Letter 1018: I want you to know that my not writing to your sweet self through Venerius was a matter of being busy, not negligent...

Bishop Ruricius to his most sweet and like-minded son Ommatius. Know that my failure to write to your sweetness by way of Venerius was not the result of neglect or of any reproach, but of preoccupation. For this reason I have sent these lines by Amelius, in which I greet you most warmly and admonish you ever to be mindful of your purpose. And let neither a more flattering sight call away your mind, now consecrated to God, from the journey you have begun, nor a more tuneful hearing corrupt it, nor a sweeter taste taint it, nor a softer touch solicit it, nor a more pleasant smell allure it, and let not death be brought in to the soul through the windows of the body; but neither, while holding the plough-handle, look back, against the Lord's judgment, lest the furrow lose the straightness of its line. Rather, fix yourself upon Him to whom, by His own inspiration, you have made your vow, gaping after Him with all your senses, and cling to Him fixed at heart, so that, when the alluring form of even one of the aforesaid vices strikes you, it cannot reach a breast fortified by firm faith and divine meditation. And although you may seem to be set among crowds, entering into the chamber of your heart with your door shut, do not cease to pray to the Lord, so that He who sees in secret may say to you, as He said to holy Moses crying out to Him not with his voice but with his heart: Why do you cry out to me? And I hope that in such prayers you may also deign to remember me, and that the longing for sweetest and most healthful rest may bring you back to us more swiftly, even if our affection does not draw you back.

XVIII. DULCISSIMO ET UNANIMO FILIO OMMATIO RURICIUS EPISCOPUS. Ut per Uenerium dulcedini tuae non scriberem, non neglegentiae nec inputationis alicuius, sed occupationis fuisse cognosce. unde has per Amelium dedi, quibus salue plurimum dico et, ut propositi tui semper reminiscaris, admoneo. nec animum tuum iam deo dicatum aut a coepto itinere blandior uisus auocet aut modulatior corrumpat auditus aut dulcior gustus 17] Psalm. 121, 3. 1 sic v, si 8 2 frigoreue Mommsenus plurimis v 3 quaereremus Mommseum, querimus S 4 quem add. v, om. S 7 in campo corr. ex in comite ? S1 9 cognuscite S paradysum S 10 ire quisquam r 12 ut scripsi, et S 13 istas v incederetis S, inceditis Kr., incedere debetis Mommsenw 14 nos ex non 81 15 incurreremus scripsi, incurrimus S 17 una S 20 omacio S 21 dulcidini S 22 inputacionis S h ni 28 as S (h man. alt.) 24 remiscaris S ammoneo S, commoneo r 25 cepto S 26 modolacior S inficiat aut mollior sollicitet tactus aut suauior odoratus inliciat et per fenestras corporis mors intromittatur ad animam, sed neque stiuam tenens contra domini sententiam retro respicias, ut directum lineae sulcus amittat, quin potius ita in eum, cui te ipso inspirante uouisti, omnibus sensibus inhies et corde defixus adhaereas, ut, cum te uel una praefatorum uitiorum inlex forma pulsauerit, fide firma et diuina meditatione munitum pectus adire non possit. et, quamlibet in turbis positus. esse uidearis, intrans in cubiculum cordis tui clauso ostio tuo dominum orare non desinas, ut, qui uidet in occulto, dicat tibi, sicut sancto Moysi uociferanti ad se non uoce, sed corde dicebat: quid clamas ad me? et spero, ut in talibus orationibus etiam mei meminisse digneris et citius te ad nos, etiamsi noster non reducit affectus, desiderium dulcissimae et saluberrimae quietis adducat. 9] Matth. 6, 6. 12] Exod. 14,15. 1 inlicet S, corr. v 2 et] ut Kr . 6 adhereas S 13 mimenisse S dignaris S 14 noster] ñf S, inter v non] nos v 15 adducat] add. S: expl domui ruricii epistolaru lib primus incip liber n 24*