Letter 9007: Item ad Gregorium episcopum

VII Likewise, to Bishop Gregory [Gregory of Tours] With a joyful heart and a graceful pen you send letters at the prompting of your wish, composing a winning chain of greeting, dear Gregory: lately demanding that I should set in motion for myself new meters such as Sappho, that learned girl, fittingly sang, when she so recorded the loves of Dione [Venus]. Greek Pindar, and then my own Flaccus [Horace], softly composing in the Sapphic meter with a tuneful quill, the cithara-player sported with winning song. Why do you lay lyric melodies upon me, who with a hoarse voice can now scarcely manage even a whisper? My right hand does not know how to speak out upon the strings with a sweet thumb. As for me, even if these things had once been known to me through the teachable Muse of the learned, through so many seasons I had forgotten the kindly Muse: since it is a labor for the learned to compose such things, and no one enters into it by snatching, and meters scarcely hold together so as to resound for a few poets. It is no light matter for a sailor to cross over by ship, or to overcome the vast sea by swimming; scarcely under the stormy south wind do the sails make again for harbor. The road on which you bid me proceed is steep for us and deep; nevertheless I will go at your prayers; if I am less able to journey on foot, I am led by love. You have set before me, shepherd, by your will, a book stuffed with swelling buskin [the high tragic style], such as my poverty was scarcely able to touch with its understanding; it resists with kingly words one who is humble, refusing rich verses to a needy man, and unwilling to unlock to me, a Mopsus [a rustic herdsman], things learned for sophists; disputing much with varied vermilion [colorful rhetoric] whatever things are friendly to rhythms or to meters, how much the sweet epode adorns the Sapphic line or the trimeter. A great number of authors is reckoned, of those who say many things in tuneful measure, whose names, though I wish to record them in this meter, I break [cannot fit]. Especially I, who am now loosened from the art, and who speak this after twice ten years, the very thing which the Lesbian maiden [Sappho] wrote, plying the cithara to fame. Whoever wishes to know these things, let him first set himself to number the Libyan sands along the shore, before he can encircle all things in meters by careful method in a song. For I made delays, being myself delayed by many causes now on this side and on that, nor, having leisure, did I read in calm quiet what is sweet to a sophist. Know then, shepherd, that I have not yet run through the whole order, gathering up again the threads of the little book; but it is enough, believe me, it is enough for one who loves: the will alone. Therefore, set free in swift flight, go forth, little book, to the holy father, with my prayer accompanying you, and renewing our love toward him. It may be that I, sluggish, cannot go on foot where that winning face of his summons me: in our stead, I beg you, little book, render the greeting. May the father be mindful of his son, beseeching with sweet mouth Him who made us, the sea, and the stars, and may He, with pious prayers, keep safe in His heart one who duly worships Him; to the dear women bound to him in mind, whom they cherish, Agnes and Radegund: likewise, as they demand it in the place of daughters, deliver the greeting. Add Justina, praying equally, indeed commending the kinswoman who is his handmaid, and report how much honor the dear niece brings forth for him. These things, ready in prayer, in voice, in mind, I deliver to you, I, poor in art, scarcely fulfilling it, yet nonetheless overflowing with abundant love, dear Gregory. My lord and sweet one, pray for me and consider for yourself who has set me in the Gauls after so many years ... VIII To Bishop Baudoaldus Highest of priests, rich abundance of goodness, a height by your honor, a light by my love, venerable in sacred offices, nursling of piety, to be held in my heart by the pledge of friendship, flourishing in studies and faithful in the sacred law, ever working out the future gifts of your soul: therefore, father, beseeching you, I call to witness the earth, the seas, the stars, that with your sacred mouth you may be willing to be mindful that I am yours. IX To Bishop Sidonius Do not grieve at your misfortunes now made good, happy Mainz: the bishop has returned who would bring you aid. Lest, bereaved, you should lie weeping in heavy sorrow, that you had deserved by famine... [a line is incomplete here]; behold, father Sidonius stretches out his hand to the city, by whose renewing the place's ancient ruin perishes; preserving for the priesthood its rights by sacred governance, by whose zeal that very rank itself has grown. You bring forth continually, O church, teeming fruits, you whom a man joined in apostolic love governs; you receive heirs born of a heavenly seed, when, wedded to such a man, the wife is pleasing. With you as a watchful guardian, the wolf does not tear the lambs apart; with you pasturing the flock, no sheep perishes: more cautiously you lead them in safety through gentle pastures, lest poisons harm them, you prepare flowering fields. That you may be food for the people, you peacefully keep your fasts, and you fill others, drawing away from yourself that whereby you might be filled. You cover the naked with clothing, loosing the bonds of the captive, restoring free necks once the yoke is laid aside. You are a home for the exiles, and food for the hungry: happy is he to whom Christ thereby remains a debtor! Doctrine makes you upright, sacred providence makes you modest, and in eloquence you surpass honey by your speech. Renewing ancient temples, propped up with splendid adornment, you thereby implant in the peoples more love of God. That you may cherish the people, the rivers of the Rhine are fitting too: what does it matter to the lands, who supplies good things to the waters? Here, that the shrines gleam, that they stand restored by you, you live in eternal praise that flows for you. May you have these things through long years by the fruit of your merits, and may you bear off your prayers from the flock as it long increases.

VII Item ad Gregorium episcopum Corde iucundo, calamo venusto litteras mittis cupiente voto, blanda conscribens Serie salutis, care Gregori: exigens nuper nova me movere metra quae Sappho cecinit decenter, sic Dionaeos memorans amores, docta puella. Pindarus Graius, meus inde Flaccus Sapphico metro, inodulante plectro molliter pangens citharista, blando carmine lusit. cur mihi iniungis lyricos melodes, voce qui rauca modo vix susurro? eloqui chordis mea dextra nescit pollice dulci. qui vel haec olim mihi si fuissent nota prudentum docili Camena, per tot oblitus fueram benignam tempora Musam: cum labor doctis sit, ut ista pangant dogma nec quisquam rapienter intret et satis constent resonare paucis metra poetis. non leve est nautae rate transfretare vincere aut vastum pelagus natatu; vix procelloso repetunt sub austro carbasa portum. arduum nobis iter et profundum, quo iubes pergi: tamen ibo votis; si minus possum pedibus viare, ducor amore. praestitit, pastor, tua mi voluntas codicem farsum tumido cothurno quemque paupertas mea vix valebat tangere sensu. regiis verbis humili repugnat, divites versus inopi recusans et mihi Mopso reserare nolens docta sophistis; disputans multum Variante milto quaeque sunt rythmis vel amica metris, Sapphicum quantum trimetrumve adornet dulcis epodus. multus auctorum numerus habetur plura dicentum modulo canoro, quae volens isto memorare metro nomina frango. maxime qui nunc resolutus arte postque bis denos loquor istud annos, clara quod scripsit citharam terendo Lesbia virgo. scire qui vult haec, Libycas harenas ante per litus numerare tendat, cuncta quam metris ratione cauta carmine cingat. nam moras feci, remoratus ipse, pluribus causis modo hinc et inde, nec vacans legi placida quiete dulce sophistae. scito nam, pastor, nec adhuc cucurri ordinem totum religens libelli; sed satis, crede, est, satis est amanti sola voluntas. ergo laxatus celeri volatu ad patrem sacrum comitante voto et sibi nostrum renovans amorem perge, libelle. forte non possum piger ire gressu quo vocat blandus meus ille vultus: in vicem nostram, rogo te, libelle, redde salutem. sit memor fili pater, ore dulci hunc precans qui nos, mare et astra fecit, ac piis votis bene se colentem pectore servet; feminae carae, sibi mente nexae quem colunt, Agnes, Radegundis: idem, sicut exposcunt vice filiarum, solve salutem. adde Iustinam pariter precantem, nempe commendans famulam propinquam, et refer quantum sibi cara profert neptis honorem. haec tibi promptus prece voce mente solvo, vix implens, ego pauper arte, sed tamen largo refluens amore, care Gregori. Domine et dulcis ora pro me et tibi reputa qui me in Galliis posito post tot annos ... VIII Ad Baudoaldum episcopum Summe sacerdotum, bonitatis opima facultas, culmen honore tuo, lumen amore meo, officiis venerande sacris, pietatis alumne, pignore amicitiae corde tenende meae, florens in studiis et sacra in lege fidelis, semper agens animae dona futura tuae: te, pater, ergo precans terram freta sidera testor, ut velis ore sacro me memor esse tuum. IX Ad Sidonium episcopum Reddita ne doleas, felix Magantia, casus: antistes rediit qui tibi ferret opem. ne maerore gravi lacrimans orbata iaceres, te meruisse fame porrigit ecce manum genitor Sidonius urbi, quo renovante locum prisca ruina perit; iura sacerdoti sacro moderamine servans, per cuius studium crevit et ipse gradus. parturis assidue gravidos, ecclesia, fructus , quam vir apostolico iunctus amore regit; suscipit heredes caelesti germine natos, tali nupta viro quando marita placet. te vigili custode lupus non diripit agnos, te pascente gregem non ovis ulla perit: cautius in tuto per mitia pascua ducis, toxica ne noceant, florea rura paras. sis cibus ut populi, placide ieiunia servas et satias alios subtrahis unde tibi. nudos veste tegis captivo vincula solvens, deposito reddens libera colla iugo. exulibus domus es, [set] et esurientibus esca: felix cui Christus debitor inde manet! te doctrina probum, providentia sacra modestum facit eloquio vincere mella tuo. templa vetusta novans specioso fulta decore inseris hinc populis plus in amore deum. ut plebem foveas et Rheni congruis amnes: quid referat terris qui bona praebet aquis? hic quod fana micant, a te instaurata quod extant, vivis in aeterno laude fluente tibi. haec [habeas] longos meritorum fruge per annos et crescente diu de grege vota feras.