Letter 9007: Item ad Gregorium episcopum

Sapphic Poem to Gregory With a joyful heart and a charming pen, you write letters with eager desire, composing a pleasant series of greetings, dear Gregory: Recently demanding that I produce the new meters that Sappho sang with elegance, thus recalling the Dionean loves — the learned girl. Greek Pindar, and then my own Horace, in Sapphic meter, with a modulating plectrum, gently composing as a citharist — he played in charming song. Why do you impose lyric melodies on me, I who can barely murmur in a hoarse voice? My right hand does not know how to speak on strings with a sweet thumb. Even if these things had once been known to me through the docile Muse of the learned — through so many years I have forgotten the kindly Muse: Since it is labor for the learned to compose such things, and no one enters the doctrine rashly, and it is well known that the meters resound for only a few poets. It is no light thing for a sailor to cross the sea by boat, or to conquer the vast deep by swimming; scarcely under the stormy south wind do the sails reach the harbor. The road is steep and deep for us, where you command me to go — yet I will go in prayer; if I cannot travel the road on foot, I am led by love. Your will, shepherd, has given me a book stuffed with swollen tragic style, which my poverty could scarcely touch with understanding. It resists the humble with regal words, refusing rich verses to the poor, and refusing to unlock for me, a Mopsus, the learning of sophists; Disputing much with varying topics, the things friendly to rhythms or to meters, how much a sweet epode adorns the Sapphic or the trimeter. The number of authorities cited is great, of those saying many things in melodious measure — and wishing to recall their names in this meter, I break them. Especially since I, now released from the art, speak of this after twenty years — what the Lesbian virgin wrote while grinding on the lyre. Whoever wants to know these things — let him first try to number the Libyan sands along the shore before he encircles all things in verse with cautious reasoning in meter. For I have made delays, myself delayed by many causes now from here and there, and I have not been free to read in peaceful quiet the sweet sophist. Know, shepherd, that I have not yet run through the whole order of the little book, reviewing it; but enough, believe me, it is enough for one who loves — the will alone suffices. Therefore, released in swift flight, go, little book, to the sacred father with the prayer accompanying you, renewing our love for him. Perhaps I, sluggish, cannot go on foot where that gentle face of mine calls me: in my place, I ask you, little book, render my greeting. May the father be mindful of his son, praying with sweet mouth to him who made us, the sea, and the stars, and with holy prayers may he preserve in his heart the one who faithfully worships him. To the dear women bound to him in mind, whom Agnes and Radegund honor: likewise — as they ask in the role of daughters — render greetings. Add Justina, equally praying, certainly commending her, the nearby servant, and report how much honor her dear granddaughter offers. These things I gladly pay in prayer, voice, and mind — I, poor in art, scarcely fulfilling them, but flowing back in generous love, dear Gregory. My lord, and sweet one, pray for me and count as your own the one whom you placed in Gaul after so many years...

VII Item ad Gregorium episcopum Corde iucundo, calamo venusto litteras mittis cupiente voto, blanda conscribens Serie salutis, care Gregori: exigens nuper nova me movere metra quae Sappho cecinit decenter, sic Dionaeos memorans amores, docta puella. Pindarus Graius, meus inde Flaccus Sapphico metro, inodulante plectro molliter pangens citharista, blando carmine lusit. cur mihi iniungis lyricos melodes, voce qui rauca modo vix susurro? eloqui chordis mea dextra nescit pollice dulci. qui vel haec olim mihi si fuissent nota prudentum docili Camena, per tot oblitus fueram benignam tempora Musam: cum labor doctis sit, ut ista pangant dogma nec quisquam rapienter intret et satis constent resonare paucis metra poetis. non leve est nautae rate transfretare vincere aut vastum pelagus natatu; vix procelloso repetunt sub austro carbasa portum. arduum nobis iter et profundum, quo iubes pergi: tamen ibo votis; si minus possum pedibus viare, ducor amore. praestitit, pastor, tua mi voluntas codicem farsum tumido cothurno quemque paupertas mea vix valebat tangere sensu. regiis verbis humili repugnat, divites versus inopi recusans et mihi Mopso reserare nolens docta sophistis; disputans multum Variante milto quaeque sunt rythmis vel amica metris, Sapphicum quantum trimetrumve adornet dulcis epodus. multus auctorum numerus habetur plura dicentum modulo canoro, quae volens isto memorare metro nomina frango. maxime qui nunc resolutus arte postque bis denos loquor istud annos, clara quod scripsit citharam terendo Lesbia virgo. scire qui vult haec, Libycas harenas ante per litus numerare tendat, cuncta quam metris ratione cauta carmine cingat. nam moras feci, remoratus ipse, pluribus causis modo hinc et inde, nec vacans legi placida quiete dulce sophistae. scito nam, pastor, nec adhuc cucurri ordinem totum religens libelli; sed satis, crede, est, satis est amanti sola voluntas. ergo laxatus celeri volatu ad patrem sacrum comitante voto et sibi nostrum renovans amorem perge, libelle. forte non possum piger ire gressu quo vocat blandus meus ille vultus: in vicem nostram, rogo te, libelle, redde salutem. sit memor fili pater, ore dulci hunc precans qui nos, mare et astra fecit, ac piis votis bene se colentem pectore servet; feminae carae, sibi mente nexae quem colunt, Agnes, Radegundis: idem, sicut exposcunt vice filiarum, solve salutem. adde Iustinam pariter precantem, nempe commendans famulam propinquam, et refer quantum sibi cara profert neptis honorem. haec tibi promptus prece voce mente solvo, vix implens, ego pauper arte, sed tamen largo refluens amore, care Gregori. Domine et dulcis ora pro me et tibi reputa qui me in Galliis posito post tot annos ... VIII Ad Baudoaldum episcopum Summe sacerdotum, bonitatis opima facultas, culmen honore tuo, lumen amore meo, officiis venerande sacris, pietatis alumne, pignore amicitiae corde tenende meae, florens in studiis et sacra in lege fidelis, semper agens animae dona futura tuae: te, pater, ergo precans terram freta sidera testor, ut velis ore sacro me memor esse tuum. IX Ad Sidonium episcopum Reddita ne doleas, felix Magantia, casus: antistes rediit qui tibi ferret opem. ne maerore gravi lacrimans orbata iaceres, te meruisse fame porrigit ecce manum genitor Sidonius urbi, quo renovante locum prisca ruina perit; iura sacerdoti sacro moderamine servans, per cuius studium crevit et ipse gradus. parturis assidue gravidos, ecclesia, fructus , quam vir apostolico iunctus amore regit; suscipit heredes caelesti germine natos, tali nupta viro quando marita placet. te vigili custode lupus non diripit agnos, te pascente gregem non ovis ulla perit: cautius in tuto per mitia pascua ducis, toxica ne noceant, florea rura paras. sis cibus ut populi, placide ieiunia servas et satias alios subtrahis unde tibi. nudos veste tegis captivo vincula solvens, deposito reddens libera colla iugo. exulibus domus es, [set] et esurientibus esca: felix cui Christus debitor inde manet! te doctrina probum, providentia sacra modestum facit eloquio vincere mella tuo. templa vetusta novans specioso fulta decore inseris hinc populis plus in amore deum. ut plebem foveas et Rheni congruis amnes: quid referat terris qui bona praebet aquis? hic quod fana micant, a te instaurata quod extant, vivis in aeterno laude fluente tibi. haec [habeas] longos meritorum fruge per annos et crescente diu de grege vota feras.