Letter 9030: In the sign of Christ.

XXX. IN THE SIGN OF CHRIST. It is the nature of things that even a man well equipped in speech or in mind can be faulted for presumption, because every facility of words, once it has overstepped the bounds of humility, is trampled underfoot; and just as those things which are exacted at a price ought to be held dear, so things forced upon one grow cheap. Importunity, while it strips the eloquent of the dignity of their reputation, clothes the unlearned with disgrace. Yet I sustain myself with this reasoning: that it is indeed a bold thing, but a thing also to be loved, to have furnished a word that leads the way, and to open up a road which, though it borders on rashness, lies likewise close to diligence as something pertaining to charity. Among the men of the churches, is it a fault if those unequal in rank should strive with equal love? Or do men of modest rank overstep the narrow limits of their station who desire, by the support of grace, to be compared with those at the summit? He has no consciousness of pride who measures himself only by the duties of affection. I presume to say that the fervor of subordinates is well directed when in this matter it outruns those who go before. Behold, thus I have cleansed of its cloud my own part, darkened as it were as that of a self-appointed address. But I shall now say what bears upon a most abundant defense. Your son, the lord Rhodanius, demanded of me that I should break forth into the exercise of this present pen; yet I confess that it lay within my own zeal to do what he commanded, since he who compels one who is willing does not labor. Let us, by God's grace, render thanks in the first place and in the whole composition of this letter: because, since the members of Rome have at last come together into fellowship with their own head, it was just that the blessed Apostle Peter too should restore to his own see the churches, and to a freer senate, through the lord [Theoderic, the king], the parts owed to it. Worthy is the ruler; worthy are those in whose age the fulfillment of these prayers has come to pass. For even if this happiness should endure, passing on to our descendants, those from whom it took its beginning must be honored with especial praise. Therefore you have made supplication effectively, that his valor might rescue you whom his clemency is able to preserve. You have learned of the prosperous outcomes of one whom you see followed by victory whenever he commands wars. Little remains, save that you should hold his mildness of mind so profound, as though it were ignorant of campaigns, God granting it. His peace cannot be troubled by uncertainties, nor can his fortitude be shattered by any opposition whatsoever. With him nothing is safer than for one to make supplication. He alone has escaped the lines of battle who has prayed; he has overcome the onslaught of arms who has devotedly offered submission. That which the ancient princes scarcely won by the sweat of their own presence, this the brief letter of our king has always procured. Through swift expeditions the fortunate army is led to triumph. Who would believe that his soldier has indeed in his toil and his completed task the glory of one who conquers, yet the self-restraint of one subdued? When the engagements are finished, nothing remains of the inheritance of wrath; at one and the same time those whom the adversaries had seen as deadly foes they feel to be gentle, paying their tributes. And these things indeed are prepared in heaven for the recompense in return for this support, because our faith with him—let him pursue whatever else he will—is in harbor. Marvelous patience, when, tenacious of his own purpose, he does not cloud the renown of another's. For he groans even that the patrimonies of our churches fall into decay, unless they are increased. Thus it has come to pass that men rich in the substance of the poor keep their own standing, and that men of middling means grow strong toward the highest abundance. In priests he both cherishes the virtues that are inborn and breathes into them those not found there. But why should I anticipate Your Beatitude by the prejudgment of a discursive discourse? Straightway your own experience, and that spiritual perfection of yours, will accuse me of having been meager in the praises of your son; and since deeds are wont to be amplified by conversations, it will charge me with being a barren reporter of the harvest of his virtues. Already the secular dignities—the curule chairs and the robes of office, the patrician honors too—in what manner he restores them either to nature or to character, let it be made known by the testimony of the domestic bearer. For he makes both the old endure in the ancient luster of their lineage, and irradiates the new with the splendor of an unlooked-for brilliance. More easily does his commonwealth, flowing out by the goodness of its administration, pass over into private wealth, than the property of his servants is converted into palace profits. Now, for what remains, when the services of my salutation have been received, look upon me favorably in prayer, that Christ our Redeemer may preserve through a long lifetime those things which He has conferred upon the aforesaid most merciful king as he serves Him, and may grant also a successor to the kingdom from his stock, lest the good things of so great a man should grow old in a single generation, and, made antiquated by the passage of time, be named only in commemoration of a golden age.

XXX. IN CHRISTI SIGNO. Natura rerum est, ut. etiam idoneus ore uel pectore possit de praesumptione culpari. quia. omnis uerborum commoditas humilitatis terminos egressa calcatur, et sicut habenda sunt quae 1 reddet B 2 expectates B meministes B, menistiB Tl 3 aequales B exspecto LV 4 subplimentum B 5 sublim ̃ l T txanqailinum B Tranquillinum—tamen in mg. add. L prefatns Bx 7 exhibeo L camella BLTV 8 meseria B subcupuisse B 10 patronna L, patronos BTV, patronis Pb 11 prestitet B negit B ut vel Bb, ut LPTV 12 honera B 18 derinantnr b, dirinantur BLPTV m T, mihi BLV 14 seruicia dependans B 16 meum] mecfl B effectu B 17 nunquid T poetolationibus B 18 etiam] et Sirm. XXX. 20 In Christi signo] Symmacho papae Sirm . 22 omnes B 23 habende L\' ut uid. st T 8. l. m. 2 exiguntur in pretio,: ita ingesta uilescunt. inportunitas cum facundos opinionis nobilitate dispoliet, dedecore uestit indoctos. sed hac me; ratiocinatione. sustento, quia est quidem audax, sed; amabile praeuium praestitisse sermonem, et sicut uicinum temeritatis, ita proximum dilgentiae ad caritatem pertinens iter aperire. inter; ecclesiarum homines numquid reatus est, si pari amore contenderint dispares dignitate? aut excedunt modici honoris angustiam qui desiderant suffragio gratiae summatibus, conparari? non. habet superbi conscientiam. qui se tantum ia affectionis muniis non metitur, praesumo dicere, directus subditorum feruor est qui in hac re praecedentes anteuenit. ecce sic partes meas quasi uoluntariae allocutionis fuscatas. nube purgaui. sed dico quod ad defensionem spectat uberrimam. , filius uester domnus Rhodanius exegit a me m usum stili praesentis erumpere fateor tamen in studio meo fuisse: quod iussit, quia qui uolentem coegerit non laborat. deo gratias principe loco et tota epistulae concinnatione referamus: quia in societatem capitis sui aliquando Romana membra coierunt, iustum erat, ut et beatus Petrus apostolus sedi suae ecclesias et senatui liberiori per dominum partes debitas reformaret. dignus regnator, digni in quorum aetate uotorum summa contigerit: nam etsi itura ad posteros felicitas perseueret, litandum illis est laudatione praecipua, a quibus sumpsit exordium. I deo efficaciter supplicastis, ut illius uos uirtus erueret, cuius potest seruare clementia. didicistis eius euentus prosperos, quem uidetis secutam dum mandat bella uictoriam. parum superest, ut mansuetudinem mentis illius 1 praetio V uiliscnnt B 2 facundas B nubilitate Lx dispoli«et L indootus B 3 ratiotinatione T, rationatione V 4 preuium B 5 timeritatis B 9 coparaci L 11 feruor scripsi, error libri praecidentes B . 18 expectat B 14 rodani,us BLT, rodanus F , exiget B, coegit Sim. 16 uoluntatem quoegerit B ,17 epistolae BT 18 a uerbis quia in nouum caput incipit in BLPTVb, linea dimidia ante quia uacua relida in !r 19 quoierunt B 20 aecclesias BV 21 reformarei L digni scripsi, dignus libri quorum] quo cum Sirm. 28 illi Sirm . 24 supplioastes B 25 dedicistes B -26 dum mandat secutam LPTVb ita profundam teneatis, quasi sit ignara. procinctuum, deo tribuente MO pax eius turbari dubiis potest nec fortitudo qualibet obiectatione confringi. nihil apud illum tutius supplicante solus euasit proeliares acies qui rogauit: uicit armorum inpetus qui obtulit deuotus obsequium quod uix ueteres principes praesentiae suae sudore potiti sunt, hoc semper regis nostri breuis procurauit epistula. per excursus dirigitur felix exercitus ad triumphum qui credat militem eius in labore et perfections, habere quidem superantis. gloriam, sed continentiam subiugati? consummatis congressionibus de irae hereditate nil remanet; uno tempore quos perniciosos aduersarii uiderint blandos sentiunt tributa pendentes et haec quidem caelesti praeparantur pro hac repensione suffragio, quia fides nostra apud eum, aliud ipse sectetur, in portu est. mirabilis patientia, quando tenax propositi sui claritatem non obumbrat alieni: nam et ecclesiarum nostrarum patrimonia relabi, nisi aucta fuerint, ingemescit. sic factum est, ut et statum suum locupletes pauperum substantiae teneant et mediocres ad supremam opulentiam conualescant. in sacerdotibus uirtutes et innatas colit et non repertas inspirat. sed cur beatitudinem uestram praeiudicio diffusi sermonis anticipem? continuo experientia uestra et spiritalis illa perfectio ieiunum me fuisse in filii uestri laudibus accusabit, et cum soleant amplificari facta conloquiis, sterilem me relatorem de uirtutum eius messe causabitur. iam saeculares apices, curules et trabeas, patricias 1 retioeatis b procinct∗u ̃ L 3 tocins B 4 uicet B 5 obitnlit denotos L 6 p regis (p deleuit m. 2) T 8 triumfum B quia Sirm . 9 Buperantis PT*b, superantes LT1V, superbiantes B 10 consumpmatis B irae om. T 11 remanit B perniciosus B adnersari T 12 haec L 13 responsione V114 alint B, [cum} aliud Sirm . sectitur B importn T 15 ciuitate L 17 acta T ingemiscit LTV, ingemiscat B 18 locupletes Sirm., locnpletis BLPT Vb paupm T1 sed uocem exp. m. 2, super panperum nescio quod signum posuit L, prosperum fort . mediocres Sirm., mediocris BLPlVb 19 connaliscant B 20 pepertas B 22 spiritale B perspectio BL 23 fili B 25 seculares B etiam dignitates qualiter ant naturae reddat aut moribus, domestici perlatoris adstipulatione uulgetur. nam et ueteres in antiqua generis luce durare facit et nouos splendore inopinati fulgoris inradiat. facilius respublica eius bono dispensationis effluens in priuatam migrat opulentiam, quam famulantium census in palatina lucra commutetur. nunc, quod superest, meae seruitiis salutationis acceptis oratione prospicite, ut Christus redemptor noster quae in praefato clementissimo rege seruientibus sibi contulit longa aetate conseruet det etiam regni de eius germine successorem, ne bona tanti hominis in una aetate ueterescant et antiquata temporibus pro sola aurei saeculi commemoratione nominentur.