Letter 6002: SIDONIUS TO THE LORD POPE PRAGMATIUS, GREETINGS

Sidonius to his lord bishop Pragmatius, greeting. 1. The venerable matron Eutropia—a woman, as far as we are concerned, of singular example—who, with frugality and generosity vying with each other, nourishes the poor no less by her fasting than by her feasts, and who, sleeplessly vigilant in the worship of Christ, compels only her own sins to sleep, now with the sorrows of bereavement compounded by the necessity of a lawsuit, hastens to seek the remedy for this double misfortune in the perfection of your consolation, and will be grateful whether you reckon this a brief journey or a lengthy service on her behalf. 2. The aforesaid venerable woman is wearied by—not to say the villainy, lest that be injurious—at least the cunning of my brother, now the presbyter Agrippinus, who, taking advantage of the matron's weakness, does not cease to disturb the serenity of a spiritual soul with the blasts of worldly craftiness. Upon her, two fresh wounds—the loss of a son and not long after of a grandson—are added to the long-standing wound of her widowhood. 3. We have attempted to bring about a settlement between the two parties—we especially, for whom both a new claim from our profession and an old one from friendship gave us authority over them—recommending some things, suggesting others, and entreating much. And, what may surprise you, the female party was more readily inclined to accept every condition of agreement. And although the father's prerogative boasted that it would more greatly benefit the daughter, nevertheless the daughter-in-law preferred the offer of her generous mother-in-law. 4. The half-settled quarrel is now brought before your judgment. Make peace between the contending parties, and with the authority of your pontifical decree impose favor upon the mutually suspicious parties; speak the truth to them. For the holy Eutropia, if you trust my pledge, counts it a victory if she may only cease to litigate after her losses. And so I suspect you will have to declare that one household is quarrelsome, though you find both parties to be in disagreement. Deign to be mindful of me, my 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.