Letter 3008: Sedatus, bishop, to the most holy Brother Ruricius.

To the holy lord, most blessed and to be looked up to with apostolic reverence, the lord and bishop [literally "pope," a title of honor for any bishop] Ruricius, from Sedatus, bishop. The horse which you sent over by our brother the priest I received, laden with the magnificent trappings of your words: cheap in life, costly in the letter; one that moves itself when it is dug with the spurs or pressed with the lash, yet advances not at all; most hideous in form, most worthless in color, softer than feathers, lazier than statues, terrified of solid bodies, fearing only shadows-from habit, I suppose-not afraid of them; a runaway when it is let go, motionless when it is mounted, standing still on the level, collapsing on rough ground; one that knows not how to be held in, and cannot walk. Before I saw it, while I read your letter over again, I believed it to be of that breed which Daedalian Circe, stealing it from a substituted mother, brought forth as bastards. [Virgil, Aeneid VII 282-283] I supposed it hot in spirit, keen in its courses, fire itself, that, when it was brought out, would breathe forth with raised nostrils, would shake the plains with solid hoof, would outrun the winds and rivers in swiftness. For such a one the most splendid speech of your letter had promised me. I believed too that, as it chewed the bridle and ground the iron with its bites, two rather strong men would hold it back lest it escape. Nor did it deceive me. For several were dragging it, others were shoving it, and more were beating it. When I saw it brought out in such a state, I prayed that you would always send to your dear ones gifts such as the things really were-not such as my letter describes. Yet I, since you have left me nothing to say in praise of the gift you sent over, lest altogether [...]

VIII. DOMINO SANCTO AC BEATISSIMO ET APOSTOLICA REUERENTIA SUSPICIENDO DOMNO ET PAPAE RURICIO EPISCOPO SEDATUS EPISCOPUS. Equum, quem per fratrem nostrum presbyterum transmisistis, accepi magnificis uerborum uestrorum phaleris oneratum, in 1 ac frequenti et v 5 presentiam S 6 persentimus v utrum dictis an datis in 8 exstet dubium, dictis v 9 commendetis S . ut Kr., et S 10 et Kr., ut S 11 tholosa S, Tolosae v Kr . 12 hispanus Sl 13 oro te v tam S dignaretur affectum S, cenT. v 21 expetit coni. Mmumsenus 22 meae om. v 23 distinarem S 24 desiderio S 26 domino v suspiciendo Kr., suscipiendo S 27 papae] patrono Kr . 28 aequum S 29 faleris S oneratum scrijm, honeratum S, honoratum vKr . XXI. Fauat. 29 uita uilem, in epistula pretiosum, mouentem se, cum foditur calcaribus aut urgetur uerberibus, et nihil penitus promouentem, forma deterrimum, colore uilissimum, molliorem plumis, statuis pigriorem, solida corpora pauescentem, umbras solum, ut credo, de consuetudine non timentem, fugitiuum, cum dimittitur, inmobilem, cum sedetur, in planis stantem, in asperis conruentem, qui teneri nesciat, ambulare non possit. quem priusquam uiderem, dum epistulas uestras relego, illorum de gente esse credidi,. quos Daedala Circe subposita de matre nothos furata creauit. Putabam illum calidum animis, acrem cursibus, ignem, cum exhiberetur, elatis naribus efflaturum, concussurum solido cornu campos, celeritate uentos et flumina praecursurum. talem enim mihi splendidissimus epistulae sermo promiserat. credebam etiam, quod illum mandentem frenos, terentem morsibus ferrum duo fortiores uiri, ne euaderet, retinerent. nec me fefellit. nam trahebant eum aliquot, inpingebant alii et plures caedebant. quem ut sic exhibitum uidi, optaui, ut talia, qualia erant, non, qualia epistula mea continet, semper caris uestris munera mitteretis. ego tamen, quia mihi non reliquistis in transmissi muneris laude quod dicerem, ne omnino ..... 10] Uerg. Aen. VII 282 sq.. 1 uita scripsi, uia S preciosum S se-promouentem Sbis 2 et] ex S paenitus S 3 statuis v, status S 4 pauiscentem S 5 fugitium S 6 caeditur v 9 crededi S dedala S 11 notus S 12 potabam S callidum S 13 exiberetur S 14 campus Sl uentus S 16 mandantem S (e man. alt.), manducantem t\' frenus S1 terentem r, erentem S 17 forciores S feuellit S 18 aliquod S cedebant S 19 ut r, ad 8 20 muneris v, munere S lacunam indicaui; quae sequuntur in S, ex Sidonii epistula (II, 1) deprompta ntnt, cf. prolegomena