Sedulius (sometimes with the nomen Coelius or Caelius, both of doubtful authenticity) [1] was a Christian poet during the first half of the 5th century.
Sedulius (sometimes with the nomen Coelius or Caelius, both of doubtful authenticity) [1] was a Christian poet during the first half of the 5th century.
Little is known about his life. The only trustworthy information, contained in his two letters to Macedonius, recounts that he devoted his early life, perhaps as a teacher of rhetoric, to secular literature. Late in life he converted to Christianity, or, if a Christian before, began to take his faith more seriously. [2] One medieval commentary states that he resided in Italy. [1] Isidore of Seville (c. 560 – 636) and the Gelasian decree refer to him as a presbyter. [3]
His fame rests mainly upon a long poem, Carmen paschale, based on the four gospels. In style a bombastic imitator of Virgil, he shows, nevertheless, a certain freedom in the handling of the Biblical story, and the poem soon became a quarry for the minor poets. [3] His description of the Four Evangelists in Carmen Paschale became well-known; the English translation below is from Springer (2013, p. 21).
Hoc Matthaeus agens hominem generaliter implet; | Matthew plays the role of the whole human race; |
His other writings include an Abecedarian hymn in honour of Christ, A solis ortus cardine , consisting of twenty-three quatrains of iambic dimeters. This poem has partly passed into the Roman Rite liturgy, the first seven quatrains forming the Christmas carol "A solis ortus cardine", [4] which has been translated into vernacular languages by, among many others, Martin Luther and Allan MacDonald. The Epiphany hymn, "Hostis Herodes impie"and "Veteris et novi Testamenti collatio" in elegiac couplets have also come down. [3]
Sedulius [...] a 5th-cent. poet, of whose life very few details are known. The only trustworthy information is given by his two letters to Macedonius, from which we learn that he devoted his early life, perhaps as a teacher of rhetoric, to heathen literature. Late in life he became converted to Christianity, or, if a Christian before, began to take a serious view of his duties.
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