Letter 2040: Our brother and fellow priest Capillutus, though he did not bring me your words written on paper to read, brought...

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Victorinus, bishop (his patron) Date: ~500 AD Context: Ruricius sends greetings through the priest Capillutus, who arrived without a written letter but brought the presence of the patron through his person. Bishop Ruricius to his holy and apostolic lord and patron, Bishop Victorinus. Our brother and fellow priest Capillutus, though he did not bring me your words written on paper to read, brought something better — he presented your presence itself in his person.

XXXX. DOMINO SANCTO ET APOSTOLICO MIHIQVE IN CHRISTO DOMINO CULTO AFFECTUQVE SPECIALIUS EXCOLENDO PATRONO UICTORINO EPISCOPO RURICIUS EPISCOPUS. Frater et conpresbyter noster Capillutus, licet apices uestros nobis non detulerit in charta relegendos, tamen potius exhibuit 8] Iob 1, 21. 13] Iob 1, 22. 2 quidem vKr . 6 omnis S 7 consolator S 8 dicendi S 11 decim S 13 accederunt S, accidebant v 14 ego] et add. v 17 moderare reuere S, corr. v, moderarer uere Kr . 19 ipsum om. v 20 dignatus est v qual (iii regnu docuit S1 in ras.) S, qualium r. docet r 21 ex] & S 22 obto S 25 mihique om. » 26 uicturino S 28 capices S 29 cartha S potius coni. v, totius S, totos Luetjoham in corde conscriptos, unde eos nec fur auferre nec uiolentus eripere nec imber eluere nec uetustas possit abolere, dum mihi fidelis admodum uestri pectoris consors et dicacissimus delator saepius inculcat et dulcius, qualiter me et quam adsiduae dilectionis dente ruminetis, non quod in me sit, unde caritatis uestrae pascere possitis esuriem, qui solidos et numquam perituros cibos et accipere soliti estis et dare, sed, quando fortior esca defuerit, tenuitatem nostram pro lactis poculo sorbeatis, ut desiderium pii cordis et puri alimento innocentiae temperetis. Nec mirum est hoc tamen in uestra uirtute miraculum, ut diligatis uenerantes uos, qui odientes amare consuestis, siquidem et ad augendam circa nos caritatem uestram duo lumina nostra detinetis, Aurelianum dico atque Leontium. pro quorum spe et consummatione rogo, ut indesinenter diuinae misericordiae, sicut uos confido facere, supplicetis et cum illis iterum pro nobis semper oretis, quia fiducialiter credo, quod profectioni uestrae et illorum incipientiae pro ipsa adhuc teneritudine a nutritore domino nil negetur. salutem itaque uberem dico pietati uestrae, quantum potest promere oris affatus, non quantum cordis poscit affectus, et rogo, ut praefatos dulcissimos stimulos pectoris mei nostro nomine sospitetis nosque, quotiescumque se oportunitas porrexerit portitoris, benedictionis uestrae imbribus inrigetis. ora pro me.