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Prudentius’ Psychomachia
'Conflict Of The Soul'
Lyon, Bibliotheque du Palais des Arts, Ms. 22, 11th century

Patience and Anger (Wrath)

folio 4v upper

Anger prepares to throw a spear at Patience

IRA TELVM IACTAT & PACIENTIAM INCREPAT


folio 4v lower

Patience deflects Anger’s spear

GLADIUS IRE FRANGITA IN CAPITE PATIENTIE


folio 7r upper

Anger's missiles lie purposeless on the ground

IACULA FRACTA IACENT QUE OMISERAT IRA CONTRA PACIENTIAM


The artist has included the breaking sword early and has little room to move in the following illustrations.
folio 7r lower

Anger hits Patience with her sword

PACIENTIAM IRA PERCUTIT GLADIO


folio 7v upper

Anger's sword breaks into pieces

PACIENTIA INTREPIDA PERSISTENTE FRANGITUR GLADIUS IRE


folio 7v lower

Anger kills herself with her sword

IRA GLADIO SVO SE INTERFICIT



Image Source: Lyon, Bibliotheque du Palais des Arts, Ms. 22
Latin text: The Latin Library

Prudentius (born in 348 in northern Spain, died after 405) spent most of his life following worldly pursuits, but later turned to writing, in which he aimed to glorify God and atone for his earlier sins. One of his most popular works is a poem called Psychomachia (Conflict of the Soul), which describes the battles between female personifications of human virtues and vices.