Letter 25
|venantius fortunatus
XXV. Ad Paternum abbatem de codice emendato
To Abbot Paternus, on a Corrected Manuscript
I have obeyed your commands at last, venerable bishop, rightly governing the duty of your name [Paternus — "fatherly"] — you who adorn the altars of Christ with your own merits and give what pleases God both in prayer and in desire.
I beg you, please forgive me if I made some mistake — for this kind of error is accustomed to inhabit my hands.
May this page of greeting now sent bring your suppliant's request home; and when you read it again, please be willing to remember me.
XXV
Ad Paternum abbatem de codice emendato
Paruimus tandem iussis, venerande sacerdos,
nominis officium iure, Paterne, regens,
qui propriis meritis ornans altaria Christi
tam prece quam voto das placitura deo.
supplico, cede tamen, si quid me forte fefellit:
nam solet iste meas error habere manus.
obtineat supplex modo pagina missa salutis,
haec quoque cum relegis me memorare velis.
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XXV. Ad Paternum abbatem de codice emendato
To Abbot Paternus, on a Corrected Manuscript
I have obeyed your commands at last, venerable bishop, rightly governing the duty of your name [Paternus — "fatherly"] — you who adorn the altars of Christ with your own merits and give what pleases God both in prayer and in desire.
I beg you, please forgive me if I made some mistake — for this kind of error is accustomed to inhabit my hands.
May this page of greeting now sent bring your suppliant's request home; and when you read it again, please be willing to remember me.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.