Letter 6011: You have envied me, O seasons, my headlong love,

More to Dynamius O seasons, you have envied my headlong love, you who have forbidden the service of my vow to be performed through lyric measures and the talkative strings of the plectrum, where Erato sweetly echoes ivory upon the lyre. Look — the thirsting Dog Star raises its vapor-bearing flame and the heat pants through the gaping fields. Fearing infection, lest I be struck by some burning dart, I wear my arms bound where the blood has been let loose. Where the blood flows, the hand is held by a knot, and my guiltless right hand is bound by the opened vein. As one who thirsts with a strong love that has no relief — this heavy cause has stood in the way of my prayers. I do not know how much the completed treatment has helped: what harms me, though, is that it forces me to be silent. If I were allowed to write with my fingers, that would have been enough: as things stand, my first care is for you, my second for myself. From my pursuits I am pulled back from pursuits; the Muse's stream is silent: pus flows from my flesh, lest verse flow from my mouth. The musical fire is absent; the sisters shiver at the spring, for blood freezes the waters it irrigates. If, burning in spirit, I should compose poems to be recited, you yourself know how much the labor weighs on the art. For the blood drawn out demands slow rest: a place where no cold gapes and no scorching heat plows; it seeks a retreat, lest a blowing breeze lash it, where greenery refreshes the spirit and fragrance breathes. But I set aside my own concerns for love of you: concern for you holds the front rank; mine, the rear. After sweating I now had to give my limbs to rest, but love breaks through the order and seizes the time. I draw little on my own account, while I wish to bring you greetings — but I look after my interests when I tend to your prayers. Now accept these small things, shrewd and powerful Dynamius, brilliant in your adornment, dear in my favor — you whom the Rhine and the Danube had already sung to me before the place itself revealed you, when I was brought from Italy: distinguished in appearance, lofty in your household, wise in law, equal to all in hope, wit, peace, and faith. Whence it happened, I confess, that a warmth of seeing you fell upon me in the cold region of the north — and I burn more willingly, entirely, toward that face than a foreign band toward its homeland's return. I would have gone to meet your sight more swiftly than the son of Telamon to his father's embrace. Scarcely does the farmer plow his soil so eagerly in winding furrows, scarcely the sailor his stern through the sea. From that time, illustrious one, a part of me stands with you as your client, and you come here, a half-portion of my soul. Known to my heart before seen by my eyes — whom I clasp in mind though I cannot touch with hand; though I do not yet chain my arms around your neck, what fingers cannot do, love binds instead. From far away, absent, I still reach what I desire: where my foot does not go, my whole heart travels. Though the Saone and the Rhone stand in our way, we swim in love, and what forbids the step does not forbid the soul. I have also read verses sent under another's name, in which, as through a mirror, the image reveals the man. From the Muse's spring you are scattered to the four-cornered world; to places you do not know, you are carried by the waters of your speech. From here too you depart, never to be effaced from us, since you are known to be fixed in your own writings. Penetrating my innermost self, possessor of my little field — happy forever, sweet friend, farewell. Watching for the help of your speech and wishing for a better star, may your words come swiftly; may long health be yours. To the holy Theodore, first in hearth and seat; to Sapaudus; to the excellent Felix, whom the world's honor gave; to the distinguished Albinus, to Helias, and to the illustrious Jovinus — render on Fortunatus's behalf the work of greeting. This lyre of mine plays for you in simple song: but let the lute thunder back in grander style.

X Item ad Dynamium Tempora, praecipiti vos invidistis amori, officium voti quae vetuistis agi per lyricos modulos et fila loquacia plectris, qua citharis Erato dulce relidit ebur. ecce vaporiferum sitiens canis exerit astrum et per hiulcatos fervor anhelat agros. hinc metuens saniem, ne quo iacularer ab igne, sanguine laxato brachia nexa gero. labitur unde cruor, nodo manus inde tenetur et dextram innocuam vena soluta ligat. ut sine temperie validi sitis urat amoris, causa meis votis obstitit ista gravis. nescio quam prosit ratio perfuncta medellae: me tamen inde nocet quod reticere facit. scribere si digitis sinerer, satis illa fuisset: nunc mihi prima tui cura, secunda mei. ex studio studiis retrahor, silet unda Camenae: carne fluit sanies, ne riget ore latex. musicus ignis abest, algent in fonte sorores. nam sanguis latices hinc gelat unde rigat. si qua calens animo recitanda poemata pangam, scis ipse hoc studium quam gravet arte labor. nam cruor ablatus magis otia lenta requirit, quo neque frigus hiat nec vapor ustus arat; secretumque petit, neu flabilis aura flagellet, quo recreans animum stat viror, halat odor. ast ego posthabeo affectu mea seria vestro: cura tui faciem, nam mea terga tenet. post sudorem habui modo nam dare membra quieti: ordine postposito tempora rumpit amor. duco parum propriam, tibi dum volo ferre salutem, sed mea prospicio, cum tua vota colo. nimc cape parva, cate et pollens duilance Dynami, clare decore tuo, care favore meo, partibus Italiae advecto mihi Rhenus et Hister quem cecinere prius quam daret ipse locus, insignem specie, celsum lare, lege sagacem, omnibus aequalem spe sale pace fide. incidit unde mihi, fateor, te sorte videndi Arctoi gelida sub regione calor, plusque libens vultus efferveo totus in illos, ad patriae reditus quam peregrina cohors; visibus atque tuis issem velocius, ac si ad patris amplexus de Telamone satus. vix quoque tam cupidus vario sinuamine sulcat rusticus arte solum, navita aplustre fretum. ex illo, celebrande, cliens stat pars mea tecum, et venis huc animae pars mediata meae, antea corde mihi notus quam lumine visus. quem mente adstringo, si neque tango manu; brachia qui nec dum circum tua colla cateno, quod digiti nequeunt, alligat illud amor. longius inde absens ibi sed pertingo quod opto: quo pede non venio, pectore totus eo. nos licet obstet Arar Rhodanusque, natamus amore, nec vetat ire animum qui vetat ire gradum. – Legi etiam missos alieno nomine versus, quo quasi per speculum reddit imago virum. fonte Camenali quadrato spargeris orbi, ad loca quae nescis duceris oris aquis. hinc quoque non aliquo nobis abolende recedis, quo fixus scriptis nosceris esse tuis. interiora mei penetrans possessor agelli, felix perpetue, dulcis amice, vale. spectans oris opem melioraque sideris optans, currat ut affatus, stet tibi longa salus. sacris Theodoro primo lare sede, Sapaudo Felici egregio, quem dedit orbis honor, Albino eximio, Heliae claroque Iovino pro Fortunato redde salutis opus. haec tibi nostra chelys modulatur simplice cantu: sed tonet archetypo barbitus inde sopho.