E00980: According to the Life of *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411), an officer and ex-Christian sought to obtain Cyprian's bloodstained garments; written in Latin at Carthage, possibly by his deacon Pontius, and certainly before 359.

Pontius of Carthage, Life of Cyprian 16.6-7

6. Illic cum post iter longum nimio sudore madidatus sederet - sedile autem erat fortuito linteo tectum, ut et sub ictu passionis episcopatus honore frueretur -, quidam ex tesserariis quondam christianus res suas obtulit, quasi vellet ille vestimentis suis humidis sicciora mutare - videlicet nihil aliud in rebus oblatis ambiebat, quam ut proficiscentis ad Deum martyris sudores iam sanguineos possideret 7. Cui ille respondit et dixit: ‘Medellas adhibemus querelis, quae hodie forsitan non erunt?’ Mirum, si contempsit laborem corpore, qui mortem mente contempserat?

'(6.) There, as he sat moistened after his long journey with excessive perspiration (the seat was by chance covered with linen, so that even in the very moment of his passion he might enjoy the honour of the episcopate), one of the officers, who had formerly been a Christian, offered him his clothes, as if he might wish to change his moistened garments for drier ones; and he doubtless coveted nothing further in respect of his proffered kindness than to possess the now bloodstained sweat of the martyr going to God. (7.) He made reply to him, and said, We apply medicines to annoyances which probably today will no longer exist.' Is it any wonder that he despised suffering in body who had despised death in soul?'

Text: Bastiaensen 1975, p. 42. Translation: Wallis 1886.