E06237: Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem on virginity, gives a list of prominent female virgin saints. Poem 8.3, written in Latin in Gaul, probably in the early 570s.

Venantius Fortunatus, Poems 8.3 (In nomine domini nostri Iesu Christi et domnae Mariae matris eius de virginitate, 'In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the lady Mary his mother, on virginity'), 25-46

This an extract from a long poem which addresses Agnes, abbess of Radegund's convent of the Holy Cross in Poitiers, and describes the marriage with Christ in heaven on an idealised virgin. The precise context of this extract is a description of the court of heaven.

Inde dei genetrix pia virgo Maria coruscat,                  25
   virgineoque agni de grege ducit oves,
ipsa puellari medio circumdata coetu
   luce pudicitiae splendida castra trahit.
Per paradisiacas epulas sua vota canentes
   ista legit violas, carpit et illa rosas.                            30
Pratorum gemmas ac lilia pollice rumpunt
   et quod odoratum est flore comante metunt.
Eufemia illic, pariter quoque plaudit Agathe,
   et Iustina simul consociante Thecla.
Hic Paulina Agnes Basilissa Eugenia regnant,               35
   et quascumque sacer vexit ad astra pudor.
Felices quarum Christi contingit amore
   vivere perpetuo nomina fixa libro!
Has inter comites coniuncta Casaria fulget,
   temporibus nostris Arelatense decus,                      40
Caesarii monitis luci sociata perenni
   si non martyrii, virginitatis ope.
Quos Liliola refert aequatis moribus ambos,
   et claram heredem proxima palma manet.
Et quaecumque suos vigilans meditabitur actus,        45
   his erit egregio participanda gradu.

'Then the mother of God, the holy virgin Mary, shines brightly and leads the sheep from the virginal flock of the lamb. She herself, surrounded by a company of maidens around her, heads a host that is radiant with chastity’s light. Hymning their marriages among the banquets of paradise, one gathers violets, another picks roses. They pluck with their thumbs the jewels o f the meadows and lilies, and harvest what is scented with full-petaled flower. There Euphemia along with Agatha joins in the celebration, and Justina, with Thecla to accompany her. Here reign Paulina, Agnes, Basilissa, and Eugenia, and all whom their holy chastity has raised to the stars. Happy are they who have won the right through the love of Christ to have their names inscribed in the eternal book! Among these companions as one of them Caesaria shines brightly, the glory of Arles in our own time. Through the precepts of Caesarius she enjoys perpetual light, by virtue of virginity, if not of martyrdom. Liliola in like conduct brings both of them to mind, and a similar palm awaits her, their glorious heir. Whatever woman attentively imitates their actions will share with the two of them their lofty status.'

Later in this same poem, in a further account of the court of heaven, Fortunatus produces a long list of saints, male and female, associating them with their cities or regions - see $E06245


Text: Leo 1881, 182. Translation: Roberts 2017, 499 and 501.