orbem, Quaeque voluminibus Pauli famulata disputaret, Quo mage cruda hominum praecordia perpolita nossent, Sive timoris opus, seu mystica vel profunda Christi. Unus erat iuvenum doctissimus artibus sinistris, Fraude pudicitiam perfringere, nil sacrum putare : Saepe etiam magicum cantamen inire per sepulcra, Quo geniale tori ius solveret, aestuante nupta. Luxuriae rabiem tantae cohibet repente Christus, Discutit et tenebras de pectore, pellit et furorem, Implet amore sui, dat credere, dat pudere facti. Iamque figura alia est, quam quae fuit, oris et nitoris : Exuitur tenui vultus cute, transit in severam : Deflua caesaries compescitur ad breves capillos. Ipse modesta loqui, spem quaerere, regulam tenere, Vivere iustitiam Christi, penetrare dogma nostrum. His igitur meritis dignissimus usque episcopale Provehitur solium doctor, capit et sedile summum..
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 13.1 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/13-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/13-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-13-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
13.33Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–64
Valerianus opum Princeps erat, atque Gallienus; Constituere simul poenam capitis Deum fatenti. Millia turrigerum spurcissima iusserant sacrari. Contra animos populi doctor Cyprianus incitabat; Ne quis ab egregiae virtutis honore discreparet, Neu fidei pretium quis sumere degener timeret, Esse levem cruciatum, si modo conferas futura, Quae Deus ipse viris intermina fortibus spopondit : Mercede doloris emi spem luminis et diem perennem, Omne malum volucri cum tempore transvolare cursim : Nil grave, quod peragi finis facit, et quiete donat. Se fore principium pulchrae necis, et ducem cruoris, Seque gladio caput submittere, sanguinem dicare : Qui sociare animam Christo velit, ut comes sequatur. His ubi corda virum Christo calefacta praeparavit, Ducitur ante alios, Proconsule perfurente, vinctus. Antra latent Tyriae Carthaginis altius reposta, Conscia Tartareae caliginis, abdicata soli : Clausus in his specubus sanctus Cyprianus, et catena Nexus utraque manu, nomen Patris invocat supremi : — « Omnipotens genitor Christi Deus, et creator orbis, Christe parens hominis, quem diligis et vetas perire, Ille ego, vipereis quem tu bonus oblitum venenis, Criminibus variis tinctum, miseratus abluisti, Iamque tuus fieri mandas, fio Cyprianus alter; Et novus ex veteri, nec iam reus aut nocens, ut ante. Si luteum facili charismate pectus expiasti, Et tenebrosa animae ergastula caeca dissipasti, Eripe corporeo de carcere, vinculisque mundi Hanc animam: liceat fuso tibi sanguine immolari, Nec ferum reprimat clementia iudicem, tyranni Nec sciat invidia mitescere, gloriam negare.
Valerian was emperor of the realm’s wealth, and Gallienus; together they established the penalty of death for one who confessed God. They had ordered thousands of most filthy [gods] crowned with towers to be worshiped. Against this, Cyprian the teacher roused the minds of the people, lest anyone should depart from the honor of outstanding virtue, or anyone, degenerate, fear to take the reward of faith, saying that torture is light, if only you compare the future things which God himself has promised as endless to the brave: that the hope of light and everlasting day are bought with the payment of pain, that every evil flies swiftly past with winged time: nothing is grievous which an end brings to completion and endows with rest. He himself would be the beginning of a beautiful death and the leader in blood, submitting his head to the sword, dedicating his blood: let whoever wishes to join his soul to Christ follow as companion. When by these words he had prepared men’s hearts, warmed for Christ, he is led before the others, bound, as the proconsul raged. There are caves of Tyrian Carthage hidden deeper, acquainted with the gloom of Tartarus, cut off from the sun: shut in these caves holy Cyprian, bound with a chain on both hands, calls on the name of the supreme Father: “Almighty God, begetter of Christ, and creator of the world, Christ, parent of man, whom you love and forbid to perish, I am he whom, smeared with viper’s poisons, stained with various crimes, you in your goodness pitied and washed, and now you command me to become yours: I become another Cyprian, and new from the old, no longer guilty or harmful, as before. If you have expiated my muddy breast with easy grace, and scattered the dark, blind prisons of my soul, snatch this soul from the bodily prison and the chains of the world: let me be sacrificed to you with my blood poured out, and let no clemency restrain the fierce judge, nor let the tyrant’s spite know how to grow mild and deny me the glory.
2 Cor 5:17 (echo, medium confidence) · Rom 8:18 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Under Valerian and Gallienus, Cyprian encourages his people to martyrdom; imprisoned in a dark cave, he prays to God, who washed away his former sins, to let him die for Christ.
- Line 28 is damaged in the scan and read by sense. ‘Washed’ refers to baptism.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Valerianus opum Princeps erat, atque Gallienus; Constituere simul poenam capitis Deura fatenti. Millia torrigenum spurcissiraa iusserant sacrari. Contra aniinos populi doctor Cyprunvs incitabat; No quis ab egregiae virtutis lionore discreparet, Neu fidei pretium quis sumere degener timeret, Esse levem cruciatum, si raodo conferas futura, Quae Deus ipse viris intermioa fortibus spopondit : Morce doloris emi spem luminis et diem perennem, Omno malum volucri cum tempore transvolare cursim : Nil grave, quod peragi finis facit, et quiete donat. Se fore principium pulchrae necis, et ducem cruoris, Seque gladio caput submittere, sanguinem dicarc : Qui sociare animam Christo velit, ut comes sequatur. llis ubi corda virum Christo calefacta praeparavit, Ducitur ante alios, Proconsule perfurente, vinctus. Antra latent Tyriae Carthaginis altius reposta, Conscia Tartareae caliginis, abdicata soli : Clausus in his specubus sanctus Cyprianvs, et catena Nexus utraque manu, nomen Patris invocat supremi : — « Omnipotens genitor Christi Deus, et creator orbis, Christe parens hominis, quem diligis et vetas perire, Ille ego, vipereis quem tu bonus oblitmn venenis, Criminibus variis tinctum, miseratus abluisti, Iamque tuus fieri mandas, fio Cyprianvs alter; Kt novua ex veteri, nec iam reua ani nocens, ut ante. Bi Luteum facili charismate pectna expiasti, tebria ergastnla caeca dissipatis ; Kripo corporeo de carcere, vincnliaqne mnndi Hanc animam: liceal fnso tibi Bangnine immolari, X' .jn.i ferum reprimat clementia indicem, tyranni Nen sciat invidia mitescere, gloriam negare. → Valerianus opum Princeps erat, atque Gallienus; Constituere simul poenam capitis Deum fatenti. Millia turrigerum spurcissima iusserant sacrari. Contra animos populi doctor Cyprianus incitabat; Ne quis ab egregiae virtutis honore discreparet, Neu fidei pretium quis sumere degener timeret, Esse levem cruciatum, si modo conferas futura, Quae Deus ipse viris intermina fortibus spopondit : Mercede doloris emi spem luminis et diem perennem, Omne malum volucri cum tempore transvolare cursim : Nil grave, quod peragi finis facit, et quiete donat. Se fore principium pulchrae necis, et ducem cruoris, Seque gladio caput submittere, sanguinem dicare : Qui sociare animam Christo velit, ut comes sequatur. His ubi corda virum Christo calefacta praeparavit, Ducitur ante alios, Proconsule perfurente, vinctus. Antra latent Tyriae Carthaginis altius reposta, Conscia Tartareae caliginis, abdicata soli : Clausus in his specubus sanctus Cyprianus, et catena Nexus utraque manu, nomen Patris invocat supremi : — « Omnipotens genitor Christi Deus, et creator orbis, Christe parens hominis, quem diligis et vetas perire, Ille ego, vipereis quem tu bonus oblitum venenis, Criminibus variis tinctum, miseratus abluisti, Iamque tuus fieri mandas, fio Cyprianus alter; Et novus ex veteri, nec iam reus aut nocens, ut ante. Si luteum facili charismate pectus expiasti, Et tenebrosa animae ergastula caeca dissipasti, Eripe corporeo de carcere, vinculisque mundi Hanc animam: liceat fuso tibi sanguine immolari, Nec ferum reprimat clementia iudicem, tyranni Nec sciat invidia mitescere, gloriam negare..
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution, Baptism
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 13.33 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/13-33). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/13-33
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-13-33) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
13.65Lanfranchi 1:lines 65–106
Da quoque, ne quis iners sit de grege, quem tuum regebam, Ne cadat impatiens poenae, titubetve quis tuorum; Incolumem ut numerum reddam tibi, debitumque solvam. » — Talibus his Dominum permoverat; influebat inde Spiritus in populum Carthaginis, auctor acrioris Ingenii, stimulis ut pectora subditis calerent Ad decus egregium discrimine sanguinis petendum; Non trepidare docens, nec cedere, nec dolore vinci, Laudis amore rapi, Christum sapere, et fidem tueri. Fama refert, foveam campi in medio patere iussam, Calce vaporifera summos prope margines refertam : Saxa recocta vomunt ignem, niveusque pulvis ardet, Urere tacta potens, et mortifer ex odore flatus. Adpositam memorant aram fovea stetisse summa, Lege sub hac, salis aut micam, iecur aut suis litarent Christicolae, aut mediae sponte inruerent in ima fossae. Prosiluere alacres cursu rapido simul trecenti, Gurgite pulvereo mersos liquor aridus voravit, Praecipitemque globum fundo tenus implicavit imo. Corpora candor habet, candor vehit ad superna mentes, Candida massa dehinc dici meruit per omne saeclum. Laetior interea iam Thascius ob diem suorum Sistitur indomiti proconsulis eminus furori. Edere iussus erat, quid viveret : — « Unicultor, inquit, Salutiferi mysteria consecrata Christi. » — Ille sub haec : — « Satis est iam criminis; ipse confitetur Thascius: ipse Iovis numen negat. Expedite ferrum, Carnifices: gladio poenam luat hostis idolorum. » — Ille Deo meritas grates agit, et canit triumphans. Flevit abire ad Christum moesta Africa, quo docente facta est Cultior, eloquio cuius sibi docta gloriatur: Mox tumulum Carthago struxit, cineresque consecravit. Desine flere bonum tantum : petit ille regna Caeli; Nec minus involitat terris, nec ab hoc recedit orbe: Disserit, eloquitur, tractat, docet, instruit, prophetat. Nec Libyae populos tantum regit : exit usque in ortum Solis, et usque obitum; Gallos fovet, imbuit Britannos, Praesidet Hesperiae, Christum serit ultimis Hiberis. Doctor humi idem est, idem quoque martyr in supernis: Instruit hic homines, illinc pia dona dat patronus.
Grant too that no one of the flock which I ruled as yours be idle, lest any of yours fall, impatient of punishment, or waver; that I may give back the number to you unharmed, and pay my debt.” With such prayers he had moved the Lord; from there the Spirit flowed into the people of Carthage, author of a keener spirit, so that their hearts, with goads applied, grew hot to seek outstanding glory at the risk of blood; teaching them not to tremble, not to yield, not to be conquered by pain, to be carried away by love of praise, to savor Christ, and to guard the faith. Report says that a pit was ordered to lie open in the middle of a field, filled almost to the top of its edges with steaming lime: the burnt stones vomit fire, and the snowy powder burns, able to burn what it touches, with a breath deadly in its smell. They record that an altar stood placed at the top of the pit, under this law: either Christians should offer a grain of salt or a pig’s liver, or of their own accord rush into the depths in the middle of the pit. Three hundred leapt forward eagerly at a rapid run together; the dry liquid devoured them, plunged in the powdery whirlpool, and wrapped the headlong mass right down to the bottom. Whiteness holds their bodies, whiteness carries their minds to the heights; from then on it deserved to be called the White Mass through every age. Meanwhile Thascius, gladder now because of his people’s day, is set before the untamed proconsul’s fury, at a distance. He had been ordered to declare by what he lived: “Worshiper of one God,” he says, “[I keep] the consecrated mysteries of saving Christ.” At this the other: “There is enough guilt now; Thascius himself confesses it: he himself denies the godhead of Jupiter. Get the iron ready, executioners: let the enemy of idols pay the penalty by the sword.” He gives God due thanks and sings, triumphant. Sorrowful Africa wept that he had gone to Christ, by whose teaching she was made more cultivated, she who, learned, glories in his eloquence; soon Carthage built a tomb and consecrated his ashes. Stop weeping for so great a good: he seeks the kingdoms of heaven; yet he hovers over the earth no less, nor departs from this world: he discusses, speaks, treats, teaches, instructs, prophesies. Nor does he rule only the peoples of Libya: he goes out to the rising of the sun, and to its setting; he cherishes the Gauls, steeps the Britons, presides over Italy, sows Christ among the farthest Spaniards. He is a teacher on earth, and likewise a martyr in heaven: here he instructs men, there as patron he gives holy gifts.
Notes and citation
Summary: At Cyprian’s prayer the Spirit fills the Christians of Carthage with courage; three hundred leap into a pit of burning lime rather than sacrifice (the White Mass); Cyprian (Thascius) confesses Christ and is beheaded; his writings still teach the whole West.
- The ‘White Mass’ (Massa Candida) is placed by other sources at Utica. Thascius was Cyprian’s own name. The last line but one is damaged in the scan and read by sense; a footnote was removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Da qnoqne, ne quis iners sit de grege, quem tnum ebam, Ue cadai impatiens poenae, titnbetve quia fcuoruin; Incolnmem ut nnmernm reddam tibi, debitumque solvam. » — Wibus his Dominnm permoverat; inflnebat indo ('■>) Spiritns in populum Carthaginis, auctor acrioris I iiLT.nii , stiinulis ut pectora subditis calcivnt Ad decu.s egrogiuin discrimine aangninis petendnm ; Non trepidare docens, nec cedere, nec dolore vinci. Laudis amore rapi, Cbristum sapere, etfidem tneri. Fama refert, fuveam campi in medio patere iussam, Calce Taporifera summos prope margines refertam : Saxa recocta vomunt ignem, niveusque pulvis ardet, Urere tacta potena, et mortifer »'\ odore fiatus. A.dpositam memorant aram fovea stetisse summa, Lege sub hac, salis aut micam, iecur et suis litarerit Christicolae, aut mediae sponte inruerent in iina fosaae. Prosiluere alacres cursu rapido siraul trecenti, Gurgite pulvereo mersos liquor aridus voravit, Praecipiteinque globuin fundo tenus implicavit imo. Corpora candor habet, candor vehit ad superna mentes, Candida massa dehinc dici meruit per ornne saeclum. Laetior interea iam Thascius ob diem suorum Sistitur indomiti proconsulis eminus furori. Edere iussus erat, quid viveret : — « Unicultor, inquit, alntiferi mysteria consecrata Christi. » — lle suli haec : ••• — Satia est iam criminis; ipse '"iifitetur Thascius: ipse [ovis ralmen negat. Expedito ferruro, Carnifices: gladio poenam loat hostis idolornm. » — Dle Deo meritas frrates agit, ei canil trinmphans. Flevil ahire Christnm moesta airica: quo docente facta est Cnltior, eloqnio cnins sibi docta gloriatur: .Mc\ tuimiluin larrhiKiiis stcuxit . cineresqne consecravit. Desine flere bonnm tantum : 1 < ■ 1 1 * - 1 ille regna Caeli; Nec minua involital terris, nec ab hoc recedil orbe: D sserit, eloqnitnr, tractat, docet, instruit, prophetat. \ c Libyae popnlos tantum regit : exit osqne in ortum Sulis. el usque obitum; GaDos fovet, imbuit Britannos, Praesidet Hesperiae, Christum serit oltimis Hiberis. # [supernis, Instruit bic homines, illinc pia dona dat patronus. ii) superflun em texore, quum sole clariora sint eius opcra ». → Da quoque, ne quis iners sit de grege, quem tuum regebam, Ne cadat impatiens poenae, titubetve quis tuorum; Incolumem ut numerum reddam tibi, debitumque solvam. » — Talibus his Dominum permoverat; influebat inde Spiritus in populum Carthaginis, auctor acrioris Ingenii, stimulis ut pectora subditis calerent Ad decus egregium discrimine sanguinis petendum; Non trepidare docens, nec cedere, nec dolore vinci, Laudis amore rapi, Christum sapere, et fidem tueri. Fama refert, foveam campi in medio patere iussam, Calce vaporifera summos prope margines refertam : Saxa recocta vomunt ignem, niveusque pulvis ardet, Urere tacta potens, et mortifer ex odore flatus. Adpositam memorant aram fovea stetisse summa, Lege sub hac, salis aut micam, iecur aut suis litarent Christicolae, aut mediae sponte inruerent in ima fossae. Prosiluere alacres cursu rapido simul trecenti, Gurgite pulvereo mersos liquor aridus voravit, Praecipitemque globum fundo tenus implicavit imo. Corpora candor habet, candor vehit ad superna mentes, Candida massa dehinc dici meruit per omne saeclum. Laetior interea iam Thascius ob diem suorum Sistitur indomiti proconsulis eminus furori. Edere iussus erat, quid viveret : — « Unicultor, inquit, Salutiferi mysteria consecrata Christi. » — Ille sub haec : — « Satis est iam criminis; ipse confitetur Thascius: ipse Iovis numen negat. Expedite ferrum, Carnifices: gladio poenam luat hostis idolorum. » — Ille Deo meritas grates agit, et canit triumphans. Flevit abire ad Christum moesta Africa, quo docente facta est Cultior, eloquio cuius sibi docta gloriatur: Mox tumulum Carthago struxit, cineresque consecravit. Desine flere bonum tantum : petit ille regna Caeli; Nec minus involitat terris, nec ab hoc recedit orbe: Disserit, eloquitur, tractat, docet, instruit, prophetat. Nec Libyae populos tantum regit : exit usque in ortum Solis, et usque obitum; Gallos fovet, imbuit Britannos, Praesidet Hesperiae, Christum serit ultimis Hiberis. Doctor humi idem est, idem quoque martyr in supernis: Instruit hic homines, illinc pia dona dat patronus..
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 13.65 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 65–106; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/13-65). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/13-65
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-13-65) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 14
14.1Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32
Agnes sepulcrum est Romulea in domo, Fortis puellae, martyris inclitae. Conspectu in ipso condita turrium Servat salutem Virgo Quiritium: Nec non et ipsos protegit advenas, Puro ac fideli pectore supplices. Duplex corona est praestita martyri: Intactum ab omni crimine virginal, Mortis deinde gloria liberae. Aiunt iugali vix habilem toro, Primis in annis forte puellulam Christo calentem, fortiter impiis Iussis renisam, quo minus idolis Addicta, sacram desereret fidem. Nunc ore blandi iudicis inlice, Nunc saevientis carnificis minis Corpusque duris excruciatibus Ultro offerebat, non renuens mori. Tum trux tyrannus : — « Si facile est, ait, Poenam subactis ferre doloribus, Et vita vilis spernitur, at pudor Carus dicatae virginitatis est. Hanc in lupanar trudere publicum Certum est, ad aram ni caput adplicat; Ac de Minerva iam veniam rogat, Quam virgo pergit temnere virginem. Omnis iuventus inruet, et novum Ludibriorum mancipium petet. » — « Haud, inquit Agnes, immemor est ita Christus suorum, perdat ut aureum Nobis pudorem, nos quoque deserat. Praesto est pudicis; nec patitur sacrae
The tomb of Agnes is in the house of Romulus, the brave girl, the glorious martyr. Laid to rest in full sight of the towers, the Virgin keeps the Quirites safe; and she protects strangers too who pray with a pure and faithful heart. A double crown was granted to the martyr: virginity untouched by any sin, then the glory of a free death. They say that, scarcely fit for the marriage bed, in her first years, a little girl, glowing with love for Christ, she bravely resisted impious commands, lest, given over to idols, she should desert the sacred faith. Now by the mouth of the enticing, coaxing judge, now by the threats of the raging executioner, [tried,] she offered her body of her own accord to harsh tortures, not refusing to die. Then the savage tyrant says: “If it is easy to bear punishment by subduing pains, and life is spurned as cheap, yet the modesty of her dedicated virginity is dear. It is settled to thrust her into the public brothel, unless she bows her head at the altar and now asks pardon of Minerva, the virgin whom, a virgin, she persists in scorning. All the young men will rush in and seek the new slave of their sport.” “Christ,” says Agnes, “is not so forgetful of his own as to let our golden modesty perish, or to desert us. He is at hand for the chaste, and does not allow the gifts
Notes and citation
Summary: Agnes, whose tomb protects Rome, won a double crown of virginity and martyrdom; as a young girl she refused to sacrifice, and the judge threatened to put her in a brothel, but she trusted Christ to keep her chaste.
- Peristephanon 14: the virgin martyr Agnes of Rome. A line (or two) appears missing in the scan before ‘Nunc ore blandi’ and before ‘Corpusque’; the sense ‘tried’ is supplied in brackets.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Agnes sepulcrum est Eomulea in domo Fortis puellae, martyris inclitae. Conspectu in ipso condita turrium Servat salutem VLrgo Quiritium: Nec non et ipsos protegit advenas, Puro ac fideli pectore supplices. Duplex corona est praestita martyri: Intactum ab omni crimine virginal, Mortis deinde gloria liberae. Aiunt iugali vix habilem toro, Primis in annis forte puellulam Christo calentem, fortiter impiis Iussis renisam, quo minus idolis Addicta, sacram desereret fidem. Nui re blandi iudicis inlice, Nunc saevientis carnificis minis Corpusque duris excruciatibus Dltro ofierebat, non rennens mori. Tum trux tyrannus : — « Si facilc est, ait, Poenam subactis ferre doloribus, Kt vita vilis spernitur , at pudor Carue dicatae i_) virginitatis est. Banc in Lupanar trudere publicum Certum est, ad aram, ni caput adplicat; \'- de Minerva iam veniam rogat, Quam Virgo pergil temnere virginem ('■'< i. Omnis iuventus inruetj et novum Ludibriorum mancipium petet. — « Haud, inquit Agnes, immemor ost ita Christus snorum, perdat ut aureum Nobis pudorem, nos quoque doserat. Praesto est pudicis; nec patitur sacrae → Agnes sepulcrum est Romulea in domo, Fortis puellae, martyris inclitae. Conspectu in ipso condita turrium Servat salutem Virgo Quiritium: Nec non et ipsos protegit advenas, Puro ac fideli pectore supplices. Duplex corona est praestita martyri: Intactum ab omni crimine virginal, Mortis deinde gloria liberae. Aiunt iugali vix habilem toro, Primis in annis forte puellulam Christo calentem, fortiter impiis Iussis renisam, quo minus idolis Addicta, sacram desereret fidem. Nunc ore blandi iudicis inlice, Nunc saevientis carnificis minis Corpusque duris excruciatibus Ultro offerebat, non renuens mori. Tum trux tyrannus : — « Si facile est, ait, Poenam subactis ferre doloribus, Et vita vilis spernitur, at pudor Carus dicatae virginitatis est. Hanc in lupanar trudere publicum Certum est, ad aram ni caput adplicat; Ac de Minerva iam veniam rogat, Quam virgo pergit temnere virginem. Omnis iuventus inruet, et novum Ludibriorum mancipium petet. » — « Haud, inquit Agnes, immemor est ita Christus suorum, perdat ut aureum Nobis pudorem, nos quoque deserat. Praesto est pudicis; nec patitur sacrae.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 14.1 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 1–32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-1
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-14-1) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
14.33Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–64
Integritatis munera pollui. Ferrum impiabis sanguine, si voles; Non inquinabis membra libidine. » — Flexu in plateae sistere virginem. Stantem refugit moesta frequentia, Aversa vultus, ne petulantius Quisquam verendum conspiceret locum. Intendit unus forte procaciter Os in puellam, nec trepidat sacram Spectare formam lumine lubrico. En ales ignis, fulminis in modum, Vibratur ardens, atque oculos ferit : Caecus corusco lumine corruit, Atque in plateae pulvere palpitat. Tollunt sodales seminecem solo, Verbisque deflent exsequialibus. Ibat triumphans virgo, Deum Patrem, Christumque sacro carmine concinens. Quod sub profani labe periculi Castum lupanar nec violabile Experta victrix virginitas foret. Sunt qui rogatam retulerint preces Fudisse Christo, redderet ut reo Lucem iacenti : tum iuveni halitum Vitae innovatum visibus integris. Primum sed Agnes hunc habuit gradum Caelestis aulae, mox alius datur. Accensus iram, nam furor incitat Hostis cruenti : — « Vincor, ait gemens: I, stringe ferrum, miles, et exsere
of sacred integrity to be polluted. You will stain your sword with blood, if you will; you will not defile my limbs with lust.” [He orders] the virgin to be set at the corner of the square. The sorrowful crowd shrinks from her as she stands, their faces turned away, lest anyone should look too boldly on the place to be revered. One, as it happened, insolently turned his face toward the girl, and did not tremble to look upon the sacred form with lustful eye. See, a winged fire, like a thunderbolt, is hurled burning, and strikes his eyes: blinded by the flashing light he falls, and writhes in the dust of the square. His companions lift him half-dead from the ground, and lament him with funeral words. The virgin went on in triumph, singing of God the Father and of Christ in a sacred song, because, under the threat of a profane danger, her victorious virginity had found the brothel chaste and inviolable. There are those who have reported that, when asked, she poured out prayers to Christ to give back light to the guilty man as he lay; then breath of life was renewed in the young man, with his sight whole. But this was the first step Agnes had to the heavenly court; soon another is given. The bloody enemy is kindled to anger, for fury drives him: “I am beaten,” he says, groaning; “go, soldier, draw your sword, and carry out
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Agnes is exposed in the square; the people turn away, and one youth who looks on her with lust is struck blind by lightning, though some say she prayed for his healing; the defeated judge orders her killed by the sword.
- A line is missing in the scan before ‘Flexu in plateae sistere virginem’ (the judge’s order, supplied in brackets). A footnote and a running head were removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Integritatis munera pollui. Ferrum impiabis sanguine, si voles; Non inquinabis membra libidine. » — Plexu iu plateae sistere virginem. (•JJ dicatae Deo. Deo devotae. A. PisTuiixiii Opcra. Vi' Stantem refngit mocsta frequentia, Aversa vultus, ne petulantius Quisquam vercndum conspiceret locum. Intendit unus forte procaeiter Os in puellam, nec trepidat sacram Spectare formam lumine lubrico. En ales, ignis fulminis in modum, Vibratur ardens, atque oculos ffcrit : Caecus corusco lumine corruit, Atque in plateae pulvere palpitat. Tollunt sodales seminecem solo, Verbisque deflent exsequialibus. Ibat triumphans virgo, Deum Patrem, Cbristumque sacro carmine concinens. Quod sub profani labe periculi Castuni lupanar nec violabile Experta victrix virginitas foret. Sunt qui rogatam retulerint preces Fudisse Christo, redderet ut reo Lucem iacenti : tum iuveni halitum Vitae innovatum visibus integris. Primum sed Agnes hunc habuit gradum Caelestis aulae, mox alius datur. Accensus iram, nam furor incitat Hostis cruenti : — « Vincor, ait gem«ns: I, stringe terrum miles, et exsere → Integritatis munera pollui. Ferrum impiabis sanguine, si voles; Non inquinabis membra libidine. » — Flexu in plateae sistere virginem. Stantem refugit moesta frequentia, Aversa vultus, ne petulantius Quisquam verendum conspiceret locum. Intendit unus forte procaciter Os in puellam, nec trepidat sacram Spectare formam lumine lubrico. En ales ignis, fulminis in modum, Vibratur ardens, atque oculos ferit : Caecus corusco lumine corruit, Atque in plateae pulvere palpitat. Tollunt sodales seminecem solo, Verbisque deflent exsequialibus. Ibat triumphans virgo, Deum Patrem, Christumque sacro carmine concinens. Quod sub profani labe periculi Castum lupanar nec violabile Experta victrix virginitas foret. Sunt qui rogatam retulerint preces Fudisse Christo, redderet ut reo Lucem iacenti : tum iuveni halitum Vitae innovatum visibus integris. Primum sed Agnes hunc habuit gradum Caelestis aulae, mox alius datur. Accensus iram, nam furor incitat Hostis cruenti : — « Vincor, ait gemens: I, stringe ferrum, miles, et exsere.
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 14.33 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 33–64; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-33). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-33
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-14-33) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
14.65Lanfranchi 1:lines 65–96
Mucrone nudo, laetior haec ait : — « Exsulto, talis quod potius venit Vesanus, atrox, turbidus, armiger, Quam si veniret languidus ac tener, Mollisque ephebus, tinctus aromate, Qui me pudoris funere perderet. Ferrum in papillas omne recepero, Sic, nupta Christo, transiliam poli Omnes tenebras, aethere celsior. Aeterne Rector, divide ianuas Caeli, obseratas terrigenis prius, Ac te sequentem, Christe, animam voca, Cum virginalem, tum Patris hostiam. » — Sic fata, Christum vertice cernuo Supplex adorat, vulnus ut imminens Cervix subiret prona paratius. Ast ille tantam spem peragit manu; Sensum doloris mors cita praevenit. Exutus inde spiritus emicat, Liberque in auras exsilit. Angeli Miratur orbem sub pedibus situm : Spectat tenebras ardua subditas, Ridetque, solis quod rota circuit, Quod mundus omnis volvit et implicat, Rerum quod atro turbine vivitur, Quod vana saecli mobilitas rapit ; Reges, tyrannos, imperia et gradus, Pompasque honorum stulta tumentium : Argenti et auri vim rabida siti Cunctis petitam per varium nefas, Splendore multo structa habitacula: Inlusa pictae vestis inania.
[When Agnes saw the soldier standing] with naked blade, she says, more joyful: “I exult that rather such a man comes, mad, savage, turbulent, armed, than if there came a languid and tender one, a soft youth, steeped in perfume, to destroy me by the death of my modesty. I will receive all the iron in my breasts, and so, bride of Christ, I will leap over all the darkness of the sky, higher than the upper air. Eternal Ruler, part the doors of heaven, barred before to the earthborn, and call, Christ, the soul that follows you, a virgin’s, and also a victim for the Father.” So she spoke, and with bowed head adores Christ as a suppliant, so that her neck, bent forward, might more readily undergo the impending wound. And he with his hand accomplishes so great a hope; swift death forestalls the sense of pain. The spirit, put off from there, flashes out, and leaps free into the air. Angels […] She marvels at the world placed beneath her feet; from on high she looks at the darkness below, and laughs at what the wheel of the sun goes round, what the whole world turns and entangles, the life lived in the black whirlwind of things, what the vain fickleness of the age sweeps away: kings, tyrants, empires and ranks, and the pomps of honors of the foolishly swollen; the force of silver and gold sought with rabid thirst by all through various wickedness; dwellings built with much splendor; the empty mockeries of embroidered clothing;
Notes and citation
Summary: Agnes welcomes the armed executioner rather than a seducer, prays as Christ’s bride to be taken to heaven, and is beheaded; her soul rises and laughs at the vanities of the world below.
- The scan lacks several lines: before ‘Mucrone nudo’, after ‘Qui me pudoris funere perderet’, and after ‘Angeli’; senses given in brackets or ‘…’.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Mucrone imdo, laetior haec ;iit : — Exsulto, talifl quod potius venit Vesanus, atrox, turbidus, armiger, Quam si veniret languidus ac tener, Bfollisque ephebus, ttnctus aromate, Qui me pudoris funere perderet. Ferrum in papillas omne recepero, Bic, nupta Christo, transiliam poli Omnes tenobras, aethere celsior. Aeterne Bector, divide ianuas Caoli, obseratas terrigenis prius, Ac to yoquentfiu . Christe, animam voca, Ciun virginalem, tum Patris hostiam. » — Sic t'at;i. Christum vertice cernuo Supplex adorat, vulnus ut imminens Cervix Bubiret prona paratius. Aat illo tantam spem peragit manu; Sensum doloris mors cita praevenit. Bxutus indc spiritus emicat, Liberque in auras exsilit. Angcli Miratur orbem sub pedibus situm : Spectat tenebras ardua subditas, Ridetque, solis quod rota circuit, Quod mundus oranis volvit et implicat, Rerum quod atro turbine vivitur, Quod vana saecli mobilitas rapit ; Reges, tyrannos, iraperia et gradus, Pompasque bonorum stulta tumentium : Argenti et auri vim rabida siti Cunctis petitam per varium nefas, Splendore multo structa babitacula: Inlusa pictae vestis inania. → Mucrone nudo, laetior haec ait : — « Exsulto, talis quod potius venit Vesanus, atrox, turbidus, armiger, Quam si veniret languidus ac tener, Mollisque ephebus, tinctus aromate, Qui me pudoris funere perderet. Ferrum in papillas omne recepero, Sic, nupta Christo, transiliam poli Omnes tenebras, aethere celsior. Aeterne Rector, divide ianuas Caeli, obseratas terrigenis prius, Ac te sequentem, Christe, animam voca, Cum virginalem, tum Patris hostiam. » — Sic fata, Christum vertice cernuo Supplex adorat, vulnus ut imminens Cervix subiret prona paratius. Ast ille tantam spem peragit manu; Sensum doloris mors cita praevenit. Exutus inde spiritus emicat, Liberque in auras exsilit. Angeli Miratur orbem sub pedibus situm : Spectat tenebras ardua subditas, Ridetque, solis quod rota circuit, Quod mundus omnis volvit et implicat, Rerum quod atro turbine vivitur, Quod vana saecli mobilitas rapit ; Reges, tyrannos, imperia et gradus, Pompasque honorum stulta tumentium : Argenti et auri vim rabida siti Cunctis petitam per varium nefas, Splendore multo structa habitacula: Inlusa pictae vestis inania..
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 14.65 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 65–96; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-65). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-65
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-14-65) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
14.97Lanfranchi 1:lines 97–125
Iram, timorem, vota, pericula : Nunc triste longum, nunc breve gaudium, Livoris atri fumificas faces, Nigrescit unde spes hominum, et decus: Et, quod malorum tetrius omnium est, Gentilitatis sordida nubila. Haec calcat Agnes, ac pede proterit ; Stans et draconis calce premens caput, Terrena mundi qui ferus omnia Spargit venenis, mergit et inferis. Nunc virginali perdomitus solo, Cristas cerebri deprimit ignei, Cingit coronis interea Deus Frontem duabus martyris innubae: Merces perenni lumine conficit, Centenus exstat fructus in altera. O virgo felix, o nova gloria, Caelestis arcis nobilis incola, Intende nostris conluvionibus Vultum gemello cum diademate: Cui posse soli cunctiparens dedit Castum vel ipsum reddere fornicem. Fulgore, nostrum si iecur impleas. Nil non pudicum est, quod pia visere
anger, fear, vows, dangers; now long sadness, now brief joy; the smoky torches of black envy, by which the hope and honor of men grows black; and, what is fouler than all evils, the filthy clouds of heathenism. Agnes tramples these and crushes them with her foot, standing and pressing with her heel the head of the dragon, who, savage, sprinkles all the earthly things of the world with poisons, and plunges them into the underworld. Now, utterly subdued by the virgin’s sole, he lowers the crests of his fiery head. Meanwhile God binds the brow of the unwed martyr with two crowns: [one] reward is made up of everlasting light; in the other stands the hundredfold fruit. O happy virgin, O new glory, noble dweller of the heavenly citadel, turn toward our filth your face with its twin diadem; to you alone the Father of all has given the power to make even the brothel chaste. […] by the brightness [of your face], if you fill my heart. Nothing is not chaste that you, loving one, deign to visit
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Gen 3:15 (echo, medium confidence) · Matt 13:8 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Agnes tramples on the world’s vanities and on the dragon’s head; God crowns her twice, with eternal light and the hundredfold fruit of virginity; the poet asks her to look on his impurity and cleanse him.
- Gen 3:15; Matt 13:8. Several lines are missing in the scan (e.g. before ‘Fulgore’ and the final line of the poem); a list of errata from the end of the printed volume had been attached and was removed. The end of the Peristephanon.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR text badly garbled: clear slips corrected throughout, stray line numbers, note marks, footnotes and running heads removed (readings restored by sense are named in the notes)): Iram, timorem, vota, pericula : Nunc triste longum, nunc breve gaudium, Livoris atri fumiflcas faces, Nigrescit unde spes hominum, et decus: Et, quod malorum tetrius omnium est, GentUitatis sordida nubila. Haec calcat Agnes, ac pede proterit ; Stans et draconis calce premens caput, Terrena mundi qui ferus omnia Spargit venenis, mergit et inferis. Nnnc virginali perdomitns solo, Cristas cerebri deprimil ignei, Cingit coronis interea Dens Prontem dnabns nwrtyris innnbae: Iferces perenni Inmine confi Centenns extat firnctns in altera. < » virgo felix, o nova gloria, Caelestis arcis nobilis incola, ntende nostris conluvionihus Yultiiin gemello cnm diademate: Cni posse soli cunctiparens dedit Castnm vel ipsnm reddere fornicem. Fnlgore, nostrnm si iecnr impleas. Nil non pndicnm est, qnod pia visere - . ei, (aeque &i colluvio, rerum ; Pradentiannm appositum est. » l'-')< , >> :34. fornicem ita stri- = fornix ita strictim de- ctim depingitur. pingitur. » 139, » 11. 225 = 255. » 1C1 , » 23. eorreptam vides. = correptam miuiino vides. → Iram, timorem, vota, pericula : Nunc triste longum, nunc breve gaudium, Livoris atri fumificas faces, Nigrescit unde spes hominum, et decus: Et, quod malorum tetrius omnium est, Gentilitatis sordida nubila. Haec calcat Agnes, ac pede proterit ; Stans et draconis calce premens caput, Terrena mundi qui ferus omnia Spargit venenis, mergit et inferis. Nunc virginali perdomitus solo, Cristas cerebri deprimit ignei, Cingit coronis interea Deus Frontem duabus martyris innubae: Merces perenni lumine conficit, Centenus exstat fructus in altera. O virgo felix, o nova gloria, Caelestis arcis nobilis incola, Intende nostris conluvionibus Vultum gemello cum diademate: Cui posse soli cunctiparens dedit Castum vel ipsum reddere fornicem. Fulgore, nostrum si iecur impleas. Nil non pudicum est, quod pia visere.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Prudentius, Perist. 14.97 (Lanfranchi 1:lines 97–125; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-97). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/prudentius-peristephanon/14-97
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-prudentius-peristephanon-14-97) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Lanfranchi's edition (Turin, 1898; OCR, corrections logged). No public-domain English was used; FOTC 43 is not available, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.