Letter 5001: Ad Martinum episcopum Galliciae

To Martin, Bishop of Galicia To my holy and apostolic lord — first centurion, after the general Paul, in the army of Christ the King — to Bishop Martin — Fortunatus sends greetings. A reviving breeze of your happy reputation reached our ears on a gentle gust, and gliding with a soft caress, crackling with the whisper of a paradisiacal garden laden with fragrance, it filled our very nostrils with its breathing perfume, announcing in perfectly modulated tones that just as God planted Eden in the east at the beginning, so at the end of the age he had planted another Elysium in the west — in which a stronger Adam, that is, the warrior Martin, an unconquerable settler, richer in the faith of Christ, might live while the commandment was forever kept. To this paradise the Lord would not need to come seeking him in the afternoon breeze; rather the man, having himself become a paradise, would hold fast by anchoring faith the footsteps of the blessed Redeemer walking through him amid the emerald avenues of his transparent heart and the shading clusters of his flourishing works — not that the fig leaf should cover him, but that fruit should adorn him. Therefore not even for a moment would the presence of the holy Creator slip away, since the creature would not be caught in fault even in the smallest particle; but through those blessings, enticed as by the delights of a fragrant grove, the Lord would possess the free child, and the free child would possess the Lord — the chain of linked sweetness neither driving one from the other's approach nor cheating the other of the embrace. With eager souls, then, my marrow burning, my eyes uplifted, my hands stretched out — more fervent than thirsty — I was awaiting the great things of your letter: at least to be moistened like thirsty fleece by a small cloud, aware of my longing, prayer outrunning prayer, hoping for some sure letter across the shifting waves — wishing that your conversation would water my dryness like a shower and yet not wash away the page. By the plan of divine providence, however, through your son, the venerable Domitius, I received with growing joy a letter filled with holy love which — as you know, compacted by art; as I felt, composed of flowers — served itself to me as a drink rather than a reading, almost intoxicating a poor man through its rich perfumed address at nearly every letter-stroke, and, so to speak, filling me first with the very aroma as though pouring a noble Falernian wine. It was heaped with a double fruit of expression, seasoned with salt, drenched with honey, mingled with charm and vigor. And while one part enticed and another part daunted this rustic guest unused to foreign cups — placed in a dilemma, unable to sustain the greatness yet drinking it — I yield to the sweetness since I cannot match the power. With this flowing gift, I confess, a fountain of the cup came to me through the grey sea; there came, best of fathers, across the salt sea, what would quench my thirst; there came a pure sweetness as the Oceanic waters mingled in the wave — a liquor whose taste reached not just the throat but soothed the innermost parts: for by such a drink you nourish not the flesh but the spirit. And so, to speak truly, this grape of the vine-branch extends our thirst even as it pours. This unexpected fruit, falling down through the deep — the first fruit that came to me from the waves: that ship perhaps brought alum to the rest; to me, certainly, it brought the light of your conversation. In such commerce, so different in its market, what to others comes at a price comes to us unbought: from there thirst is quenched, from here the soul is purified; that stains, this makes white. What shall I say of periods, epichiremes, enthymemes, and perplexing syllogisms? What squared-off Vergil labors at, what rounded Cicero works at — what is profound in them is here abundant; what is most difficult there is here ready at hand. I discovered in a few points that wherever you wish, you spread the tendrils of a leafy clause, and whatever pleases you, you cut back with the sickle of a sharp comma — with the careful vintner's moderating skill, so that no luxuriant shadow sprouts the distaste of excess, and the extended shoot pleases with its fruit. As for your report that, after the Stoic and Peripatetic judgment, I have been enrolled as a novice in theology and theory — I recognize what love does, since it adorns even the undeserving. But why, good father, do you reflect onto me what is yours, and publicly bring forth about me what privately belongs to you? Since the first things are well known to you and the second are your household familiars: for Plato, Aristotle, Chrysippus, and Pittacus are hardly known to me even by reputation, nor are Hilary, Gregory, Ambrose, and Augustine known to me even as a reader — or if they were known by sight, only while I was dozing. And I have truly perceived — since the abundance of the arts has come together in you as in a common inn — that those things cling to you more firmly which are nearer to heaven, because you take pleasure not so much in the pomp of doctrines as in the rule of virtues. Whence beyond doubt you have become a dependent of the heavenly Cleantheses. But why do I assert these things, sweetest father and true disciple of Christ — you who, like the Samaritan, mixing wine and oil for the sick man lying down, have offered me a gentle poultice? You will receive the reward of your holy work when he comes who promised to repay the innkeeper the money he owed. He guards in you, highest bishop, what he has bestowed, knowing that it pleases his eyes most worthily — because in you condescension itself conquers dignity. Therefore, prostrating myself and placing the soles of your most sacred, most sincere, and most merciful apostolic crown upon my breast, and making my subject limbs a footstool for your feet, I commend myself to your piety with eager longing and beseech you in the Lord: that coming as a kind of second mediator between the sinner and the Redeemer of the world, having smoothed the offense, you may, worthy father, reconcile the reprobate after his guilt. And since I have received from your letter a pledge of confidence, I commend to your piety your daughters and servants Agnes and Radegund together with myself — at the devoted request of their desire — humbly praying that you approach as so faithful an intercessor speaking on our behalf before the Lord Martin, as he himself was once prompt before the Lord — he who would not release the lifeless corpse until death released the dead man. (For it follows logically that through you the hope of patronage returns to us from there, since a part of the patron has proceeded from here to you.) Praying before the Lord, holy father, that — received in your grace, or commended among those who are yours — I may feel myself governed by you as teacher, loved as by a father, advancing as under a leader, fortified as under a guardian. I humbly commend to your piety the bearer of this letter, your servant Bonosus — truly good to me — approaching as a suppliant and not releasing your feet before you promise, sweet father. With whatever prayer I can muster, I beg: when he arrives safely before you through the intercession of the saints, fulfilling in person the prayers of one who is absent, may I first obtain this — that whoever returns here soonest may sprinkle me with the festive joys of your celebrated word. Noble heir with the name and merits of Martin, for Fortunatus, I beg, pray to God.

I Ad Martinum episcopum Galliciae DOMINO SANCTO ATQVE APOSTOLICO ET IN CHRISTI REGIS EXERCITV POST DVCEM PAVLVM PRIMIPILO MARTINO EPISCOPO FORTVNATVS. Felici propulsa flatu recreabilis opinionis vestrae nostras aures aura demulsit et molli blandita lapsu, sibilo crepitante paradisiaci horti odoramenta saburrans, suavium florum nuntia nares ipsas aromate respirante suffivit, admodulanter indicans, sicut ad orientem Eden a principio, ita decurso saeculo alterum ad occasum deus plantasset Elysium, in quo fortior Adam, id est Martius Martinus, inexpugnabilis accola, Christi fide ditior viveret perpetuo servante mandato; quem non tam ad auram dominus revisendum post meridiem per- geret, quam ipse vir factus paradisus inter perspicui cordis zmaragdinas plateas et vernantis operis inumbrantes corymbos (non quod ficus tegeret, sed fructus ornaret) inambulantis in se beati redemptoris adhaesura vestigia coherceret fide figente: unde nec ad momentum pii conditoris laberetur praesentia quia nec in atomo plasma nota- retur in culpa, sed per illas beatitudines velut odori nemoris inlectus deliciis et ver- nulam dominus et verna dominum possideret; utpote cum, alternante sibi concatenati dulcedine, nec iste fugaretur admissu nec ille fraudaretur amplexu. (2) Hinc in- hiantibus animis, medullis aestuantibus, oculis suspectis, palmis extensis, fervens magis quam sitiens praestolabar epistolae vestrae magna, si vel parva nubecula madidanti vellere bibulus umectarer, desiderii conscius, vota voto praeveniens, si quid de vobis certissime vel per undas mobiles fixa mihi littera nuntiaret, ita ut ariditatem meam conloquii vestri temperaturus imber sic inrigaret, paginam ne de- leret. (3) Quo tamen providentiae divinae consulto per filium vestrum, venerandum mihi Domitium, sancta caritate refertam suscepi crescens epistolam quae, ut vos nostis arte conpacta, ut ego sensi flore confecta, bibentem se potius quam legentem fere per singulos apices pigmentato affamine inebriatura dives pauperem propinavit et, ut ita dixerim, quasi Falerni nobilis ipso me prius odore pincernante supplevit, gemina dicendi fruge congesta, condita sale, melle perfusa, permixta blanditie cum vigore, me[que] peregrini poculi quantum desuetum plus avidum dum pars inlicet, pars deterret (in ancipiti posito conviva rusticulo nec sustinente magna bibente) consentio dulcedini qui cedo virtuti. (4) Hoc igitur fluente dono venit ad me, fateor, per cana ponti fons poculi, venit, pater optime, per salsum mare quod sitim restingueret, venit Oceanitide miscente [e] fluctu mera dulcedo, cuius liquor non fauce tenus saperet, sed arcana mulceret: quippe quod non carnem foveris tali potu, sed spiritum; unde, ut vere prosequar, huius uva palmitis nobis sitim prorogat, dum propinat. (5) Hac inopina fruge delapsa per gurgitem primus iste mihimet venit fructus e fluctibus: detulit puppis illa reliquis forsan alumen, mihi vestri conloquii certe lumen. commercio tali discrepante mercatu, quod aliis illud ad pretium, hoc nobis inemptum: illinc restinguitur, hinc purgatur; illud inficit, hinc nivescit. (6) Quid loquar de perihodis epichirematibus enthymemis syllogismisque perplexis? quo laborat quadrus Maro, quo rotundus Cicero, quod apud illos est profundum, hic profluum, quod illic difficillimum, hic in promptu: comperi paucis punctis quoniam quo volueris colae pampinosae diffundis propagines, quod vero libuerit acuti commatis falce succidis, ut cauti vini- toris studio moderante nec in hoc luxurians germinet umbra fastidium et illuc tensa placeat propago cum fructu. (7) Nam quod refertis, in litteris post Stoicam Peripateticamque censuram me theologiae ac theoriae tirocinio mancipatum, agnosco quid amor faciat, cum et non merentes exornat. cur tamen, bone pater, in me reflectis quod tuum est ac de me publice profers quod tibi privatum est? cum prima sint vobis nota et secunda domestica: nam Plato Aristoteles Chrysippus vel Pittacus cum mihi vix opinione noti sint nec legenti Hilarius Gregorius Ambrosius Augustinusque vel, si visione noti fierent, dormitanti; et ego vere senserim (eo quod copiae artium apud vos velut in commune diversorium convenerunt) ipsa vobis tenacius quae sunt caelo propinquius, quia non oblectamini tam pompa dogmatum quam norma virtutum. unde procul dubio caelestium clientela factus es Cleantharum. (8) Sed quid ego haec autumo, dulcissime pater et vere Christi discipule, qui. ad instar Samaritani vinum miscens et oleum aegroto decubanti, blandum mihi malagma porrexisti, mer- cedem pii operis relaturus cum venerit qui se stabulario aera pensare debiti repromisit, custodiens in vobis, pontifex summe, quod contulit, sciens suis oculis hoc placere dignissime, quod ipsam apud te vincit dignatio dignitatem. (9) Quapropter sacra- tissimae, sincerissimae atque clementissimae apostolicae coronae vestrae plantas supra meum pectus stratus inponens et ultimus ego membra subdita vel pedum vestrorum recubatorium faciens ita vestrae pietati avido desiderio me commendans deposco in domino, ut inter peccatorem et redemptorem mundi alter quodammodo mediator acce- dens levigato delicto, probe pater, reprobum reconcilies post reatum. (10) Et quia vestris litteris fiduciae pignus accepi, pietati vestrae filias et famulas Agnem et Rade- gundem una mecum devote earum desiderio mandato commendo, communiter suppli- cantes, ut apud domnum Martinum pro nobis verba faciens tam fidus intercessor accedas qualis apud dominum ipse tunc promptus extitit. cum cadaver exanimum non prius dimitteret quam mors mortuum dimisisset (est enim ratio consequens, ut per vos illinc nobis redeat spes patrocinii, quia ad vos hinc prodiit pars patroni) ; coram domino supplicans, pie pater, ut in gratia vestra receptus vel apud eos, qui vestri sunt, commendatus sentiam tam oratione quam carmine te doctore regi, genitore diligi, duce progredi, tutore muniri. (11) Praesentium vero portitorem famulum vestrum vere mihi bonum Bonosum pietati vestrae supplex accedens nec prius relaxans pedes. quam dulcis pater promiseris, qua valeo prece Supplex commendo: qui interventu sanctorum cum vobis sospes occurrerit absentis vota praesens exsolvens, illud prius obtineam, ut quis quam primum huc commeat, me celebris verbi vestri gaudia festiva respergant. Martini meritis cum nomine nobilis heres, pro Fortunato, quaeso, precare deum.