Letter 2002: Avitus, bishop, to Liberius the prefect.

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: Liberius, Praetorian Prefect of Gaul Date: ~510 AD Context: Avitus writes to the powerful Roman prefect serving the Ostrogothic government, thanking him for his visit to Gaul and reporting that he has freed some captives at Liberius's request — but has refused to accept the ransom money, suggesting it be redirected. Avitus, bishop, to Liberius the prefect. Since your most welcome arrival brought relief to the many troubles of Gaul through the power of your office, I had not until now received any fulfillment of my desire to be in your good graces. So even though I believe the benefits you have long been distributing to the provincials are also helping us, you have nevertheless come to me — still thirsting for your letters — as if for the first time. I had held back from volunteering my own letters precisely because I was afraid of intruding on the very duties that I assumed had been keeping me from the correspondence I longed for all this time. But since — even if belatedly — at your urging, the regular exchange of a literary correspondence has been maintained now that I am writing back to your distinguished letters, you who have made me bold enough to reply should also make me, as I hope, a frequent debtor. Nor is there any shortage of reasons for you to command, if you agree: there is plenty you could assign to someone eager to obey. Courtesy that surpasses power, and condescension that is no less than dignity — for this very matter whose urgency furnished you with a reason to write has also shown what kind of works you strive to distinguish yourself by amid the business of the courts. As for what was brought to my attention by your deputy, the distinguished vice-prefect, concerning the liberation of certain captives: I carried it out gladly at the direction of Your Excellency. However, I did not accept the ransom money that the bearers brought. If these people owe something to the aforementioned distinguished man, my son Gemellus, by reason of their personal status and origin, he can distribute what he had offered me toward the ransoming of freeborn persons. But if you recognize that these individuals are free by birth, it is enough that the money has been put to good use.

Avitus episcopus Liberio praefecto. Postquam multiplices Galliarum labores felicissimus potestatis vestrae visitavit adventus, nullo sum ante hoc in affectibus vestris desiderii mei impertitus effectu. Vnde licet etiam nobis prodesse credamus beneficia, quae iam dudum provincialibus spargitis, mihi tamen hactenus sitienti litteras vestras quasi primum modo venistis. Enimvero ut me offerendis ultro epistularibus officiis non offerrem, illis occupationibus obstrepere timui, quibus me credebam tanto temporum spatio a votiva lectione sus- pendi. Sed quia etsi tarde compellentibus vobis meque ad praecelsos apices rescri- bente ordo alternantis commercii in litterario sermone servatus est, qui fecistis me absque verecundia respondentem, reddite, ut cupio, frequentia debitorem. Nec desunt, si adnuitis, causae iubendi: abundant, quae possitis iniungere cupientibus oboedire. Maior scilicet potestate civilitas nec minor est dignitate dignatio. Nam haec ipsa causa, cuius vobis scribendi materiam merces ingessit, quibus inter tribunalia operibus magis studeatis florere, perdocuit. Vnde quod nobis a viro spectabili, vicario vestro, pro quorundam captivorum liberatione suggestum est, ad praeceptionem culminis vestri laetus implevi pretio tamen, quod portitores adtulerant, non recepto. Quia si aliquid praefato viro magnifico, filio meo Gemello, condicionis personae ipsae per originem debent, potest hoc, quod mihi obtulerat, redimendis ingenuis distribuere; si vero istos agnoscitis liberos natu, sufficit pretium profuisse.