Letter 8

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Sidonius Apollinaris, bishop of Clermont Date: ~475 AD Context: One of the most charming letters in the collection — Ruricius confesses to Sidonius that he "stole" one of his books by copying it without permission, comparing himself to Adam tempted by forbidden fruit, and frames his literary theft as an irresistible compulsion. Ruricius to his own lord and patron in Christ, Bishop Sidonius. I recall hearing you say more than once that we can never be cleansed of our sins unless we confess our crimes when conscience strikes. For who could obtain, or even seek, forgiveness without adding to his lament the confession of his error — since it is error that requires forgiveness, not forgiveness that requires error? Knowing this to be profoundly true, I did not delay in reporting my recently committed offense to Your Piety, lest what now, with my confession, tends toward pardon might later, through my silence, turn into guilt. So let me bring the crime itself into the open. I declare myself guilty of theft against you. I confess that I took your property without your knowledge and unlawfully. But it was you who gave me the opportunity to commit the crime — whether testing my greed or wanting to educate one who was unschooled. For the book you had ordered me to collect from my brother Leontius, I confess I have copied. If you approve, acknowledge it; if you charge me, forgive me — for a complaint attaches to a confession. At first it was my will that drove me to read it. Then the book itself compelled me to copy it. For when I had barely tasted a little of its feast, the flavor of its seductive sweetness so ensnared me that, like an imitator of our first parent [Adam], I suddenly offended the Lord.

VIII. DOMINO SUO PECULIARI IN CHRISTO DOMINO PATRONO SIDONIO EPISCOPO RURICIUS. Praedicantibus uobis saepius audisse me recolo nullatenus ab iniquitatibus nos posse purgari, nisi fuerimus crimina nostra conscientia conpungente confessi. quis enim, non dicam 9] cf. Matth. 21, 19. 2 peculiariter v 4 dilegere S pia v, pietas S 5 affectum S 6 corregitis S 8 stereli S domosa S quejjentibus S (s add . in ras. S1) 10 quam v 11 abscindi v deferte S 12 doctrine S (d in ras.) pinguine S stercore Kr., stere S, terrae v 13 dulciscat S 15 prestiteratis S 16 alium q S, alium qui v uestrum si iam] uestris usibus nunc v 18 iubeatis] ualeatis Kr . simnlq S, simul quod v 19 gurdonem scripsi, gurdone SKr . abituri v me om. v 25 quis v, quiquis S consequi, sed uel quaerere queat indulgentiam, nisi deplorationi confessionem erroris adiungat, quia error indulgentiam, non indulgentia requirit errorem? quod ego ualde uerum esse cognoscens facinus meum nuper admissum pietati uestrae indicare non distuli, ne, quod modo prodente me spectat ad ueniam, tacente postmodum pertineret ad culpam. sed iam ipsum dolum proferimus in medium. furti me uobis reum statuo et depositum uestrum me ignorantibus uobis inlicite praesumpsisse pronuntio. quod ut tamen committerem, occasionem perpetrandi facinoris uos dedistis aut temptantes cupidum aut indoctum erudire cupientes. codicem namque, quem de fratre meo Leontio me recipere iusseratis, transtulisse me fateor. quod si probatis, agnoscite, si inputatis, ignoscite, quia confessioni querella sociatur. nam primum, ut eum legerem, uoluntas inpulit, deinde ille, ut transferretur, extorsit. nam cum de dapibus ipsius adhuc pauca libassem, taliter me gustu inlecebrosi saporis inlexit, ut primi quodammodo parentis imitator domino repente contempto ad satietatem studuerim peruenire magisque consilium suadentis quam imperium dominantis audierim. nam ut omnia pectoris mei arcana manifestem, uidebar mihi libri ipsius uerba adhortantis audire: quid cessas, ingrate, quid dubitas? nosti erga te communis domini uoluntatem, quam diuersis occasionibus te elimare contendat, quam tibi etiam inuito spiritales cibos soleat bonus pastor ingerere. mihi crede, plus tibi, si distuleris, quam transtuleris, inputabit, quia studiosis fauere, non inuidere consueuit. his et talibus silentis adloquiis in uincula eius me uoluntarius pariter et coactus sponte conieci, ad exemplandum eum festinus accessi, 1 querere S indulgentiam S 3 rerum S, serum, 5 prodente me v, prudente S 9 praesumsisse S 10 IIuos S (s eras.) dedicistis S t P au S (t man. alt.) temtantes S (p man. alt.) 11 inductum S 12leoncio S 13 ignoscite s. i. agnoscite SKr., corr. v 14 quaerilla S 15 inpolit 8 p 17 imitatur S1 18 eontemto S (p man. alt.) sacietatem S 19 suab dentes 81 21 ipsius ex istius corr . 81 22 ingratae S duitas S (b man. alt.) 23 occansionibus S 24 cybos S 27 silentio v uincula v, uinculis S 28 sponte deleuit Mommseflus quem nunc utrum, sicut est, transcriptum an paratum reddere debeam, in uestro pendet arbitrio. ego tamen libens multam, quam intuleritis, excipiam, quia remedium meum uestrum credo esse decretum et sententiam uestram medellam duco esse, non poenam.