Poems, Volume 1

9. THE PASSION OF ST. CASSIAN OF FORUM CORNELI

182 AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENS 9. THE PASSION OF ST. CASSIAN OF FORUM CORNELIP There is a town where Cornelius Sulla2 established a Forum; Hence the Italians call it by its founder's name.3 There, when to thee, 0 Rome of the world the mistress,4 I journeyed, Hope in my heart was born that Christ would prosper me. Prone on the ground I was praying in front of the tomb of the martyr 5 Cassian, who consecrates that soil by his remains. 1. This hymn of Prudentius is the oldest extant document con· cerning the martyrdom of St. Cassian (BHL 1625). The Martyrology of St. jerome has this entry for August II, In Nicopoli, passio multorum martyrum, quorum nomina Deus scit: et passio S. Cassiani, and it lists the feast of the martyr as occurring on August 13. In lines 17-20 the sacristan tells the poet that the story of St. Cassian is recorded in ancient writings, possibly the original acts no longer extant. Hagiographers list the Passion of Cassian among the Acts possessing some degree of authenticity. Some think that the saint suffered martyrdom during the persecutions of Valerian or Diocletian, while others suggest the time of julian the Apostate (361-363), who forbade Christians to teach the classics. See julian, Epistles 36 (Wright). 2. Roman dictator, 138-78 B.C. 3. A town in north Italy, now Imola. 4. Cf. Vergil, Aeneid 7.602-603. HYMNS As I was weeping and in my heart I was sadly reflecting On all the sins and griefs and labors of my life, Towards Heaven I lifted my gaze and beheld there before me 183 A picture of the martyr painted in bright hues, 10 Bearing a thousand wounds that pierced every part of his body5 And showing all the little gashes in his flesh. Round him a troup of boys (a pitiful scene!)6 were uniting To prick and pierce his body with the little stvles7 They were accustomed to use in imprinting the wax of their tablets As they wrote down the humdrum lessons of the school. When I questioned the sacristan, he replied: 'This, 0 stranger, Does not depict a foolish woman's empty tale.' 'Pictured here is a story in ancient writings recorded, Which manifests the steadfast faith 15 of olden times. 20 5. Cf. Claudian, In Rufinum 2.431. 6. Cf. Vergil, Aeneid 6.706; Ull. 7. Instruments used for writing on tablets of boxwood covered with wax. One end was pointed and the other was flattened for erasing what had been inscribed on the wax. 8. Cf. Horace, Satires 2.6.77; also Augustine, De utilitate credendi 1.2 (Trans. in Vol. 2, this series, p. 392). 184 AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENS 'Cassian conducted a school for boys and round him had gathered A throng of pupils whom he taught the learned arts. 'Skillful was he in shorthand, a rapid method of writing Dictated words with symbols pricked upon the wax.9 'Harsh at times were his rules, and the wearisome lessons 25 Aroused the dread and anger of the youthful mob. 'For the teacher is ever abhorred by beginners in learning, And discipline is never sweet to any child.10 'Then came a tempest that lashed at the faith, a dire persecution Harassing all the champions of the Christian name. 'From the midst of his circle of pupils the diligent master Was dragged because he spurned the pagan sacrifice. 'When he who meted out punishments asked what kind of profession The rebel of such contumelious spirit pursued, 30 9. A system of shorthand was invented by Tiro, the secretary of Cicero. 10. Cf. Ambrose, Hexameron 6.6.38 (PI. 14.271). HYMNS 185 'One responded, "A band of callow boys he teaches,u 35 Instructing them in clever signs for writing words." , "Take him away," cried the judge; "remove him hence as a culprit And give him to the children he was wont to flog. , "Let them make sport of him as they will; let them torture him freely, And in their master's blood make red their truant hands. , "It is a joy to think that the harsh schoolmaster will furnish Amusement ;or the pupils he so often curbed." 'Having stripped him, they tie his hands securely behind him And then the youthful band approaches, armed with styles. 'All the anger that they had harbored 40 in silent resentment 45 They...