Letter 8015: Kind, blessed father, universal light, Gregory —

From: Venantius Fortunatus, poet, in Poitiers To: Gregory of Tours, Bishop of Tours Date: ~585 AD Context: A verse greeting to Gregory. Kind, blessed father, universal light, Gregory — rightly head at the pinnacle of priests: I return thanks to God knowing you to be well, and from you I ask the help of holy prayer. Short greeting this time — I have less to say but no less feeling behind what I say. The year turns. The world remains what it is: beautiful and difficult in roughly equal measure. Martin's shrine receives its pilgrims. The Loire goes to the sea. And your friend Fortunatus, somewhere in Poitiers, writes verses that he hopes are not entirely without merit and thinks of Gregory with the warm, steady affection that long friendship produces — not excitement, but something deeper and more useful: the knowledge that somewhere, predictably, there is a person of quality who thinks of you in return. God keep you in health and purpose. Your Fortunatus

XV Ad eundem salutatoria Summe pater patriae, celsum et generale cacumen, forte decus generis, Toronicensis apex, lumen ab Arvernis veniens feliciter arvis, qui inlustrans populos spargeris ore pharus, Alpibus ex illis properans mons altior ipsis, vir per plana sedens qui pia castra tegis, neu noceant hostes qui sunt in ovile fideles, unicus in campis publica turris ades. huic date dulce caput regioni, care Gregori, Martini retinet quem sacra sella patrem, me Fortunatum humilem commendo patrono; sic tua vita diu hoc sit in orbe deo.