To the Citizens of Tours, on Bishop Gregory
Rejoice, happy people, holding your new prayers answered — give your thanks to God for the coming of your bishop. Let the bold youth celebrate this, let bent old age celebrate it; let every person proclaim this common good.
Look — the hope of your flock is coming, the father of the people, the lover of the city: let the sheep rejoice in the shepherd's gift. Let those who watched with anxious eyes, their prayers brought to a happy conclusion, look upon his arrival and keep the holy festival.
He has received the rights of the priesthood by rightful merit — Gregory by name [the name Gregorius is derived from the Greek verb gregorein, meaning "to be watchful"], pastor and shepherd of his flock in the city. Julian [the bishop of Tours just before Gregory] sends to Martin [Saint Martin of Tours, the great 4th-century bishop whose shrine at Tours was the most important in Gaul] his own successor — Martin's successor rules the worthy inheritance of his seat.
Gregory [Gregory of Tours, c.538-594, who would become the great historian of the Franks, author of the History of the Franks], most noble in the name that vigilance proclaims, comes with the merits of his ancestors to the seat of the blessed body. He has now received the heritage of his family's piety, one whose line has given many bishops to the church.
Come, kindly pastor, receive your holy flock — the flock hastens on swift foot to meet its shepherd. The sheep follow the lead they love; the pure fleece is not muddied by the wolf now. The crowd stands waiting for you with eager minds — now let the weeping of the waiting city cease. Carry the souls that love you under your holy wing; guide the flock of God to the pastures of life.
Come, beloved bishop; come, longed-for father. Let the city of Martin rejoice in you as its new light.
III
Ad cives Turonicos de Gregorio episcopo
Plaudite, felices populi, nova vota tenentes.
praesulis adventu reddite vota deo.
hoc puer exertus celebret, hoc curva senectus.
hoc commune bonum praedicet omnis homo.
spes gregis ecce venit, plebis pater, urbis amator:
munere pastoris laetificentur oves.
sollicitis oculis quem prospera vota petebant
venisse aspiciant, gaudia festa colant.
iura sacerdoti merito reverenter adeptus
nomine Gregorius, pastor in urbe gregis.
Martino proprium mittit Iulianus alumnum
et fratri praebet quod sibi dulce fuit.
quem patris Aegidii domino manus alma sacravit,
ut populum recreet, quem Radegundis amet.
huic Sigibercthus ovans favet et Brunichildis honori:
iudicio regis nobile culmen adest.
quo pascente greges per pascua sancta regantur
et Paradisiaco germine dona metant,
inmaculata pii qui servet ovilia Christi,
ne pateant rabidis dilaceranda lupis.
pervigili cura stabulum sine labe gubernet
commissumque gregem nulla rapina gravet.
muniat inclusos pretiosi velleris agnos
atque soporantes protegat ipse vigil.
florea divino pinguescat vinea cultu
et matura suo sit speciosa botro,
fructibus aeternis ut compleat horrea caeli,
unde animae vivo fonte fluenta bibant,
ne sitis excruciet: digito quam Lazarus udo
ignem ut leniret, tunc petebatur opem.
sed magis in gremio Abrahae vernante locandas
pastor oves placido ducat ad astra sinu,
ut bene commisso sese duplicante talento
introeat domini gaudia vera sui.
laetus agat sub clave Petri, per dogmata Pauli
inter sidereos luce micante choros,
fortis Athanasius, qua clarus Hilarius adstant,
dives Martinus, suavis et Ambrosius,
Gregorius radiat, sacer Augustinus inundat,
Basilius rutilat Caesariusque micat.
quorum gesta sequens et dicta fideliter implens
perpetuae vitae participatus ovet,
atque coronatus digna mercede laborum
obtineat miles regis in arce locum.
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To the Citizens of Tours, on Bishop Gregory
Rejoice, happy people, holding your new prayers answered — give your thanks to God for the coming of your bishop. Let the bold youth celebrate this, let bent old age celebrate it; let every person proclaim this common good.
Look — the hope of your flock is coming, the father of the people, the lover of the city: let the sheep rejoice in the shepherd's gift. Let those who watched with anxious eyes, their prayers brought to a happy conclusion, look upon his arrival and keep the holy festival.
He has received the rights of the priesthood by rightful merit — Gregory by name [the name Gregorius is derived from the Greek verb gregorein, meaning "to be watchful"], pastor and shepherd of his flock in the city. Julian [the bishop of Tours just before Gregory] sends to Martin [Saint Martin of Tours, the great 4th-century bishop whose shrine at Tours was the most important in Gaul] his own successor — Martin's successor rules the worthy inheritance of his seat.
Gregory [Gregory of Tours, c.538-594, who would become the great historian of the Franks, author of the History of the Franks], most noble in the name that vigilance proclaims, comes with the merits of his ancestors to the seat of the blessed body. He has now received the heritage of his family's piety, one whose line has given many bishops to the church.
Come, kindly pastor, receive your holy flock — the flock hastens on swift foot to meet its shepherd. The sheep follow the lead they love; the pure fleece is not muddied by the wolf now. The crowd stands waiting for you with eager minds — now let the weeping of the waiting city cease. Carry the souls that love you under your holy wing; guide the flock of God to the pastures of life.
Come, beloved bishop; come, longed-for father. Let the city of Martin rejoice in you as its new light.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.