Letter 3021: By keeping your household dependents away and in suspense about your plans, you prevent us from fully achieving or...

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: Ansemundus, vir illustrissimus Date: ~513 AD Context: A Christmas letter expressing frustration at Ansemundus's absence from the celebrations and asking him to send news of the king. Bishop Avitus to the most illustrious Ansemundus. By keeping your household dependents away and in suspense about your plans, you prevent us from fully achieving or even reporting the festive celebrations. Having observed the Lord's nativity as solemnly as we could without you, we now await word of the prosperity of our most pious lord — news we had longed to see with our own eyes but are content to learn through your worthy correspondence. You have fed that congregation with joy; now enrich this one with a letter. Let your affection illumine us through me, until my own arrival can present to you the service of your people.

Avitus episcopus viro illustrissimo Ansemundo. Cum peculiarium vernularum absentando suspenditis vota, facitis nos non ad plenum consequi vel nuntiare votiva. Festis ergo natalis domini, in quantum sine vobis potuit, sollemniter celebratis prosperitatem piissimi domni nostri, quam iusto desiderio optaveramus videre, tam dignabili alloquio praestolamur agnoscere. Illam plebem refecistis gaudio. istam ditate rescripto. Quam per me vester illustret affectus, donec vobis eius servitium meus praesentet occursus.