To Constantius [the final letter of Sidonius's collected correspondence].
From you the beginning, with you the end. For I have sent the work you requested — examples hastily chosen, few in number because I had not been planning this collection and my uncurated papers could not be easily found. These few, which are also admittedly slight, were quickly completed — though once set in motion, my eager mind had not yet finished wanting to write. I maintained this careful balance throughout: to extend the length of the individual letters while reducing the total number.
At the same time, I judged that a book desired by a reader of the most refined taste would be both manageable and defensible if — since the lightness of the style and construction might offend you — you were at least not burdened by too many pages. I therefore commend to your judgment the various movements of my heart, knowing full well that the mind is as visible in a book as the face in a mirror. For I composed some things by way of encouragement, many by way of praise, some by way of persuasion, a few in sorrow, and a number in jest.
And if you have ever found me rather heated against certain people, know this: with the help of Christ's right hand, I will never tolerate enslavement of the soul. I am perfectly aware that opinion on this trait of mine divides in two: the timid call me reckless, while the steadfast call me free. Between these I pronounce that the man whose opinions must be hidden has already fallen flat.
Back to the point. Meanwhile, whenever you take a break from your sacred reading, you are welcome to divert yourself with these trifles. The material will not bore you with its bulk, since each subject is generally finished in a single letter — and having quickly learned what catches your eye, you will stop reading before you stop wanting to read.
Farewell.
EPISTULA XVIII
Sidonius Constantio suo salutem.
1. A te principium, tibi desinet. nam petitum misimus opus raptim electis exemplaribus, quae ob hoc in manus pauca venerunt, quia mihi nil de libelli huiusce conscriptione meditanti hactenus incustodita nequeunt inveniri. sane ista pauca, quae quidem et levia sunt, celeriter absolvi, quamquam incitatus semel animus necdum scripturire desineret, servans hoc sedulo genus temperamenti, ut epistularum produceretur textus, si numerus breviaretur.
2. pariter et censui librum, quem lector delicatissimus desiderares, et satis habilem nec parum excusabilem fore, si, quoniam te sensuum structurarumque levitas poterat offendere, membranarum certe fascibus minus onerarere. commendo igitur varios iudicio tuo nostri pectoris motus, minime ignarus, quod ita mens pateat in libro velut vultus in speculo. dictavi enim quaepiam hortando, laudando plurima et aliqua suadendo, maerendo pauca iocandoque nonnulla.
3. et si me uspiam lectitavisti in aliquos concitatiorem, scias volo Christi dextera opitulante me numquam toleraturum animi servitutem, compertissimum tenens bipertitam super his moribus hominum esse censuram. nam ut timidi me temerarium, ita constantes liberum appellant. inter quae ipse decerno satis illius iacere personam, cuius necesse est latere sententiam.
4. ad propositum redeo. interea tu, si quid a lectionis sacrae continuatione respiras, his licebit neniis avocere. nec faciet materia ut immensa fastidium, quia cum singulae causae singulis ferme epistulis finiantur, cito cognitis in quae oculum intenderis ante legere cessabis quam lecturire desistas. vale.
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To Constantius [the final letter of Sidonius's collected correspondence].
From you the beginning, with you the end. For I have sent the work you requested — examples hastily chosen, few in number because I had not been planning this collection and my uncurated papers could not be easily found. These few, which are also admittedly slight, were quickly completed — though once set in motion, my eager mind had not yet finished wanting to write. I maintained this careful balance throughout: to extend the length of the individual letters while reducing the total number.
At the same time, I judged that a book desired by a reader of the most refined taste would be both manageable and defensible if — since the lightness of the style and construction might offend you — you were at least not burdened by too many pages. I therefore commend to your judgment the various movements of my heart, knowing full well that the mind is as visible in a book as the face in a mirror. For I composed some things by way of encouragement, many by way of praise, some by way of persuasion, a few in sorrow, and a number in jest.
And if you have ever found me rather heated against certain people, know this: with the help of Christ's right hand, I will never tolerate enslavement of the soul. I am perfectly aware that opinion on this trait of mine divides in two: the timid call me reckless, while the steadfast call me free. Between these I pronounce that the man whose opinions must be hidden has already fallen flat.
Back to the point. Meanwhile, whenever you take a break from your sacred reading, you are welcome to divert yourself with these trifles. The material will not bore you with its bulk, since each subject is generally finished in a single letter — and having quickly learned what catches your eye, you will stop reading before you stop wanting to read.
Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.