Letter 2008: Ad clerum Parisiacum

IX. To the clergy of Paris. Glory of the honorable assembly and rank of an ample order, you whom I cherish with my heart in faith and devotion, O fathers: now you compel me, long since forgetful, with the unaccustomed song of the plectrum, to renew the ancient lyre. Behold, you goad my dumbstruck fingers to touch the strings, though my hand does not run in its art as it once did. Now my tongue, scabrous with rust, gives out its words, and a hoarse din comes forth from my uncouth mouth. Scarcely will the whetstone give an edge upon old rust, nor does color shine in the bronze when it is stained by smoke. But because a sweetness pressing in stands close like a hammer, and like an anvil care wears down what is struck back, and you kindle the furnace of my breast with fire, whence the heat is ministered in the citadel of the heart: I comply from this, since your love has driven me, as though re-forged in a furnace, to the duty of the art. The lofty clergy of Paris, mighty in reverence, the spirit of the church, glory, gift, honor, composing divine poems with the song of David, with unwearied courses unrolls the sweet work. On this side the priests, on that side the Levitical order shines forth; the hoary hair covers those, the fair stole covers these. In those there is paleness, in the faces of these a ruddiness wanders, and lilies mingled with glowing roses gleam white. Those are already in old age, but these too are well white in their garments, so that the painted crown may please the highest God. In their midst Germanus the bishop is present in honor, who governs the young men on this side and raises up the old men on that side. The Levites go before, the grave order follows the leadership: he moves these by his walking, he draws these by his guidance. Yet he himself advances gently, like a second Aaron, not gleaming in his garment, but pleasing by his piety; no stones, no scarlet, no turban, no gold, no purple, no fine linen adorn his shoulders, but a nourishing faith shines forth. This priest is far better than the one under the old law, because he here honors the truth where before there was a shadow. Thinking the things to come to be great, refuting all present things, lacking the flesh beforehand rather than the flesh falling at its end, anxious lest the wrath of the wolves devour anyone, the rich shepherd gathers his sheep to the folds. Called by unceasing admonitions to the salted pastures, the flock, recognizing the voice, runs after it, devoted in love; a soldier swift to arms, the signal soon rings in their ears, and shaking off sleep from the couch he raises up his limbs, he flies before the others, seeking the sacred mysteries, each one on every side making for the temples in his own place; with burning zeal the household waters all the people, and they vie in admonishing as to who is able to go first. Joining their sleepless nights to the first light of dawn, the venerable throng forms angelic choirs: steadfast with strenuous steps at the venerable work, about to do violence to heaven, it moves arms with songs; weaving the threads of the psalter with lyric melody, it draws on with love the song begun in verses. On this side a boy tunes the pipes upon his slender reeds, on that an old man belches a broad trumpet from his mouth; cymbal-voices are mingled with shrill pipes, and with differing strains the flute sounds sweetly; the boy's pipe soothes the harsh drums of the old men, and the singing words of men restore the lyre. Gently does this measure draw on, that one carries it off briskly: thus the work is varied by sex and by age. The seething threshing-floor of Christ pounds the wheaten harvest, since indeed the granaries of God are to be built, recalling by the voice of the Creator that those are blessed whom the Lord, when he himself returns, sees vigilant. In their merits, in their spirit, virtue, and faith, how great are the lights that lie hidden under the covering of the body! At the bishop's admonitions the clergy, the people, and the infant sing the psalms, whence by brief labor he shall be filled with the harvest. Under the leadership of Germanus this army is happy. Moses, stretch out your hands and help your camp!

IX Ad clerum Parisiacum Coetus honorifici decus et gradus ordinis ampli, quos colo corde fide religione patres, iam dudum obliti desueto carmine plectri cogitis antiquam me renovare lyram. en stupidis digitis stimulatis tangere cordas, cum mihi non solito currat in arte manus. scabrida nunc resonat mea lingua rubigine verba exit et incompto raucus ab ore fragor. vix dabit in veteri ferrugine cotis acumen aut fumo infecto splendet in aere color. sed quia dulcedo pulsans quasi malleus instat, et velut incudo cura relisa terit pectoris atque mei succenditis igne caminum, unde ministratur cordis in arce vapor: obsequor hinc, quia me veluti fornace recocto artis ad officium vester adegit amor. – Celsa Parisiaci clerus reverentia pollens. ecclesiae genium gloria munus honor, carmine Davitico divina poemata pangens cursibus assiduis dulce revolvit opus. inde sacerdotes, Leviticus hinc micat ordo, illos canities, hos stola pulchra tegit ; illis pallor inest, rubor his in vultibus errat, et candunt rutilis lilia mixta rosis. illi iam senio, sed et hi bene vestibus albent, ut placeat summo picta corona deo. in medios Germanus adest antistes honore, qui regit hinc iuvenes, subrigit inde senes. Levitae praeeunt, sequitur gravis ordo ducatum: hos gradiendo movet, hos moderando trahit. ipse tamen sensim incedit, velut alter Aaron, non de veste nitens, sed pietate placens; non lapides coccus cidar aurum purpura byssus exornant humeros, sed micat alma fides. iste satis melior veteri quam lege sacerdos, hic quia vera colit quo prius umbra fuit. magna futura putans, praesentia cuncta refellens, antea carne carens quam caro fine ruens, sollicitus, quemquam ne devoret ira luporum, colligit ad caulas pastor opimus oves. assiduis monitis ad pascua salsa vocatus grex vocem agnoscens currit amore sequax; miles ad arma celer, signum mox tinnit in aures, erigit excusso membra sopore toro, advolat ante alios, mysteria sacra requirens, undique quisque suo templa petendo loco; flagranti studio populum domus inrigat omnem certatimque monent, quis prior ire valet. pervigiles noctes ad prima crepuscula iungens construit angelicos turba verenda choros: gressibus exertis in opus venerabile constans vim factura polo cantibus arma movet; stamina psalterii lyrico modulamine texens versibus orditum carmen amore trahit. hinc puer exiguis attemperat organa cannis, inde senis largam ructat ab ore tubam; cymbalicae voces calamis miscentur acutis disparibusque tropis fistula dulce sonat; tympana rauca senum puerilis tibia mulcet atque hominum reparant verba canora lyram. leniter iste trahit modulus, rapit alacer ille : sexus et aetatis sic variatur opus. triticeas fruges fervens terit area Christi, horrea quando quidem construitura dei, voce creatoris reminiscens esse beatos quos dominus vigiles, dum redit ipse, videt. in quorum meritis, animo, virtute fideque tegmine corporeo lumina quanta latent! pontificis monitis clerus, plebs psallit et infans, unde labore brevi fruge replendus erit. sub duce Germano felix exercitus hic est, Moyses, tende manus et tua castra iuvas.