XI. Ad eundem de itinere suo
To Gregory, About His Journey
I continually and gladly wish, holy Gregory whom I must embrace, to see you with my eyes and seek you with these little letters. Sweet it is to see you; but if the opportunity to be seen is lacking, it will still be a hope for one praying — to give at least words to his father.
Recently, departing quickly from your presence, I am speaking of having gone through glass-like roads of ice [winter travel through frozen Gaul]. But through the help of the cross, with patron Martin working on my behalf, I arrived safely to my mothers [Radegund and Agnes at the Holy Cross monastery at Poitiers], most excellent father. They greet you with manifold reverential honor — and I for my part offer prayers of thanks for a safe return.
XI
Ad eundem de itinere suo
Iugiter opto libens, sacer amplectende Gregori,
cernere vos oculis, quaerere litterulis.
dulce videre mihi, at si desit copia cerni,
spes erit oranti vel dare verba patri.
nuper ab aspectu decedens concite vestro
per glaciem vitreas me loquor isse vias.
sed crucis auxilio, Martino operante patrono,
perveni ad matres salvus, opime pater.
quae vos multiplici veneranter honore salutant:
ast ego pro reditu vota salutis ago.
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XI. Ad eundem de itinere suo To Gregory, About His Journey
I continually and gladly wish, holy Gregory whom I must embrace, to see you with my eyes and seek you with these little letters. Sweet it is to see you; but if the opportunity to be seen is lacking, it will still be a hope for one praying — to give at least words to his father.
Recently, departing quickly from your presence, I am speaking of having gone through glass-like roads of ice [winter travel through frozen Gaul]. But through the help of the cross, with patron Martin working on my behalf, I arrived safely to my mothers [Radegund and Agnes at the Holy Cross monastery at Poitiers], most excellent father. They greet you with manifold reverential honor — and I for my part offer prayers of thanks for a safe return.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.