Letter 3004: Gozolas, a Jew by nationality and a client of your household — a man whose person would be dear to me as well, if...

Sidonius to his friend Felix. Gozolas, a Jew by nationality and a client of your household — a man whose person would be dear to me as well, if his religion were not an object of contempt — carries this letter, which I have written in a state of deep anxiety. The armed forces of the nations surrounding us terrify our little town, which stands as a kind of barrier on their frontier. Caught in the middle, we are the pitiable prey of rival peoples: suspected by the Burgundians, neighbors of the Goths, suffering both the rage of our attackers and the jealousy of those who ought to be defending us. But more on that another time. Meanwhile, if things are at least right with you, that is well enough. For I am not so constituted that, even though I myself am openly punished for my hidden sins, I would not wish prosperity for others wherever it may be found. It is certain that the man who fails to maintain good hopes even in bad times is no less a prisoner of his own vices than of his enemies. Farewell.

EPISTULA IV Sidonius Felici suo salutem. 1. Gozolas natione Iudaeus, cliens culminis tui, cuius mihi quoque esset persona cordi, si non esset secta despectui, defert litteras meas, quas granditer anxius exaravi. oppidum siquidem nostrum quasi quandam sui limitis obicem circumfusarum nobis gentium arma terrificant. sic aemulorum sibi in medio positi lacrimabilis praeda populorum, suspecti Burgundionibus, proximi Gothis, nec impugnantum ira nec propugnantum caremus invidia. 2. sed istinc alias. interea, si vel penes vos recta sunt, bene est. neque enim huiusmodi pectore sumus, ut, licet apertis ipsi poenis propter criminum occulta plectamur, non agi prospere vel ubicumque velimus. nam certum est non minus vitiorum quam hostium esse captivum, qui non etiam inter mala tempora bona vota servaverit. vale.