Letter 2019: Avitus, bishop, to the most distinguished Messianus.

Avitus the bishop to the most illustrious gentleman Messianus. The greatest measure of fulfillment is heaped upon our desire, with the longed-for abundance of joys, whenever the eager prayers of our solicitude learn that the magnificent estate of your dutiful goodness is thriving in flourishing prosperity; for whatever the outpoured devotion of heavenly benefits has conferred upon your clemency, that much accrues to our own fortunes in a sum of unquestioned felicity. For we measure our own success to be prospered by happy increases in that very thing in which the support of your activity grows without end. Wherefore, rendering an honorific salutation, I ask, as we desire, that if all things are proceeding happily with you, your greatness may fully instruct us by disclosing it through the eloquence of a swift-running page.

Avitus episcopus viro illustrissimo Messiano. Maximus desiderio nostro cumulus optata gaudiorum ubertate confertur, si magni- ficum vestrae pietatis statum florenti prosperitate pollentem avida sollicitudinis nostrae vota cognoverint: quia hoc proventibus nostris compendio indubitatae felicitatis ad- crescit, quicquid clementiae vestrae caelestium beneficiorum pietas diffusa contulerit. Nam in eo metimur felicibus incrementis nostrum prosperari successum, in quo actionis vestrae crescit sine fine suffragium. Qua propter honorificum salve persolvens quaeso, ut cupimus, si felicia cuncta erga vos geruntur, magnitudo vestra percurrentis pa- ginae eloquio pandendo perdoceat.