Letter 2041: The affection of your excellency is a violent force within my heart, compelling me to obey my love for you rather...

41. Bishop Ruricius to his Apollinaris, greeting. Your Sublimity's affection is a violent exactor within our very heart, and compels me to serve your love rather than my own modesty, since it does not consider with what discourse, with what page we so far comply with your commands. For you force us repeatedly to inflict injury upon the ears of your skill with rustic words, while you wish more often to receive our writings. I obey your will, I obey your bidding. For I prefer to trust you concerning myself rather than my own self, because what you command is a matter of devotion, not of power. And therefore you will beyond doubt correct rather than expose whatever may have displeased you, since nothing is more imperious than love: to it whoever has given himself with his whole heart will gladly both endure the chains it fastens upon him and bear the burdens it lays on, while he receives the command of him who orders not unwilling, but devoted, carries it out. And so the divine mercy will grant that, the tumults or necessities of this present time being either deferred forever or for a little while suppressed, it may the sooner make us reap the fruit of our presence with one another, so that the desires which are kindled by conversations may be soothed by sights of one another.

XXXXI. RURICIUS EPISCOPUS APOLLINARI SUO SALUTEM. Affectus sublimitatis uestrae in uisceribus nostris uiolentus exactor est et amori uestro me potius quam pudori meo 2 uetustus S, corr. v obolere S 3 fideles S ammodum S pector 8 dicacissimus scripsi, decacissimus S, deditissimus v, dicatissimus i Mommseum 4 lelator S, corr. v assidua dilectione v . 5 dilectiones S (i man. alt.) dente] de me v ruminetes 81 7 cybos S accepere S 8 forcior S 12 consuistis S, consueuistis v 14 detinetis v, etinetis S aurilianum S 18 insipieiitiae v 20 affatus scripsi, effactus S1, affactus S2, effatus Kr., affectus v 21 prefatus S dulcissimus S 22 stimolos S nostro v, ñ S 26 appollonari S seruire conpellit, dum non considerat, quo sermone, qua pagina tantum uestris imperiis obsequamur. cogitis enim nos auribus peritiae uestrae uerbis rusticis iniuriam frequenter inferre, dum apices nostros saepius uultis accipere. pareo uoluntati uestrae, pareo iussioni. malo enim de me ipso tibi magis quam mihi credere, quia pietatis, non potestatis est, quod iubetis. et ideo, quae displicuerint, emendabitis procul dubio potius, quam prodetis, siquidem nihil est imperiosius caritate, cui quisque toto corde se dederit, libenter et uincula illius inpacta patietur et onera inlata portabit, dum praecipientis imperium non inuitus excipit, sed deuotus exercet. praestabit itaque diuina misericordia, ut tumultibus temporis huius uel necessitatibus aut dilatis in perpetuum aut parumper oppressis citius fructus nos faciat de nostra capere praesentia, ut desideria, quae incitantur affatibus, aspectibus mitigentur.