550. 'It is now a church in Rome, and gives a title to a cardinal'; note in
Bell's edition. In a poem called the Stacyons of Rome, ed. Furnivall, l.
832, we are told that 100 years' pardon may be obtained by going to St.
Cecilia's church. Mr. W. M. Rossetti, in a note on this line, says--'The
Church of St. Cecilia, at the end of the Trastevere, near the Quay of Ripa
Grande, was built on the site of the saint's own house in 230; rebuilt by
pope Paschal I. in 821, and dedicated to God and Sts. Mary, Peter, Paul,
and Cecilia; and altered to its present form in 1599 and 1725. In the
former of these years, 1599, the body of the saint was found on the spot,
with a contemporary inscription identifying her: the celebrated statue by
Stefano Maderno, now in the church, represents her in the attitude she was
discovered lying in.'
553. After this line the Latin adds--'Passa est autem circa annos domini CC
et XXIII, tempore Alexandri imperatoris. Alibi autem legitur, quod passa
sit tempore Marci Aurelii, qui imperauit circa annos domini XXCC.' The
confusion of names here is easily explained. Marcus Aurelius died in 180;
but Marcus Aurelius Alexander Severus (for such was his title in full)
reigned from 222 to 235. The true date is generally considered to be 230,
falling within his reign, as it should do.