To Bishop Principius.
Venerable Father, although I have not yet seen your face, I have long known your deeds. The renown of holy men spreads beyond any boundary: where there is no limit to a good conscience, there is no limit to a good reputation either.
Think me a liar if you will — unless a witness worthy of my claim steps forward. And that witness is a man who was once a shining figure in the monastery of Lerins [a famous island monastery off the southern coast of Gaul, a nursery of bishops], a companion of the great Lupus and Maximus, striving through the discipline of ascetic life to rival the archimandrites [monastic leaders] of Egypt and Palestine themselves. I mean Bishop Antiolius, and it was from his reports — he is like a father to you, and he told me what kind of brothers you are, and with what distinction you both serve in the highest office of the priesthood — that I eagerly sought to know you, and was glad to have learned what I did.
A father with sons like you could hardly be matched even to the house of Aaron, the first high priest [Exodus 28-29]. And so it is fitting that I commend myself to your prayers, trusting in that spiritual kinship which I have come to feel through the testimony of those who know you. If my humble petition reaches you, I shall consider it a grace — not because I deserve it, but because the witness of your character compels my confidence. Farewell.
EPISTULA XIV
Sidonius domino papae Principio salutem.
1. Iamdiu nobis, papa venerabilis, etsi necdum vester vultus aspectus, tamen actus inspectus est. namque sanctorum laus diffusa meritorum stringi spatiis non est contenta finalibus. hinc est quod, quia bonae conscientiae modus non ponitur, nec bonae opinioni terminus invenitur.
2. quae loquor falsa censete, nisi professioni meae competens adstipulator accesserit, satis in illo quondam coenobio Lirinensi spectabile caput, Luporum concellita Maximorumque et parsimoniae saltibus consequi affectans Memphiticos et Palaestinos archimandritas. is est episcopus Antiolius, cuius relatu, qui pater vobis, quique qualesque vos fratres, qua morum praerogativa pontificatu maximo ambo fungamini, sollicitus cognoscere studui, gaudens cognovisse me memini.
3. cui patri quondam, videlicet vos habenti, vix domus Aaron pontificis antiqui merito compararetur; quem licet primum in medio plebis heremitidis sanctificationis oleo legiferi fratris dextra perfuderit, filios eius in similis officii munia vocans, tamen ipsius super Ithamare et Eleazaro felicitatem Nadab et Abiu fulminibus afflati decoloravere; quorum quamlibet interemptorum credamus absolvendas animas, punitas tamen scimus esse personas.
4. vos vero tacturi paginam altaris nihil, ut audio, offertis ignis alieni, sed comitantibus victimis caritatis castitatisque fragrantissimum incensum turibulis cordis adoletis. ad hoc quotiens iugum legis cervicibus superbientum per vincula praedicationis adstringitis, tunc deo tauros spiritaliter immolatis. quotiens conscientiae luxuriantis fetore pollutos ad suaveolentiam pudicitiae stimulis correctionis impellitis, hircorum vos obtulisse virulentiam Christus sibi computat.
5. quotiens hortantibus vobis in quocumque conpuncto culpas suas anima poenaliter recordata suspirat, quis vos ambigat paria turturum aut binos pullos columbarum, qui duplicem substantiam utriusque hominis nostri tam numero quam gemitu assignant, mystico litasse sacrificio? quotiens vestro monitu obesum quicumque corpus aestuantemque turgidi ventris arvinam crebro ieiuniorum decoquendus igne torruerit, nulli dubium est vos tunc simulam frictam in quadam continentiae sartagine consecraturos.
6. quotiens aliquem mentis perfidae figmenta ponentem sanam respondere doctrinam fidem credere, viam tenere vitam sperare suadetis, quis vos dubitet in huius emendatione conversi, qui iam sit liber ab haeresi, liber ab hypocrisi, liber ab schismate, purgatissimum propositionis panem cum sinceritatis et veritatis azymis dedicaturos?
7. postremo quis nesciat, quicquid legis diebus figuraliter immolabatur in corporibus, quod totum id gratiae tempore manifeste vos offeratis in moribus? atque ideo gratias uberes deo refero, quod secundum vestrae paginae qualitatem facile agnosco antistitem suprafatum de vobis, cum magna dixerit, maiora tacuisse. quapropter nemo dubitaverit, qui bonus es, cum indicaris, et melior, cum legeris, esse te optimum, cum videris.
8. Megethius clericus, vestri gerulus eloquii, rebus ex sententia gestis, quia tuorum apicum detulit munera, meorum reportat obsequia; quem saltim iuvimus voto, quia re forsitan non valemus. per quem obsecro impense, ut sitim nostram frequenter litteris litteratis, ambo germani, tu frequentius, inrigetis. sed si difficultas itineris intersiti resultat optatis, vel aliquotiens pro supplicibus supplicate. maius est autem, si nobis tribuere dignemini raris intercessionibus salutem quam si crebris affatibus dignitatem. memor nostri esse dignare, domine papa.
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To Bishop Principius.
Venerable Father, although I have not yet seen your face, I have long known your deeds. The renown of holy men spreads beyond any boundary: where there is no limit to a good conscience, there is no limit to a good reputation either.
Think me a liar if you will — unless a witness worthy of my claim steps forward. And that witness is a man who was once a shining figure in the monastery of Lerins [a famous island monastery off the southern coast of Gaul, a nursery of bishops], a companion of the great Lupus and Maximus, striving through the discipline of ascetic life to rival the archimandrites [monastic leaders] of Egypt and Palestine themselves. I mean Bishop Antiolius, and it was from his reports — he is like a father to you, and he told me what kind of brothers you are, and with what distinction you both serve in the highest office of the priesthood — that I eagerly sought to know you, and was glad to have learned what I did.
A father with sons like you could hardly be matched even to the house of Aaron, the first high priest [Exodus 28-29]. And so it is fitting that I commend myself to your prayers, trusting in that spiritual kinship which I have come to feel through the testimony of those who know you. If my humble petition reaches you, I shall consider it a grace — not because I deserve it, but because the witness of your character compels my confidence. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.