Letter 2065: What is worse, long forgetfulness has so thoroughly erased the old and deep-rooted love between us — partly, I must...

65. Bishop Ruricius to his brother, Bishop Volusianus. Thus, what is worse, a long forgetfulness has erased the old affection implanted in us, partly (since it must be confessed) through our own negligence, partly through the necessity of the times, partly through the weakness of the body bringing it about, so that, having become utterly unmindful of ourselves, we seek you out not only with no mutual courtesies but not even with letters. I marvel that your nobility should send letters to me as to a son, when, without any regard for religion or for kinship, our injuries so please you that you are unwilling to avenge them. For this reason, had I not considered the esteem due to my person or to my office, I would have sent back to you, as the bearer of your letter, such men as not your matron [the lady of your household], but an exceedingly insolent and unbridled mistress brought to me; and if you for so long a time, with damage to your reputation, put up with her conduct either willingly or of necessity, you should know that others are neither willing to bear it nor are content with it. For as to what you write, that you have been made dull by fear of the enemy, he ought not to fear an outside enemy who has grown accustomed to enduring one within his own household.

LXV. RURICIUS EPISCOPUS FRATRI UOLUSIANO EPISCOPO. Ita, quod peius est, caritatem antiquam et insitam nobis partim, quoniam confitendum est, neglegentia nostra, partim necessitate temporis, partim corporis infirmitate faciente longa deleuit obliuio, ut penitus inmemores nostri facti non solum uos nullis officiis mutuis sed nec litteris requiramus. miror nobilitatem tuam quasi filium ad me litteras destinare, cum sine ullo respectu religionis aut propinquitatis tibi iniuriae nostrae sic placeant, ut eas uindicare non uelis. unde, nisi 9 conloquutione S simulquae S depraecor S 11 instinctum S 12 uultuum v, uultum S 15 uehicola S 16 jjpicia S 19 distinabo S 23 partem S ubique quoniam v, quam S, expungit Mommsenwi 25 delebit S penitus S inmemoris S 26 nos S mutuis om . v 27 distinare S 29 uellis S existimationem personae meae aut officii cogitassem, portitorem litterarum tuarum talem ad te remiseram, quales homines meos non matrona uestra, sed domina procax nimium et effrenata perduxit, cuius mores, si tu tanto tempore cum famae tuae diminutione aut uoluntarie aut necessitate subportas, alios noueris nec uelle ferre nec esse contentos. nam quod scribis te metu hostium hebetem factum, timere hostem non debet extraneum, qui consueuit sustinere domesticum. 2 miseram v 3 et effrenata nimium v 4 fame S 5 uoluntariae S 6 timetu S habetem S 8 domesticum] finit. FINIUNT EPISTULE DOMNI RURICII EPISCOPI LEMOUICENI add. S EPISTULAE AD RURICIUM SCRIPTAE.