E06584: Aldhelm, in his prose On Virginity, names *Agnes (virgin and martyr of Rome, S00097) as an exemplary virgin. Written in Latin in southern Britain, for the nuns at the monastery at Barking (south-east Britain), c. 675/686.

Aldhelm, prose On Virginity, 45

Sed et operae pretium videtur, ut gloriosum illustris Agnae exemplar caelibes integritatis aemulatores et carnalis spurcitiae contemptores minime lateat, quin immo eiusdem virginalis propositi participibus et castae sodalitatis consortibus innotescat. Quae pro integritate servanda omnem ornamentorum gloriam a proco, praefecti filio, oblatam, quatenus optata impetraret conubia, ut lurida etentis cloacae volutabra contempnens huiuscemodi responsa reddidisse fertur: 'Discede a me, fomes peccati, nutrimentum facinoris, pabulum mortis, quia iam ab alio amatore praeventa sum, qui me anulo fidei suae subarravit, circumdedit me vernantibus atque coruscantibus gemmis, induit me ciclade auro texta, cuius pater feminam nescit, cuius mater virgo est, cui angeli serviunt, cuius pulchritudinem sol et luna admirantur' [...]

[...] Cuius tumba in cimeterio posita gravissimam Constantinae virginis valitudinem, cuius mentionem infra caraxabimus, velut caelesti medicamine fotam incolomitati pristinae restituit.


'And it seems important that the glorious example of the distinguished AGNES should not be concealed from the celibate imitators of her purity and from the despisers of carnal filth – rather, that it should become known to the adherents of the same virginal undertaking and to the companions of chaste fellowship. Agnes, in order to reserve her purity, scorned like the yellow-brown scum of a reeking sewer all the ornaments of marriage which were offered by her suitor, a prefect's son, so that he might obtain the marriage he wanted; and she is said to have replied in the following way: "Depart from me, oh incentive to sin, nourishment of evil, food of death; for I am ready to be engaged by another lover who has betrothed himself to me with a ring of good faith, surrounded me with glowing and glistening gems, and dressed me with a robe woven from gold; whose father knew no woman, whose mother is a virgin, who the angels attend and whose beauty the sun and moon adore" [...]

[...] Her tomb (was) placed in a cemetery, where it restored to pristine health, as if by celestial medicine, the serious illness of the virgin Constantina, whose mention we shall pen below.'

Text: Ehwald 1919, 298-9. Translation: Lapidge and Herren 1979, 111-112.