Letter 6008: We came to Cantum on a happy road,

From: Venantius Fortunatus, poet, in Tours/Poitiers To: Aregius, Bishop, at Cantumblandum villa Date: ~575 AD Context: A playful verse letter describing a pleasant visit to a country villa and being overwhelmed by beautiful apples — Fortunatus was famous for his love of food and friendship. We came to Cantum on a happy road, and I rejoice to have found the father Aregius there. What my gluttonous appetite demands — my stomach pulling me down — golden apples met my eyes! From every direction apples rushed together in varied colors, as if I had deserved painted dishes. Scarcely did I touch them with my fingers, and already they were perfect: whatever I grasped tasted as I had hoped. There were pale ones and red ones, gold ones and the kind that blush as if embarrassed by their own sweetness. There were early apples and late apples and apples that seemed to have no right being that beautiful. I am not ashamed to tell you that a grown man can be stopped in his tracks by a good orchard. There are pleasures in life that the philosophers call trivial but which God clearly intended, given how well He made them. Come again next year, Aregius. I shall try to be there too. And whatever apples your villa produces, know that Fortunatus will think of you every autumn, ungratefully wishing he were somewhere else, before returning, gratefully, to wherever you happen to be.

VII Ad Cantumblandum villam de pomis dictum Venimus ad Cantum felici tramite blandum, Aregium laetor quo reperisse patrem. quod petit instigans avido gula nostra barathro, excipiunt oculos aurea poma meos. undique concurrunt variato mala colore, credas ut pictas me meruisse dapes. vix digitis tetigi, fauce hausi, dente rotavi migravitque alvo praeda citata loco. nam sapor ante placet quam traxit naris odorem: sic vincente gula naris honore caret.