Letter 7010: To the Lord Bishop Auspicius [Bishop of Toul, in northeastern Gaul].

To the Lord Bishop Auspicius [Bishop of Toul, in northeastern Gaul]. If the conditions of the times and the distances between us permitted, I would cultivate our friendship not merely through the formalities of correspondence. But since the clash of warring kingdoms stands as too great an obstacle to the desire for fraternal peace, at least the custom of exchanging letters should be maintained between those who are separated, following the precedent that charity long ago rightly established. I ask that you forgive your anxious admirer for the rarity of his visits — a rarity caused sometimes by fear of neighbors and sometimes by resentment of patrons. But enough of that — even this much is too much to say. In the meantime, I introduce Petrus, a man of tribunician rank, the bearer of my greeting. He earnestly requests the same, and can explain his business more conveniently in person than on paper. I ask that, for the sake of this letter, whatever help you can offer may be extended to him — while maintaining, of course, the standard of justice, against which I never recommend even my closest friends' cases. Be mindful of us, my lord bishop.

EPISTULA X Sidonius domino papae Auspicio salutem. 1. Si ratio temporum regionumque pateretur, non per sola officia verborum amicitias semel initas excolere curarem, sed quoniam fraternae quietis voto satis obstrepit conflictantium procella regnorum, saltim inter discretos separatosque litterarii consuetudo sermonis iure retinebitur, quae iam pridem caritatis obtentu merito inducta veteribus anuit exemplis. superest, ut sollicito veneratori culpam rarae occursionis indulgeas, quae quo minus assidue conspectus tui sacrosancta contemplatione potiatur, nunc periculum de vicinis timet, nunc invidiam de patronis. sed de his ista: haec etiam multa sunt. 2. interim Petrum, tribunicium virum, portitorem nostri sermonis, insinuo, qui id ipsum sedulo exposcit, quique quid negotii ferat praesentaneo compendiosius potest intimare memoratu. cui, precor, quod in vobis opis est intuitu paginae praesentis accedat, manente respectu nihilominus aequitatis, contra quam nec magis familiarium causas commendare consuevi. memor nostri esse dignare, domine papa.