Letter 10019: Ad Galactorium comitem

XIX To Count Galactorius You have come at last to what you were owed, my friend, having been a count by merit before the honor was granted. You were a man of Bordeaux and, while its defender, also its lover: you were held worthy, governing these two worthy charges. By the judgment of the king you had the strength to rise as a judge, and the royal tongue bestowed what your renown had earned. The powerful one himself owes it too, that you may still grow well, that he should furnish a commander's arms, the high rank that yet remains for you, so that, being wise, you may guard the borders of your homeland and its cities, and may acquire for him who grants you these rich rewards, so that the Cantabrian may fear, the roaming Basque may dread your arms and may abandon the help of the Pyrenean Alps. Or (as if I speak of great matters) the one holy Author does this: by the Lord the man both low and high is raised up. Justinian came from being a commander's recruit, and from a soldier became a prince, to say nothing of the rest. This too is reported within the Church, by Christ's granting: from some exorcist comes the pontifical honor. Martinas is held by merit a distinguished witness, who was holy before he administered the sacred rites. The Almighty does this, who founded the whole world, and you should reckon great only those things which He, the powerful one, Himself does. Be more joyful then, I pray, may you remain as ruler at the summit, hoping for greater things, a man shrewd in reason, flourishing under this king and seeking the eternal realms. May justice and devotion, accompanying you, shine forth: may the one protect your breast, the other your side. May lofty faith also, and faithful love, gleam bright, and may you be, O count, an ample love to Fortunatus.

XIX Ad Galactorium comitem Venisti tandem ad quod debebaris, amice, ante comes merito quam datus esset honor. Burdegalensis eras et, cum defensor, amator: dignus habebaris haec duo digna regens. iudicio regis valuisti crescere iudex, famaque quod meruit regia lingua dedit. debet et ipse potens, ut adhuc bene crescere possis, praestet ut arma ducis, qui tibi restat apex, ut patriae fines sapiens tuearis et urbes, adquiras ut ei qui dat opima tibi, Cantaber ut timeat, Vasco vagus arma pavescat atque Pyrenaeae deserat Alpis opem. aut (quasi grande loquor) facit hoc sacer unicus auctor: a domino erigitur parvus et altus homo. de tirone ducis venit, et de milite princeps, ut reliquos taceam, Iustinianus erat. hoc et in ecclesia Christo tribuente refertur: de exorcista aliquo pontificalis honor. egregius merito Martinas testis habetur, qui fuit ante sacer quam sacra iura daret. hoc agit omnipotens, totum qui condidit orbem, magnaque sola putes quae facit ipse potens. laetior ergo, precor, maneas in culmine rector, maiora sperans, vir ratione sagax, rege sub hoc florens aeternaque regna requirens iustitia ac pietas tecum comitata coruscet: illa tuum pectus protegat, ista latus. alta fides etiam, dilectio fida nitescat, et Fortunato sis, comes, amplus amor.