Letter 7020: Ad Sigimundum

20 To Sigimund Fortunatus sends greeting to Sigimund, most beloved and to be praised with every grace. Fixed fast by love of you, standing here with yearning prayers, I often ask travelers what your welfare is, dear friend: whoever comes hurrying along, a traveler from the pole of the North, however much he hastens, I detain him by my pressing questions; whether private business or public care has summoned the man, no one from here shall depart upon his road unless I question him. How vigorous are you in body? What places, dear one, keep you fast? Love asks after everything in due and ordered course. If a guest, bearing heavy arms, treads the sands of Italy, or what page the Frank holds out, come, let it be made known. What are you doing, I beg, report it; yet, as far as I am able, I wish you long life, you who are the halved portion of my soul.

XX Ad Sigimundum CARISSIMO ET OMNI GRATIA PRAEDICANDO SIGIMVNDO FORTVNATVS SALVTEM Fixus amore tuo votis inhiantibus adstans quae tibi, care, salus, saepe requiro viros: quisque viator adest properans Aquilonis ab axe, quamvis festinum sollicitando moror; seu privata virum seu publica cura citabit, hinc, nisi perconter, nullus abibit iter. quam vegetus membris? quae te loca, care, coercent? ordine disposito cuncta requirit amor. si gravis arma tenens Italas terit hospes harenas aut quae Francus habet pagina pandat age. quid geris, oro, refer; tamen ut queo longius opto vivas pars animae dimidiata meae.