Cento Vergilianus de Laudibus Christi: translation and study

Abstract

This research project proposes the analysis and partial translation (56-332) into portuguese of the Cento Vergilianus de Laudibus Christi, a christian cento poem from the 4th century AD written by Faltonia Betitia Proba based on the works of Virgil. Compared to other works of latin poetry the cento is less well studied due to its nature: being a poem composed of fragments from preexisting works, modern criticism has often regarded it as a mere copy of great poetic works. Some studies have shed light on this poetic form, but already in medieval reception the cento was admired: for example, in De Claris Mulieribus, Boccaccio classifies Proba's verse as placido atque expedito et succipleno. Following those who have highlighted the cento technique, this work aims to present a study of the Cento, considering the complex web of meanings obtained from the fusion of pagan and christian poetry, as well as a commented translation of its first narrative part.