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The second poem seems ultimately to have been inspired by the same event as the
first one, though it contains elements of Venantius’ private feelings for Lupus. Everything
is seen from Venantius’ personal point of view so that as a counterpart to the
first poem, it appears as a private panegyric written by the devoted poet to his
beloved patron.
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The Official Panegyric
The poem starts with an introduction praising Lupus’ general qualities (ll. 1–18) stressing
his loyalty to the people. In the next six lines (ll. 19–24), his loyalty to King and the
State, two entities which are in many ways one and the same, is pointed out. Brunhild’s
marriage to the State in Book VI, poem 1 is in other words echoed in the relationship
between Lupus and Sigibert.
At line 25 there is a slightly bewildering break in the narrative of the poem when out
of nowhere an embassy arrives. This kind of caesura is unusual in Venantius poetry, but
common in Anglo-Saxon verse (cf. Beowulf, vv. 86, 194, 499, 782 etc.) or even
frequent, e.g., in the fragment about the fight at Finnsburg (Klaeber 1950, pp. 245 ff,
vv. 18 and 43), and we are given a description of negotiations between the visiting
emissaries and Lupus (ll. 25–30). No diplomatic solution is reached, but nevertheless
positions are made clear in the process. This lack of agreement leads in turn to a
conflict that must be solved by force. In lines 31–44 the poet continues to emphasise
Lupus’ righteous and law-abiding personality, but we are also informed that the high
Merovingian commanders are seeking him, in all probability to discuss the conflict. In
the fifth section (ll. 45–60), Lupus takes command of half of the army and he destroys
some Saxon and Danish intruders in the northern part of Austrasia in an effective way
suitable to a hero. In lines 61–72 he returns to the hall, restoring its peace and happiness.
The poem ends by once again stressing his general qualities. His actions have
added to his greatness and the conclusion depicts him as the eloquent, amiable host
satisfying his guests with food—a vision of Lupus in his own ducal hall.
This is also the section in which Venantius wonders if he is sufficiently worthy to
praise Lupus. However, in the last two lines he manages to demonstrate his skill expressing
a most Solomonic wish, flattering to the King as well as Lupus:
81 sit tibi summus apex illo regnante per aevum,
vitaque sit praesens atque futura colat.
(Venantius Book VII, poem 7)
May your great honour, during his (i.e.Sigibert’s) reign, last for ever and may he
enjoy his present life and think about the coming.
The core of the poem is Lupus’ usefulness to the people as well as the King, mostly,
however, to the King since it is due to the services to the King and the State that
Gallia, i.e. the nation and the people, deserves him.