Letter 5049: Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). With what ardour I am thirsty to see you you read in the tables of your own heart, since you love me exceedingly. But since I cannot see you, separated as you are from me by long tracts of country, I have done what charity towards you dictated, namely to transmit to your Holiness, on the arrival ...

Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Seville. How ardently I thirst to see you, you can read in the tablet of your own heart -- since you love me so deeply. But since I cannot see you, separated as we are by such vast distances, I have done what charity toward you dictated: on the arrival here of our mutual friend, the priest Probinus, I am sending Your Holiness the book of Pastoral Rule, which I wrote at the beginning of my episcopate, along with the books you knew I had already composed on the exposition of blessed Job. Some sections of the third and fourth parts of that work I have not sent, since I had already given those portions only to monasteries. What I do send, let Your Holiness read earnestly -- and even more earnestly weep for my sins, lest it count more heavily against me that I am seen to know what I fail to practice. But with what enormous press of business I am overwhelmed in this church, the very brevity of this letter will make plain to you -- since I say so little to the person I love more than anyone.

Book V, Letter 49 To Leander, Bishop. Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). With what ardour I am thirsty to see you you read in the tables of your own heart, since you love me exceedingly. But since I cannot see you, separated as you are from me by long tracts of country, I have done what charity towards you dictated, namely to transmit to your Holiness, on the arrival here of our common son Probinus the presbyter, the book of Pastoral Rule, which I wrote at the commencement of my episcopate, and the books which you knew I had already composed on the exposition of the blessed Job. Some sheets indeed of the third and fourth parts of that work I have not sent to your Charity, having already given those sheets only of the said parts to monasteries. These, then, which I send let your Holiness earnestly peruse, and more earnestly deplore my sins, lest it be to my more serious blame that I am seen as it were to know what I omit to do. But with how great tumults of business I am oppressed in this Church the very brevity of my epistle will signify to your Charity, seeing that I say so little to him whom more than all I love.