Letter 10017: Ad Sigoaldum comitem, quod pauperes pro rege paverit

To Count Sigoaldus, Who Fed the Poor for the King Glorious praises shine in glorious acts: let your praise, O Christ, sound while anyone does good. You, highest one, minister what pleases the human race — for unless you give, no one achieves prosperity. Perhaps the rich man is generous here, and sparing to the needy, so that the rich man redeems himself when the beggar is nourished. These are the sweet and holy exchanges of your kingdom: while the needy takes his food, he increases the wealth of the rich. The poor man, full in belly, fills the powerful man with reward: he takes small things on earth, and prepares great things in heaven. The beggar provides more for the rich than the rich for the beggar: he gives food that will perish, and takes the riches of God — giving a coin to the earth, about to send a talent to the stars, that from modest grains a lofty harvest may rise. Let them give, let them scatter, let them cast, let them entrust their seed to Christ; let them not hesitate to give here what remains and will return. Give: and Christ will be your treasurer in return. Offer to the poor whatever Christ has the power to repay, animated by this help, seeking the Thunderer's better gifts, with unhesitating faith that God will give these things. For the flourishing health of King Childebert — that he who was lofty in his grandfather may rise on the throne, that the young man may grow stronger through robust years: as his great-grandfather flourished, so may the grandson in the world. Therefore his faithful servant Sigoaldus in love gave to the poor, that the king's summit might stand. From here proceeding to the threshold of venerable Martin, while he himself asks the help of his lord, and while the king governing there labors for the region, he acts so that the saint may help him with prayers. And so, going forward to hold the sacred festivals, he himself offered food to the poor of Christ. The distributed provisions please among the troops of Christ, and the people whom God cherishes in his citadel are fed. A great crowd of blind men is warmed — for whom God is light and way in darkness. From here the lame man is fed, whom Christ guides in order, and who, dependent, fulfills the work of his Lord. Who could relate so many diseases to recall in order — all those whom his care, meeting them, cherishes equally? Whence, feeding thousands who gather in crowds, he expends so that the king may have and govern all. Fortunatus from here, Count Sigoaldus, greeting you, prays that with the king's help you may give even better things.

XVII Ad Sigoaldum comitem, quod pauperes pro rege paverit Actibus egregiis praeconia fulgida fulgent: laus tua, Christe, sonet, dum bona quisque gerit. unde genus hominum placeat tu, summe, ministra, nam nisi tu dederis, prospera nullus agit. divitibus largus forte hinc et parcus egenis, se ut redimat dives quando fovetur egens. dulciter ista tui pia sunt commercia regni: dum escam sumit egens, divitis auget opes. pauper ventre satur satiat mercede potentem: parva capit terris, praeparat ampla polis. divitibus plus praestat egens quam dives egenti: dat moritura cibi, sumit opima dei, dans terrae nummum missurus ad astra talentum, e modicis granis surgat ut alta seges. dent, iactent, spargant, commendent semina Christo, hic dare nec dubitent quae reditura manent. da: sic Christus erit tibi thesaurarius inde; praesta inopi quidquid reddere Christus habet, hac animatus ope exposcens meliora Tonantis nec dubitante fide quod deus ista dabit. pro Childebercthi regis florente salute, surgat ut in solio qui fuit altus avo, fiat ut hinc iuvenis validis robustior annis, ceu viguit proavus, sic sit in orbe nepos. ergo suus famulus Sigoaldus amore fidelis pauperibus tribuit, regis ut extet apex. hinc ad Martini venerandi limina pergens auxilium domini dum rogat ipse sui et dum illuc moderans rex pro regione laborat, ut precibus sanctus hunc iuvet, illud agit. denique procedens sacra festa tenere pauperibus Christi praebuit ipse dapem. dispensata placent alimenta per agmina Christi, pascitur et populus quem fovet arce deus. plurima caecorum refovetur turba virorum, est quibus in tenebra lux deus atque via. hinc alitur clodus quem dirigit ordine Christus quique sui domini pendulus implet opus. quis referat tantos memorare sub ordine morbos, occurrens pariter quos sua cura fovet? unde catervatim coeuntia milia pascens erogat ut habeat, rex quoque cuncta regat. te Fortunatus, comes , hinc , Sigoalde, salutans regis [ut] auxilio des meliora precor.