Letter 7001: While Orpheus moved the tuned strings with his thumb

To Gogo When Orpheus, with his thumb, set the strung chords in motion, and the strings gave forth words at the striking of the plectrum, then, as his lyre resounded, he touched the woods with sweetness, and by love he drew the wild beasts to the music of his cithara. From every side the emptied lairs sent forth their deer, and the tigress herself came, laying aside her ferocity. At the urging of the melody, the nightingale flew with excessive haste, and the weary bird, scorning her young, came running: yet although she had wearied her wings over the long distance, the bird, coming to what she desired, refreshed herself. So, captivated by your sweetness as by a goad, Gogo, the wandering traveler comes from afar to your realms. So that all may come the more readily, in haste from every quarter, your tongue draws them just as that man drew them with his lyre. After the exile, wearied, has come here, he is freed from the grief he suffered before, with you as his healer. You draw out groans from the afflicted, and you plant joys; and lest they wither, you nourish them with the rain of your mouth. With your speech you build honeycombs, supplying fresh honey, and with the nectar of sweet eloquence you surpass the bees. The flowing grace of your lips waters them from a rich fountain, from whose hidden source there flows a voice fit for a feast. With ever-watchful sense, a rich prudence reigns, in which, with its kindling laid in, the wave of salt [wit] swims; you who vibrate rays of light from your breast with the brightness of your soul, and an inner light, imitating the day, shines forth. But the sun fills the world at one moment, the clouds at another by turns: yet your heart always holds a serene day. With your ready inmost being you are held to be a temple of piety, and you are made a house for sacred gifts. Your comely form gleams with its own splendor, so that your very face proves the disposition of your mind; every kind of praise you enclose in a single beauty, nor is there anything more than what your form bears. By the judgment of prince Sigibert you are accounted great: no one can deceive the judgment of the king. The wise man has chosen a wise man, the lover one who loves, and just as the learned bee selects out the flowers. From his merit you have learned to be held such a man, and you, a kindly servant, reflect the character of your lord; lately from the lands of the Spaniards, through many perils, you bring the highest joys to the distinguished king. You love him as much as the better things you have prepared: no one could achieve by arms what your tongue has given. If I should be silent about these good qualities, our very silences praise you, nor would you look for words, you who hold my heart. In favoring you I sing what is true, and no falsehood condemns me; with the people as my witness I speak: I shall be free of any charge. May this lofty praise of you rise into the distant years; may this praise long preserve you in life, and may that praise cherish you.

I Ad Gogonem Orpheus orditas moveret dum pollice chordas verbaque percusso pectine fila darent, mox resonante lyra tetigit dulcedine silvas, ad citharae cantus traxit amore feras. undique miserunt vacuata cubilia dammas, deposita rabie tigris et ipsa venit. sollicitante melo nimio filomela volatu, pignora contemnens fessa cucurrit avis: sed quamvis longo spatio lassaverat alas, ad votum veniens se recreavit avis. sic stimulante tua captus dulcedine, Gogo, longa peregrinus regna viator adit. undique festini veniant ut promptius omnes, sic tua lingua trahit sicut et ille lyra. ipse fatigatus huc postquam venerit exul, antea quo doluit te medicante caret. eruis adflictis gemitus et gaudia plantas; ne tamen arescant, oris ab imbre foves. aedificas sermone favos nova mella ministrans, dulcis et eloquii nectare vincis apes. ubere fonte rigat labiorum gratia pollens, cuius ab arcano vox epulanda fluit. pervigili sensu dives prudentia regnat, fomite condito cui salis unda natat; qui fulgore animi radios a pectore vibras, et micat interior lux imitata diem. sed vicibus mundum modo sol modo nubila complent: at tua semper habent corda serena diem. visceribus promptis templum pietatis haberis muneribusque sacris es fabricata domus. forma venusta tibi proprio splendore coruscat, ut mentis habitum vultus et ipse probet, omne genus laudum specie concludis in una, nec plus est aliquid quam tua forma gerit. principis arbitrio Sigibercthi magnus haberis: iudicium regis fallere nemo potest. elegit sapiens sapientem et amator amantem, ac veluti flores docta sequestrat apes. illius ex merito didicisti talis haberi, et domini mores serve benigne refers, nuper ab Hispanis per multa pericula terris egregio regi gaudia summa vehis. diligis hunc tantum quantum meliora parasti: nemo armis potuit quod tua lingua dedit. haec bona si taceam, te nostra silentia laudant, nec voces spectes qui mea corda tenes. vera favendo cano neque me fallacia damnat, teste loquor populo: crimine liber ero. haec tibi longinquos laus ardua surgat in annos, haec te vita diu servet et illa colat.