Letter 10007: Ad Childebercthum regem et Brunichildem reginam, de natali sancti Martini

To King Childebert and Queen Brunhild, on the Birthday of Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours While I, a lowly servant, serve my lofty lords with my heart, going by boat through the fords of wandering rivers — look: there comes upon us the day of the venerable citizen Martin, eternal in his merits, perpetual in its light. He who now from Gaul miraculously occupies the whole world, and whose power goes where no foot can walk; who like a lofty lighthouse stretches his light even to the Indians — whom Spaniard, Moor, Persian, and Briton love. The East holds him, the West holds him, Africa and the North: wherever the world has places, there is Martin's glory; he who runs along the waves of the Ocean's edge: to be present to all, he circles the world's course. Rising through ashes, through harsh hairshirts, to heaven, he now stands jeweled who was poor in the world — where the glory of the patriarchs stands and the prophets shine, where stands the sacred company of the twice-twelve elder fathers; among the apostolic number in the gleaming senate, where Christ the King himself sits on his throne in love; where Peter excels with the key, Paul with doctrine, where palm and crown and faith shine in the rest; where the places of the martyrs bloom in verdant light and blood is written with honor in the book of life; where the confessors fill the jeweled palaces and the golden roofs hold eternal day. There too, after her tears, now stands rich Radegund, and perhaps she now holds Eugenia by the hand. Among these Martin, beautiful, wears his diadems, and a gleaming belt greens on his holy loins. He sings the glorious triumphs of Christ's death and claps with love for the rising God. This Martin whom you, kingdoms, honor as patron — you honor him on earth, he remembers you in heaven. May he sing for you among the angelic troops under the stars — you who carry his day before men with honor. May he read your names to the patriarchs and prophets — you for whom today the diptych sounds its ivory in the temple. May he render the apostolic chiefs and the remaining patrons — you who honor him here and give holy festivals. May he go to Christ as intercessor for you — you who give your prayers in the temples. May he bring these celebrations before the King of heaven, that from there the riches of salvation may be given to you, O kingdom. May the Lord appoint this Martin as your patron, that he who is now honored may honor you by his love. He who, dwelling on earth, gave very many miracles — may he, mighty still, distribute wonders to you. His blessed right hand was once seen jeweled — may that hand protect you and yours together. He who then merited to call corpses back to life — may he here too carry prayers for your salvation. He who drew venom from the flesh of a stricken man — may he himself forbid harmful poisons from you. He who made the serpent's course turn backward — may he himself here drive heavy misfortunes back again. He who saved the house of Lycontius from the plague — may this house flourish unharmed by his help. He whose rich cloak covered the trembling beggar — may the wing of this apostolic man cover you. He who restored the son to the widow-mother's breast — may he here give you children, mother and grandmother, that Childebert may remain with his new offspring, the king holding his kingdoms and drawing new ones — that you may see from your daughter, mother, what you most sweetly wish, and from your dear daughter-in-law what your prayers ask: so that here the happy faithful may hold their festivals, and you may be the summit of honor for the Lord's servants. So may it please you all the more, Brunhild, to have this patron, since the holy one guards house and lords in the world. So may he teach you, guide you, and lead you on the path, that joined to him in holy deeds you may shine.

VII Ad Childebercthum regem et Brunichildem reginam, de natali sancti Martini pontificis Toronici Praecelsis dominis famulor dum corde pusillus fluminibusque vagis per vada pergo rate: ecce supervenit venerandi in saecula civis Martini meritis luce perenne dies, qui modo de Gallis totum mire occupat orbem, et virtus pergit quo pede nemo valet. qui velut alta pharus lumen pertendit ad Indos, quem Hispanus Maurus Persa Britannus amat. hunc Oriens, Occasus habet, hunc Africa et Arctos: Martini decus est quo loca mundus habet; quique per Oceani discurrit marginis undas: omnibus ut praestet, circuit orbis iter. per cinerem ascendens, per dura cilicia caelos stat modo gemmatus, pauper in orbe prius, quo patriarcharum decus est radiantque prophetae, quo est sacra turba senum bis duodena patrum, inter apostolicum numerum rutilante senatu quo sedet ipse throno, rex sibi Christus amor, quo excellit cum clave Petrus, cum dogmate Paulus, fulget et in reliquis palma corona fides, quo loca martyribus vernanti lumine florent atque libro vitae est scriptus honore cruor, quo confessores gemmata palatia complent aeternumque tenent aurea tecta diem, stat quoque post lacrimas ubi nunc Radegundis opima, forsan et Eugeniam nunc tenet illa manu: hos inter Martinus habet diademata pulcher atque sacris lumbis fulgida zona viret, cantat et egregios Christi de morte triumphos atque resurgenti plaudit amore deo. hunc quoque Martinum colitis quem, regna, patronum, vos hunc in terris, vos memor ille polis: vos intra angelicas turmas canat ille sub astris, cui vos ante homines fertis honore diem. nomina vestra legat patriarchis atque prophetis cui hodie in templo diptychus edit ebur. reddat apostolicos proceres reliquosque patronos quem vos hic colitis vel pia festa datis. pergat et ad Christum pro vobis ille precator cui vos in templis vota precando datis. ante poli referat sua haec sollemnia regem, dentur ut hinc vobis. regna. salutis opes. deputet et dominus vestrum hunc esse patronum, ut modo qui colitur vos colat huius amor. qui[que] dedit habitans miracula plurima terris, distribuat vobis hic quoque mira potens. cuius gemmata est tunc dextera visa beati, vos simul et vestros protegat illa manus. qui tunc promeruit revocare cadavera vitae. hic quoque pro vestra vota salute ferat. qui percusso homini abstraxit de carne venenum. noxia de vobis ipse venena vetet. qui serpentis iter fecit revocare retrorsum, ipse graves casus hinc fuget ire retro. qui de peste domum salvam dedit esse Lyconti, haec domus incolumis floreat huius ope. cuius opima chlamys tremebundum texit egenum, eius apostolici vos tegat ala viri. qui viduae matri revocavit ad ubera natum, ipse tibi hic tribuat pignora, mater, ava, ut Childebercthus maneat cum prole novella, rex sua regna tenens et nova regna trahens, de genita ut videas genetrix. ut dulcius optas, deque nuru cara quod tua vota rogant: unde hic felices habeant sua festa fideles et domini famulis sitis honoris apex, quo tibi plus libeat, Brunichildis, habere patronum, quando domum et dominos .servat in orbe pius. sic quoque te erudiat, regat et sic tramite ducat, actibus ipsa piis ut sibi iuncta mices.