E00801: Prudentius, in his Latin Crowns of the Martyrs (Peristephanon), written c. 400 in Calahorra (northern Spain), in a poem on the *Eighteen Martyrs of Saragossa (north-eastern Spain, S00485), lists the saintly patrons of various places in Spain, Gaul and North Africa, who will be presented by their cities at the Last Judgement, and singles out Saragossa for special praise, because of the number of its martyrs.
Creators: name: Dlambert
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Liber Peristephanon, Poem IV.1-64<br><br>Hymnus in honorem Sanctorum Decem et Octo Martyrum Caesaraugustanorum.<br><br>Bis nouem noster populus sub uno<br>martyrum seruat cineres sepulcro,<br>Caesaraugustam uocitamus urbem<br>res cui tanta est.<br><br>5 Plena magnorum domus angelorum<br>non timet mundi fragilis ruinam<br>tot sinu gestans simul offerenda<br>munera Christo.<br><br>Cum deus dextram quatiens coruscam<br>10 nube subnixus ueniet rubente<br>gentibus iustam positurus aequo<br>pondere libram,<br><br>orbe de magno caput excitata<br>obuiam Christo properanter ibit<br>15 ciuitas quaeque pretiosa portans<br>dona canistris.<br><br>Afra Carthago tua promet ossa,<br>ore facundo Cypriane doctor.<br>Corduba Acisclum dabit et Zoëllum<br>20 tresque coronas.<br><br>Tu tribus gemmis diadema pulchrum<br>offeres Christo, genetrix piorum<br>Tarraco, intexit cui Fructuosus<br>sutile uinclum.<br><br>25 Nomen hoc gemmae strofio inligatae est,<br>emicant iuxta lapides gemelli<br>ardet et splendor parilis duorum<br>igne corusco.<br><br>Parua Felicis decus exhibebit<br>30 artubus sanctis locuples Gerunda.<br>Nostra gestabit Calagurris ambos<br>quos ueneramur.<br><br>Barchinon claro Cucufate freta<br>surget et Paulo speciosa Narbo,<br>35 teque praepollens Arelas habebit,<br>sancte Genesi.<br><br>Lusitanorum caput oppidorum<br>urbs adoratae cineres puellae<br>obuiam Christo rapiens ad aram<br>40 porriget ipsam.<br><br>Sanguinem Iusti, cui Pastor haeret,<br>ferculum duplex geminumque donum<br>ferre Complutum gremio iuuabit<br>membra duorum.<br><br>45 Ingeret Tingis sua Cassianum,<br>festa Massylum monumenta regum,<br>qui cinis gentes domitas coegit<br>ad iuga Christi.<br><br>Singulis paucae, tribus aut duobus,<br>50 forsan et quinis aliquae placebunt<br>testibus Christi prius hostiarum<br>pignere functae.<br><br>Tu decem sanctos reuehes et octo,<br>Caesaraugusta studiosa Christo,<br>55 uerticem flauis oleis reuincta,<br>pacis honore.<br><br>Sola in occursum numerosiores<br>martyrum turbas domino parasti,<br>sola praediues pietate multa<br>60 luce frueris.<br><br>Vix parens orbis populosa Poeni,<br>ipsa uix Roma in solio locata<br>te, decus nostrum, superare in isto<br>munere digna est. <br><br><br>'A Hymn in Honour of the Eighteen Holy Martyrs of Caesaraugusta [Saragossa].<br><br>Eighteen martyrs' ashes our people keeps in a single grave, and Caesaraugusta is the name we call the city which has this great possession. A house that is filled with great saints fears not the downfall of this mortal world, since it bears in its bosom so many gifts to be offered together to Christ. (9) When God, seated on a fiery cloud and shaking his flashing hand, shall come to set up his true balance for the nations and weigh them justly, then from out the great world every city will raise its head and go quickly to meet Christ, carrying its costly gifts in baskets. (17) African Carthage will bring forth your bones, Cyprian, teacher of the eloquent lips. Corduba will give Acisclus and Zoellus and her three crowns. You, Tarraco [Tarragona], mother of godly children, will offer to Christ a beauteous diadem with three jewels, for Fructuosus weaves you a band in which they are set. (25) This name belongs to one jewel fastened on the band, and beside it shine twin stones, both blazing in equal lustre with a flash of fire. Little Gerunda [Gerona] will present Felix, her glory, for his holy body makes her rich; and our own Calagurris bring the two whom we venerate. (33) Barchinon [Barcelona] will rise up in reliance on famed Cucufas, fair Narbo [Narbonne] on Paulus, and great Arelas [Arles] will have you, holy Genesius. The city which is head of the towns of Lusitania [i.e. Mérida] will take the ashes of the girl it reverences to meet Christ and present them at the very altar. (41) It will be Complutum [Alcala's] delight to bring in her arms the blood of Justus, with Pastor close beside, bearing on two carriers a twofold gift, the bodies of the two. His native Tingis [Tangier], memorial of Massylian kings, will joyously present Cassian, the ashes of him who subdued her pagans and brought them under the yoke of Christ. (49) A few cities will find favour because of only one, some because of two or three, perhaps even of five witnesses to Christ, the sacrifices they gave in pledge before. But you, Caesaraugusta, that are zealous for Christ, will bring again your holy eighteen, your head wreathed with golden olives, the ornament of peace. (57) In number greater than any other city you have companies of martyrs ready to meet the Lord; you will enjoy great light because you surpass all in the riches of your devotion. The populous mother of the Punic world [Carthage] and Rome herself, set on her throne, are scarcely worthy to exceed you, our glory, in this offering.'<br><br>Text: Cunningham 1966, 286-288. Translation: Thomson 1953, 157-161, lightly adapted.