Letter 2013: It is a matter as much of my longing as of my obligation to attend with particular care to the services that your...

Bishop Avitus to the senator Celer. It is settled that it is no less a matter of my desire than of my obligation that the services which you devotedly render to the city of deservedly renowned greatness should be honored with special care by me, who already for a long time seem bound to its favor. This is all the more so now that divine favor has offered a timely occasion in which I may have earned to serve the command of his highness with full devotion. For this reason I commend to your magnificence, with the aforesaid honor of most generous safekeeping, the son of your devoted servant, the illustrious Laurentius [a Gallo-Roman aristocrat] -- the son whom a venerable command has directed to be sent back to his father. Let him be advanced by your zeal and defended by that spirit of devotion which you have shown: in his own region he sought his father; in you let him find fatherhood. Protect likewise the father, received together with his child, who, although he is already sufficiently your debtor through the honor you have done him, has nevertheless begun to owe you still more on account of his offspring, because through you he will obtain the consolation of his own affection -- and he will repay you with an increase of affection in return. For the rest, moreover, so far as concerns your faithful servants, we always long in expectation for your command, and we wish for the opportunity of obedience. May you flourish by prosperous divine favor, so that we may be permitted to learn of Roman prosperity under our most glorious prince -- at whose summit you shine in the worthy citadel of honor -- both through the graciousness of this discourse and through the rescript of your own dignity.

Avitus episcopus Celero senatori. Constat non minus desiderii mei esse quam debiti, ut officia, quae merito inclitae magnitudinis urbi devotus impenditis, a me, qui gratiae eius iam dudum videor ob- ligatus, specialius excolantur. Maxime cum opportunam nunc occasionem favor divi- nus obtulerit, in qua imperio celsitudinis suae plena meruerim devotione servire. Qua propter cultoris vestri, viri illustris Laurentii, filium, quem ad patrem suum dirigi iussio reverenda praecepit, magnificentiae vestrae praefato largissimae sospitatis ho- nore commendo: augeri studio, defendi quod voluistis animo pietatis, in regione ex- petiit patrem, in vobis reperiat paternitatem. Tuemini etiam cum prole susceptum, qui vobis licet satis sit debitor per honorem, plus tamen incepit debere per subolem, quod per vos potietur proprii affectus solatio, compensaturus erga vos affectionis aug- mento. De cetero autem, quantum ad fideles vestros pertinet, expectatione semper cupimus iussionem, optamus oboedientiae facultatem. Vos prospera divinitate prae- state, ut Romanam sub gloriosissimo principe nostro prosperitatem, in cuius apice digna honoris arce fulgetis, tam serenitate sermonis istius quam dignitatis vestrae rescripto mereamur agnoscere.