Skip to main content

A letter from Fortunatus (after 567)

Sender

Fortunatus

Receiver

Agnes, abbess of the Holy Cross

Translated letter:

[Again] Applaud God with the voice, give pious wishes, sisters, that so many joys reside with you. You lovers retain this with me cut off outside: what commonly pleases, is not at the same time permitted to be. May she remain long through separate ages with us, flourish to share with all goods.

Original letter:

[Item aliud] Plaudite voce deo, pia reddite vota, sorores, quod sic vobiscum gaudia tanta sedent. me foris excluso vos hanc retinetis amantes: quod commune placet, non simul esse licet. haec longaeva diu maneat per singula nobis floreat et cunctis participanda bonis.

Historical context:

Bishop Venantius Fortunatus met Agnes and her patron Radegund when he visited Poitiers. They became good friends and exchanged epistolary poems and small gifts until the women died.

Printed source:

Venantii Fortunati, Opera Poetica, ed. Fridericus Leo (Berlin: Weidmann, 1881), Appendix, 285, xvii.

Date:

after 567