SIDONIUS TO THE LORD POPE PRAGMATIUS, GREETINGS
1. The venerable matron Eutropia — a woman of singular example in her relationship with us, whose parsimony and generosity vie with each other in feeding the poor no less by her fasting than by her table, and who, vigilant in the worship of Christ, contrives that sins alone may sleep in her — has now had a lawsuit added to the sorrows of her bereavement, and hastens to seek from you the full measure of your consolation as the remedy for her double grief; she will be grateful whether you count this a brief journey or a long service.
2. The aforementioned venerable woman is being harassed — I will call it not wickedness but at least the pertness of my brother, now already a priest, Agrippinus. He, abusing the weakness of a matron, does not cease to disturb the serenity of a spiritual soul with the gusts of worldly cunning; upon which, moreover, two recent wounds, the loss of a son and shortly after of a grandson, are laid upon the sore of a long widowhood.
3. We have attempted to arrange a settlement between the two — I above all, upon whom both the new duty of my profession and the old right of friendship conferred authority over them — proposing certain things, advising others, entreating most; and, what you may wonder at, the descent toward every condition of concord was readier from the feminine side. And though the father's prerogative swaggered that it would be more serviceable to the daughter, the daughter-in-law nonetheless preferred the offer of her mother-in-law's generosity.
4. The quarrel, half-smothered for the time, is now brought to your bosom. Pacify the contestants, and by the authority of your episcopal judgment impose grace upon the parties who are suspicious of each other; speak truth. For the saintly Eutropia, if you believe my assurance at all, counts it a victory if she can refrain from litigation even after losses. Hence I suspect that you will have to pronounce one house contentious, even though you find both parties to it contentious. Deign to be mindful of us, lord bishop.
EPISTULA II
Sidonius domino papae Pragmatio salutem.
1. Venerabilis Eutropia matrona, quod ad nos spectat, singularis exempli, quae parsimonia et humanitate certantibus non minus se ieiuniis quam cibis pauperes pascit et in Christi cultu pervigil sola in se compellit peccata dormire, maeroribus orbitatis necessitate litis adiecta in remedium mali duplicis perfectionem vestrae consolationis expetere festinat, gratanter habitura, sive istud tibi peregrinatio brevis seu longum computetur officium.
2. igitur praefata venerabilis fratris mei nunc iam presbyteri Agrippini, ne iniuriosum sit dixisse nequitiis, certe fatigatur argutiis; qui abutens inbecillitate matronae non desistit spiritalis animae serenitatem saecularium versutiarum flatibus turbidare; cui filii nec multo post nepotis amissi duae pariter plagae recentes ad diuturni viduvii vulnus adduntur.
3. temptavimus inter utrumque componere, nos maxume, quibus in eos novum ius professio vetustumque faciebant amicitiae, aliqua censentes, suadentes quaepiam, plurima supplicantes; quodque miremini, in omnem concordiae statum promptius a feminea parte descensum est. et quamquam se altius profuturum filiae paterna iactaret praerogativa, nurui tamen magis placuit munificentiae socrualis oblatio.
4. iurgium interim semisopitum vestris modo sinibus infertur. pacificate certantes, et pontificalis auctoritate censurae suspectis sibi partibus indicite gratiam, dicite veritatem. sancta enim Eutropia, si quid vadimonio meo creditis, victoriam computat, si vel post damna non litiget. unde et suspicor vobis unam pronuntiandam domum discordiosam, licet inveniatis utramque discordem. memor nostri esse dignare, domine papa.
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SIDONIUS TO THE LORD POPE PRAGMATIUS, GREETINGS
1. The venerable matron Eutropia — a woman of singular example in her relationship with us, whose parsimony and generosity vie with each other in feeding the poor no less by her fasting than by her table, and who, vigilant in the worship of Christ, contrives that sins alone may sleep in her — has now had a lawsuit added to the sorrows of her bereavement, and hastens to seek from you the full measure of your consolation as the remedy for her double grief; she will be grateful whether you count this a brief journey or a long service.
2. The aforementioned venerable woman is being harassed — I will call it not wickedness but at least the pertness of my brother, now already a priest, Agrippinus. He, abusing the weakness of a matron, does not cease to disturb the serenity of a spiritual soul with the gusts of worldly cunning; upon which, moreover, two recent wounds, the loss of a son and shortly after of a grandson, are laid upon the sore of a long widowhood.
3. We have attempted to arrange a settlement between the two — I above all, upon whom both the new duty of my profession and the old right of friendship conferred authority over them — proposing certain things, advising others, entreating most; and, what you may wonder at, the descent toward every condition of concord was readier from the feminine side. And though the father's prerogative swaggered that it would be more serviceable to the daughter, the daughter-in-law nonetheless preferred the offer of her mother-in-law's generosity.
4. The quarrel, half-smothered for the time, is now brought to your bosom. Pacify the contestants, and by the authority of your episcopal judgment impose grace upon the parties who are suspicious of each other; speak truth. For the saintly Eutropia, if you believe my assurance at all, counts it a victory if she can refrain from litigation even after losses. Hence I suspect that you will have to pronounce one house contentious, even though you find both parties to it contentious. Deign to be mindful of us, lord bishop.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.