[100] This account is a translation of the Acts; it is a very
fair specimen of the original documents as written by the Church
notaries at the time. The style being too simple to please the taste of
later ages, too many of them were re-written in florid diction, and long
speeches were put in the martyrs' mouths.
[101] One reading is _insolutus_, another _in soleis_.
[102] That is, to intercede for him when he, the martyr, stood
in the presence of Christ in Paradise.
[103] That is, extending their arms, so that they formed the
symbol of the Cross.
[104] Slightly abbreviated from the Acts.
[105] Aurelian was a special votary of the sun.
[106] There is some blunder here.
[107] S. Hieron, Ep. 6.
[108] S. August. Serm. 274.
[109] Here a difficulty occurs. There is no such name in the
lists of the prefects of the city. According to this account, he
transferred to the deputy, Aspasius, the duty of sentencing her. In some
accounts he is called Aspasius Paternus. A Paternus was prefect of the
city in 264 and 265; an Ovinius Paternus in 281. Aspasius Paternus,
pro-consul of Africa, in or about 260, is mentioned by S. Cyprian. It is
probable that Symphronius was not prefect of the city, but a powerful
senator, and that Aspasius is the same as Ovinius Paternus. Transcribers
made havoc of the names in the Acts.
[110] Antiphon to Ps. cix. _Dixit Dominus_, for S. Agnes' Day,
and Greek Menaea.
[111] This is appointed as the antiphon to the Magnificat for
S. Agnes' Day.
[112] Prudentius.
[113] Ibid.
[114] S. Ambrose lib. I. _De Virgin._ c. 2.
January 22.
S. VINCENT, _D. M., at Saragossa, in Spain_, A.D. 304.
SS. VINCENT, ORONTIUS, VICTOR, AND AQUILINA, _MM., at Gerunda, in
Spain_, A.D. 304.
S. BLAESILLA, _W., at Rome_, A.D. 383.
S. GAUDENTIUS, _B. of Novara, in Italy, circ._ A.D. 418.
SS. ANASTASIUS AND LXX. COMPANIONS, _MM., in Assyria_, A.D. 628.
S. DOMINIC, _Ab. of Sora, in Italy_, A.D. 1031.
S. BRITHWALD, _B. of Wilton, in England_, A.D. 1045.
B. WALTER VAN BIERBEEKE, _Monk, at Hemmerode, in Belgium, circ._
A.D. 1220.