E07380: Arnobius the Younger, in his commentary on the Psalms, written in Latin in the mid 5th c., probably at Rome, refers to the writing of Passions of the martyrs.

Arnobius the Younger, Commentary on Psalm 101

Interempti sunt patres nostri omnes sancti, qui nobis praedicauerunt Christum. Nos ergo ligati eramus a Satana, quia ii qui genuerant nos uerbo uitae fuerant interempti. At ubi cognouimus eos in caelis gaudere et possidere gloriam Christi, aedificata est in nobis Sion et uisus dominus in maiestate sua. Gaudemus enim, quia respexit in orationes eorum et non spreuit preces eorum. Scripsimus passiones eorum in progenies alteras, et populus qui creabitur usque in sempiternum laudat dominum in sanctis suis.

'Our fathers, all the saints, who preached Christ to us, were killed. We were therefore bound by Satan, because those who had brought us forth to the word of life had been killed. But when we knew that they rejoiced in Heaven and possessed the glory of Christ, Zion was built in us, and the Lord was seen in his majesty. For we rejoice because he accepted their prayers and did not despise their beseechings. We have written their Passions for future generations, and the people that will be brought forth right up to eternity praise the Lord in his saints.'

Text: Daur 1990, 149. Translation: David Lambert.