Letter 5

|venantius fortunatus

V. Item ad Felicem episcopum ex nomine suo
To Felix, Bishop of Nantes — an acrostic on his name [the initial letters spell FORTUNATUS]

Faithful guardian of the homeland, Felix — faithful by hope, by name, by heart —
Order of priests, at whose radiance it shines;
Restoring to these lands what public rights demanded,
Bringing to our times the joys of earlier days.
Voice of the nobility, light of your people, defender of the flock —
Against shipwreck you stand here as a harbor.
Apostolic champion, who overcoming the Breton cause [the difficult British raids on coastal Gaul]
Stand safe against adversity, routing armed men with the cross's hope;
Live on, glory of your homeland, light of the faith, patron of honor,
Splendor of bishops, love of our world and mine.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.