E05104: Paulinus of Nola, writing in Latin in c.403/4 in Nola (southern Italy), in a long letter to Sulpicius Severus, discusses building-work carried out by Severus at Primuliacum (southern Gaul) and sends proposals for poetic inscriptions at the site; Paulinus also describes his own building-work at Nola/Cimitile and Funda/Fondi (both southern Italy), quoting in full the poems he has written for these churches. Several of these poetic inscriptions refer to the saints venerated at Primuliacum, Nola and Fondi.

Paulinus of Nola, Letter 32.1-3

Paulinus opens by discussing the building work at Primuliacum, including a baptistry which includes a depiction of both *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) and of Paulinus. Paulinus complains that he is not worthy, and suggests that the following inscriptions, which draw attention to his sinfulness, might accompany the images:

Abluitis quicumque animas et membra lauacris, 
Cernite propositas ad bona facta uias. 
Adstat perfectae Martinus regula uitae, 
Paulinus ueniam quo mereare docet. 
Hunc peccatores, illum spectate beati; 
Exemplar sanctis ille sit, iste reis. 

‘All you who wish to wash your souls and bodies in this font should behold the paths set before you for good deeds. Martin is here so that you may see a model of perfect life, whereas Paulinus schools you in how to merit forgiveness. Martin should catch the eye of the blessed, Paulinus of the sinners. So Martin must be the example for the saintly, Paulinus for the guilty.’

Diues opum Christo, pauper sibi pulchra Seuerus 
Culmina sacratis fontibus instituit. 
Et quia caelestes aulam condebat in actus, 
Qua renouarentur fonte deo que homines, 
Digna sacramentis gemina sub imagine pinxit, 
Disceret ut uitae dona renatus homo. 
 Martinum ueneranda uiri testatur imago, 
Altera Paulinum forma refert humilem. 
Ille fidem exemplis et dictis fortibus armat, 
Vt meriti palmas intemerata ferat; 
Iste docet fusis redimens sua crimina nummis, 
Vilior ut sit res quam sua cuique salus.

‘Severus, so rich in wealth lavished on Christ and so poor in that devoted to himself, here sets this fine roof over the consecrated waters. He built this shrine for the works of heaven, so that here men may be refashioned by water and by God. So he has adorned it, making it worthy of the sacrament, by painting twin portraits above, so that when men attain new birth they may learn the gifts of life. One man’s revered portrait bears witness to Martin; the other represents the lowly Paulinus. Martin arms our faith by good example and courageous words, so that our faith may be unsullied and win the palm of glory. Paulinus redeems his sins by casting away his pence, and so teaches us how our possessions are of less account than our salvation’.

Paulinus of Nola, Letter 32.6

Paulinus also includes other inscriptions for the church at Primuliacum, some of which deal with the saints whose relics rest in the church. Three options are offered to commemorate *Clarus (monk of Marmoutier, ob. c. 397, S00479).

Nominis ut titulo, sic mentis lumine Clarus 
Presbyter hoc tegitur; sed membra caduca sepulchro, 
Libera corporeo mens carcere gaudet in astris 
Pura probatorum sedem sortita piorum. 
Sancta sub aeternis altaribus ossa quiescunt, 
Vt dum casta pio referuntur munera Christi, 
Diuinis sacris animae iungantur odores.

‘Clarus the priest is clothed in that inner light which reflects his name. His mortal body lies in the tomb. But his mind, freed from the prison of the body, finds joy amongst the stars, for its purity has gained the haven of the holy men who are approved. His sacred bones are at rest beneath the eternal altar; and so when the chaste gift of Christ is devoutly offered there, the fragrance of his soul may be joined to the divine sacrifice’

Presbyter hic situs est meritis et nomine Clarus, 
Martino studiis comes et meriti modo consors. 
Digna pio domus est altaria, sub quibus artus 
Conditur, exanimo; nam spiritus aethere gaudet 
Discipulum que pari sociat super astra magistro.

‘A priest lies here, Clarus by name and famed by his merits, Martin’s companion in meditation and now his partner in praise. The altar is a worthy home for this devoted man now dead, whose limbs lie beneath it. But his spirit rejoiced in the upper air. Above the stars, he shares with the Master he resembles his disciple here below.’

Clare fide, praeclare actu, clarissime fructu, 
Qui meritis titulum nominis aequiperas, 
Casta tuum digne uelant altaria corpus, 
Vt templum Christi contegat ara dei. 
Sed quia tu non hac, qua corpus, sede teneris, 
Qui meritis superis spiritus inuolitas, 
Siue patrum sinibus recubas domini ue sub ara 
Conderis aut sacro pasceris in nemore, 
Qualibet in regione poli situs aut paradisi, 
Clare, sub aeterna pace beatus agis. 
Haec peccatorum bonus accipe uota rogantum, 
Vt sis Paulini Therasiae que memor. 
Dilige mandatos interueniente Seuero 
Quos ignorasti corpore sic meritos. 
Vnanimi communis amor sit fomes utrisque 
Perpetui summo foederis in domino. 
Non potes inplicitos diuellere; si trahis unum, 
Vnus adhaerentes qua rapitur rapiet. 
Ergo indiuiduos pariter conplectere fratres, 
Vt que sumus, sic nos dilige participans.
Sic deus acciuit, sic nos Martinus amauit; 
Sic et tu pariter, Clare, tuere pares, 
Non meritis sed amore pares.
 tu, sancte, ualebis 
Exorare pares et meritis fieri, 
Si cum Martino socia pietate labores, 
Vt uincant uestrae crimina nostra preces, 
Et simul in uestri ducamur sorte Seueri 
Vestra que nos semper protegat ala sinu.

‘Clarus, renowned in faith, highly renowned in deeds, most renowned in your harvest, your name is reflected by your merits. It is right that a pure altar covers your body, so that God’s altar may conceal the temple of Christ. But you are not restricted to the abode where your body lies, for your spirit flies to the reward you have merited above. Whether you lie in the bosom of our fathers, or are buried beneath the Lord’s altar, or feast in a sacred grove – wherever, Clarus, you are set in heaven or Paradise, you live happily in eternal peace. In your kindness receive these prayers of sinners who ask you to be mindful of Paulinus and Therasia. Love these persons entrusted to you by the meditation of Severus, though when you were here in the flesh you were unaware of their merits. Let the love of a friend held in common kindle in both of us an eternal covenant in the highest Lord. You cannot separate men who are united; should you seek to drag away one, he will draw to his forced destination those who cling to him. So embrace Severus and Paulinus together as brothers indivisible. Love us and join with us in this union. God summoned us together, Martin loved us together. So, Clarus, you must likewise protect us together. Our equality lies not in merit, but in love; but you, holy Clarus, will be able to ensure our equality also in merit, if you become Martin’s partner in the toil of paternal love, so that your prayers may prevail over my sins. So I may attain the destiny of Severus and your wing may ever protect me in its folds.’

Paulinus of Nola, Letter 32.7-8

Paulinus describes the new basilica which Severus had built at Primuliacum. He refers to the coming dedication of the basilica – which he expects will be attended by large crowds. He suggests that both the relics of the apostles and martyrs and the fragment of the True Cross – which he had sent to Severus – might be placed in the altar. He then provides the following inscriptions:

Diuinum ueneranda tegunt altaria foedus 
Conpositis sacra cum cruce martyribus. 
Cuncta salutiferi coeunt martyria Christi, 
Crux corpus sanguis martyris, ipse deus.  
Namque deus semper uobis sua munera seruat; 
Atque ubi Christus, ibi spiritus et pater est. 
Sic ubi crux, et martyr ibi, quia martyris et crux, 
Martyrii sanctis quae pia causa fuit. 
Illa cibum uitae mortalibus, illa coronas, 
Quae domino famulos participant, peperit. 
In cruce fixa caro est, qua pascor; de cruce sanguis 
Ille fluit, uitam quo bibo, corda lauo. 
Christe, tuo coeant simul haec tua dona Seuero, 
Portitor et testis sit crucis iste tuae. 
Carne tua uiuat, tuus illi pocula sanguis 
Praebeat, in uerbo uiuat agat que tuo. 
Qua que tuum socio Martinum adscendere Claro 
Vidit, et ipse tuo munere uectus eat. 

‘The revered altar conceals a sacred union, for martyrs lie there with the Holy Cross. The entire martyrdom of the saving Christ is here assembled – cross, body and blood of the martyr, God himself. For God preserves his gifts for you forever, and where Christ is, there also are the Spirit and the Father. Likewise where the cross is, there, too, is the martyr; for the martyr’s cross is the holy reason for the martyrdom of the saints. That cross has won for men the food of life, has won also the crowns which gain a portion with the Lord for his servants. The flesh which I eat was nailed to the cross; from the cross flows that blood by which I drink life and cleanse my hear. Christ, may these gifts of yours unite with your Severus. May he bear your cross and witness to it. May he live on your flesh; may your blood provide his drink ; may he live and work by your word. Through your kindness may he love and work by your word. Through your kindness may he be borne on that upward journey on which he beheld your Martin and his companion Clarus rise’

Yet in case Severus desires to keep the fragment of the True Cross available, and only dedicate the church to the apostles and martyrs, the following inscription is provided:

Pignora sanctorum diuinae gloria mensae 
Velat apostolicis edita corporibus, 
Spiritus et domini medicis uirtutibus instans 
Per documenta sacros uiua probat cineres. 
Sic geminata piis adspirat gratia uotis, 
Infra martyribus, desuper acta sacris.  
Vota sacerdotis uiuentum et commoda paruo 
Puluere sanctorum mors pretiosa iuuat. 

‘The splendour of God’s table conceals those dear relics of the saints which have been taken from the bodies of the apostles. The spirit of the Lo