Letter 5038: Gregory to Elias [of Isauria], priest and abbot.

TO ELIAS, PRESBYTER AND ABBOT. [Summary: He accepts his excuse; he sends the Gospels; he binds Epiphanius to the diaconate of the Roman Church; he overcomes by his generosity a modest request for assistance.] Gregory to Elias, presbyter and abbot of Isauria. We have received the writings of your most sweet Holiness, in which you have given us such satisfaction that we ought not to be saddened that, according to my desire, you have not come to the thresholds of blessed Peter, chief of the apostles. And I indeed wished altogether to see you; but if it was an infirmity of the body, or an impediment of age, this suffices for me, that wherever your Holiness shall be, you may pray solicitously for me, since, though we are divided in place by the body, we are always undivided in charity. The Gospels, moreover, we have sent as you directed. Concerning your son Epiphanius you directed [Gratian I, dist. 1, c. 122] that we should promote him to the sacred order and send him back to you. But in one matter we have heard you, while in the other we were by no means able to hear you. He has indeed been made a deacon; but whoever has once received a sacred order in this Church has no further leave to depart from it. If therefore I have not been able to see you, from this circumstance I take consolation, that I find rest in your son. You wished, moreover, that fifty solidi be sent to you for the needs of your cell, and esteeming these to be too much, out of them you made us a gift of ten, that we might send forty. But lest perhaps even this should be burdensome, you have further deigned to bestow upon us still others out of them. But since we have found you exceedingly generous toward our "continence" [i.e. toward maintaining us], we respond to that same generosity in like turn. We have sent fifty, and lest perchance they should be too few, we have added another ten. And lest indeed even this should be too little, we have caused another twelve to be joined. In this, moreover, we recognize your charity, in that you presume concerning us just as you ought to presume. But by the omnipotent Lord I beg that you make assiduous prayers for me, that I may the more swiftly be absolved from the sins by which I am bound and from the tribulations by which I am pressed, and may fully enjoy the joys of the heavenly fatherland. And as for what you have indicated in your letters concerning how you pray for me, know that it has greatly relieved me. But now, after my petition, do still more than even, when I did not petition, you have done. As for my aforesaid most beloved son Epiphanius the deacon, since by the intervening diaconate we have bound him to this Church, it ought not to sadden your Holiness, since to holy Peter, chief of the apostles, because you cannot serve in person through your own body, you yourself serve him through your son, and may fully enjoy the gain of heavenly recompense. May the holy Trinity guard you with its protection, and shelter you in the wilderness of the present life from the enemies that follow after and that come against you, so that it may both release whatever past sins are yours, and remove from before you, by the hand of its mercy, those things which still come before your face. May it lead you, and may it bring you through, and may it receive you into eternal joy. May it grant you to attain the lot of the elect, and to pray for me, a sinner, that I may be worthy to be absolved. In the month of June, in the thirteenth indiction. EPISTLE 39. TO ANASTASIUS, BISHOP [OF ANTIOCH]. [Summary: He rejoices over his restoration to the see of Antioch, and at the same time briefly relates his own calamities.] Gregory to Anastasius, bishop of Antioch. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will" (Luke 2:14); for that great river, which once had abandoned the parched rocks of Antioch, has at last returned to its proper channel, and waters the valleys lying subject nearby, so that it bears one fruit thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold. Now indeed there is no doubt that many flowers of souls are growing up in its valleys, and that they come through to ripe fruits by the streams of your tongue. Wherefore to the omnipotent God we render due praise, with the voices of heart and mouth, from all our inmost marrow, and in your beatitude we rejoice together not only on your own behalf, but on behalf of all who are subject to you. I have received the letters of your Holiness, most sweet and most pleasant to me, breathing forth, so to speak, that very labor. And indeed I know that, after those heights of repose in which you touched the heavenly secrets with the hand of your heart, it is exceedingly grievous to bear outward things. But remember that you govern an apostolic see, and you the more easily temper your grief, since you have become all things to all men. In the books of Kings, as your perfect Holiness knows, a certain man is described who used either hand in place of the right (1 Chron. 12). In which matter I have no doubt concerning my most sweet and most holy patron of old, my lord Anastasius, that while he draws earthly works toward heavenly profit, he turns his left hand to the use of the right, so that the heavenly intention may accomplish its work, namely, with the right hand, and the care of temporal things, while it is led to the profit of justice, may have the left changed into the strength of the right. And indeed these things cannot in any way be without grievous labor and weariness. But let us recall the labors of those who went before, and the things we endure will not be hard. "For through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:21). And "we were burdened beyond measure, even beyond strength, so that it wearied us even to live. But we ourselves had within us the sentence of death, that we should not be confident in ourselves" (2 Cor. 1:8-9). And yet "the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18). How then can we pass without labor through the heat of this world, we weak sheep, in which we have known even the rams to sweat grievously? But how great the tribulations I suffer in this land, from the swords of the Lombards, from the iniquities of judges, from the insolence and importunity of lawsuits, from the care of those subject to me, from the infirmity also of the body, I am sufficient to set forth neither with pen nor with tongue. And of these, even if I can speak briefly of anything, I hesitate, lest to your most holy charity, while it is afflicted by its own tribulations, I should also increase mine. But may omnipotent God, by the bounty of his mercy, fill the mind of your most holy beatitude with all consolation, and grant that I, unworthy, may at some time rest from these evils which I suffer, through your intercession. Amen. The grace, namely, [...OCR-garbled apparatus omitted...] These words, taken from your writings, I therefore set down in my letters, so that your beatitude may recognize, concerning holy Ignatius, that he is not only yours but also ours. For just as we hold his master, the chief of the apostles, in common, so let none of us hold that same chief's disciple as his own private possession. Your blessing, moreover, we received with the mind we ought, well-fragrant, well-savoring. And we give thanks to the omnipotent God, because the things you do, the things you say, the things you give, are both fragrant and savory. Concerning your life therefore let us speak together, let us all say: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will." EPISTLE 40. TO MAURICE AUGUSTUS. [Summary: He complains that he has been called a fool; that in the matter of Ariulf's offer of peace others are believed more than himself; that meanwhile Italy is led captive. He exhorts the emperor with many arguments to render the reverence due to priests. He enumerates the blows he himself has received. He excuses Gregory the prefect and Castorius the master of soldiers. He warns that the divine judgment will differ from the imperial one.] Gregory to Maurice Augustus. In the most serene commands of my lords, the piety of my masters, while it sought to reprove me concerning certain matters, by sparing me spared me not at all. For in them, under the term of urbane simplicity, it calls me a fool. In Sacred Scripture indeed, when simplicity is set down in a good sense, it is vigilantly often joined to prudence and rectitude. Whence also it is written of blessed Job: "He was a man simple and upright" (Job 1:1). And the blessed apostle Paul admonishes, saying: "Be simple in evil, and prudent in good" (Rom. 16:19). And through himself Truth admonishes, saying: "Be prudent as serpents, and simple as doves" (Matt. 10:16). Indicating it to be exceedingly useless if either prudence be lacking to simplicity, or simplicity to prudence. Therefore, that he might make his servants learned in all things, he willed them to be both simple as doves and prudent as serpents, so that in them the cunning of the serpent might sharpen the simplicity of the dove, and the simplicity of the dove might temper the cunning of the serpent. I therefore, who in the most serene commands of my lords, deceived by the cunning of Ariulf, am denounced as simple, prudence not being joined to it, it is established beyond doubt that I am called a fool, which that it is so I myself also confess. For if your piety should keep silent of this, the causes cry out. For if I had not been a fool, I would by no means have come to endure these things which I suffer in this place amid the swords of the Lombards. But in that matter which I reported concerning Ariulf, that with his whole heart he was prepared to come over to the commonwealth, while I am not believed, I am even reproached as having lied. But although I am not a [worthy] priest, I know this injury to a priest to be grievous, that, serving the truth, he should be deemed deceitful. And I long ago knew, [Summary continued: he complains that he is called a fool, that Nordulf is believed more than himself, Leo more than himself], and now to those who appear to be in the middle more credit is given than to my assertions. And indeed, if the captivity of my land did not increase by daily moments, I would make light of my contempt and derision. But this also vehemently afflicts me, that I, from whom I bear the charge of falsehood, from that same source Italy is daily led captive under the yoke of the Lombards. And while my representations are believed in nothing, the strength of the enemy grows up monstrously. This nevertheless I suggest to my most pious lord, that he think of me whatever ill he pleases, but concerning the usefulness of the commonwealth and the redemption of Italy let him not easily lend his pious ears to any chance persons, but believe deeds rather than words. As for priests, moreover [Causa 11, q. 4, c. 41], let not our lord, out of earthly power, be too swiftly indignant, but with excellent consideration, for the sake of him whose servants they are, so rule over them that he also render the reverence due. For in the divine eloquences priests are sometimes called gods, sometimes angels. For also through Moses it is said of him who is to be brought to an oath: "Bring him to the gods" (Exod. 21:6), that is, to the priests. And again it is written: "You shall not disparage the gods" (Exod. 22:28), namely the priests. And the prophet says: "The lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law from his mouth, for he is the angel of the Lord of hosts" (Mal. 2:7). What wonder therefore if your piety deign to honor those whom God himself, in his own eloquence bestowing honor, calls either angels or gods? The ecclesiastical history also testifies that, when accusations against bishops had been offered in writing to the prince Constantine of pious memory, he indeed received the documents of accusation, but, calling together those same bishops who had been accused, in their sight he burned the documents which he had received, saying: "You are gods, established by the true God; go, and settle your causes among yourselves, for it is not fitting that we should judge gods." By which sentence, however, pious lord, he bestowed something more upon himself out of humility than upon them out of the reverence shown. For before, indeed, there had been pagan princes in the commonwealth, who, not knowing the true God, worshipped gods of wood and stone, and yet bestowed the greatest honor upon their priests. What wonder therefore if a Christian emperor deign to honor the priests of the true God, since the pagans, as we have said before, princes who served gods of wood and stone, knew to render honor to priests? These things therefore I suggest to the piety of my lords not for myself, but for all priests. For I am a sinful man; and because I daily, unceasingly, offend the omnipotent God, I suspect that I have some remedy before his dread examination, if I am unceasingly struck daily by blows. And I believe that you placate that same omnipotent Lord toward yourselves the more, the more strictly you afflict me who serve him ill. For I had already received many blows, and, when the commands of my lords supervened, I found consolations which I did not hope for. If indeed I am able, let me swiftly enumerate these blows. First, that the peace was withdrawn from me which I had made with the Lombards stationed in Tuscany, without any loss to the commonwealth. Then, the peace being broken, the soldiers were taken away from the city of Rome. And indeed some were killed by the enemy, while others were stationed at Narni and Perugia; and that Perugia might be held, Rome was abandoned. After this a graver blow was the coming of Agilulf, so that with my own eyes I beheld Romans tied by the neck with ropes in the manner of dogs, who were being led into Francia to be sold. And because we who were within the city, by God's protection, escaped his hands, it was sought whence we might seem to be culpable, namely, why grain was lacking, which in this city can by no means be kept long in great quantity, as I have more fully indicated in another representation. And indeed concerning myself I am in nothing disturbed, since, my conscience bearing witness, I confess that I am prepared to suffer whatsoever adversities, provided I escape all these at least with the salvation of my soul. But concerning the glorious men Gregory the prefect and Castorius the master of soldiers I am afflicted not moderately, who both in no way neglected to do all the things that could be done, and bore most vehement labors of vigils and of the guarding of the city in that same siege, and after all these things were struck by the grievous indignation of my lords. Concerning whom I plainly understand that it is not their own deeds, but my person, that weighs upon them. With which, because they had labored together in tribulation, after the labor they are together tribulated. But as for the fact that the piety of my lords holds out to me that fearful and terrible judgment of the omnipotent God, I beg through that same omnipotent Lord that he do this no further. For as yet we do not know who there is of what sort. And Paul, the excellent preacher, says: "Judge not before the time, until the Lord come, who will both illuminate the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of hearts" (1 Cor. 4:5). This nevertheless I say briefly, that, unworthy and a sinner, I presume more upon the mercy of the coming Jesus than upon the justice of your piety. And there are many things concerning his judgment which men are ignorant of, since perhaps the things you praise, he will reprehend; and the things you reprehend, he will praise. Amid all these uncertain things, therefore, I return to tears alone, asking that the same omnipotent God may both here rule our most pious lord with his own hand, and in that terrible judgment find him free from all faults. And may he make me so to please men, if it be necessary, that I may not offend his eternal grace. EPISTLE 41. TO CONSTANTINA AUGUSTA. [Summary: He suggests to the empress that the Corsicans and Sicilians are being unjustly and too heavily burdened. Even if thereby less money should be had for the expenses of Italy, yet the groans of the oppressed must be restrained.] Gregory to Constantina Augusta. Since I know that the most serene lady thinks of the heavenly fatherland and of the life of her soul, I vehemently judge that I commit a fault if I keep silent of those things which ought to be suggested for the fear of the omnipotent Lord. [Gratian 12, q. 1, c. 8.] When I had learned that there were in the island of Sardinia many of the gentiles, and that these still, in the perverse manner of gentilism, serve the sacrifices of idols, and that the priests of that same island are sluggish in preaching our Redeemer, I sent thither one of the bishops of Italy, who, the Lord cooperating, led many of the gentiles to the faith. But he reported to me a sacrilegious thing, that those who in it sacrifice to idols pay a fee to the judge, so that it may be permitted them to do this. Of whom, when certain had been baptized, and had now ceased to sacrifice to idols, still, even after baptism, that fee is exacted from them by that same judge of the island which they had been accustomed before to give for the immolation to idols. And when the aforesaid bishop rebuked him, he answered that he had promised so great a sum for the office, that it could not be made up except even from such causes. The island of Corsica, moreover, is pressed by such excess of those exacting, and by such burden of exactions, that those who are in it scarcely suffice, by selling their sons, to complete the things which are exacted. Whence it comes that, the pious commonwealth being abandoned, the possessors of that same island are driven to flee to the most abominable nation of the Lombards. For what graver, what crueller thing can they suffer from the barbarians than to be compelled, constrained and oppressed, to sell their own sons? In the island of Sicily, moreover, a certain Stephen, chartulary of the maritime districts, is said to work such great prejudices and oppressions, invading the places of individuals, and, without the pleading of causes, placing title-marks throughout possessions and houses, that if I should wish to relate each of his deeds which have come to me, I could not fill this out even in a great volume. All which let the most serene lady carefully look upon, and restrain the groans of the oppressed. For these things I do not suspect have come to your most pious ears. For if they had been able to come, they would by no means have remained until now. Which things must be suggested to my most pious lord at a fitting time, so that, freed and stripped of the burden of this corruption, he may make himself stand free in his own sight. For although the sweetness of the heavenly fatherland, which is sought, be inestimable, yet there are many sorrows in this life which daily impel toward the love of heavenly things. Which sorrows in this very respect alone please me vehemently, because they do not permit anything to please in this world. For the things, most holy brother, which we suffer in this land concerning the person of your friend, the lord Romanus, we are by no means able to speak. Yet briefly I say, that his malice toward us has surpassed the swords of the Lombards; so that the enemies who slay us seem more kindly than the judges of the commonwealth, who consume us by their malice, by rapines and deceits, in our very thought. And at one time to bear the care of bishops and clergy, of monasteries also and of the people, against the enemies of the commonwealth, the judges of the commonwealth, and the Lombards positioned everywhere [...]. Even if less expense be allotted in Italy, let him nevertheless from his own empire restrain the tears of the oppressed. For perhaps therefore so great expenses in this land profit less toward usefulness, because they are gathered with some admixture of sin. Let the most serene lords therefore command that nothing be gathered with sin. And I know that even if little be allotted to the usefulness of the commonwealth, from that the commonwealth is much aided. And although perhaps it happen to be less aided with smaller expenses, it is nevertheless better that we should not live temporally, than that you should find any obstacle to eternal life. For weigh what minds, what bowels of parents can be, when they sell off their sons that they may not be tortured. And how one ought to have mercy on the sons of others, this they well know who have sons of their own. Whence let it suffice me to have suggested these things briefly, lest, if your piety should not know the things that are done in these parts, the fault of my silence should punish me before the strict judge.

AD ELIAM PRESBYTERUM ET ABBATEM. R Excuaationem ejus accipit; mittit Evangelia; Epipha- nium diaconatu Romane Ecclesie alliqat ; mode- s{am 8ubsidi1 petitionem liberaluate vincit. Gregorius Eliz presbylero et abbati lsauriz. Dulcissima $sanclitatis vestra: Scripta SuScepi, in quibus mihi $atisſecistis, ut contristari non debeam quod secundum meum desiderium ad beati Petri aposto!orum pt incipis limina non venislis. Et ego quidem omnino vos videre volui; sed si molestia corporis * aut ztatis impedimento ſuit, hoc mihi suF- ficit, ut ubicunque tua $anclitas ſuerit, pro me $olli- cite oret, quia etsi locis corpore dividimur, chari- tale Semper indisjuneti 8umus. Evangelia aulem si- cut mandaslis transmisimus. Filium vero vestirum Epiphanium mandastis (Grat. 1, g. 1, c. 122), ut ad Sacrum ordinem provehere deberemus, vobisque re- transmittere. Sed in uno vos audivimus, in alters antem minime audire - potuimns. Diaconus quidem ſactus et; sed Þ quisquis Semel in hac Ecclesia or- dinem $acrum acceperit, egrediendi ex ea ulterius licentiam non habet. Si ergo vos videre non polui, hac ex re consolationem habeo, quia in filio vestro requiesco. Solidos autem vobis voluislis pro necessi- tatibus celle quinquaginta transmitti, quos multum esse xstimantes, ex eis nobis- decem donastis, ut quadraginta mitteremus. Sed ne forsitan vel hoe grave esset, adhuc alios nobis ex eis estis digna'i largiri. Sed quia vos valde © in continentia- nostra benignos inve::imus, eidem benignilati vice simili respondemus. Quinquaginta transmisimus, et ne for- damna injusle illata hinc inde resarcianutur ex arbi- [rio judicum. GUSSANY. © Corrupte ac contra Mss. fidem Editi, si ratio ju- dicantium. Eerisr. XXAVII |AL. 15, indict. 2]. — © Vatic. « Colhb. vet., Marin:. | 4 In Covlb. vet. subditur die 6 mensis Junii, indict. 15. In Collect. Pauli, Data dic quo 8wpra, hoc est 6 Ju- vii, indict. 14. Eetst. XX XVIII [ Al. 30]. — © Excusi, aut @fatis fp quod abest a Mss. =e PEE Sanctus Paulinus epist. ad Severum 6, ni fallor, dicit $e in sacerdotium Domini, non in locum ſuisse de- dicatum. Idem et aliis potuwit contingere. GUsSAavnv. © In libello Theodori proxime citato ad epist. 35, conlinen'ia pro 8ubsidio ponitur : Cyrilti continentta ultebar. liem in Pelagii epist. 145. Eodem $ensu a Gregorio 1ps0 usurpatuin videsis lib. 1, epist. 18 et 44; lib. mm, epist. 28; lih. v, epist. 30. Hic vero conlinentia signilicat amorem, benevolentiam, favo- rem. Vide notis ad epist. © lib. 1. In Vatic. D legitur in continentia vestra, 763 EE SANCTI GREGORH MAGNI 764 sitan minus essent, alios decem superaddidimus. Ne A dimus, et in vestra beatitudine non vobis tantum- vero et hoc adhuc minus esset, alios duodecim jungi fecimus. In hoc autem cognoscimus charitatem ve- 8tram, quia de nobis ita praeumitis, sicut vos pre- sumere debetis. Sed per omnipotentem Dominum rogo, ut assiduas preces pro me facias, quatenus a peccatis quibus obligatus sum, et tribulationibus qui- bus premor, citius absolvar, et patriz coelestis gau- diis perfruar. Hoc autem quod pro me qualiter oratis in episto:is vestris JB4 indicastis, cognoscite -quia valde me relevavit. Sed jam post petitionem meam amplius facite, quam etiam me non petente ſecistis. Praſatum vero dilectissimum filium meum Epipha- nium diaconum, quia huic Ecclesiz diaconatn inter- venienie ligavimus, sanclitatem tuam non debet con- tris{are, quod sancio Petro apostolorum principi, quia per temetipsum corpore non vales, ei per filium two ipse deservias, et lucro ccelestis remunerationis perſru»ris. Sancta autem Trinitas te 8ua protectione custo- diat, et in pr:esentis vitr ercmo a 8ubsequentibus at- que obviantibus hostibus tegat , ut et si qua sunt ve- 8lra praterita peccata relaxel, et ea quz adhuc ante faciem veniunt a vobis manu suz pietatis amoveat. Ipsa te dueat, et ipsa perducat, atque in zylerno gau- dio ipsa snscipiat. Det tibi ad electorum $ortem per- lingere, 4 et pro me peccatore, ut abzolvi merear, orare. * Mense Junio, indictione 13. EPISTOLA AXNXIX. AD ANASTASIUM EPISCOPUM, *De ejus in Antiochenam sedem reslitutione gratulatur, et uns Naliejue calamitates s(riclinus narrat. Gregorius Anastasio episcopo Antiocheno. « Gloria in excelsis Dev, et in terra pax hominibus bone voluntatis (Luc. n, 14); quia magnus ille flu- vius, qui quondam arentia Antiochiz $axa relique- rat, tandem ad proprium alveum reversus, et subje- ctas juxla. positas valles rigat, ut et unum tricesi- mum, et aliud sexagesimun, aliud vero centesimum fructum ſerat. Jam nunc dubium non est multos in ejus vallibus animarum flores. excrescere, eosSque ad maturos usque ſructus per linguz vestre fluenta pervenire. Unde omnipotenti Deo debitam laudem cordis atque oris vocibus ex omnibus medullis red- 4 In recent. Excusis, et pro peccatis meis, ut ; Secus quam legatur in Teller., Fatic., Norm., Corb., etc. * Jia Colbert. vet. el Vatic. EeisT. XXXIX | Al. 37]. — * Olim hoe evangeli- cum et angelicum . canticum adhibebatur ad gratia- rum actionem. Gregorius Turon., lib. 1 de Miraculis 8Sancti Martini, narrat omnem populum, viso mira- culo quodam cecinisse hymaum Gloria in excelsis Deo. Consule notam 1083 Menardi ad lib. Sacram. © Episcopos quoscunque vocatos ſuisse apostoli- cos, eorumque s:dem apostolicam, $sciun: swdiosi. Ne igitur actum agam, vide Filesacum, lib. de sacra episc. Auct. c. 9, \ 45, ubi id variis tesLlimoniis con- firmat. EsLlamen de Autiochena sede ratio specialis, quod in ea sancius Petrus primum sederit. Sic infra sedes Alexandrina ex eo dicitur apostolica, quod vanctus Marcus Petri discipulus cam administraverit primus. Gussanv. modo, se4 omnibus qui vobis subjacent congaude- mus. Suscepi vero epistolas dulcissime mihi atque Suavissime Sanciitatis vesirz, ipsum, ut ita dicam, laborem > gudantes. Et quidem scio quod post illa quietis culmina, in quibus secreta celestia cordis tongebas manu, grave valde sit exteriora lolerare. © Sed memento quia apostolicam sedem regis, et do- lorem Ccilius temperas, quoniam omnibus omnia ſa- ctus es. 4 In libris Regum, sicut perſecla vestra 8an- clitas novit, quidam describitur qui utraque manu pro dextera utebatur (1 Paralip. xx1). Inqua re ego de dulcissimo alque $anctissimo dudum patrono domno meo 7GS Anastasio dubius non sum, quia dum ter- rena opera ad cclestem utilitatem pertrahit, in usum B dextrz veriit sinistram, ut et celestis intentio opus syvum videlicet dextra peragat, et cura temporalium dum ad juslitiz utilitalem ducitur, ad fortitudinem dexirz $inisira permuletur. Et quidem hc esse sine gravi labore et tzdio ne- quaquam possunt. Sed recordemur labores prece- dentium, et dura non erunt quz toleramus. Per mul- fas enim tribulationes oportet nos introire in requum Dei (Act. xiv, 21). Et 8upra modum gravati 8umus, 8upra etiam virtutem, ila ut et nos !@deret eliam vivere. Sed et ipsi in nobis responsum mortis habuimus, ut non simus fidentes in nobis (IT Cor. 1, 8, 9). Et tamen non sunt condigne passiones hnjus lemporis ® ad superve- nientem gloriam, que revelabitur in nobis ( Rom. vin, 18). Quomodo igitur sine labore transire possumus x$stum hujus «#culi, nos infirm oves, in quo gravi- ter sudasse novimus f et arietes ? Quantas vero in hac terra tribulationes de Lango- bardorum gladiis, de iniquitatibus judicum, de ins0- lentia atque importupſtate causarum, de cura $ubjecto- rum, de molesiia etiam corporis 5 palior, explere nec calamo nec lingua suſlicio. De quibus et si qua breviter possum loqui, dubito, ne vestr $anclissimz charitati, dum ve suis tribulationibus aſſligitur,-etiam meas augeam. Sed omnipotens Deus, et 8uz largi- tate pietalis 8anctissime veslr# bealitudinis meniem . omni consolatione repleat, et indignum me aliquando ab bis que patior malis quiescere pro yeslra. iuler- cessione concedat. Þ> Amen. Gratia, Qua videlicet 4 In Bec. legitur, in lib. Jud cum. Fl 83ne cap. 3, 15,” laudatur Aod, qui utraque manu pro dextra ute- batur. Si ad lib. 1 Paralip. sanctus Gregorius alludit, legendum, quidem describun'ur, | | O— on av ”o —_— x — uw P=IFY n F; b- de 765 EPISTOLARUM LIB. V. — INDICT. Xi. — EPIST. XL. 766 verba de <criptis veslris accepla idcirco in meis A ut veritali serviens, fallax credatur. Et dudum novi epis(olis pono, ut de sancto Ignatio vestra beatitudo cognoscat, quia non 8olum vesler est, sed etiam nosler. Sicut enim magistrum ejus apostolorum principem habemus communem, ita quoque ejusdem principis discipulum nullus nostrum habeat priva» tum. Benedictionem autem vestiram qua debuimus mente Sugcepimus, bene redolentem, bene $apien-_ tem. Et omnipotenti D-o gratias agimns, quia et odora $unt et sapora quz agitis, que dicitis, que da- tis. De vita igitur vestra dicamus pariter, dicamus omnes : Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax homi- nibus bone voluntatis. | _ — EPISTOLA XL. AD MAURICIUM AUGUSTUM. Þ quoniam Nordulpho plus est ereditum quam mihi, Leoni amplius quam mihi, et nune eis qui esxe ad medium videntur plus quam meis assertionibus cre- dulitas impenditur. | Et quidem $i terre mew captivitas per quotidiana momenta non excresceret, de despectione mea atque irrigione |21tus (acerem. Sed et hoe me vehementer aſſligit, quia ego unde crimen falsitatis tolero, inde Italia quotidie ducitur $ub Langobardorumn juge capliva. Dumque meis suggestionibus in nullo eredi- tur, \ires hostium imraaniter excrescunt. Hoc tamen piissimo domino suggero, ut de me mala omnia qua- libet existimet, de utilitate vero reipublice et creplionis Haliz non quibuslibet facile pias aures Conqueritur quod ſatuus appella'us 8it, quod de Ariul- 3 praebeat, sed plus rebus quam verbis credat. Sacer- phi ad pacem animo plus aliis credaltur quam $ibj ; quod interim captiva ducatur Italia. Imperatorem , ut debitam $acerdolibus reverentiam impendat, mul- lis horlatur. (uas accepit ipse cenumerat plagas. Gregorium preſectum et Castorium magis'rum milt- tum excusal. Diversum ſore ab imperatorio divinum gudicium. Gregorius Mauricio Augusto. la serenissimis jussi0nibus suis dominorum pietas , dum me de quibusdam redarguere sludvuit, parcendo milij ginime pepercit. Nam in eis urbane $simplicita- tis vocabulo me ſatuum appellat. JGG In Scripiura eleniin Sacra cum in bona intelligentia ponitur sim- plicitas, vigilanter s82pe prudenliz atque rectitudini Sociatur. Unde etiam de beato Job scriptum est : Erat rir simplexet rectus (Job. 1, 1). Et beatus Paulus apos!o- lus adinonet, diceus : Es!ote simplices in malo, el pru- dentes in bono (Rom. xvi, 19). Et per semetipsam admonet Veritas, dicens : Ezstote pruſentes sicut 8er- penles, et simplices 8icut columbe ( Matth. x, 1b). Es8e valde inutile indicans, si aut $implicitati pru- denlia, aut prudentiz simplicitas desit. Ut ergo $ser- yos $UOS ad cunclta eruditos efficeret, esSe eos et simplices sicut columbas, et prudentes ut Serpentes yoluit, quatenus in eis ei Serpentis as(utia columbe Simplicitalem acueret, et columbe simplicitas ser- pentis aslutiam temperaret. Ego igitur, qui in 8erenissimis dominorum jus- Sionibus, ab Ariulphi astutia deceptus, non adjuncta prudentia Simplex denuntior, constat procul dubio quia ſatuus appellor, quod ita esse ego quoque ipsc doltibus autem (Cavs. 41, g. 4, c. 41) non ex terrena poteslate dominus noster citius indignetur, $ed excellenti consideratione propter cum cujus servi Sunt, eis ita dominetur, ut etiam debitam reveren- tian impendat. Nam in divinis eloquiis aliquando sacerdotes dii, aliquando angeli vocantur. Nam et per Moysen de eo qui ad juramentum deducendus esl, diciltur : Applica illum © ad deos ( Exod. xx1, 8), id est ad $acerdotes. Et rursum scriptum est : Diis non detrahes (Ibid. 28), scilicet sacerdotibus. Et propheta »it : Labia 8acerdotis custotient scientiam, et legem requirent ex ore ejus, quia angelus Domini exercituum est (Malach. n, 7). Quid ergo mirum i il- los vesira pictas dignetur honorare, quibus in su0 elo- C, quio honorem tribuens, eos aut angelos, aut deos ipse etiam appellat Deus ? 767 Eecclesiastica quoque testatur historia , quia cum piz memorize Constantino prineipi scripto oblatze accusationes contra epi-copos ſuissent, libel- los quidem accusationis accepit, sed eosdem qui accusali ſuerant episcopos Cconvocans, in eorum conspectu libellos quos acceperat incendit, dicens : Vos dii eslis, a vero Deo consituti, He , ct inter vos causas vesiras 4 disponite, quia dignum non es! vt nos. judicemus deos. It qua tamen $8ententia, pic domine, Sibi magis ex humilitate quam illis aliquid prexlitit ex reveientia impensa. Ante enum © quippe pagani in. republica principes ſuerunt, qui verum Deum nescien tes, deos ligneos <t lapideos colebant, et tamen eorum conſiteor. Nam $i hoc vestra pietas tacest, causz D Sacerdotibus honorem maximum tribuebant. Quid clamant. Ego enim si ſatuus non ſuissem, ad- ista lolerarda guz inter Langobardorum gladios hoe in lvco patior minime venissem., In ea aulem re quam de Ariulpho perhibui, quia toto corde * venire ad rempublicam paratus fuit, dum mihi non creditur, eljatn mentilus esse reprehendor. Sed ctsi sacerdos n0n Sum, SCio gravem esse hanc injuriam $acerdoti, Epist. XL [Al. 51]. — * Hoc ext, convenire cum republica, et 1o&dos mire. Faulo Diac., lib. iy Hisior. Langob., c. IT. © Hebraice, 27 quod etiai aliquando Signifi- fa ergo ' mirum $i Christianus imperator veri Dei $a cerdotes dignetur honorare, dum pagaui , vt prie- diximus, principes honorem impeudere 8acerdoli- bus noverunt qui diis ligneis et lapideis $ervie- hant ? Hazc ergo pictali dominorum non pro me, $ed pro cunctis Sacerd«tibus Suggero. Ego cnim homo pec- cat judices. 4 E-iti, discutite, De hoc praclaro Constaulini ma- gni facinore leg» Baronium ad an. 525, n. 42 el $e- 'quentibus ; et ex nuperrimis SCriptor:-bus, Tillemon- Hum im Historia imperatorum, in Conslantino Maguo. Viie Suzomentian, lib. 1, c. 1 SANCTI GREGORI! MACNI cator sum. Et quia omnipotenti Deq incessanter A sericordia quam de vestre pielatis juslitia presumo, quotidie delinquo, aliquod. mihi apud tremendum examen illius esse remedium $uspicor, $i incessan- tibus quotidie plagis ſerior. Et credo quia eumdem omnipotentem Dominum tanto vobis amplius placa- tis, quanto me ei male servientem districtius affligi- tis. Mulias enim jam plagas acceperam, et superve- nientibus dominorum jussionibus, inveni consolatio- nes quas non sperabam. Si enim possum, has celeri- ter plagas enumero. Primum quod mihi pax subducta est, quam cum Langobardis in Tuscia positis sine ul'o reipublice dispendio ſeceram. Deinde corrupta pace, de Ro- mana Civitate milites ablati sunt. Et quidem alii ab hostibvs occisi, alii vero Narnijs et f Perusii positi ; et ut Perusjum teneretur, Roma relicta est. Post hoc plaga gravior ſuit 5 adventus Agilulphi, ita ut oculis meis cernerem Romanos more canum in collis funibus ligatos, qui ad Franciam ducebantur venales. Et quia nos qui intra civitatem ſuimnus, Deo protegente, manus ejus evasimus, quzsitum est unde culpabiles esse videremur, videlicet cur frumenta defuerint, quz in hac urbe-diu multa servari nullatenns pos- 8unt, Sicut in alia suggestione plenins indicavi. Et quidem de memetipso in. nullo turbatus 8um, quia teste conscientia ſateor, aiversa quzelibet pati paratus Sum, dummodo hiec omnia cum $alute duntaxat mee animz evadam. Sed de gloriosis viris Gregorio prx- ſecto et Castorio magistro miltitum non medioeriter gum aſſlictus, qui et omnia quiz potuerunt fieri nullo modo facere neglexerunt, et labores vigiliarum et custodiz civitatis in eadem obsessione vehemen- tissimos pertulerunt, et post hzc omnia gravi domi- norum indignatione percussi sunt. De quibus pa- lenier 768 inlelligo quia eos non $ua acta, sed mea persona gravat. Cum qua, quia pariter in 1ri- bulatione laboraverant, post laborem pariter tribu- lantur. Quod antem dominorum pietas illud mihi pavendum et terribile omnipotentis Dei judicium intentat, rogo per eumdem omnipotentem Dominum ne hoc ulterius quidem faciat. Nam adhue nescimus quis ibi qualis sit. Et Paulus egregius predicator ait : Nolite judicare ante lempus, donec venial Dominus, qui et illuminabit abzscondita tenebrarum , et maniſeslabit consilia cor- _ dium (1 Cor. 1v, 5). Hoe tamen breviter dico, quo- niam indignus et peccator plus de venientis Jesu mi- Nerm., Corb., et al., Perusio positi. 5 Hizc fusius referuntur hom. ultima in Ezech. Vide Paulum Diac., lib. ww. Hist., c. 8. Eersr, XL[[ AL. 53]. — * Gratianus legit, cum devo- lisgimam. | 4 Norm., premium illud exiguntur. Et sunt multa quz de judicio illius homines igno- rant, quia fortlasse que vos laudatis, ille reprehben- det ; et quze vos reprehenditis, ille laudabit. Inter hec erg» omnia incerla, ad solas lacrymas redeo, pc- tens ut idem omnipotens Deus piissimum Dominum nostirum et sua hic manu regal, el in illo terribili judicio liberum ab omnibus delictis inveniat. Et me ita placere, $i necesse est, hominibus faciat, ut zter- nam ejus gratiam non offendam. | EPISTOLA XLI. AD CONSTANTINAM AUGUSTAM. Imperatori suggerat Cors0s ac Siculos inique ac ni- mium gravari. Etsi minus in Italie expensas ha- beretur pecunie, compescendos tamen oppressorum gemilus. B Gregorius Constantine Augustze. Cum *® serenissimam Dominam sciam de ccelesti palria atque anime 8uz vita cogitare, culpam me commiltere vehementer existimo, si ea quz pro ti- more omnipotentis Domini sunt suggerenda siluero. (Grat. 12,q.1, c. 8.) Dum in Sardinia insula multos esse gentilium co- gnovissem, e-8que adhne prave gentilitatis more ido- lorum $acriſiciis deservire, et ejusdem-insulz 8acer- dotes ad praedicandum Redemptorem nostrum torpen- tes existere, unum illuc ex INtaliz episcopis misi, qui multos gentlilium 2d fidem Domino cooperante per- duxit. Þ Sed rem mihi sacrilegam nuntiavit, quia hi qui in ea idolis jimmolant judici premium persol- vunt, ut eis hoc facere liceal. Quorum dum quidam baptizati essent, et immolare jam idolis © desivis- gent, adhuc ab eodem insulze judice, etiam post baptismum, 4 premium illud exigitur quod dare privs pro idolorum immolatione consueverant. Quem cum predictus episcopus increparet, *© lantum $se $uffra- gium promisisse respondit, ut nisi de causis etiam talibus impleri non possit. Corsica vero insula tanta nimietate exigentium et gravanine premitur exactio- num, ut ipsi qui in illa sunt eadem que exiguntur complere vix filivs suos vendendo JGY suſliciant. Unde fit ut, derelicta pia repuhlica , possessores ejusdem insule ad nefandissimam Langobardorum genlem cogantur eſfugere. Quid enim gravius, quid crudelius a barbaris patj possunt quam ut constricti alque compressi $uos vendere filios compellantur ? In Sicilia autem insula f Stephanus quidam , mari- narum partium chartularius, tanita prejudicia tan- pes ipsi suſfragii titulo pecunias accipiebant sive suſ- ſragia despotica. Itz Cnjacins in expositione Novell 8, de presidibus, qua Justinianus omne suffragio- rum genus su<t(ulit. Vide prafationem illius novellz, et c. 1et 7, ubi reperies multa contra officiorum ve- nalitatem. Vide etiam Suelonium, in Vespasiano, Cc. 15 et 25. Gussaxv. OO COOLS 2 nom ———— 969 EPISTOLARUM L1B. V. — INDICT. XII. — EPIST. XLI. 770 tasque oppressiones operari dicitur, invadendo loca A corruptionis hujus pondere exutum $u0 conspectni S$ingulorum, alque sine dictione causarum per pos- Sessiones ac domos 8 titulos ponendo , ut $i velim acta ejus singula quz ad me pervenerunt dicere, ma- gno volumine hxc explere non possim. QUuz omnia $erenissima domina solerter aspiciat, el oppressorum gemilus compesc2t. xc enim ego * al piissimas aures vestras pervenisse non SUSPICOT. Nam si pervenire potuissent, nunc usque minime permansissent. Quz piissimo domino apto sunt tem- pore suggerenda, ut ab anima $Sua, ab imperio atque liberum existere ſaciat. Quamvis enim inestimabilis sit ceelestis patriz dulcedo, quz rabat, multi tamen in hac vila dolores $unt qui ad amorem coelestium quotidie inpellant. Qui mihi in hoc ipso solum ve- hementer placent, quia placere in hoc mundo aliquid non permiltunt. Quz enim, ſrater $anctissime, de amici vestri domni Romani persona in hac terra patimur, loqui minime valemus. Breviter tamen dico, quia ejus in nos malitia gladios Langobardorum vicit; ita ut benigniores videautur hostes, qui nos inlerimunt, quam reipublic# judices, qui nos malila 8ua, © ra» pinis - atque ſallaciis in cogitaiione consumunt. Et uno tempore Ccuram episcoporum alque clericorum, etsi minus expens: in Italia tribuantur, a $uo tamen B Monas!teriorum quoque et populi gerere, contra ho- imperio oppresSorum lacrymas compescat. Nain et idcirco fortasse tante expens#e in hac terra minus ad utilitatem proliciunt, quia cum peccali aliqua ad- mistione colliguntur. Pracipiant ergo serenissimi | domini nil cum peccato colligi. Et scio quia etsi pa- rum reipublice allribuitur ulilitatibus, ex eo mul- tum respublica + adjuvatur. Quam etsi fortasse con- lingat expensis minoribus minus adjuvari, melius cst tumen temporaliter nos non vivere, quam vos ad zternam vitam obstaculum aliquod invenire. Que enim mentes, qualia viscera parenium esse possunt, perpendite, quando filios Suos distrahunt ne tor- queantur. Qual.ter autem miserendum sit filiis alio- rum, hoe bene sciunt qui habent proprivs. Unde mihi hae breviter snggessisse suſliciat, ne $i ea quiz C in his partibus aguntur pielas vestra non Cognosce- ret, me apud districtum judicem $ilentii mei culpa mullaret.