Epigram by Pope Damasus

To celebrate the feast day of our Patron, St Tarcisius, here is the Epigram composed in his honour by Pope Damasus.

Par meritum, quicumque legis, cognosce duorum,
quis Damasus rector titulos post praemia reddit.
Judaicus populus Stephanum meliora monentem
perculerat saxis, tulerat qui ex hoste tropaeum,
martyrium primus rapuit levita fidelis.
Tarsicium sanctum Christi sacramenta gerentem
cum male sana manus premeret vulgare profanis,
ipse animam potius voluit dimittere caesus
prodere quam canibus rabidis caelestia membra.

(Damasi Epigrammata, Maximilian Ihm, 1895, n. 14)


At some point soon, I will attempt a translation, though I can't promise any great poetic merit.