Letter 6003: Though you have given no encouragement to the beginnings of my vocation, nor watered the thirst of my lingering...

Sidonius to his lord, Bishop Leontius. Though you have given no encouragement to the beginnings of my vocation, nor watered the thirst of my lingering secular ignorance with any shower of heavenly teaching, I am nevertheless not so forgetful of my own position as to presume that you owe me any equal exchange of courtesies. Since my mediocrity is easily surpassed by your seniority in life, your length of service in office, your privilege of place, your fame for learning, and the gift of your conscience — I have no right to expect a reply on equal terms. Therefore, rather than accusing you of silence, I prefer to excuse my own loquacity. I commend to you the bearer of this letter, whose travels, if you support them with ready favor, will open a great harbor of security for his affairs. His business concerns a will. The merits of his own legal documents are unclear to him, and he has gone to consult the expertise of the lawyers who practice there — counting it as a victory if he discovers that the law is against him, provided only that he and his family are not blamed for having made careless provisions through their own negligence. I presume to commend him only to this extent: if the counsel of the legal profession disdains to instruct him, may the authority of your episcopal office stir those who drag their feet into providing a prompt response. Please remember me in your prayers, my lord bishop.

EPISTULA III Sidonius domino papae Leontio salutem. 1. Etsi nullis hortatibus primordia nostrae professionis animatis neque sitim ignorantiae hactenus saecularis ullo supernae rigatis imbre doctrinae, non ego tamen tantum mei meminens non sum, ut a meis praesumam partibus aequali officiorum lance certandum. nam cum nostra mediocritas aetate vitae, tempore dignitatis, privilegio loci, laude scientiae, dono conscientiae vestrae facile vincatur, nullum meremur, si par exspectamus alloquium. 2. igitur non incusantes silentium vestrum sed loquacitatem nostram potius excusare nitentes commendamus apicum portitorem, cuius si peregrinationem prompto favore foveatis, grandis actionibus illius portus securitatis aperitur. negotium huic testamentarium est. latent eum propriarum merita chartarum: togatorum illic perorantum peritiam consulere perrexit, pro victoria computaturus, si se intellexerit iure superari, modo ne sibi suisque desidiae vitio perperam cavisse culpetur. hunc eatenus commendare praesumo, ut, si eum instruere dignanter advocatio consulta fastidit, auctoritas coronae tuae dissimulantibus studeat excudere responsi celeritatem. memor nostri esse dignare, domine papa.