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Prudentius' Psychomachia
'Conflict Of The Soul'

Leyden, Universitatsbibliothek, Codex Burmanni Q 3, 9th century

folio 141v-142r
Peace drives away Fear, Labor and Want
Trumpets are silent, swords sheathed

The legion of Virtues enjoy winning the contest
Concord orders the withdrawal of the standards to camp
Singing troop of cavalry & infantry


PAX VENIT ET FUGIUNT METUS ET LABOR ET VIS
TUBAE SILENT GLADII RECONDUNTUR
VIRTUTUM LEGIO GAUDET VICTO CERTAMINE
CONCORDIA IUBET REDUCERE SIGNA IN CASTRIS
TURME PSALLENTIUM EQUITUM ET PEDESTIUM

Prudentius (born in 348 in northern Spain, died after 405) spent most of his life following worldly pursuits, but later turned to writing, in which he aimed to glorify God and atone for his earlier sins. One of his most popular works is a poem called Psychomachia (Conflict of the Soul), which describes the battles between female personifications of human virtues and vices.

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