A letter from Fortunatus (after 567)

Translated letter:

[Again a verse made in a feast] Among the various delights and mixed savor while I slept and while I ate (I opened my mouth, closed my eyes again and chewed seeing many dreams), I had confused spirits, believe me, dear ones, I was not able to give free words easily. I could not with my fingers, nor with a pen paint verses, the drunken Muse made my hands uncertain. For to me and other drinkers the wines were so fitting that the table seemed to swim with the pure [undiluted] wine. But now, as I could, to the mother and equally to the sister I have given small songs in sweet conversation. Although sleep battles me with its many whips, love drew me to write these with a hesitant hand.

Original letter:

[Item versus in convivio factus] inter delicias varias mixtumque saporem dum dormitarem dumque cibarer ego (os aperiebam, claudebam rursus ocellos et manducabam somnia plura videns), confusos animos habui, mihi credite, carae, nec valui facile libera verba dare. non digitis poteram, calamo neque pingere versus, fecerat incertas ebria Musa manus. nam mihi vel reliquis sic vina bibentibus apta ipsa videbatur mensa natare mero. nunc tamen, ut potui, matri pariterque sorori alloquio dulci carmina parva dedi. etsi me somnus multis inpugnat habenis, haec dubitante manu scribere traxit amor.

Historical context:

Bishop Venantius Fortunatus met Radegund and Agnes, whom Radegund had had installed as her abbess, when he visited Poitiers. They became good friends and exchanged epistolary poems and small gifts until the women died. After her death, Fortunatus wrote a life of Radegund emphasizing her ascetic qualities.

Printed source:

Venanti Fortunati Opera Poetica, ed. Fridericus Leo (Berlin: Weidmann, 1881), 267, Librum XI,xxiii.

Date:

after 567