Cite as: Kirsten Wolf (ed.) 2007, ‘Anonymous Poems, Heilagra meyja drápa 57’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 927-8.

Félícitas sitr í sælu; Sábína var numin frá pínu; Praxis glez með prúða huxan, Potenciána systir snótar.

Constancía kurteis meyja, Klára þoldi dauða sáran; Priska liez í prúðri æsku; Púsina skínn nú guðs í húsi.

Félícitas sitr í sælu; Sábína var numin frá pínu; Praxis glez með prúða huxan, Potenciána, systir snótar. Constancía, kurteis meyja, Klára þoldi sáran dauða; Priska liez í prúðri æsku; Púsina skínn nú í {húsi guðs}.

Felicity sits in bliss; Sabina was removed from torment; Praxis rejoices with her fine thought, Putentiana, the woman’s sister. Constantia, a courteous maiden, Clare suffered a painful death; Prisca died in the bloom of her youth; Pusina now shines in {God’s house} [HEAVEN].

Mss: 721(10r), 713(28)

Readings: [1] Félícitas: so 713, ‘Fielicias’ 721    [2] pínu: ‘[...]nu’ 713    [5] meyja: ‘[...]’ 713    [6] dauða sáran: dauðan sára 713    [8] nú: om. 713

Editions: Skj: [Anonyme digte og vers XIV], [B. 12]. Af heilogum meyjum 57: AII, 538, BII, 596, Skald II, 330, NN §§2970B, 2971B.

Notes: [All]: This st. lists the following little-known saints: — [1] Félícitas: According to legend, Felicity, a noble Roman lady, and her seven sons were imprisoned because of their Christian faith at the instigation of pagan priests. Brought before the prefect, they adhered to their religion and were delivered over to judges, who condemned them to various forms of death. Felicity’s feast day is 23 November. — [2] Sábína: Sabina, whose feast day is 29 August, was the widow of an Umbrian nobleman. She was converted by her servant and consequently arrested. After a year’s imprisonment, she received the crown of martyrdom. — [3] Praxis: Praxis, whose feast day is 21 July, was a virgin of Rome. Her legend made her a sister of Putentiana and a daughter of the senator Pudens. — [4] Potenciána: Putentiana, whose feast day is 19 May, was supposedly a Roman martyr. She is mentioned in one of the manuscripts of Jerome’s martyrology, but in no early known sources. In early Christian Rome, a senator Pudens existed, on whose land a church was built which was called titulus Pudensis or ecclesia Pudentianae. It seems likely that from this name came the supposition that it was dedicated to a S. Putentiana. — [5] Constancía: Constantia was the daughter of Constantine I. She was cured of a terminal illness at the tomb of Saint Agnes. Her feast day is 25 February. — [6] Klára: The Clare mentioned here is presumably Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), the Franciscan nun and foundress of the Poor Clares. Her feast day is 11 August. — [7] Priska: Nothing is known about this saint, except her name and her cult. Her C10th Acta, which are historically dubious, identify her with a Roman martyr, whose relics had been translated to a church carrying her name on the Aventine Hill. Her feast is 18 January. — [8] Púsina: Pusina was a C5th or C6th virgin. Born of wealthy parents in the district of Le-Pertois near Chꜽlons-sur-Marne, she led an ascetic life in her father’s house with her six sisters. After her death, her relics were brought to Herford, Westphalia. Her feast day is 23 April.