Prudentius' Psychomachia

Marc Mastrangelo

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9780429537554
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient History
• Index: History

This new translation brings to life Prudentius' Psychomachia, one of the most widely read poems in western Europe from Late Antiquity through the Renaissance. With accompanying notes and introduction, this volume provides a fresh exploration of its themes and influence.

The Psychomachia of Prudentius (348–c. 405), an allegorical epic poem of nearly 1, 000 lines about the battle between the virtues and the vices for possession of the human soul, led early modern scholars to refer to the late antique poet as "the Christian Vergil." Combining depictions of violent, single combats with allusions to pagan epic poetry, biblical scenes, and Christian doctrine, the poem captures the dynamism of the later Roman Empire in which the pagan world was giving way to a new, Christian Europe. In this volume, the introduction sets the historical and literary context and illuminates the Psychomachia 's prominent role in western literary history. Mastrangelo's translation aims to capture the rhetorical power of the author's Roman Christian Latin for the 21st-century reader. The notes provide the reader with in-depth information on Prudentius' Latinity, the Roman epic tradition, and Christian doctrine.

This volume is directed at students and scholars across the disciplines of comparative literature, classics, religion, and ancient and medieval studies, as well as any reader interested in the history and development of literature in the West.

1 PRUDENTIUS, PSYCHOMACHIA, TRANSLATED BY MARC MASTRANGELO

DOI: 10.4324/9780429261992-2

Preface

Abram, a faithful old man, the first example of belief,

an elderly father of a blessed people, his name grew

when syllables were added. He was called Abram by his father,

but Abraham by God. As an old man, he held out his child

as a sacrifice, and taught us that when one wishes to make 5

a favorable offering, with faith in God one must willingly give up

what is sweet, sacred, and unique to one’s heart.

He persuades us to fight infidel nations through his own [10]

example. He convinces us that we will not produce offspring,

the children from Mother Virtue, and a marriage pleasing to God, 10

until our warring spirit slaughters the monsters of our servile heart.

By chance, overbearing kings had defeated and kidnapped Lot

when he lived in the scandalous cities of Sodom and Gomorra.

Though a foreigner, he was a lover of these cities and a prominent man

owing to his uncle’s status and reputation. Stirred by the news 15

of the capture of his nephew, an unfortunate casualty of war, and [20]

a servant to the harsh chains of the barbarians, Abraham arms 318

of his house-born slaves, circles to the rear of the enemy as they marched,

and slaughters them. The enemy was weighed down

by its copious spoils—rich treasure and a famous victory. In fact, 20

he himself draws his sword and, full of God, drives the arrogant kings

to flight. Burdened with their massive loot, he tramples their wounded,

breaks the chains of servitude, and liberates their plunder: gold,

girls, little children, necklaces, horses, equipment, clothes, cattle. [30]

Lot’s chains are broken and he is freed. Now liberated, he raises his neck, 25

scraped from the chafing. Abraham, the destroyer of the enemy victory,

returns and becomes famous for bringing back his nephew.

All this to deny these worst kings’ power over a household of faithful people.

Fresh from the slaughter of so many men,

a priest gives the hero heavenly food. He is the priest of God, 30[40]

also a king. His secret origin from an indescribable source proclaims no parent,

Melchisedec. His roots and ancestors are unknown, known only to God.

Soon, a triple-shaped trinity of angels visits the old man’s hut,

and he welcomes them. Fertile Sara marvels at the pubescent workings

of her ancient womb (a mother with no life in her!). She rejoices 35

in an heir, yet she regrets her laughter. This narrative thread was preconceived [50]

in her, a figure that our life reshapes in true measure. We must watch over

the weapons of our faithful hearts and every part of our body taken captive

and enslaved to filthy desire. We must be liberated by the forces

we gather at home. We will be super-rich in our own native capabilities 40

if we understand through the mystic figure what 318 can do.

Soon Christ himself, the true priest, born from an unutterable, [60]

august Father, will offer food to blessed victors and will enter

the home of their pure hearts; and he will give them the reward of 45

welcoming the Trinity. Through its sacred and eternal embraces,

the divine spirit will cause the soul, long bereft of offspring,

to be married and fertile with the eternal seed. In turn, like the woman

who was too old for labor, it will have a dowry and will fill

the Father’s house with a worthy heir. 50

Psychomachia

Christ, you have always pitied the harsh agonies of human kind!

You are known for your Father’s strength, but yours is one power

(for we worship one god under each name; yet not just one name,

since, Christ, you are God from the Father).

Tell us, my king, how the militias of our armed minds can drive out the Sins

from the caverns of our souls. Tell us how often a mutiny arises within because 5

our feelings are confused and the struggles with this sickness exhaust our souls.

Tell us what fortress there is to defend the soul’s freedom, or what battle-array

resists the Furies with robust force infused in our hearts. For, my good leader, [10]

you did not expose the followers of Christ to the destructive Vices without the great

Virtues and their strength. You yourself order salvation-bringing squadrons to fight 10

inside a besieged body. You yourself arm our character with excellent skills,

through which it fights and wins for you, attacking the absurdities of the heart.

The way of victory is at hand if we can observe at close quarters

the features of virtues and monsters that engage them in deadly conflict. [20]

Faith first enters the field of battle, her prospects uncertain, 15

her clothes disheveled and rough, her shoulders and arms bare, her hair unkempt.

She has a sudden passion for glory, burning for new battles. Also,

she does not think to arm herself with weapons nor body armor, but

trusting in her mighty heart and exposed limbs, she invites the dangers

of insane war in order to break them. Look! Over there, Paganism marshals 20

her forces and dares to strike aggressive Faith first. But Faith, rising

higher, wallops the enemy’s head, her temples decked out with ribbons, [30]

and she drives her mouth, nourished with the blood of beasts, into the ground,

and she treads on her eyes that had popped out as she died, and

the crushed windpipe in her broken throat closes off her meager breath 25

and heaving gasps for life prolong a hard death.

The victorious army, leaping for joy, recruited from a thousand martyrs,

Queen Faith had inspired against the enemy. Now she crowns her brave comrades

with flowers as befits their glory, and orders them to dress in flaming purple.

Next Chastity, virginal, and gleaming in her splendid armor, is ready 30[40]

to fight. The Sodomite Lust, armed with torches of her fatherland, attacks her

and shoves a pitchy, sulfur-burning pine torch into her face, attempting to engulf

her chaste eyes in flames and foul smoke. But the virgin, unperturbed, strikes

the hand of the raging fury and the flaming weapon of the awful whore

with a rock. Chastity deflects the rejected torch away from her holy face. 35

Then, her sword, plunging in, pierces the throat of the disarmed prostitute.

Lust vomits up hot breath, clotted with fi...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• List of abbreviations
• Introduction
• 1 Prudentius, Psychomachia
• 2 Notes to Prudentius’ Psychomachia
• Works cited
• Index