Letter 10008: Ad eosdem in laude

More Praise of Childebert and Brunhild If it were granted me to open the praises of kings to their full extent, it would not suffice for me to speak day and night. How this people hangs on their lords' love and holds its eyes fixed on yours! You — for whom you remain mirror and light and sweetness — you are at once their dear adornment and their honor. A special gift: a peaceful and peaceable kingdom, and in your condition the summit of piety in the world. Here parentage and homeland and protection gleam; here grace and rank; here the work of devotion. Here tranquil rest, here joyful hope for the faithful; after God, in you they hold the gifts of salvation. Here I join my prayers and joys with the people — may merciful Christ, amplifying them, make them grow. May the care of God keep you on your throne for long, and by heavenly gift may you hold your kingdoms for ages. May you acquire still more and govern what you possess, and piously sharing, may you cherish these riches. So that the harvest that blooms for you from your son and his seed — you may see it ripe, mother gleaming in honor; so that from your son and his children and ample grandchildren, another illustrious line may be given to the grandmother. From Childebert, in sweetness, bloom, and health, may you have fruit, mother — the people seeing their prayers answered. From your daughter and daughter-in-law may the Creator heap gifts upon you, and with holy merit may you stand pleasing to God. Here may I merit, returning, to give words of greeting, rejoicing myself, a small man, with my holy lords. May the kings' affairs be prosperous, may the joys of the peoples grow: let the region exult; may this honor stand long.

VIII Ad eosdem in laude Si praestaretur praeconia pandere regum, non mihi sufficeret nocte dieque loqui. qualiter hic populus dominorum pendet amore et vestris oculis lumina fixa tenet. vos, quibus et speculum et lux et dulcedo manetis, carum ornamentum his simul estis, honos. praecipuum donum placidum et placabile regnum, ac vestro in statu est culmen in orbe pium. hicque parentela et patria et tutela coruscat, hic decus atque gradus, hic pietatis opus. hic tranquilla quies, hic spes iucunda fideli, postque deum in vobis dona salutis habent. hic ego cum populo mea vota et gaudia iungo, quae pius amplificans crescere Christus agat. praestet cura dei vos longa in sede tueri, caelesti ac dono regna tenere diu. adquiratis adhuc nova vel possessa regatis ac pie participes has foveatis opes, ut tibi quae floret de nato et germine, messem maturam videas, mater honore micans; sic ut et ex genito genitisque nepotibus amplis altera progenies inclita detur avae. de Childeberctho dulcedine flore salute fructum habeas genetrix, plebs sua vota videns. de nata atque nuru cumulet tibi dona creator cumque pio merito stes placitura deo. hic ego promerear rediens dare verba salutis. congaudens dominis parvulus ipse piis: prospera sint regum, populorum gaudia crescant: exultet regio, stet honor iste diu.