Letter 7017: Ad Gunduarium
XVII
To Gunduarius
If a lover's affection could be revealed in words, our page would give you more poems. But since I cannot speak aloud what I shut up within my breast, let it suffice that, out of many things, even a few be given now. For if you should consider the wish of the one who sings through these words, I, who bring you small things, would have preferred to bring greater. We behold your whole disposition poured out in sweetness, by which, without any cloud of deceit, your serene heart shines forth. Watering us from a pure spring, nectar overflows from your throat, whose words I gladly drink with breast and heart. Provident, capable, watchful, temperate, honorable, your mind ever holds the seasoning of the soul. You govern the lofty patrimonies of the distinguished queen: she who entrusted them to you has felt your faithfulness everywhere. No one could be dearer to the devout queen than he who, for such merits, would himself be such a man. Gunduarius, may you flourish, sure to give pleasure, through a long age, abiding everlasting in light together with your own spouse.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
XVII
Ad Gunduarium
Si prodi verbis affectus posset amantis,
carmina plura tibi pagina nostra daret.
sed quod ab ore loqui nequeo quod pectore claudo,
sit satis ex multis vel modo pauca dari.
nam si respicias votum per verba canentis,
malueram maius qui tibi parva fero.
aspicimus sensum totum in dulcedine fusum.
quo sine nube doli corda serena micant.
puro fonte rigans nectar de fauce redundat,
cuius verba libens pectore corde bibo.
providus exertus vigilans moderatus honestus,
condimentum animae mens tua semper habet,
reginae egregiae patrimonia celsa gubernas:
quae tibi conmisit sensit ubique fidem.
nemo piae poterat reginae carior esse,
quam qui pro meritis talis et ipse foret.
Gunduari, longo vigeas placiturus in aevo,
coniuge cum propria luce perenne manens.
Revision history
- 2026-05-27v2.2.34-import
Initial corpus import from modern venantius fortunatus retranslated v1.
Fields: letter text, metadata, source links. Source: https://data.mgh.de/openmgh/bsb00000790.zip
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