More to Martin, Bishop of Galicia
When the single Trinity had scattered its apostolic light and the world was receiving the new day with honor — that the seed-sowing light might drive out the shadows of the soul and the seeing mind might drink in clear faith — Rome, the first of cities, had her thorns torn out, cultivated by the plough of her noble bishop Peter [the Apostle Peter, first bishop of Rome].
Paul, penetrating to the Illyrian and Scythian frosts, melted the cold of the earth with the warmth of his doctrine. Matthew tunes the vaporous heat of the Ethiopians with his mouth and pours living streams into the burning field. The warlike Persians, subdued by the power of Thomas, become stronger for being defeated by the cross. Andrew claims the Scythians [traditionally the Apostle Andrew's mission field] by the voice of God. Philip opens up the Phrygians; Bartholomew marks out the Indians; Thaddaeus beats the Armenians with the sword of the word; Simon joins the Egyptians to the faith.
But your Galicia — as if the Lord were delaying for the special joy of a more beloved people — awaited its promised apostle: it merited to receive Martin. Into the frozen northwest he carried the fire of faith; in savage cold he kindled a summer in men's hearts.
Not by Peter's keys alone nor by Paul's sword of learning did he open and cut through — but combining both and adding yet more of his own — he made Galicia, which had lain under the darkness of Arian heresy [the Suevi had been Arian; Martin converted them c.550], bloom again in full Catholic light.
Thus the apostolic tradition runs complete: wherever God placed a man, there the faith was carried. And Martin, placed at the far western edge, brought light to the world's limits. All honor to him who filled the last shore with the first truth.
II
Item ad eundem
Lumen apostolicum cum spargeret una triades
exciperetque novum mundus honore diem,
ut tenebras animae lux sementiva fugaret
et claram hauriret mens oculata fidem,
redditur avulsis spinis urbs Romula princeps,
principis egregii vomere culta Petri;
Paulus ad Illyricos Scythicas penetrando pruinas
dogmate ferventi frigora solvit humi;
Mattheus Aethiopos adtemperat ore vapores
vivaque in exusto flumina fundit agro;
bellica Persidis Thomae subiecta vigori
fortior efficitur victa tiara deo;
lurida perspicuo datur India Bartholomaeo;
Andreae monitis extat Achaia seges.
ne morer adcelerans, Martini Gallia prisci
excellente fide luminis arma capit.
Martino servata novo , Gallicia, plaude :
sortis apostolicae vir tuus iste fuit.
qui virtute Petrum praebet tibi, dogmate Paulum,
hinc Iacobi tribuens, inde Iohannis opem.
Pannoniae, ut perhibent, veniens e parte Quiritis
est magis effectus Gallisueba salus.
in sulcum sterilem vitae plantaria sevit,
quo matura seges fertilitate placet.
Heliae meritis alter redit imber aristis,
munera roris habens, ne premat arva sitis:
neu iaceant stupidis arentia iugera sulcis.
influit inriguae fonte perennis aquae.
in ramis heresis fidei pia germina fixit,
quodque oleaster erat pinguis oliva viret.
quae stetit exilis viduatis frondibus arbor
iam paritura cibum floret honore novo.
inponenda focis sine spe ficulnea tristis
praeparat ad fructum stercore culta sinum.
palmitis uva tumens, avium laceranda rapinis,
hoc custode bono non perit una lacu.
rebus apostolicis direxit vinitor antes,
arva ligone movens, falce flagella premens.
ex agro domini labruscam excidit inertem
atque racemus adest quo fuit ante frutex.
de satione dei zezania vulsit amara,
surgit et aequalis laetificata seges.
Martino servata novo , Gallicia, plaude:
sortis apostolicae vir tuus iste fuit.
pastoris studio circum sua saepta recurrens,
ne lupus intret oves, servat amore greges;
subportante manu trahit ipse ad pabula Christi,
montibus instabilem ne voret error, ovem.
cuius vox refluens plebi de fonte salubri
ut bibat aure fidem, porrigit ore salem.
hosti damna quidem, domino pia vota paravit
et commissa sibi dupla talenta refert,
vocem euangelicam expectans operarius almus,
ut sibi dicatur: ῾ servule perge bone:
quando fidelis enim mihi supra pauca fuisti,
supra multa nimis constituendus eris.
ecce tui domini modo gaudia laetior intra
proque labore brevi magna parata tibi᾿.
auditurus eris vocem, Martine, beatam,
sed Fortunati sis memor ipse tui.
quaeso precare, pater, videam tua gaudia tecum:
sic placeas regi poste patente Petri.
cum Radegunde humili supplex, pie, postulat Agnes,
ut commendatae sint tibi, sancte pater :
et crescente choro per carmina sancta sororum
conplaceant domino, te duce mite, suo;
atque adscita sibi servetur ab urbe Genesi
regula Caesarii praesulis alma pii,
qui fuit antistes Arelas de sorte Lerini,
et mansit monachus pontificale decus.
sedulitate patris proprias tuearis alumnas,
ut tibi proficiat hae bona si qua gerant:
unde inlustre caput cingas diademate pulchro
et grates dignas pro grege pastor agas.
◆
More to Martin, Bishop of Galicia
When the single Trinity had scattered its apostolic light and the world was receiving the new day with honor — that the seed-sowing light might drive out the shadows of the soul and the seeing mind might drink in clear faith — Rome, the first of cities, had her thorns torn out, cultivated by the plough of her noble bishop Peter [the Apostle Peter, first bishop of Rome].
Paul, penetrating to the Illyrian and Scythian frosts, melted the cold of the earth with the warmth of his doctrine. Matthew tunes the vaporous heat of the Ethiopians with his mouth and pours living streams into the burning field. The warlike Persians, subdued by the power of Thomas, become stronger for being defeated by the cross. Andrew claims the Scythians [traditionally the Apostle Andrew's mission field] by the voice of God. Philip opens up the Phrygians; Bartholomew marks out the Indians; Thaddaeus beats the Armenians with the sword of the word; Simon joins the Egyptians to the faith.
But your Galicia — as if the Lord were delaying for the special joy of a more beloved people — awaited its promised apostle: it merited to receive Martin. Into the frozen northwest he carried the fire of faith; in savage cold he kindled a summer in men's hearts.
Not by Peter's keys alone nor by Paul's sword of learning did he open and cut through — but combining both and adding yet more of his own — he made Galicia, which had lain under the darkness of Arian heresy [the Suevi had been Arian; Martin converted them c.550], bloom again in full Catholic light.
Thus the apostolic tradition runs complete: wherever God placed a man, there the faith was carried. And Martin, placed at the far western edge, brought light to the world's limits. All honor to him who filled the last shore with the first truth.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.