Letter 5002: Item ad eundem

II Likewise to the same When the one Trinity scattered the apostolic light, and the world received with honor a new day, so that the seedbearing light might put the shadows of the soul to flight and the eyed mind might drink in the bright faith, the Roman city, foremost of cities, was restored when the thorns were torn out, tilled by the ploughshare of the eminent prince Peter. Paul, penetrating to the Illyrians through the Scythian frosts, dissolved the cold of the ground with his fervent teaching. Matthew tempered the vapors of the Ethiopians with his mouth, and poured living streams over the parched field. The warlike tiara of Persia, made subject to the vigor of Thomas, becomes the stronger for God once it is conquered. Sallow India is granted to clear-sighted Bartholomew; by the counsels of Andrew, Achaia stands as a harvest. Lest I delay, hastening on: Gaul, by the surpassing faith of Martin of old, takes up the weapons of light. Applaud, Galicia, saved by a new Martin: this man of yours was of apostolic lot. He who in virtue offers you Peter, in teaching Paul, bestowing here the aid of James, there of John. Coming, as they relate, from the Pannonian region of the Quirites [Romans], he was made all the more the salvation of the Gallaeci and Suevi. Into the barren furrow he sowed the seedlings of life, where now the ripe harvest pleases by its fertility. By his merits, like a second Elijah, the rain returns to the ears of grain, bringing the gifts of dew, lest drought oppress the fields; and lest the parched acres lie idle in their numb furrows, he flows in from the spring of ever-watering water. Upon the branches of heresy he fixed the holy buds of faith, and what was a wild olive grows green as a rich olive tree. The tree that stood meager, bereft of its foliage, now about to bring forth food, blooms with new honor. The sad fig tree, fit to be cast on the fire without hope, prepares its bosom for fruit, tilled with dung. The grape of the vine-shoot, swelling, ready to be torn by the rapine of birds, with this good keeper perishes not, not a single one, in the vat. In apostolic matters the vinedresser set the vine-rows straight, stirring the fields with the mattock, pressing back the shoots with the pruning-hook. From the Lord's field he cut out the barren wild vine, and the cluster is there where before was the bramble. From God's sowing he tore out the bitter tares, and the gladdened harvest rises up even and level. Applaud, Galicia, saved by a new Martin: this man of yours was of apostolic lot. With a shepherd's zeal running about his own folds, lest the wolf enter the sheep, he guards the flocks with love; with supporting hand he himself draws the unsteady sheep to the pastures of Christ, lest error devour it in the mountains. His voice, flowing back to the people from the wholesome spring, that they may drink faith with the ear, holds forth salt with the mouth. He prepared losses indeed for the enemy, devout vows for the Lord, and renders back the talents entrusted to him doubled, an nourishing laborer awaiting the gospel voice, that it may be said to him: ‘Go forward, good little servant: for since you have been faithful to me over a few things, you shall be set over very many things. Behold, enter now the more joyful into the joys of your lord, and for brief labor great things have been prepared for you.’ You shall hear the blessed voice, Martin, but be yourself mindful of your own Fortunatus. I beg, pray, father, that I may see your joys together with you: so may you please the king with Peter's gate standing open. With humble Radegund as suppliant, devout Agnes also asks, that they may be commended to you, holy father: and that, with the choir of sisters growing through holy songs, they may be pleasing to their Lord, with you as their gentle leader; and that the kindly Rule of Caesarius, the devout and holy prelate, taken to itself from the city of Genesius [Arles], may be observed, he who was bishop of Arles from the lot of Lérins, and remained a monk amid his pontifical dignity. By a father's diligence may you protect your own nurslings, that it may profit you if these do any good works: whence you may bind your illustrious head with a fair diadem and, as shepherd, render worthy thanks for your flock.

II Item ad eundem Lumen apostolicum cum spargeret una triades exciperetque novum mundus honore diem, ut tenebras animae lux sementiva fugaret et claram hauriret mens oculata fidem, redditur avulsis spinis urbs Romula princeps, principis egregii vomere culta Petri; Paulus ad Illyricos Scythicas penetrando pruinas dogmate ferventi frigora solvit humi; Mattheus Aethiopos adtemperat ore vapores vivaque in exusto flumina fundit agro; bellica Persidis Thomae subiecta vigori fortior efficitur victa tiara deo; lurida perspicuo datur India Bartholomaeo; Andreae monitis extat Achaia seges. ne morer adcelerans, Martini Gallia prisci excellente fide luminis arma capit. Martino servata novo , Gallicia, plaude : sortis apostolicae vir tuus iste fuit. qui virtute Petrum praebet tibi, dogmate Paulum, hinc Iacobi tribuens, inde Iohannis opem. Pannoniae, ut perhibent, veniens e parte Quiritis est magis effectus Gallisueba salus. in sulcum sterilem vitae plantaria sevit, quo matura seges fertilitate placet. Heliae meritis alter redit imber aristis, munera roris habens, ne premat arva sitis: neu iaceant stupidis arentia iugera sulcis. influit inriguae fonte perennis aquae. in ramis heresis fidei pia germina fixit, quodque oleaster erat pinguis oliva viret. quae stetit exilis viduatis frondibus arbor iam paritura cibum floret honore novo. inponenda focis sine spe ficulnea tristis praeparat ad fructum stercore culta sinum. palmitis uva tumens, avium laceranda rapinis, hoc custode bono non perit una lacu. rebus apostolicis direxit vinitor antes, arva ligone movens, falce flagella premens. ex agro domini labruscam excidit inertem atque racemus adest quo fuit ante frutex. de satione dei zezania vulsit amara, surgit et aequalis laetificata seges. Martino servata novo , Gallicia, plaude: sortis apostolicae vir tuus iste fuit. pastoris studio circum sua saepta recurrens, ne lupus intret oves, servat amore greges; subportante manu trahit ipse ad pabula Christi, montibus instabilem ne voret error, ovem. cuius vox refluens plebi de fonte salubri ut bibat aure fidem, porrigit ore salem. hosti damna quidem, domino pia vota paravit et commissa sibi dupla talenta refert, vocem euangelicam expectans operarius almus, ut sibi dicatur: ῾ servule perge bone: quando fidelis enim mihi supra pauca fuisti, supra multa nimis constituendus eris. ecce tui domini modo gaudia laetior intra proque labore brevi magna parata tibi᾿. auditurus eris vocem, Martine, beatam, sed Fortunati sis memor ipse tui. quaeso precare, pater, videam tua gaudia tecum: sic placeas regi poste patente Petri. cum Radegunde humili supplex, pie, postulat Agnes, ut commendatae sint tibi, sancte pater : et crescente choro per carmina sancta sororum conplaceant domino, te duce mite, suo; atque adscita sibi servetur ab urbe Genesi regula Caesarii praesulis alma pii, qui fuit antistes Arelas de sorte Lerini, et mansit monachus pontificale decus. sedulitate patris proprias tuearis alumnas, ut tibi proficiat hae bona si qua gerant: unde inlustre caput cingas diademate pulchro et grates dignas pro grege pastor agas.