E05279: Latin epitaph encouraging *Marcellinus and Petrus (martyrs of Rome, S00577) to receive the deceased as their 'adopted son' (alumnus). Found near the intramural church of Santa Prassede, but probably originally erected in the cemetery Ad Sanctos Marcellinum et Petrum /inter duas lauros, via Labicana, Rome. Probably late 4th - early 5th c.

[fi]nitos annos vitae recessisti in pace securus
legem quam benerasti ipsa tibi rependat honorem
agricola et cultor prudens pauperorum amicus
4 vir laudabilis nimis usque ad finem dierum
latenter amasti tuos ut decet virum honestum
filiis tuis demisisti dolum uxori dolorem
raptus es nobis subito sicut agnus a matre
8 infelix filius retinens genitoris amore
vitae annos egisti sexaginta plus minus
nec titulus nec tabula capuit referre benigna
sancte Petri Marcelline suscipite vestrum alumnum

1. VITOS Davanzati || 4. VIS Davanzati || 5. latenter read patenter Ferrua || ET DECET Davanzati, VT Ferrua || 6. demisisti dolum read relinquisti dolorem: Ferrua || 9. FECISTI Davanzati, EGISTI Ferrua || 10. capuit read cepit or potuit: Ferrua || 11. sancte Petri Marcelline read: sancti Petre Marcelline Ferrua

'Having completed the years of (your) life you withdrew safe in peace,
The same law which you venerated (now) returns you the honour,
Farmer and prudent tiller, friend of the poor,
Man commendable beyond measure to the end of (your) days.
You deeply loved your (family members), as is proper in a honest man;
To your sons you left sorrow, pain to your wife.
You were suddenly taken from us, as a lamb from (its) mother,
The unhappy son remaining through the love of the parent.
You lived approximately sixty years,
Neither an inscription nor a plaque could narrate (your) good deeds,
O Saint Petrus and Marcellinus, take up your adopted son (vester alumnus)'

Text: ICVR, n.s., I, no. 947 = ICVR VI, no. 17192 = EDB14265 and EDB35307. Translation: P. Nowakowski