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I'm wondering about the best heading for the pages on individual words. Is "LATIN senex" what we want? Or just "senex"? Or something else more specific to this author or work or line?

Bibliography

Psychomachia

Preface

Senex fidelis, prima credendi uia,

Faithful old man, first path of believing,

Abram, beati seminis serus pater,

Abram, father late in life of a blessed progeny,

adiecta cuius nomen auxit syllaba,

whose name grew with an added syllable,

Abram parenti dictus, Abraham Deo,

called Abram by his parent, Abraham by God,

senile pignus qui dicauit uictimae,

who dedicated as a sacrificial victim the child of his old age

docens ad aram cum litare quis uelit,

teaching that, when someone wants to make sacrifice at the altar,

quod dulce cordi, quod pium, quod unicum

that which is sweet to the heart, that which is loyal, that which is unique

that which is loyal: or perhaps, "that which is the object of his love."

deo libenter offerendum credito,

must be offered willingly with faith in God.

pugnare nosmet cum profanis gentibus

He urged us to fight with profane peoples

suasit, suumque suasor exemplum dedit,

and as he urged gave himself as an example

literally "his own example"

nec ante prolem coniugalem gignere

that one does not beget legitimate progeny

deo placentem, matre uirtute editam,

pleasing to God, born from mother Virtue,

quam strage multa bellicosus spiritus

before the warlike spirit has conquered with much carnage

portenta cordis saeuientis uicerit.

the raging monsters of the heart.

literally "the monsters of the raging heart" (transferred epithet).

uinctum feroces forte reges ceperant

Savage kings by chance had captured and bound

Loth inmorantem criminosis urbibus

Lot while he was dwelling in the criminal cities

Sodomae et Gomorrae, quas fouebat aduena

of Sodom and Gomorrha, which he inhabited as an immigrant,

pollens honore patruelis gloriae.

powerful thanks to the honor accorded his uncle's glory.

his uncle: Abraham

Abram sinistris excitatus nuntiis

Abram, roused by sinister news,

audit propinquum sorte captum bellica

heard that his kinsman, captured by chance of war,

seruire duris barbarorum uinculis:

was serving in the harsh chains of barbarians.

armat trecentos terque senos uernulas,

He armed three hundred and thrice six home-bred slaves,

The number 318 is given a symbolic interpretation below, lines 56-58.

pergant ut hostis terga euntis caedere,

so they could go and cut to pieces the traveling enemy's rearguard.

quem gaza diues ac triumphus nobilis

(the enemy) whom rich treasure and noble triumph

captis tenebant inpeditum copiis.

was keeping hindered with captured troops.

quin ipse ferrum stringit et plenus deo

Indeed the man himself drew his sword and, full of God,

reges superbos mole praedarum graues

defeated and put to flight haughty kings, weighed down by the mass of spoils,

pellit fugatos, sauciatos proterit,

crushed and bloodied them,

frangit catenas et rapinam liberat:

broke the chains and freed the booty:

aurum, puellas, paruulos, monilia,

gold, girls, boys, jewellery

greges equarum, uasa, uestem, buculas.

herds of horses, furniture, clothing, heifers.

Loth ipse ruptis expeditus nexibus

Lot himself, freed from the broken chains,

attrita bacis colla liber erigit.

raised as a free man his neck, worn down by the links.

Abram triumphi dissipator hostici

Abram, banisher of the enemy's triumph,

redit recepta prole fratris inclytus

returned famous, due to the recovery of his brother's son,

ne quam fidelis sanguinis prosapiam

lest a force of wicked kings possess

uis pessimorum possideret principum.

any family of faithful blood.

adhuc recentem caede de tanta uirum

While he was still fresh from such a great slaughter of men

donat sacerdos ferculis caelestibus,

the priest bestowed celestial food upon him,

dei sacerdos, rex et idem praepotens,

a priest of God (bestowed this), and likewise a very powerful king,

origo cuius fonte inenarrabili

whose origin from a secret, indescribable source

secreta nullum prodit auctorem sui,

brings forth no author of itself,

Melchisedech's parentage is not recorded in the Bible.

Melchisedech, qua stirpe, quis maioribus

Melchisedech, from what family, from what ancestors,

ignotus, uni cognitus tantum deo.

it is unknown, known only to the one God.

mox et triformis angelorum trinitas

And later a three-formed trio of angels

senis reuisit hospitis mapalia,

visited the hut of their aged host

et iam uietam Sarra in aluum fertilis

And now Sarra, fertile in her already aged womb

munus iuuentae mater exsanguis stupet,

is stunned at the gift of youth, a withered mother,

herede guadens, et cachinni paenitens.

rejoicing in her heir, and regretting her laughter.

haec ad figuram praenotata est linea,

This line has been marked out in advance figuratively

quam nostra recto uita resculpat pede:

which our life can retrace with a straight step:

uigilandum in armis pectorum fidelium,

there must be armed vigilance in the hearts of the faithful

omnemque nostri portionem corporis,

and every part of our body

quae capta foedae seruiat libidini,

that can be captured and enslaved to foul lust,

domi coactis liberandam uiribus;

must be freed by forces gathered at home;

nos esse large uernularum diuites,

we are greatly rich in home-bred slaves,

si quid trecenti bis nouenis additis

if we know what three hundred with twice nine added

possint figura nouerimus mystica.

can do through mystic symbolism.

The number 318, when written in Greek characters, spells the first two letters of the name Jesus (iota eta), and then tau, which looks like a cross.

mox ipse Christus, qui sacerdos uerus est,

Later Christ himself, who is the true priest,

parente inenarrabili atque uno satus,

born from a single and unknowable parent,

This explains the emphasis on Melchisedech's mysterious parentage above. It prefigures Christ's.

cibum beatis offerens uictoribus

offering food to the blessed victors

paruam pudici cordis intrabit casam,

will enter the small hut of the chaste heart,

monstrans honorem trinitatis hospitae.

and show it the honor of entertaining the Trinity.

animam deinde spiritus conplexibus

Then he will make the soul, piously married in the embraces of the (Holy) Spirit,

pie maritam, prolis expertem diu,

long lacking in issue,

faciet perenni fertilem de semine,

fertile from an eternal seed,

tunc sera dotem possidens puerpera

then, possessing the dowry of a late birthing

herede digno patris inplebit domum.

he will fill the house with an heir worthy of his father.

The allegory is as follows:

Abraham = the reader (nostra vita 51)

Lot = the body which must be liberated from

barbarian kings = lust (libido 54). The primary means is

318 servants = Christ; the reward is from

Melchisedech = Christ, who offers

food = eucharist (61), and a visit from

3 angels = the Trinity to

the hut of Abraham and Sarah = the reader's heart (cor 62). As a result of the visit

Sara = the soul (anima) becomes fertile and produces

Isaac = 'heres' (68) the 'heir', which is perhaps eternal life, or faith.

Main Text

1-20: Introduction and Invocation of Christ

Christe, graues hominum semper miserate labores,

Christ, having always pitied the grievous sufferings of mankind,

qui patria uirtute cluis propriaque, sed una,

who are known and honored thanks to your father's power and your own--but it is one power,

(unum namque deum colimus de nomine utroque,

for we worship a single god under each name,

non tamen et solum, quia tu deus ex patre, Christe)

yet not merely one, because you, Christ, are God born from the Father--

dissere, rex noster, quo milite pellere culpas

teach us, our king, by what military force

mens armata queat nostri de pectoris antro,

the armed mind can expel sins from the hollow of the heart

exoritur quotiens turbatis sensibus intus

whenever conflict arises within our disturbed senses

seditio atque animam morborum rixa fatigat,

and the fight with the vices wears out the soul

quod tunc praesidium pro libertate tuenda

what defending force then for protecting our liberty

quaeue acies furiis inter praecordia mixtis

or what army can resist the madnesses mixed up in the heart

obsistat meliore manu. nec enim, bone ductor,

with superior force. For, good general,

magnarum virtutum inopes neruisque carentes

you have not exposed Christ's worshipers to the destroying vices

Christicolas uitiis populantibus exposuisti.

bereft of virtues and lacking strength.

ipse salutiferas obsesso in corpore turmas

You yourslef order the slavation-bringing troops to fight in the besieged body,

depugnare iubes, ipse excellentibus armas

you yourself arm the mind with excellent arts

artibus ingenium, quibus ad ludibria cordis

with which, powerful at resisting those mockers of the heart,

oppugnanda potens tibi dimicet et tibi uincat.

it can fight for you and win for you.

uincendi praesens ratio est, si comminus ipsas

The method victory is clear, if it is possible to note close at hand

uirtutum facies et conluctantia contra

the very faces of the virtues,

uiribus infestis liceat portenta notare.

and the monstrosities that fight against them with hostile strength.

21-39: Duel between Faith and The Worship of the Old Gods

prima petit campum dubia sub sorte duelli

The first to enter the field, intending to fight under the dubious fortunes of war,

This passage is discussed by William Allan Neilson, "The Beginnings of Modern Allegory," Harvard Studies and Notes in Philology and Literature vol. 6 (1899) p. 20 Karla Pollman in Von Göttern und Menschen erzählen: Formkonstanzen und Funktionswandel (Stuttgart: Steiner 2001) p. 111

pugnatura Fides, agresti turbida cultu,

was Faith, visibly agitated and in peasant dress,

agresti . . . cultu: "Non enim ad praedicandam philosophos, sed piscatores elegit. Ison. Cfr. Hermae Past. Mand. Prooem., ubi fidei magister intravit . . . habitu pastorali. . . . Opponitur Fides Culturae deorum 30, quam victimarum ac socerdotum vitiis coronatorum oranatu repraesentat. Vid. Serv. ad Virg. Aen. 2.133." (Dressel)

agresti cultu: id est rusricano habitu hoc est non humana philosophia vestita (Weitz glosses).

Catherine E. Karkov, "Broken Bodies and Singing Tongues: Gender and Violence in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 23 Psychomachia" in Simon Keynes Lapidge, ed. Anglo-Saxon England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002)115-136.

nuda umeros, intonsa comas, exerta lacertos;

her shoulders uncovered, her hair uncut, her arms exposed,

Christian virtues were often (later?) portrayed as Amazons. In the Strasbourg MS of Harrad von Landsberg, the Amazon virtues all have swords, the vices lances. "Schon im 4ten Jahhundert schrieb Aurelius Prudentius eine Psychomachia, worin der Kampf der jungfrauelichen Tugenden mit dem Lastern vollig als Amazonenschlacht geschildert wird." Wolfgang Menzel, Christliche Symbolik (Regensburg: Verlag Joseph Manz, 1854) 53. [Check RAC s.v. Amazon]

Sil Pun. 15.670-71 turbati fugere Macae, fugere feroces / Autololes, Rhodanique comas intonsa iuventus [i.e. Gauls?]. Ov. Met. 7.175 f. Medea egreditur tectis vestes induta recinctas, nuda pedem, nudis umeros infusa capillis. Verg. Aen. 4.509 crines effusa sacerdos ter centum tonat ore deos.

Paula James, "Prudentius' Psychomachia: the Christian arena and the politics of display" in Miles, ed. Constructing Identities in Late Antiquity, p.71: "It seems that Faith is entering a battle arena, woefully ill-equipped to face the enemy. The logic is clear as she is by her nature unassailable, but in Prudentius she is actively seeking confrontation, an unexpected move. She initiates the fight in the familiar guise of a Christian martyr with no chance against a properly armoured opponent. This is the first indication that the virtues are going to fight back and turn the tables in a locality traditionally associated with their physical defeat and spiritual victory. This is precisely the problem Prudentius presents to later readers. The Christian Virtues [p.72] viciously defeat the pagan Vices but where do they stand on the moral high ground?"

Lines 22-27 were often quoted as indicative of the simplicity of the early church by medieval writers, e.g. John Wycliffe in De Apostasia, and Gerhohi Praepositi Reicherbergensis comm. on Psalm 54, p. 445 in MGH Libelli de lite imperatorum et Pontificum saec. XI et XII conscripti vol. 3. = PL 194.17.

See Carolin Oser-Grote, "Virtus Romana und Virtus Christiana. Die Rezeption und Transformation eines römischen Wertebegriffs bei Prudentius," in Therese Fuhrer und Michael Erler (Hrsg.), Zur Rezeption der hellenistischen Philosophie in der Spätantike (Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, 1999) pp. 213-28, esp. p. 220 on the dress of Fides.

namque repentinus laudis calor ad noua feruens

for her sudden lust for glory, burning for new battles,

proelia nec telis meminit nec tegmine cingi,

remembered to put on neither weapons nor armor,

pectore sed fidens ualido membrisque retectis

but having faith in her strong breast and uncovered limbs

prouocat insani frangenda pericula belli.

She courted the dangers of mad war that must be smashed.

ecce lacessentem conlatis uiribus audet

Behold, the first to collect her strength and strike at Faith

prima ferire Fidem Veterum Cultura Deorum.

as she called out her challenge was the Worship of the Old Gods.

illa hostile caput phalerataque tempora uittis

She (Faith), rising high, struck that hostile head

altior insurgens labefactat, et ora cruore

and the temples ornamented with fillets, and brought to the ground

de pecudum satiata solo adplicat et pede calcat

that mouth glutted with the blood of sacrificial animals, and with her foot stomped

Cp. Firmicus Maternus, De Errore Profanarum Religionum 6.8: alter cruentus ore dum viva pecodis [sic Turcan] membra discerpit. This is a reference to one of the members of the retinue of Liber, just before he is caught and thrown off a cliff by Lycurgus. In his discussion of the Bacchic mysteries Firmicus emphasizes the horror of omophagy in the cult. See 6.5: vivum laniant dentibus taurum, crudeles epulas annuis commemorantibus excitantes . . .

elisos in morte oculos, animamque malignam

the eyes crushed out in death, and the broken passage of her blocked throat

fracta intercepti commercia gutturis artant,

constricted her malignant breath,

difficilemque obitum suspiria longa fatigant.

and long breaths wear out her difficult demise.

exultat uictrix legio, quam mille coactam

There was exultation from the victorious legion that Queen Faith

martyribus regina Fides animarat in hostem.

had gathered from the innumerable martyrs against the enemy.

nunc fortes socios parta pro laude coronat

Now for the glory they have won she crowns her brave comrades

floribus ardentique iubet uestirier ostro.

with flowers and orders that they be clothes in flame colored purple

exim gramineo in campo concurrere prompta

uirgo Pudicitia speciosis fulget in armis,

quam patrias succincta faces Sodomita Libido

adgreditur piceamque ardenti sulpure pinum

ingerit in faciem pudibundaque lumina flammis

adpetit, et taetro temptat subfundere fumo.

sed dextram furiae flagrantis et ignea dirae

tela lupae saxo ferit inperterrita uirgo,

excussasque sacro taedas depellit ab ore.

tunc exarmatae iugulum meretricis adacto

transfigit gladio; calidos uomit illa uapores

sanguine concretos caenoso; spiritus inde

sordidus exhalans uicinas polluit auras.

"hoc habet," exclamat uictrix regina, "supremus

hic tibi finis erit, semper prostrata iacebis,

nec iam mortiferas audebis spargere flammas

in famulos famulasue dei, quibus intima casti

uena animi sola feruet de lampade Christi.

tene, o uexatrix hominum, potuisse resumptis

uiribus extincti capitis recalescere flatu,

Assyrium postquam thalamum ceruix Olofernis

caesa cupidineo madefactum sanguine lauit,

gemmantemque torum moechi ducis aspera Iudith

spreuit et incestos conpescuit ense furores,

famosum mulier referens ex hoste tropaeum

non trepidante manu uindex mea caelitus audax?

at fortasse parum fortis matrona sub umbra

legis adhuc pugnans, dum tempora nostra figurat,

uera quibus uirtus terrena in corpora fluxit

grande per infirmos caput excisura ministros.

numquid et intactae post partum uirginis ullum

fas tibi iam superest? post partum uirginis, ex quo

corporis humani naturam pristina origo

deseruit carnemque nouam uis ardua seuit,

atque innupta deum concepit femina Christum,

mortali de matre hominem, sed cum patre numen.

inde omnis iam diua caro est quae concipit illum

naturamque dei consortis foedere sumit.

Verbum quippe caro factum non destitit esse

quod fuerat, Verbum, dum carnis glutinat usum,

maiestate quidem non degenerante per usum

carnis, sed miseros ad nobiliora trahente.

ille manet quod semper erat, quod non erat esse

incipiens: nos quod fuimus iam non sumus, aucti

nascendo in melius: mihi contulit et sibi mansit.

nec deus ex nostris minuit sua, sed sua nostris

dum tribuit nosmet dona ad caelestia uexit.

dona haec sunt, quod uicta iaces, lutulenta Libido,

nec mea post Mariam potis es perfringere iura.

tu princeps ad mortis iter, tu ianua leti,

corpora conmaculans animas in tartara mergis.

abde caput tristi, iam frigida pestis, abysso;

occide, prostibulum; manes pete, claudere Auerno,

inque tenebrosum noctis detrudere fundum.

te uoluant subter uada flammea, te uada nigra

sulpureusque rotet per stagna sonantia uertex,

nec iam Christicolas, furiarum maxima, temptes,

ut purgata suo seruentur corpora regi."

dixerat haec et laeta Libidinis interfectae

morte Pudicitia gladium Iordanis in undis

abluit infectum, sanies cui rore rubenti

haeserat et nitidum macularat uulnere ferrum.

expiat ergo aciem fluuiali docta lauacro

uictricem uictrix, abolens baptismate labem

hostilis iuguli; nec iam contenta piatum

condere uaginae gladium, ne tecta rubigo

occupet ablutum scabrosa sorde nitorem,

catholico in templo diuini fontis ad aram

consecrat, aeterna splendens ubi luce coruscet.

ecce modesta graui stabat Patientia uultu

See illustration from MS 23, Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

per medias inmota acies uariosque tumultus,

uulneraque et rigidis uitalia peruia pilis

spectabat defixa oculos et lenta manebat.

hanc procul Ira tumens, spumanti feruida rictu,

sanguinea intorquens subfuso lumina felle,

ut belli exsortem teloque et uoce lacessit,

inpatiensque morae conto petit, increpat ore,

hirsutas quatiens galeato in uertice cristas.

"en tibi Martis," ait, "spectatrix libera nostri,

excipe mortiferum securo pectore ferrum,

nec doleas, quia turpe tibi gemuisse dolorem."

sic ait, et stridens sequitur conuicia pinus

per teneros crispata notos, et certa sub ipsum

defertur stomachum rectoque inliditur ictu,

sed resilit duro loricae excussa repulsu.

prouida nam Virtus conserto adamante trilicem

induerat thoraca umeris squamosaque ferri

texta per intortos conmiserat undique neruos.

inde quieta manet Patientia, fortis ad omnes

telorum nimbos et non penetrabile durans.

nec mota est iaculo monstri sine more furentis,

opperiens propriis perituram uiribus Iram.

scilicet indomitos postquam stomachando lacertos

barbara bellatrix inpenderat et iaculorum

nube superuacuam lassauerat inrita dextram,

cum uentosa leui cecidissent tela uolatu,

iactibus et uacuis hastilia fracta iacerent,

uertitur ad capulum manus inproba et ense corusco

conisa in plagam dextra sublimis ab aure

erigitur mediumque ferit librata cerebrum.

aerea sed cocto cassis formata metallo

tinnitum percussa refert aciemque retundit

dura resultantem, frangit quoque uena rebellis

inlisum chalybem, dum cedere nescia cassos

excipit adsultus ferienti et tuta resistit.

Ira, ubi truncati mucronis fragmina uidit

et procul in partes ensem crepuisse minutas,

iam capulum retinente manu sine pondere ferri,

mentis inops ebur infelix decorisque pudendi

perfida signa abicit monumentaque tristia longe

spernit, et ad proprium succenditur effera letum.

missile de multis, quae frustra sparserat, unum

puluere de campi peruersos sumit in usus:

rasile figit humi lignum ac se cuspide uersa

perfodit et calido pulmonem uulnere transit.

quam super adsistens Patientia "uicimus," inquit,

"exultans Vitium solita uirtute, sine ullo

sanguinis ac uitae discrimine; lex habet istud

nostra genus belli, furias omnemque malorum

militiam et rabidas tolerando extinguere uires.

ipsa sibi est hostis uesania seque furendo

interimit moriturque suis Ira ignea telis."

haec effata secat medias inpune cohortes

egregio comitata uiro; nam proximus Iob

haeserat inuictae dura inter bella magistrae,

fronte seuerus adhuc et multo funere anhelus,

sed iam clausa truci subridens ulcera uultu,

perque cicatricum numerum sudata recensens

millia pugnarum, sua praemia, dedecus hostis.

illum diua iubet tandem requiescere ab omni

See image from British Library, MS 24199.

armorum strepitu, captis et perdita quaeque

multiplicare opibus, nec iam peritura referre.

ipsa globos legionum et concurrentia rumpit

agmina, uulniferos gradiens intacta per imbres.

omnibus una comes uirtutibus adsociatur,

auxiliumque suum fortis Patientia miscet.

nulla anceps luctamen init uirtute sine ista

uirtus, nam uidua est quam non Patientia firmat.

palla sinu teretem nectens a pectore nodum.

Mens Humilis, regina quidem, sed egens alieni

auxilii proprio nec sat confisa paratu.

Spem sibi collegam coniunxerat, edita cuius

et suspensa ab humo est opulentia diuite regno.

ergo Humilem postquam male sana Superbia Mentem

uilibus instructam nullo ostentamine telis

aspicit, in uocem dictis se effundit amaris:

"non pudet, o miseri, plebeio milite claros

nititur antiquos, si fas est, pellere reges!

en qui nostra suis in praedam cedere dextris

sceptra uolunt! en qui nostras sulcare nouales

aruaque capta manu popularier hospite aratro

contendunt, duros et pellere Marte colonos!

nempe, o ridiculum uulgus, natalibus horis

totum hominem et calidos a matre amplectimur artus,

uimque potestatum per membra recentis alumni

spargimus, et rudibus dominamur in ossibus omnes.

quis locus in nostra tunc uobis sede dabatur,

congenitis cum regna simul dicionibus aequo

robore crescebant? nati iam luce sub una

et domus et domini paribus adoleuimus annis,

nudus adhuc, ni nostra foret praecepta secutus.

quisnam iste ignotis hostis nunc surgit ab oris

inportunus, iners, infelix, degener, amens,

qui sibi tam serum ius uindicat, hactenus exul?

nimirum uacuae credentur friuola famae,

quae miseros optare iubet quandoque futuri

spem fortasse boni, lenta ut solacia mollem

desidiam pigro rerum meditamine palpent.

quidni illos spes palpet iners, quos puluere in isto

tirones Bellona truci non excitat aere,

inbellesque animos uirtus tepefacta resoluit?

anne Pudicitiae gelidum iecur utile bello est?

an tenerum Pietatis opus sudatur in armis?

quam pudet, o Mauors et uirtus conscia, talem

contra stare aciem ferroque lacessere nugas,

et cum uirgineis dextram conferre choreis,

Iustitia est ubi semper egens et pauper Honestas,

arida Sobrietas, albo Ieiunia uultu,

sanguine uix tenui Pudor interfusus, aperta

Simplicitas et ad omne patens sine tegmine uulnus,

et prostrata in humum nec libera iudice sese

Mens Humilis, quam degenerem trepidatio prodit!

faxo ego, sub pedibus stipularum more teratur

sed cadit in foueam praeceps, quam callida forte

hostili de parte latens, ut fossa ruentes

exciperet cuneos atque agmina mersa uoraret;

ac ne fallacem puteum deprendere posset

cauta acies, uirgis adopertas texerat oras,

et superinposito simularat caespite campum.

at regina humilis, quamuis ignara, manebat

ulteriore loco nec adhuc ad Fraudis opertum

uenerat aut foueae calcarat furta malignae.

hunc eques illa dolum, dum fertur praepete cursu,

incidit, et caecum subito patefecit hiatum.

prona ruentis equi ceruice inuoluitur, ac sub

erigit et comi moderatur gaudia uultu.

"desine grande loqui; frangit deus omne superbum,

magna cadunt, inflata crepant, tumefacta premuntur.

disce supercilium deponere, disce cauere

ante pedes foueam, quisquis sublime minaris.

peruulgata uiget nostri sententia Christi

scandere celsa humiles et ad ima redire feroces.

ille minax, rigidus, iactans, truculentus, amarus,

dum tumet indomitum, dum formidabile feruet,

dum sese ostentat, clipeo dum territat auras,

expertus pueri quid possint ludicra parui

subcubuit teneris bellator turbidus annis.

me tunc ille puer uirtutis pube secutus

florentes animos sursum in mea regna tetendit,

seruatur quia certa mihi domus omnipotentis

sub pedibus domini, meque ad sublime uocantem

uictores caesa culparum labe capessunt."

dixit, et auratis praestringens a�ra pinnis

in caelum se uirgo rapit. mirantur euntem

Virtutes tolluntque animos in uota uolentes

ire simul, ni bella duces terrena retardent.

delibuta comas, oculis uaga, languida uoce,

perdita deliciis, uitae cui causa uoluptas,

sub lucem quia forte iacens ad fercula raucos

audierat lituos, atque inde tepentia linquens

pocula lapsanti per uina et balsama gressu

ebria calcatis ad bellum floribus ibat.

non tamen illa pedes, sed curru inuecta uenusto

saucia mirantum capiebat corda uirorum.

o noua pugnandi species! non ales harundo

neruum pulsa fugit, nec stridula lancea torto

emicat amento, frameam nec dextra minatur;

sed uiolas lasciua iacit foliisque rosarum

dimicat et calathos inimica per agmina fundit.

inde eblanditis Virtutibus halitus inlex

inspirat tenerum labefacta per ossa uenenum,

et male dulcis odor domat ora et pectora et arma

ferratosque toros obliso robore mulcet.

deiciunt animos ceu uicti et spicula ponunt,

iura pati et laxa ganearum lege teneri.

uexillum sublime crucis, quod in agmine primo

dux bona praetulerat, defixa cuspide sistit,

instauratque leuem dictis mordacibus alam

exstimulans animos nunc probris, nunc prece mixta:

"quis furor insanas agitat caligine mentes?

quo ruitis? cui colla datis? quae uincula tandem,

pro pudor, armigeris amor est perferre lacertis,

nexibus, his rigidas nodis innectier ulnas,

unguentum regale datum est et chrisma perenne,

pectoribus lotis, dederat quibus ipsa renasci,

inde ad nocturnas epulas, ubi cantharus ingens

despuit effusi spumantia damna Falerni

in mensam cyathis stillantibus, uda ubi multo

fulcra mero ueterique toreumata rore rigantur?

excidit ergo animis eremi sitis, excidit ille

fons patribus de rupe datus, quem mystica uirga

elicuit scissi salientem uertice saxi?

angelicusne cibus prima in tentoria uestris

fluxit auis, quem nunc sero felicior aeuo

quosque uiros non Ira fremens, non idola bello

cedere conpulerant, saltatrix ebria flexit!

state, precor, uestri memores, memores quoque Christi

quae sit uestra tribus, quae gloria, quis deus et rex,

quis dominus meminisse decet. uos nobile Iudae

germen ad usque dei genetricem, qua deus ipse

esset homo, procerum uenistis sanguine longo.

excitet egregias mentes celeberrima Dauid

gloria continuis bellorum exercita curis,

excitet et Samuel, spolium qui diuite ab hoste

parcere iam capto crimen putat ille tyranno,

at uobis contra uinci et subcumbere uotum est.

paeniteat, per si qua mouet reuerentia summi

numinis, hoc tam dulce malum uoluisse nefanda

proditione sequi; si paenitet, haud nocet error.

paenituit Ionatham ieiunia sobria dulci

conuiolasse fauo sceptri mellisque sapore

heu male gustato, regni dum blanda uoluptas

oblectat iuuenem iurataque sacra resoluit.

sed quis paenituit, nec sors lacrimabilis illa est,

nec tinguit patrias sententia saeua secures.

en ego Sobrietas, si conspirare paratis,

pando uiam cunctis Virtutibus, ut malesuada

Luxuries, multo stipata satellite, poenas

cum legione sua Christo sub iudice pendat."

inplicat excussam dominam; nam prona sub axem

spicula nulla manu sed belli insigne gerenti,

casus agit saxum, medii spiramen ut oris

frangeret, et recauo misceret labra palato.

"ebibe iam proprium post pocula multa cruorem,"

uirgo ait increpitans, "sint haec tibi fercula tandem

tristia praeteriti nimiis pro dulcibus aeui.

lasciuas uitae inlecebras gustatus amarae

mortis et horrifico sapor ultimus asperat haustu."

dat tergum fugitiuus Amor, lita tela ueneno

et lapsum ex umeris arcum pharetramque cadentem

pallidus ipse metu sua post uestigia linquit.

soluitur, et gemmas Discordia dissona turbat.

qua se cumque fugax trepidis fert cursibus agmen,

damna iacent, crinalis acus, redimicula, uittae,

fibula, flammeolum, strophium, diadema, monile.

abradit spoliisque ungues exercet a�nos.

Cura, Famis, Metus, Anxietas, Periuria, Pallor,

Corruptela, Dolus, Commenta, Insomnia, Sordes,

matris Auaritiae nigro de lacte creata.

ire, nec oppositum baculo temptare periclum.

porro alium capit intuitu fallitque uidentem,

insigne ostentans aliquid, quod dum petit ille,

nec patitur uitare focos, quibus aestuat aurum,

quod petit arsurus pariter speculator auarus.

omne hominum rapit illa genus, mortalia cuncta

quin ipsos temptare manu, si credere dignum est,

stant tuti Rationis ope, stant turbine ab omni

inmunes fortesque animi; uix in cute summa

praestringens paucos tenui de uulnere laedit

cuspis Auaritiae. stupuit Luis inproba castis

heroum iugulis longe sua tela repelli;

ingemit et dictis ardens furialibus infit:

"uincimur, heu, segnes nec nostra potentia perfert

uim solitam, languet uiolentia saeua nocendi,

sueuerat inuictis quae uiribus omnia ubique

rumpere corda hominum; nec enim tam ferrea quemquam

durauit natura uirum, cuius rigor aera

sperneret aut nostro foret inpenetrabilis auro.

ingenium omne neci dedimus; tenera, aspera, dura,

docta, indocta simul, bruta et sapientia, nec non

casta, incesta meae patuerunt pectora dextrae.

sola igitur rapui quidquid Styx abdit auaris

gurgitibus. nobis ditissima Tartara debent

quos retinent populos. quod uoluunt saecula nostrum est,

quod miscet mundus, uesana negotia, nostrum.

effigies, sordent argenti emblemata, et omnis

et conuiua dei, dum fallit foedere mensae

numinis, obliso luiturus iugera collo?

uiderat et Iericho propria inter funera quantum

posset nostra manus, cum uictor concidit Achar.

non illum generosa tribus, non plebis auitae

exitii: sit poena eadem, quibus et genus unum est.

quid moror aut Iudae populares aut populares

sacricolae summi (summus nam fertur Aaron)

fallere fraude aliqua Martis congressibus inpar?

nil refert armis contingat palma dolisue."

quam memorant Frugi, parce cui uiuere cordi est

et seruare suum; tamquam nil raptet auare,

artis adumbratae meruit ceu sedula laudem.

huius se specie mendax Bellona coaptat,

non ut auara lues, sed Virtus parca putetur;

quod rapere et clepere est auideque abscondere parta,

natorum curam dulci sub nomine iactet.

talibus inludens male credula corda uirorum

fallit imaginibus, monstrumque ferale sequuntur

dum credunt Virtutis opus; capit inpia Erinys

portenti, ignorans quid amicum credat in illo

inpositura manum, ne quid iam triste supersit.

omne onus ex umeris reiecerat, omnibus ibat

nudata induuiis multo et se fasce leuarat,

certa mori: nam quae fraudis uia restet, ut ipsa

perfodit et costas atque ilia rumpit anhela,

mox spolia exstincto de corpore diripit, auri

"soluite procinctum, iusti, et discedite ab armis!

causa mali tanti iacet interfecta; lucrandi

ingluuie pereunte licet requiescere sanctis.

summa quies nil uelle super quam postulet usus

debitus, ut simplex alimonia uestis et una

infirmos tegat ac recreet mediocriter artus

expletumque modum naturae non trahat extra.

intressurus iter peram ne tollito, neue

de tunicae alterius gestamine prouidus ito,

nec te sollicitet res crastina, ne cibus aluo

defuerit: redeunt escae cum sole diurnae.

nonne uides ut nulla auium cras cogitet ac se

pascendam, praestante deo, non anxia credat?

ne pereant. tu, cura dei, facies quoque Christi,

addubitas ne te tuus umquam deserat auctor?

ne trepidate, homines; uitae dator et dator escae est.

subpeditare cibos atque indiga membra fouere."

his dictis curae emotae, Metus et Labor et Vis

terror et auulsis exfibulat ilia zonis.

uestis ad usque pedes descendens defluit imos,

suda redit facies liquidae sine nube diei,

numquam tanta fuit species nec par decus ulli

militiae, cum dispositis bifida agmina longe

duceret ordinibus peditum psallente caterua,

ast alia de parte equitum resonantibus hymnis.

uentum erat ad fauces portae castrensis, ubi artum

dum stipata pedem iam tutis moenibus infert,

squama ligat tunicae sinus et sibi conserit oras.

sed sicam sub ueste tegit, te, maxima Virtus,

te solam tanto e numero, Concordia, tristi

fraude petens. sed non uitalia rumpere sacri

corporis est licitum, summo tenus extima tactu

laesa cutis tenuem signauit sanguine riuum.

exclamat Virtus subito turbata: "quid hoc est?

quae manus hic inimica latet, quae prospera nostra

uulnerat et ferrum tanta inter gaudia uibrat?

quid iuuat indomitos bello sedasse Furores

et sanctum Vitiis pereuntibus omne receptum,

si Virtus sub pace cadit?" trepida agmina maestos

conuertere oculos: stillabat uulneris index

ferrata de ueste cruor, mox et pauor hostem

comminus adstantem prodit; nam pallor in ore

conscius audacis facti dat signa reatus

et deprensa tremunt languens manus et color albens.

circumstat propere strictis mucronibus omnis

Virtutum legio exquirens feruente tumultu

et genus et nomen, patriam sectamque, deumque

quem colat et missu cuiatis uenerit. illa

exsanguis turbante metu: "Discordia dicor,

cognomento Heresis; deus est mihi discolor," inquit,

"nunc minor, aut maior, modo duplex et modo simplex,

cum placet, a�rius et de phantasmate uisus,

aut innata anima est quoties uolo ludere numen;

praeceptor Belia mihi, domus et plaga mundus."

quod canibus donet, coruis quod edacibus ultro

offerat, inmundis caeno exhalante cloacis

quod trudat, monstris quod mandet habere marinis.

in commune bonis, tranquillae plebis ad unum

sensibus in tuta valli statione locatis

struitur media castrorum sede tribunal

editiore loco, tumulus quem uerti

exstruitur media castrorum sede tribunal

editiore loco, tumulus quem uertice acuto

excitat in speculam, subiecta unde omnia late

liber inoffenso circum inspicit a�re uisus.

hunc sincera Fides simul et Concordia, sacro

nulla latet pars Mentis iners, quae corporis ullo

intercepta sinu per conceptacula sese

degeneri languore tegat, tentoria apertis

cuncta patent uelis, reserantur carbasa, ne quis

adloquio: "cumulata quidem iam gloria uobis,

o patris, o domini fidissima pignera Christi,

rem populi, titubatque foris quod dissidet intus.

ergo cauete, uiri, ne sit sententia discors

Sensibus in nostris, ne secta exotica tectis

nascatur conflata odiis, quia fissa uoluntas

confundit uariis arcana biformia fibris.

quod sapimus coniungat amor; quod uiuimus uno

conspiret studio: nil dissociabile firmum est.

utque homini atque deo medius interuenit Iesus,

qui sociat mortale patri, ne carnea distent

Spiritui aeterno sitque ut deus unus utrumque,

sic, quidquid gerimus mentisque et corporis actu,

spiritus unimodis texat conpagibus unus.

pax plenum Virtutis opus, pax summa laborum,

pax belli exacti pretium est pretiumque pericli.

Themistius Orat. 10 polemou athlon eirene See Augustine Epist. 205 non paz quaeritur, ut bellum excitetur: sed bellum geritur, ut pax acquiratur.

@@ Line 378: / Line 378: @@
 ''that mouth glutted with the blood of sacrificial animals, and with her foot stomped''
-Cp. Firmicus Maternus, ''De Errore Profanarum Religionum'' 6.8: alter cruentus ore dum viva pecodis [sic Turcan] membra discerpit. This is a reference to one of the members of the retinue of Liber, just before he is caught and thrown off a cliff by Lycurgus. In his discussion of the Bacchic mysteries Firmicus emphasizes the horror of omophagy in the cult. See 6.5: vivum laniant dentibus taurum, crudeles epulas annuis commemorantibus excitantes . . .
+Cp. Firmicus Maternus, ''De Errore Profanarum Religionum'' 6.8: alter '''cruentus ore''' dum viva pecodis [sic Turcan] membra discerpit. This is a reference to one of the members of the retinue of Liber, just before he is caught and thrown off a cliff by Lycurgus. In his discussion of the Bacchic mysteries Firmicus emphasizes the horror of omophagy in the cult. See 6.5: vivum laniant dentibus taurum, crudeles epulas annuis commemorantibus excitantes . . .
 === [[LATIN_elisos|elisos]] [[LATIN_in|in]] [[LATIN_morte|morte]] [[LATIN_oculos|oculos]], [[LATIN_animamque|animamque]] [[LATIN_malignam|malignam]] ===

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