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