Letter 2013: It is a matter as much of my longing as of my obligation to attend with particular care to the services that your...
Avitus of Vienne→Celer, senator|c. 504 AD|Avitus of Vienne
humor
From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne
To: Celer, senator
Date: ~504 AD
Context: A letter of commendation, asking Celer to facilitate the return of a young man to his father under royal orders.
Bishop Avitus to the senator Celer.
It is a matter as much of my longing as of my obligation to attend with particular care to the services that your deservedly famous greatness renders to the city. Especially now that divine favor has provided a timely occasion in which I may serve the commands of his majesty with full devotion. Therefore I commend to your magnificence the son of your servant, the illustrious Laurentius. He has been ordered by royal command to be returned to his father. I ask that your greatness ensure his safe passage and that this small service may deepen the bond between us.
Avitus episcopus Celero senatori.
Constat non minus desiderii mei esse quam debiti, ut officia, quae merito inclitae
magnitudinis urbi devotus impenditis, a me, qui gratiae eius iam dudum videor ob-
ligatus, specialius excolantur. Maxime cum opportunam nunc occasionem favor divi-
nus obtulerit, in qua imperio celsitudinis suae plena meruerim devotione servire. Qua
propter cultoris vestri, viri illustris Laurentii, filium, quem ad patrem suum dirigi
iussio reverenda praecepit, magnificentiae vestrae praefato largissimae sospitatis ho-
nore commendo: augeri studio, defendi quod voluistis animo pietatis, in regione ex-
petiit patrem, in vobis reperiat paternitatem. Tuemini etiam cum prole susceptum,
qui vobis licet satis sit debitor per honorem, plus tamen incepit debere per subolem,
quod per vos potietur proprii affectus solatio, compensaturus erga vos affectionis aug-
mento. De cetero autem, quantum ad fideles vestros pertinet, expectatione semper
cupimus iussionem, optamus oboedientiae facultatem. Vos prospera divinitate prae-
state, ut Romanam sub gloriosissimo principe nostro prosperitatem, in cuius apice
digna honoris arce fulgetis, tam serenitate sermonis istius quam dignitatis vestrae
rescripto mereamur agnoscere.
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From:Avitus, bishop of Vienne
To:Celer, senator
Date:~504 AD
Context:A letter of commendation, asking Celer to facilitate the return of a young man to his father under royal orders.
Bishop Avitus to the senator Celer.
It is a matter as much of my longing as of my obligation to attend with particular care to the services that your deservedly famous greatness renders to the city. Especially now that divine favor has provided a timely occasion in which I may serve the commands of his majesty with full devotion. Therefore I commend to your magnificence the son of your servant, the illustrious Laurentius. He has been ordered by royal command to be returned to his father. I ask that your greatness ensure his safe passage and that this small service may deepen the bond between us.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.