Paulinus of Pella

Paulinus of Pella (born at Pella in Macedon, but of a Bordelaise family) was a Christian poet of the fifth century.

He was the son of an official, which explains his birth in Macedonia and his time at Carthage while he was a child. He soon returned to Bordeaux. He was probably the grandson of the poet Ausonius.

At the age of eighty-three he composed an account of his life: "Eucharisticon Deo sub ephemeridis meae textu" ("Thanksgiving to God in the form of an account of my life"). His autobiography is a thanksgiving, although illness, loss of property, and dangers from invasion occupy more space in it than do days of happiness. The account presents a picture of the period, with the expression of high sentiments. Unfortunately the style and versification do not always correspond to the sincerity and the height of inspiration.

The date is uncertain. The passage which apparently gives it [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Paulinus_Pellaeus/Eucharisticus*.html#474 (474 sqq.)] is altered but may be between 459 and 465. The very name of the author has not been preserved by the single manuscript of the poem. We know it only through Margarin de La Bigne, the author of the "Bibliotheca Patrum" (Paris, 1579, appendix, VIII), who had handled another manuscript giving the name of Paulinus.

The "Eucharisticon" was published by W. Brandes in vol. I of "Poetae Christiani minores" (1888).

References

*Teufel, Gesch. d. rom. Literatur, &474, 4
*Ebert, Gesch. d. Literatur des Mittelalters, I (Leipzig, 1889), 405
*Duchesne, Fast. epis. de 1'ancienne Gaule, II (2nd ed., Paris, 1900), pt. II.

External links

* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Paulinus_Pellaeus/home.html Paulinus: "Eucharisticus"] (Latin text, English translation, and introductory material at LacusCurtius — from the Loeb Classical Library edition; where the text is that of Brandes with cosmetic changes)