Unknown→Apollinaris (son of Sidonius)|c. 510 AD|avitus vienne
From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne
To: Apollinaris, bishop
Date: ~510 AD
Context: Avitus discusses plans to attend new and customary celebrations, with allusions to the unpredictable movements of secular powers.
Bishop Avitus to Bishop Apollinaris.
You command — and it is my heart's desire — that I attend both the new and the customary celebrations with the devotion of a double love. But I fear that what detained the authorities may now detain us. Pray, however, that the result may match the desire. Perhaps you were counting on that generosity which warms your heart even while the pantry is still cold. So even though you say you have distributed only a little, and even though you rejoice that the crowd of courtiers has dispersed and you are relieved — if any opportunity for me to slip away arises, I will come to you, even if you try to resist.
Avitus episcopus Apollinari episcopo.
Iubetis, et voti est, ut cultibus novis pariterque consuetis studio geminae dilec-
tionis occurram. Sed vereor, ne nos hoc teneat, quod potestates diutius tenuistis.
Orate tamen, ut par desiderio succedat effectus. Nisi forte illam magis expensam
numeraveras, quae penu adhuc frigente animis tuis calet. Quoeirca licet pauca ero-
gasse te dicas, licet laxato aulicorum conventu relevatum esse te gaudeas: si qua
tamen mihi excurrendi copia fiet, vel invitos, qui supervenerint, invitabis. Providebit
deus epulas multitudini tibi convivii, sibi pauperum. Cibus olei cado et farris hydria
persistente cumulabitur. Ibi si vel quinque panes fuerint, geminum piscem providisse
sufficiat Illud autem fidas post haec miraculorum experimenta: Christo pauperum
suorum conventui minime defuturo quando plura populorum milia collegeris, plures
reduviarum cophinos reportabis. Apud filium nostrum vero, qui sicut scribitis re-
conciliationem mutuam dignatur ambire, vos estote vadimonium. Quod si ille paci-
fico voto agere, ego amicum; si ille discordiam poscit tolli, ego cupio concordiam
perennari. Si tamen homo ordinis mei, quem nec fallere decet, crediturus catholico
senatori non ad hoc solum securus incipiat fieri, ut incautus valeat inveniri.
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From:Avitus, bishop of Vienne
To:Apollinaris, bishop
Date:~510 AD
Context:Avitus discusses plans to attend new and customary celebrations, with allusions to the unpredictable movements of secular powers.
Bishop Avitus to Bishop Apollinaris.
You command — and it is my heart's desire — that I attend both the new and the customary celebrations with the devotion of a double love. But I fear that what detained the authorities may now detain us. Pray, however, that the result may match the desire. Perhaps you were counting on that generosity which warms your heart even while the pantry is still cold. So even though you say you have distributed only a little, and even though you rejoice that the crowd of courtiers has dispersed and you are relieved — if any opportunity for me to slip away arises, I will come to you, even if you try to resist.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.