PRAEBITIONEM.
AC. MVNIFICENTIAM. ET. QVOD. AQVAE
VSVM. VETVSTATE. LAPSVM. REQVI-
SITVM. AC. REPERTVM. SAECVLI
FELICITATE. CVRSVI. PRISTINO
REDDIDERIT.
COLLEG. III.
QVIB. EX. SCC. P. EST
PATRONO. DIGNISS.
Inscribed by the three corporations under the authority of the
Senate, to their most worthy Patron, His Excellency M. Aurelius
Masculus, in testimony of their gratitude for the blessings of
his incorruptible administration, his wonderful affability to all
without Distinction, his generous Distribution of Corn in time of
Dearth, his munificence in repairing the ruinous aqueduct, in
searching for, discovering and restoring the water to its former
course for the Benefit of the Community.
This president well deserved such a mark of respect from a people
whom he had assisted in two such essential articles, as their
corn and their water. You know the praeses of a Roman province
had the jus sigendi clavi, the right to drive a nail in the
Kalendar, the privilege of wearing the latus clavus, or broad
studs on his garment, the gladius, infula, praetexta, purpura &
annulus aureus, the Sword, Diadem, purple Robe, and gold Ring, he
had his vasa, vehicula, apparitores, Scipio eburneus, & sella
curulis, Kettledrums, [I know the kettledrum is a modern
invention; but the vasa militari modo conclamata was something
analogous.] Chariots, Pursuivants, ivory staff, and chair of
state.
I shall give you one more sepulchral inscription on a marble,
which is now placed over the gate of the church belonging to the
convent of St. Pont, a venerable building, which stands at the
bottom of the hill, fronting the north side of the town of Nice.
This St. Pont, or Pontius, was a Roman convert to Christianity,
who suffered martyrdom at Cemenelion in the year 261, during the
reigns of the emperors Valerian and Gallienus. The legends
recount some ridiculous miracles wrought in favour of this saint,
both before and after his death. Charles V. emperor of Germany
and king of Spain, caused this monastery to be built on the spot
where Pontius suffered decapitation. But to return to the
inscription: it appears in these words.
M. M. A.
FLAVIAE. BASILLAE. CONIVG. CARISSIM.
DOM. ROMA. MIRAE. ERGA. MARITUM. AMORIS.
ADQ. CASTITAT. FAEMINAE. QVAE. VIXIT
ANN. XXXV. M. III. DIEB. XII. AVRELIVS
RHODISMANVS. AVG. LIB. COMMEM. ALP.
MART. ET. AVRELIA, ROMVLA. FILII.
IMPATIENTISSIM. DOLOR. EIVS. ADFLICTI
ADQ. DESOLATI. CARISSIM. AC MERENT. FERET.
FEC. ET. DED,
Freely consecrated by Aurelius Rhodismanus, the Emperor's
Freedman, to the much honoured memory of his dear Consort Flavia
Aurelia of Rome, a woman equally distinguished by her unblemished
Virtue and conjugal affection. His children Martial and Aurelia
Romula deeply affected and distressed by the Violence of his
Grief, erected and dedicated a monument to their dear deserving
Parent. [I don't pretend to translate these inscriptions
literally, because I am doubtful about the meaning of some
abbreviations.]
The amphitheatre of Cemenelion is but very small, compared to
that of Nismes. The arena is ploughed up, and bears corn: some of
the seats remain, and part of two opposite porticos; but all the
columns, and the external facade of the building, are taken away
so that it is impossible to judge of the architecture, all we can
perceive is, that it was built in an oval form.
