Letter 7008: When July, bearer of heat, burns the fiery sands

To Duke Lupus When heat-bearing July burns the fiery sands and the dry earth thirsts at its dusty edge, when the listless vine barely unfolds its peaceful shade and the softened grass draws in its grey-green hair, when the grove with drooping leaves, Phoebus's heat reigning, can scarcely defend its own cool shelter, when the heifer scorns her pasture and flees the glades in the heat, when even the horse-grass cannot feed the exhausted horses, when the dog lashes its tongue stretched far from its mouth, and the sheep, dragging tired flanks, pants in sadness — then perhaps a traveler walking his road in the burning hours is scorched as the pressing sun lights up his hair. On the drying ground, that he might be refreshed by a small drink, he anxiously wishes again and again for watered streams, or for the shade of a trembling tree, its green crown spreading, to temper his thirst with its sheltering leaves. If by new good fortune a grove darkens nearby and the water of a glassy spring hisses fresh, the happy man hurries there and stretches out on the gentle field, rolling his limbs onto the grassy couch. Finding his prayers answered, he is restored by a double delight: here the shade lightens the day, here the water drives out thirst. If he knows any songs, the melody returns in modulated singing, and a softer breeze calls forth the peaceful sounds — if perhaps Homer was well known to him from Athens, or Vergil was read in the city at Trajan's forum; or if he learned sacred teachings from the Davidic lyre, he sings the honorable melody with rolling voice. Or finger touches lyre, flute, pipe, or reed: each man with his own Muse soothes the birds in song. So I, exhausted by the mighty heat of my cares, am refreshed as at a spring, learning you are well. O name of Lupus, sweet to me, ever to be repeated, which the page of my heart holds written in itself — once enclosed within the tablets of sweetness, the indestructible chest of my heart holds the man; possessing the treasures of piety, a precious will bringing forth pure talents from its own spirit! Your golden mind surpasses the riches the world holds, and the splendor of gems is reflected in your gleaming heart. Your aromatic mind spreads sweet fragrances, giving to the soul what incense does so well. From your heart flows back a word flavored with honey, and from your mouth you render wisdom seasoned with salt. After the darkness of night, placing the lights of stars beneath you, you shine to my mind as the Morning Star shines with its rays. As the light of the rising sun refreshes the world, so your words illuminate my spirit. When foreign Germania held my gaze, you were my father and counselor of my homeland. Whenever I earned the joy of gazing on your peaceful face, a doubled day immediately shone for me in the world. As often as I joined my words to your conversation, I believed myself reclining among ambrosial roses. Your grace, remaining one to all but more to us, bound me in its rushing affection. Now too — who could render worthy thanks for such great honors? I am overwhelmed by the subject, for my tongue is too small. So through the ascent the summit towers loftily above: on this side my love urges me on; on that, your honor blocks the way. But let others compete to render your praises in my place, and let each sound your name in whatever prayer and voice he can. Let the Roman applaud you with the lyre, the barbarian with the harp, let the Greek sing with the Achillean mode, and the British crotta. Let those call you strong, these call you powerful by right; let one proclaim you swift in arms, another in books. And since you rightly govern what both peace and war require, let one sing the glory of the judge, the other of the general. We give you little verses; let barbarian songs give you leudi: so in varying style let one praise sound for the man. Let these recall you as famous, those as wise in law: but I will always hold you, Lupus, as dear.

VIII Ad eundem Aestifer ignitas cum Iulius urit harenas siccaque pulvereo margine terra sitit, languidior placidas vix pampinus explicat umbras, mollior et glaucas contrahit herba comas, summissis foliis Phoebi regnante vapore vix sua defendit frigida tecta nemus, pabula fastidens fugit aestu bucula saltus, ipse nec adflictis pascitur ervus equis, longius expositam linguam canis ore flagellat, ilia lassa trahens tristis anhelat ovis: forte viator iter gradiens ferventibus horis uritur accensis sole premente comis. qui arescente solo, modico recreetur ut haustu, saepius inriguas anxius optat aquas, arboris aut tremulae viridante cacumine fuso frondibus oppositis temperet umbra sitim. prosperitate nova si iam prope lucus opacet et vitrei fontis sibilet unda recens, huc properans placidis homo laetus sternitur arvis, volvit in herbosos et sua membra toros. vota secuta tenens gemino refovetur amoeno: hine levat umbra diem, hinc fugat unda sitim. carmina siqua tenet, cantu modulante recurrit, provocat et placidos blandior aura sonos, si sibi forte fuit bene notus Homerus Athenis aut Maro Traiano lectus in urbe foro; vel si Davitico didicit sacra dogmata plectro, psallit honorificum fauce rotante melum. tangitur aut digito lyra tibia fistula canna: quisque suis Musis carmine mulcet aves. sic ego, curarum valido defessus ab aestu, noscens te salvum fonte refectus agor. o nomen mihi dulce Lupi, replicabile semper quodque mei scriptum pagina cordis habet, quem semel inclusum tabulis dulcedinis intus non abolenda virum pectoris arca tenet; thesauros pietatis habens, pretiosa voluntas producens animo pura talenta suo! divitias quas mundus habet mens aurea vincit gemmarumque decus corde micante refert. sensus aromaticus suaves diffundit odores. hoc tribuens animae quod bene tura solent. melle saporatum refluens a pectore verbum et sale conditum reddis ab ore sophum. post tenebras noctis stellarum lumina subdens Lucifer ut radiis sic mihi mente nites. ut recreat mundum veniens lux solis ab ortu, inlustrant animum sic tua verba meum. cum peregrina meos tenuit Germania visus, tu pater et patriae consuliturus eras. quando merebar ovans placidos intendere vultus, mox geminata mihi fulsit in orbe dies, conserui quotiens vestro sermone loquellas credidi in ambrosiis me recubare rosis. omnibus una manens, sed plus tua gratia nobis, vinxit in affectu me properante suo. nunc quoque pro magnis quis digna rependat honoris? materia vincor et quia lingua minor. sic per ascensum culmen supereminet altum: hinc meus urguet amor, hinc tuus obstat honor. sed pro me reliqui laudes tibi reddere certent, et qua quisque valet te prece voce sonet, Romanusque lyra, plaudat tibi barbarus harpa, Graecus Achilliaca, crotta Britanna canat. illi te fortem referant, hi iure potentem, ille armis agilem praedicet, iste libris. et quia rite regis quod pax et bella requirunt, iudicis ille decus concinat, iste ducis. nos tibi versiculos, dent barbara carmina leudos: sic Variante tropo laus sonet una viro. hi celebrem memorent, illi te lege sagacem: ast ego te dulcem semper habebo, Lupe.