E05096: Paulinus of Nola, writing in Latin in c.400 in Nola (southern Italy), refers to pilgrim accommodation at the basilica complex surrounding the tomb of *Felix (priest and confessor of Nola, S00000) at Nola/Cimitile, and to the singing of boys and virgins.

Paulinus of Nola, Letter 29.13

Tugurium uero nostrum, quod a terra suspensum cenaculo una porticu cellulis hospitalibus interposita longius tenditur, quasi dilatatum gratia domini non solum sanctis illa plurimis, sed etiam diuitum illorum cateruis non incapaces angustias praebuit, in quo personis puerorum ac uirginum choris uicina dominaedii nostri Felicis culmina resultabant.

'We have a cottage here raised off the ground, which runs quite a distance along to the dining hall and had a colonnade separating it from the guest rooms. God in his kindness seemed to make this bigger, and it afforded modest but not too constricted accommodation not only for the numerous holy ladies who accompanied Melania, but also for the bands of rich people as well. The ringing choirs of boys and maidens in the cottage made the nearby roof of our patron Saint Felix resound'

Text: Hartel 1894. Translation: Walsh 1967.