E00934: Latin poem on a baptistery constructed at the place of martyrdom of *Emeterius and Celidonius (soldiers and martyrs of Calahorra, S00410), is composed by Prudentius, writing c. 400 in Calahorra, northern Spain. In the poem, part of his Crowns of the Martyrs (Peristephanon), Prudentius plays with the association between baptism with blood and with water.

Liber Peristephanon, Poem VIII

De loco in quo martyres passi sunt nunc baptisterium est Calagorra

Electus Christo locus est, ubi corda probata
prouehat ad caelum sanguine, purget aqua.
hic duo purpureum domini pro nomine caesi
martyrium pulchra morte tulere uiri.
5 Hic etiam liquido fluit indulgentia fonte
ac ueteres maculas diluit amne nouo.
Qui cupit aeternum caeli conscendere regnum,
huc ueniat sitiens, ecce parata uia est.
Ante coronati scandebant ardua testes
10 atria, nunc lotae celsa petunt animae.
Spiritus aeterno solitus descendere lapsu,
ut dederat palmam, sic tribuit ueniam,
Haurit terra sacros aut fonte aut sanguine rores
exundatque suo iugiter uda deo.
15 Ipse loci est dominus, laterum cui uulnere utroque
hinc cruor effusus fluxit et inde latex,
Ibitis hinc, ut quisque potest, per uulnera Christi
euectus gladiis alter et alter aquis.


'On a Spot where Martyrs suffered at Calagurris, now a Baptistery.

This is a spot chosen of Christ for raising tried souls to heaven through blood, and for cleansing them with water. Here two heroes that were slain for the Lord's name won scarlet martyrdom by their noble death, and here too mercy flows in the limpid fount and washes away old stains in its new stream. Whoso desires to ascend to the everlasting kingdom of the heavens, let him come here in his thirst, and he will find the way is made ready. Formerly crowned witnesses went up to the courts on high, now cleansed souls seek the heights. The Spirit who is wont to come down unendingly now offers pardon, as once He gave the palm of victory. The earth drinks in sacred drops of water or of blood and is ever wet and streaming to the glory of her God. The Lord of the place is He from whose two wounded sides flowed here discharge of blood, there of water. When you pass from here you will have been raised up through Christ's wounds, each as he is able, one by the sword, another by water.'

Text: Cunningham 1966: 325. Translation: Thomson 1953, 218-221.