Letter 30

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: King Sigismund Date: ~517 AD Context: Avitus writes to Sigismund during a military campaign, expressing gratitude for a personal message received even amid the preparations for battle. Bishop Avitus to the lord Sigismund. I know that a letter of service intrudes importunely on the cares and occupations in which, under heaven's help, you faithfully stand watch for the safety of the homeland. But since the exalted graciousness of your devotion has not forgotten your devoted servant — even going so far as to double my longing for you with a sweet letter sent in the very midst of your military preparations — who would not understand that you will patiently tolerate the clumsiness that your clemency has provoked? I ask anxiously how your health holds, with God's strength to sustain you.

Avitus episcopus domno Sigismundo. Scio quidem curis atque occupationibus, quibus sub ope caelesti pro salute patriae fideliter excubatis, importune suggeri servitium litterarum. Sed cum praecelsa pietatis vestrae dignatio adeo peculiaris famuli non sit oblita, ut in ipso susceptae expeditionis procinctu sensibus meis desiderium sui suavi duplicaret alloquio, quis non intellegat, quod patienter ineptiam tolerabitis, quam clementia provocatis? Vnde qualiter sani confortante deo sitis, sollicitus esse praesumo, aut quomodo coeptis spes voti communis arrideat. Illud autem non solum rogo, sed per illam, quam a deo accepistis et mihi praestatis gratiam precor, ut, quamquam merito de indictae fidei firmitate securi nobis magis impenso cautelae vestrae munere simus, trepidationi nostrae et ignaviae con- sulatis neque plus cogitetis, quod universitas pro vobis devota supplicat, quam quod suspensa formidat. Sed licet pavidi ex conscientia peccatores, incunctabili tamen fide praesumimus, quod, etiamsi vobis protegente Christo hic metus noster risum sub- moverit, vel divinas aures ad donandam nobis felicitatis vestrae laetitiam permovebit.