Letter 10013: Ad episcopos in commendatione peregrini
To Bishops — Recommending a Pilgrim
Highest bishops, way of faith, path of life — those whom the Almighty has given to be guides of his light, and the heavenly Lamb has assigned as guardians and good shepherds to his flock, that the sheep may be nourished:
Look — a traveler is here, making his way in ignorance of the road, from the borders of Italy, groaning in his foreign condition. Be the help of his exile, the way of the wandering, the standard of salvation — be fathers to him in honor for his return to his homeland. Cast the seed so that you may harvest a great reward, and the hundredfold harvest may return to you.
For humble Fortunatus may also be commended to the excellent ones, and through you to the Lord, holy heights, I beg.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
XIII
Ad episcopos in commendatione peregrini
Pontifices summi, fidei via, semita vitae,
quos dedit omnipotens luminis esse duces
custodesque gregi caelestis contulit agnus,
vos bene pastores, ut foveantur oves:
ecce viator adest peragens iter inscius illud
finibus Italicis, heu peregrina gemens.
exulis auxilium, errantis via, norma salutis,
ad reditum patriae sitis honore patres,
semina iactetis, mercedis ut ampla metatis
et redeat vobis centuplicata seges.
Fortunatus enim humilis commender opimis
ac per vos domino, culmina sancta. precor.
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