Letter 1005: Though I have not earned any letter from Your Apostleship to prompt this initiative, your reputation compels me to...

Bishop Avitus to Bishop Maximus. Although I have earned no writings of your apostolic office by which I might be prompted to presume upon this very duty, nevertheless you compel me by your reputation, even when you do not command me by an address, to offer the page of the service I owe. Indeed, in coming to meet your spirit, even if we do not deserve to do so by sight, we are drawn by your fame, even while we are held back by absence. To this is added the fact that you so soothe the hardships of the unfortunate Gauls by the consolation of your counsel and by your generosity that, under the appearance of that mercy of yours which I have come to know, those hastening into Italy after a long journey to acknowledge the need of their own people, when by Christ as their guide they have deserved to behold your person, rightly believe that they are entering their own homeland. For the rest, I commend the presbyter of our region, namely the bearer of this present token of obedience. Although he has undertaken the labor of fatigue for the ransoming of the son of a certain kinsman of his, he has nevertheless been sent by a certain noble provincial man, with my own recommendation, so that with the help of your intercession he may seek out and recall the aforesaid man's son, by name Avulus, taken some four years ago as a pledge of hostageship by Count Betancus. As for what remains, I beg that by the worthy reply of your beatitude you would teach both that there is a recoverable status of free birth for those exiled there, and that there is a common avenue of writing for those desiring it here. Bishop Apollinaris to Bishop Avitus. Although my belated repentance has already paid penalty enough, nevertheless, because I was not able to be present even by a deputy's service at the feast day to be celebrated by us together with the angels, I, who did not display my devotion, have at least taken care to offer satisfaction. To which indeed, as I trust, I was admonished, most reverend lord, by the visitation of that very blessed spirit. For on that very holy night, in a vision, something or other had clung to my hands, which a dove, most resplendent but of an unusual red color, sitting beside me, was plucking away. And when, having been awakened, I recognized indeed the everyday roughness of my hands, but nonetheless remembered that I was being cleansed though undeservedly, while sad and anxious I turned this very ambiguity over within myself, suddenly, as if struck by a goad, I straightway recalled the remainder of the debt left over. By now what confusion has pressed upon me from this, or what bitterness, your holy piety weighs. To some extent, however, I have been consoled by this one hope, that she who deigned to admonish me may pardon, so that not all opportunity of holy service should be cheated from wretched me. One thing only my supplication, mingled with the duties owed to her commemoration, demands: that she may inspire this portion too of her indulgence into the perceptions of your reckoning, which toward me is already more than just.

Avitus episcopus Maximo episcopo. Licet nulla, quibus ad praesumendum hoc ipsum officium provocarer, vestri apo- stolatus scripta promeruerim, offerre me tamen paginam debiti famulatus, cum appella- tione non iusseritis, opinione compellitis. Si quidem ad occurrendum animis vestris, si non meremur aspectibus, fama trahimur, etiam dum absentia cohibemur. His addi- tur, quod ita aerumnas infelicium Gallorum consolatione consilii et largitate palpatis, ut sub specie eius, quam comperi, misericordiae ad agnoscendam suorum necessitatem in Italiam festinantes post longam peregrinationem, cum duce Christo vestram meruerint videre personam, merito propriam credant intrare se patriam. Commendo, quod super- est, regionis nostrae presbyterum, praesentis scilicet obsequii portitorem. Qui licet pro redimendo cuiusdam propinqui sui filio laborem fatigationis adgressus sit, a quo- dam tamen nobili viro provinciali cum mea prosecutione directus est, ut praefati filium a comite Betanco, nomine Avulum, ante hos circiter quattuor annos pro pignere obsi- datus adsumptum, sub auxilio vestrae intercessionis requirat ac revocet. Quod superest obsecro, ut dignabili beatitudinis vestrae rescripto et illic exulantibus ingenuitatis statum reparabilem et hic desiderantibus scribendi aditum doceatis esse communem. Apollinaris episcopus Avito episcopo. Satis licet iam poenarum dederit sera paenitudo, tamen, quia ad diem festum angelis nobiscum colendum nec vicario quidem famulatu adesse merui, qui devotionem non ostendi, vel satisfactionem deferre curavi. Ad quod vere, ut confido, ipso sum beato, reverentissime domine, spiritu visitante commonitus. Nam in ipsa sancta nocte in visione nescio quid manibus meis haeserat, quod considens iuxta me fulgentissima, sed inusitato colore rubea columba vellebat. Cumque expergefactus cotidianum quidem manuum mearum horrorem recognoscerem, sed purgari me immerito nihilominus memi- nissem, dum ipsum ambiguum maestus mecum atque anxius volvo, repente .quasi stimulo percussus illico sum reliquati faenoris recordatus. Iam quae me hinc confusio quaeve presserit amaritudo, pietas sancta perpendit. Aliquatenus tamen hac spe sola- tus sum, quod ignoscat, quae commonere dignata est, ut misero mihi non omnis sancti obsequii opportunitas fraudaretur. Vnum tantum mixta debitis commemorationi eius officiis supplicatio deposcit, ut hanc quoque indulgentiae suae partem sensibus vestrae, quae in me plus iam iusta est, imputationis inspiret.