Letter 10017: Ad Sigoaldum comitem, quod pauperes pro rege paverit

To Count Sigoaldus, Who Fed the Poor for the King Glorious praises shine in glorious acts: let your praise sound, O Christ, while anyone does good. You, highest one, minister what pleases the human race — for unless you give, no one achieves prosperity. Some are generous to the rich and sparing to the poor — thus the rich man redeems himself when the poor man is nourished. These are the sweet and holy exchanges of your kingdom: while the needy takes his food, he feeds the one who gives. Sigoaldus — you have done this work: you have fed the poor in the name of the king. What you gave in his name returns to him in merit. The king who feeds through his official is the king who is fed by heaven. And what the court feeds the poor in time, the poor will repay in eternity — where the judge makes no distinction between what was done in a king's name and what was done in love.

XVII Ad Sigoaldum comitem, quod pauperes pro rege paverit Actibus egregiis praeconia fulgida fulgent: laus tua, Christe, sonet, dum bona quisque gerit. unde genus hominum placeat tu, summe, ministra, nam nisi tu dederis, prospera nullus agit. divitibus largus forte hinc et parcus egenis, se ut redimat dives quando fovetur egens. dulciter ista tui pia sunt commercia regni: dum escam sumit egens, divitis auget opes. pauper ventre satur satiat mercede potentem: parva capit terris, praeparat ampla polis. divitibus plus praestat egens quam dives egenti: dat moritura cibi, sumit opima dei, dans terrae nummum missurus ad astra talentum, e modicis granis surgat ut alta seges. dent, iactent, spargant, commendent semina Christo, hic dare nec dubitent quae reditura manent. da: sic Christus erit tibi thesaurarius inde; praesta inopi quidquid reddere Christus habet, hac animatus ope exposcens meliora Tonantis nec dubitante fide quod deus ista dabit. pro Childebercthi regis florente salute, surgat ut in solio qui fuit altus avo, fiat ut hinc iuvenis validis robustior annis, ceu viguit proavus, sic sit in orbe nepos. ergo suus famulus Sigoaldus amore fidelis pauperibus tribuit, regis ut extet apex. hinc ad Martini venerandi limina pergens auxilium domini dum rogat ipse sui et dum illuc moderans rex pro regione laborat, ut precibus sanctus hunc iuvet, illud agit. denique procedens sacra festa tenere pauperibus Christi praebuit ipse dapem. dispensata placent alimenta per agmina Christi, pascitur et populus quem fovet arce deus. plurima caecorum refovetur turba virorum, est quibus in tenebra lux deus atque via. hinc alitur clodus quem dirigit ordine Christus quique sui domini pendulus implet opus. quis referat tantos memorare sub ordine morbos, occurrens pariter quos sua cura fovet? unde catervatim coeuntia milia pascens erogat ut habeat, rex quoque cuncta regat. te Fortunatus, comes , hinc , Sigoalde, salutans regis [ut] auxilio des meliora precor.