Letter 8021: Ad eundem pro pellibus transmissis

To Gregory, for Furs Sent A page composed in splendid order, adorned with elegant turns and supported by Sophoclean [Sophocles — the great Athenian tragedian, here used as a general term for sophisticated classical style] wisdom — rich, it moistened my dryness with your pouring, and made what I now say come from your eloquence. Sweet, dear, gracious, eloquent, kind Gregory — and father of your homeland, holy on one side, clever on the other — having in gifts, merits, spirit, and manners equally, all the duties by which you ought to be cultivated: I, Fortunatus, lay myself before your lofty self with prostrate prayer. Whatever I carry here through my own industry, I hold it all as yours by right — since it is your care that has sustained my work, your friendship that has made my writing matter, your prayers that have kept me when I could not keep myself. Accept the furs you sent — I accept them with gratitude. And accept in return these words, which are all the furs I have to send you.

XXI Ad eundem pro pellibus transmissis Egregio conpacta situ, falerata rotatu atque Sophocleo pagina fulta sopho me arentem vestro madefecit opima rigatu, fecit et eloquio quod loquor esse tuo. dulcis care decens facunde benigne Gregori atque pater patriae, hinc sacer, inde cate, muneribus, meritis, animis et moribus aequis, omnibus officiis unde colaris habens: me Fortunatum tibi celso sterno pusillum, commendo et voto supplice rite tuum; cui das unde sibi talaria missa ligentur pellibus et niveis sint sola tecta pedis. pro quibus a domino detur stola candida vobis: qui datis hoc minimis, inde feratis opes.