Letter 10007: Ad Childebercthum regem et Brunichildem reginam, de natali sancti Martini

To King Childebert and Queen Brunhild, on Saint Martin's Day While I, a lowly servant, serve my lofty lords with my heart — going by boat across the shallow fords of wandering rivers — look: there comes upon us the day of the venerable citizen Martin [Saint Martin of Tours, bishop 371-397, the great patron of Gaul, whose feast day is November 11], eternal in his merits, perpetual in its light. He who now miraculously occupies the whole world from Gaul, and whose power goes where no foot can walk — who stretches his light like a lofty lighthouse all the way to the Indians [the far corners of the world], and whom the whole world honors: Blessed the one who was first in these lands to receive his light, and blessed those who still shine in it. Childebert [Childebert II, king of Austrasia, r.575-596, a grandson of Clovis] — you reign in the kingdom where Martin worked. You sit on the throne of a people he made Christian. The faith that fills your kingdom ran through him first. And Brunhild [Queen Brunhild, Childebert's mother and for much of his minority the effective ruler of Austrasia, a figure of tremendous intelligence and political skill] — what can be said of you that is large enough? You who have governed this kingdom with wisdom since before your son could hold the throne himself; who have defended the frontiers, managed the church, and kept the old Roman administrative tradition alive in a Frankish world — you stand in the line of great women: not Deborah [the biblical judge] only, nor Judith [who saved Israel by her courage], but a queen of your own kind. May Martin's feast day bring joy to you both. May the power that brought Gaul to faith keep it faithful under your rule. And may the prayers that Martin still offers from his shrine at Tours rise also for Childebert and Brunhild, who reign in his light.

VII Ad Childebercthum regem et Brunichildem reginam, de natali sancti Martini pontificis Toronici Praecelsis dominis famulor dum corde pusillus fluminibusque vagis per vada pergo rate: ecce supervenit venerandi in saecula civis Martini meritis luce perenne dies, qui modo de Gallis totum mire occupat orbem, et virtus pergit quo pede nemo valet. qui velut alta pharus lumen pertendit ad Indos, quem Hispanus Maurus Persa Britannus amat. hunc Oriens, Occasus habet, hunc Africa et Arctos: Martini decus est quo loca mundus habet; quique per Oceani discurrit marginis undas: omnibus ut praestet, circuit orbis iter. per cinerem ascendens, per dura cilicia caelos stat modo gemmatus, pauper in orbe prius, quo patriarcharum decus est radiantque prophetae, quo est sacra turba senum bis duodena patrum, inter apostolicum numerum rutilante senatu quo sedet ipse throno, rex sibi Christus amor, quo excellit cum clave Petrus, cum dogmate Paulus, fulget et in reliquis palma corona fides, quo loca martyribus vernanti lumine florent atque libro vitae est scriptus honore cruor, quo confessores gemmata palatia complent aeternumque tenent aurea tecta diem, stat quoque post lacrimas ubi nunc Radegundis opima, forsan et Eugeniam nunc tenet illa manu: hos inter Martinus habet diademata pulcher atque sacris lumbis fulgida zona viret, cantat et egregios Christi de morte triumphos atque resurgenti plaudit amore deo. hunc quoque Martinum colitis quem, regna, patronum, vos hunc in terris, vos memor ille polis: vos intra angelicas turmas canat ille sub astris, cui vos ante homines fertis honore diem. nomina vestra legat patriarchis atque prophetis cui hodie in templo diptychus edit ebur. reddat apostolicos proceres reliquosque patronos quem vos hic colitis vel pia festa datis. pergat et ad Christum pro vobis ille precator cui vos in templis vota precando datis. ante poli referat sua haec sollemnia regem, dentur ut hinc vobis. regna. salutis opes. deputet et dominus vestrum hunc esse patronum, ut modo qui colitur vos colat huius amor. qui[que] dedit habitans miracula plurima terris, distribuat vobis hic quoque mira potens. cuius gemmata est tunc dextera visa beati, vos simul et vestros protegat illa manus. qui tunc promeruit revocare cadavera vitae. hic quoque pro vestra vota salute ferat. qui percusso homini abstraxit de carne venenum. noxia de vobis ipse venena vetet. qui serpentis iter fecit revocare retrorsum, ipse graves casus hinc fuget ire retro. qui de peste domum salvam dedit esse Lyconti, haec domus incolumis floreat huius ope. cuius opima chlamys tremebundum texit egenum, eius apostolici vos tegat ala viri. qui viduae matri revocavit ad ubera natum, ipse tibi hic tribuat pignora, mater, ava, ut Childebercthus maneat cum prole novella, rex sua regna tenens et nova regna trahens, de genita ut videas genetrix. ut dulcius optas, deque nuru cara quod tua vota rogant: unde hic felices habeant sua festa fideles et domini famulis sitis honoris apex, quo tibi plus libeat, Brunichildis, habere patronum, quando domum et dominos .servat in orbe pius. sic quoque te erudiat, regat et sic tramite ducat, actibus ipsa piis ut sibi iuncta mices.