# Poem on the Lord's Passion - Author: Anonymous - Latin title: *Carmen de passione Domini* - Date: 4th-5th century (approximate) - Source: Samuel Brandt and Georg Laubmann, eds., L. Caeli Firmiani Lactanti Opera omnia, Pars 2, fasc. 2, CSEL 27.2 (Vienna: Tempsky; Leipzig: Freytag, 1893) (Latin text: digitized by Open Greek and Latin, University of Leipzig (csel-dev), CC BY-SA 4.0) - Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator - Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/ - Passages: 5 ## Lines 1–15 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-1 - Source: CSEL 27:149lines 1–15 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Christ on the cross addresses the passer-by, calling him to remember the innocent one who came as messenger of peace, took flesh from a virgin, and found no rest on earth. ### Latin text Quisquis ades mediique subis in limina templi, Siste parum insontemque tuo pro crimine passum Respice me, me conde animo, me pectore serua. Ille ego qui casus hominum miseratus acerbos, Huc ueni pacis promissae interpres et ampla Communis culpae uenia: hic clarissima ab alto Reddita lux terris, hic alma salutis imago, Hic tibi sum requies, uia recta, redemptio uera, Vexillumque dei signum et memorabile fati. Te propter uitamque tuam sum uirginis aluum Ingressus, sum factus homo atque horrentia passus Funera, nec requiem terrarum in finibus usquam Inueni, sed ubique minas et ubique labores. Horrida prima mihi in terris magalia Iudae Hospitia in partu sociaeque fuere parenti: ### English translation (Claude) Whoever you are who come near and pass under the threshold of the middle of the temple, stop a little, and look on me, who, innocent, suffered for your crime; lay me up in your mind, keep me in your heart. I am he who, pitying the bitter misfortunes of men, came here as the messenger of the promised peace, and with full pardon for the common guilt: here the brightest light from on high is restored to the earth, here is the kindly image of salvation, here I am your rest, the right way, the true redemption, and the standard of God, a sign and memorial of destiny. For your sake and for your life I entered the virgin's womb, I was made man and suffered a dreadful death; nor did I find rest anywhere in the bounds of the earth, but everywhere threats and everywhere toils. Rough huts of Judah were my first lodging on earth at my birth, and for my mother who shared it: ### Scripture references - John 14:6: echo, low confidence - Matt 11:28: echo, low confidence - Luke 2:7: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The poem is printed among the works of Lactantius but is generally held not to be his; its date is uncertain. - “A sign and memorial of destiny” translates “signum et memorabile fati”; the sense of “fati” here is uncertain. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Lactantius, Pass. 1 (CSEL 27:149lines 1–15; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-1). ## Lines 16–32 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-16 - Source: CSEL 27:149lines 16–32 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Christ recalls his birth in a manger, his flight to Egypt, his life of poverty, teaching, and miracles, and how Jerusalem in envy sought his death on the cross. ### Latin text Hic mihi fusa dedit bruta inter inertia primum Arida in angustis praesepibus herba cubile. In Phariis primos uixi regionibus annos Herodis regno profugus reliquosque reuersus Iudaeam, semper ieiunia, semper et ipsam Pauperiem extremam et rerum inferiora secutus, Semper agens monitis humana salubribus almae Ingenia ad studium probitatis, aperta salubri Plurima doctrinae iniungens miracula. quare Impia Hierusalem, rabidis exercita curis Inuidiae saeuisque odiis et caeca furore Insonti est poenis letalibus ausa cruentam In cruce terribili mortem mihi quaerere. quae si Latius ipse uelim distinguere sique per omnes Ire iuuet gemitus mecum et sentire dolores, Collige consilia insidiasue meique nefandum Sanguinis innocui pretium et simulata clientis. ### English translation (Claude) here dry grass, strewn among the dumb beasts, gave me my first bed in a narrow manger. In the regions of Pharos I lived my first years, a fugitive from Herod's kingdom; and when I returned to Judea I followed always fasting, always poverty itself at its extreme, and the lowest of things, always urging human minds, with the healthful warnings of the kindly teaching, toward the pursuit of goodness, and adding to that healthful teaching very many open miracles. For this reason ungodly Jerusalem, driven by the raging cares of envy and by cruel hatreds, and blind with fury, dared to seek for me, the innocent, by deadly punishments, a bloody death on the terrible cross. If I myself should wish to set these things out more fully, and if it pleases you to go through all the groans with me and to feel the sorrows, gather up the plots or the snares, and the abominable price of my innocent blood, and the feigned ### Scripture references - Luke 2:7: allusion, high confidence - Matt 2:13: allusion, high confidence - Matt 2:19: allusion, medium confidence - Matt 26:15: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - The regions of Pharos are Egypt (Pharos was the island of the lighthouse at Alexandria). The poem's charge against Jerusalem is translated as written. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Lactantius, Pass. 16 (CSEL 27:149lines 16–32; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-16). ## Lines 33–46 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-33 - Source: CSEL 27:149lines 33–46–150 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Christ asks the reader to recall the betrayer's kiss, the scourging, Pilate's judgment, and the carrying of the cross, and to look on his bloodied head, closed eyes, and gall-poisoned tongue. ### Latin text Oscula et insultus et saeuae iurgia turbae. Verbera praeterea et promptas ad crimina linguas Fige animo et testes et caeci infanda Pilati Iudicia ingentemque humeros et fessa prementem Terga crucem atque graues horrenda ad funera gressus. Nunc me, nunc uero desertum extrema secutum Supplicia et dulci procul a genetrice leuatum Vertice ad usque pedes me lustra: en aspice crines Sanguine concretos et sanguinolenta sub ipsis Colla comis spinisque caput crudelibus haustum, Undique diua pluens uiuum super ora cruorem. Compressos speculare oculos et luce carentes Afflictasque genas, arentem suspice linguam Fello uenenatam et pallentes funere uultus. ### English translation (Claude) kisses of the follower, and the insults and abuse of the cruel crowd. Fix in your mind, besides, the scourges, the tongues ready for accusations, the witnesses, and the abominable judgments of blind Pilate, and the huge cross pressing on my shoulders and weary back, and the heavy steps toward a dreadful death. Now look over me, now indeed forsaken and enduring the last punishments, and lifted up far from my sweet mother; look over me from head to feet: see my hair matted with blood, and my neck bloodied beneath the very locks, and my head pierced by cruel thorns, pouring living blood on every side over my divine face. Look at my eyes, pressed shut and lacking light, and my stricken cheeks; look up at my parched tongue, poisoned with gall, and my face pale in death. ### Scripture references - Matt 26:49: allusion, high confidence - Matt 27:26: allusion, high confidence - Matt 26:60: allusion, medium confidence - John 19:17: allusion, high confidence - Matt 27:29: allusion, high confidence - Matt 27:34: allusion, high confidence - Matt 27:46: echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - “Clientis” (a client or follower) refers to Judas' kiss. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Lactantius, Pass. 33 (CSEL 27:149lines 33–46–150; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-33). ## Lines 47–63 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-47 - Source: CSEL 27:150lines 47–63 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Christ shows his pierced hands, side, and feet, bids the reader kneel before the cross in tears, follow his footsteps, and use the memory of his passion as goad and shield. ### Latin text Cerne manus clauis fixas tractosque lacertos Atque ingens lateris uulnus, cerne inde fluorem Sanguineum fossosque pedes artusque cruentos. Flecte genu lignumque crucis uenerabile adora Flebilis, innocuo terramque cruore madentem Ore petens humili lacrimis suffunde subortis Et me nonnumquam deuoto in corde meosque Fer monitus. sectare meae uestigia uitae Ipsaque supplicia inspiciens mortemque seueram. Corporis innumeros memorans animique dolores. Disce aduersa pati et propriae inuigilare saluti. Haec monumenta tibi si quando in mente iuuabit Voluere, si qua fides animo tibi forte meorum, Debita si pietas et gratia digna laborum Surget, erunt uerae stimuli uirtutis eruntque Hostis in insidias clipei, quibus acer in omni Tutus eris uictorque feres certamine palmam. ### English translation (Claude) See my hands fixed with nails and my arms stretched out, and the great wound in my side; see the stream of blood flowing from it, and my pierced feet and bloody limbs. Bend your knee and, weeping, adore the venerable wood of the cross, and seeking with lowly face the earth wet with innocent blood, bathe it with rising tears; and sometimes carry me and my warnings in a devoted heart. Follow the footsteps of my life, and, looking on the very punishments and the harsh death, remembering the countless sorrows of body and mind, learn to endure adversity and to watch over your own salvation. If ever it pleases you to turn over these memorials in your mind, if by chance there is any faith in my words in your mind, if due devotion and fitting gratitude for my labors arise, they will be goads of true virtue, and they will be shields against the snares of the enemy; with them you will be bold and safe in every contest, and as victor you will carry off the palm. ### Scripture references - John 20:25: allusion, medium confidence - John 19:34: allusion, high confidence - 1 Pet 2:21: allusion, medium confidence - Eph 6:16: echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - “Adore the venerable wood of the cross” translates the poem's words exactly. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Lactantius, Pass. 47 (CSEL 27:150lines 47–63; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-47). ## Lines 64–80 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-64 - Source: CSEL 27:150lines 64–80–151 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: The memory of the passion will keep the reader from trusting the passing world, sustain him with hope amid suffering, and lead his soul after death to reign with Christ among angels and saints. ### Latin text Haec monumenta tuos si labilis orbis amicos Auertent sensus fugiente decoris ab umbra Mundani, efficient ne spe captatus inani Mobilis occiduis fortunae fidere rebus Auseris aut uitae sperare fugacibus annis. Sed te nimirum sic ista caduca uidentem Saecula et exutum patriae melioris amore Orbis opes rerumque usus et uota priorum Moribus extollent sacris uitaeque beatae Spe duras inter poenas te rore fouebunt Caelesti pactique boni dulcedine pascent, Purpuream donec post ultima fata relicto Corpore sublimes animam reuocabit ad auras Gratia magna dei. tunc omnem exuta laborem, Angelicos tunc laeta choros aciesque beatas Sanctorum inspiciens aeternae pacis amoena Perpetuo felix mecum regnabit in aula. ### English translation (Claude) If these memorials turn your feelings, friendly to the slipping world, away from the fleeting shadow of worldly beauty, they will see to it that, caught by empty hope, you do not dare to trust the setting things of fickle fortune, or to hope for life in fleeting years. But you, seeing indeed that these ages are thus perishable, and stripped, by love of a better fatherland, of the wealth of the world and the use of things, the prayers of those before you will lift up by holy ways of life; and with the hope of a blessed life they will cherish you amid harsh pains with heavenly dew, and feed you with the sweetness of the promised good, until, after the last fate, when the body is left behind, the great grace of God will call the soul back to the bright breezes on high. Then, stripped of all toil, then joyful, beholding the angelic choirs and the blessed ranks of the saints, the delights of eternal peace, it will reign happily with me for ever in the hall. ### Scripture references - Heb 11:16: echo, low confidence - Rev 22:5: echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - The first lines are difficult; “your feelings, friendly to the slipping world” takes “labilis orbis amicos” with “sensus.” “The prayers of those before you” (uota priorum) is taken as the subject of “will lift up”; the construction is uncertain. ### Citation (SBL) Pseudo-Lactantius, Pass. 64 (CSEL 27:150lines 64–80–151; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ps-lactantius-passione/1/#p-64).