Letter 9030: In the sign of Christ.

It is the nature of things that even one capable in mouth and heart can be faulted for presumption, because all verbal facility, having transgressed the boundaries of humility, is trampled underfoot; and just as the things that are demanded must be held in value, so they become cheap when thrust forward. Importunity strips even the eloquent of the nobility of their reputation, while it clothes the unlearned in disgrace. But I sustain myself with this reasoning: it is indeed bold, yet lovable, to have provided a preliminary address, and just as it is close to temerity, so too a path that pertains to affection and is near to diligence opens the way to love. Among men of the churches, is it really a crime if those unequal in dignity contend with equal love? Or do those of modest rank exceed the narrow bounds of their honor who desire to be compared with the greatest by the support of grace? He does not have the conscience of a proud man who does not measure himself only by the gifts of affection. I venture to say that the fervent devotion of subordinates is upright when it surpasses their superiors in this matter. Thus I have cleared my position, as if tainted by the cloud of unsolicited speech. But I say what pertains to the most ample defense: your son, the lord Rhodanius, has demanded of me to break forth into the exercise of the present pen. Yet I confess that what he commanded was already in my purpose, because he who compels a willing man does not labor. Let us give thanks to God in the first place and throughout the entire composition of this letter: because the Roman members have at last been joined in fellowship with their head. It was just that blessed Peter the Apostle should restore to his see its churches and to the senate, now more free, its proper role through the Lord. Worthy is the ruler, worthy are those in whose lifetime the sum of our desires has been attained — for even if the happiness that is destined to pass to posterity endures, those from whom it took its beginning must be honored with special praise. You have prayed to God so effectually that the valor of the one whose clemency can preserve you has delivered you. You have learned the prosperous outcomes of him whom you see: victory follows when he commands wars. Little remains but that you hold the gentleness of his mind so profoundly as if it were ignorant of campaigns. By God's grant, his peace cannot be disturbed by uncertainties nor his fortitude shattered by any opposition. Nothing is safer in his presence than the suppliant: he alone has escaped the battle lines who has entreated; he has overcome the onset of arms who has offered devoted service. What the ancient rulers scarcely obtained by the sweat of their own presence, the brief letter of our king has always accomplished. The blessed army is directed through expeditions to triumph. Who would believe that his soldier possesses in labor and perfection the glory of a conqueror but the restraint of a subject? When battles are concluded, nothing remains from the inheritance of wrath: at one and the same time, those whom adversaries saw as dangerous they find to be gentle tribute-payers. And these things are prepared by heavenly support as recompense, because our faith is in safe harbor with him, whatever else he may pursue. Wondrous patience, when one tenacious of his own purpose does not overshadow the glory of another — for he groans that the patrimonies of our churches would decline if they were not increased. So it has come about that the wealthy maintain the substance of the poor in their own condition, and those of moderate means grow to the greatest opulence. In bishops he cultivates both innate virtues and inspires those not found. But why should I anticipate Your Blessedness with the prejudice of an extended speech? Your experience and that spiritual perfection will immediately accuse me of having been barren in the praises of your son, and whereas deeds are usually amplified by discourse, it will charge that I have been a sterile reporter from the harvest of his virtues. How he returns or renders secular honors, curule chairs and consular robes, even patrician dignities either to nature or to character — let it be made known by the attestation of the domestic bearer. For he both makes the old endure in the ancient light of their lineage and illuminates the new with the splendor of unexpected brilliance. More easily does the commonwealth, overflowing through his good administration, migrate into private wealth than the resources of his servants be converted into palace profits. Now, for the rest, having received the services of my greeting, look to it by prayer that Christ our Redeemer may preserve for a long age what He has conferred in the aforesaid most clement king upon those who serve Him, and may He grant also a successor to the kingdom from his offspring, lest the good things of so great a man grow old in a single age and, antiquated by 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.