VIII
Likewise to the same lady, for flowers sent to her.
O mighty queen, to whom gold and purple are worthless, one who loves you venerates you with small flowers. And though it is no great matter, still there is color itself amid the grasses: purple in the violets, a golden form in the crocus. Rich in the love of God, you have shunned the rewards of the world: despising those, you will instead keep hold of these riches. Receive these gifts of various flowers, sent to you, toward whom the blessed life rather calls you. You who now torment yourself, to be restored in the light to come, behold from this what manner of field will hold you fast. By the frail boughs, fragrant ones, which we now offer, weigh from this how great a scent will warm you again. To Him to whom these things are owed I pray that, when you have come yonder, His gentle right hand may draw me too along by your merits. Although the grace of the flowers of paradise awaits you, these flowers here long now to see you again outdoors. And although they seem to please by their surpassing fragrance, they adorn your own tresses more when you return.
VIII
Item ad eandem pro floribus transmissis
O regina potens, aurum cui et purpura vile est,
floribus ex parvis te veneratur amans.
et si non res est, color est tamen ipsa per herbas:
purpura per violas, aurea forma crocus.
dives amore dei vitasti praemia mundi:
illas contemnens has retinebis opes.
suscipe missa tibi variorum munera florum,
ad quos te potius vita beata vocat.
quae modo te crucias, recreanda in luce futura,
aspicis hinc qualis te retinebit ager.
per ramos fragiles quos nunc praebemus olentes
perpende hinc quantus te refovebit odor.
haec cui debentur precor ut, cum veneris illuc,
meque tuis meritis dextera blanda trahat.
quamvis te expectet paradisi gratia florum,
isti vos cupiunt iam revidere foris.
et licet egregio videantur odore placere,
plus ornant proprias te redeunte comas.
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VIII
Likewise to the same lady, for flowers sent to her.
O mighty queen, to whom gold and purple are worthless, one who loves you venerates you with small flowers. And though it is no great matter, still there is color itself amid the grasses: purple in the violets, a golden form in the crocus. Rich in the love of God, you have shunned the rewards of the world: despising those, you will instead keep hold of these riches. Receive these gifts of various flowers, sent to you, toward whom the blessed life rather calls you. You who now torment yourself, to be restored in the light to come, behold from this what manner of field will hold you fast. By the frail boughs, fragrant ones, which we now offer, weigh from this how great a scent will warm you again. To Him to whom these things are owed I pray that, when you have come yonder, His gentle right hand may draw me too along by your merits. Although the grace of the flowers of paradise awaits you, these flowers here long now to see you again outdoors. And although they seem to please by their surpassing fragrance, they adorn your own tresses more when you return.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
VIII Item ad eandem pro floribus transmissis O regina potens, aurum cui et purpura vile est, floribus ex parvis te veneratur amans. et si non res est, color est tamen ipsa per herbas: purpura per violas, aurea forma crocus. dives amore dei vitasti praemia mundi: illas contemnens has retinebis opes. suscipe missa tibi variorum munera florum, ad quos te potius vita beata vocat. quae modo te crucias, recreanda in luce futura, aspicis hinc qualis te retinebit ager. per ramos fragiles quos nunc praebemus olentes perpende hinc quantus te refovebit odor. haec cui debentur precor ut, cum veneris illuc, meque tuis meritis dextera blanda trahat. quamvis te expectet paradisi gratia florum, isti vos cupiunt iam revidere foris. et licet egregio videantur odore placere, plus ornant proprias te redeunte comas.