Letter 4016: Gregory to Datianus, bishop, metropolitan.

TO BISHOP DATIANUS. In friendly fashion he asks that Datianus feel compassion for him in his affliction. Gregory to Datianus, metropolitan bishop. The writings of your Beatitude, most sweet and to be embraced by all in the arms of the heart, I received in sorrow, and re-read in gladness. For who in this land would not mourn, a land which, given over to the swords of the barbarians, now scarcely has any who live in it, and yet daily has those who die in it? But in however great a sorrow, whom would your letters not shake forth into the joy of exultation? In these letters there spoke to me from the very marrow, with effectiveness of speech and with the genius of a most surpassing wisdom, not the tongue of the flesh, but of charity. [Editorial note: a kinsman of the emperor Maurice, who in the heading of each letter — namely of book III, letter 67, and of book V, letter 56 — is called metropolitan bishop, as in this letter Datianus or Domitianus. This bishop at one time resided at Constantinople, where Sabinianus was to confer with him in person; which fits Domitianus, whom the emperor kept at court, making use of his counsels. That both Datianus and Domitianus were among Gregory's intimates is clear from the letters written to them. Thus begins letter 67 of book III: "The writings of your most sweet and most agreeable Beatitude." And letter 50 (?) of book V: "How great is the sincerity of charity in your mind." These things indeed agree most closely with the opening of this very letter: "The writings, most sweet and to be embraced by all in the arms of the heart, of your Beatitude." From all these things it is almost concluded that this Datianus is one and the same as Domitianus. Nevertheless we have not wished to change the name, because only the index of Paul's Collection has Domitianus. This letter, moreover, is wanting in the English, Norman, and most manuscripts: we collated it against two Vatican manuscripts A and D, against the Colbert manuscript, and against Paul's Collection. BOOK V OF THE LETTERS — INDICTION XIII — LETTER 18.] But because I, drawing from the fountain of your security, have been somewhat gladdened, I ask you also: touch the grief of our sorrow, and by charity as your teacher draw our affliction into your very selves. For you will not wash away the filth of our mourning, unless you yourselves also, through compassion, soil the hand of your heart. For dirty little vessels, that they may be free of the soil of earth, are commonly cleansed with earth; and you, if you bring your mind for a little while to our care, so as to be able to help us, cleanse mud as it were with mud. But because in doing this you act at the same time also by praying, if any earthly action in you soils anything on our behalf, at once the water of prayer washes it away. For since, if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, by suffering together with our labors show that we are one. For to narrate the evils which I suffer outwardly and inwardly, I am forbidden by the brevity of a letter. But our common son Sabinianus the deacon will lay open to your most sweet Holiness our wounds, that they may be tended; and by the salvation that follows from the work of grace from above, let him recognize that he is a physician who sees the wound. The boys, however, resembling a bishop, I do not send, unless first, with the help of almighty God and of your Beatitude, I myself, the bishop, am stripped of earthly entanglements. For when I shall find myself within my own self, then I shall look outwardly for those resembling me, that is, for those I shall have shaped. ... that he be chosen, I believe that a very fitting person will be found. Given on the tenth day before the Kalends of January.

AD DATIANUM EPISCOPUM. Amice rogat ut 8ibi aſſlicto compatiatur. Gregorius ®* Datiano episcopo metropolitano, Scripla dulcissime et cordis ulnis omnibus am- plectendz vestre beatitudinis trislis accepi , I:etus relegi. Quis enim in hac terra non lugeat , quz bar- barorum gladiis tradita, pene jam non habet qui in ea vivant, et {amen habet quotidie qui moriantur ? Sed in quantalibel tristitia, quem non veslr# episto- le in gaudium exsullationis exculerent ? in quibus cum oris eſlicacia , cum prxpollentis sapientie inge- niv mihi m2dullitus loquebatur, non carnis lingua, Mauricii imperat. cognatum, qui in utriusque episto- lz, scilicet 67 hbri m, et S5VI. x, inscriptione dicitur episcopus metropolitanus, ut hac in epistola Datia- nus vel Domitianus. Episcopus hic aliquando Con- slantinopoli degebat, ubi Sabinianus cum ipsv erat collocuturus ; quod Domitiano congruit, quem impe- rator in aula relinebat, ejus consiliis viens. Tam Datianum quam Domitianum in intimis Gregori: ſuisse liquet ex $criptis ad eos epistolis. Sic incipi: epist. 67 libri m : Scripta dulcissime et suaviss. bea- litudinis restre. EL 50 libri x : Quan magne charita- tis sit in mente reslra 8inceritas. |;ec sane maxime conveniunt cum hujusce epistolz exordio : Scripts dulcissime et cordis ulnis omnibus amplectend@ veslre beattudinis.Ex- his omnibus pene conficitur Datianum hune eumdem. esse ac Domitianum, Nomen tawen mutare noluimus, quod Solus index Collectionis Pauii babeat Domitianum. Hwec autem cpistola desiJeratur in Mss. Anglic. , Norm. et plerisque : eam contuli- mus ad duos Vaticanvs A et ÞD, ad Cotbert. et 2d Collectiouvem Pauli. ; 137 EPISTOLARUM LIB. V. — INDICT. XIII. — EPIST. XVIIL zed c12ritatis. Quia vero ego de lonte vestrz secu- A ut eligatur, credo quod apta valde persona inveniz- ritatis hauriens, ex aliquanto lztificatus sum , vos quoque, rogo, nosire hlistitiee Juctum tangite, et af- ſlictionem | noslram in vobismetipsis magistra chari- t:te pertrahite. Neque enim nostri mceroris $0rdes 1.mdabitis, nisi ips} quoque per compassionem ma- num veslri cordis inquinetis. Nam sordida vascula, ut inquinatione terra careant, cum terra mundari Solent; et vos si parumper ad curam nostram ves- trum animum ducitis, ut nobis opitulari valeatis, quasi cum Juto lutum mundatis. Sed quia hoc ope- rando simul et orando agitis, si quid pro nobis in yobis terrena actio inquinal, Statim ” aqua orationis lavat. Quia enim si quid palitur unum membrum, compatiuntur omnia membra, compatiendo laboribus aostris ostendite quia unum. Sumns. Narrare enim mala quz extrinsecus et intrinsecus palior, epi>to- lari brevitate prohibeor. Sed communis filius Sabi- nianus diaconus vesilrz dulcissime $anclit:li curanda rulnera nostra aperiet; sed ex opere supernz gra- ie subsequente Salute cognoscal quia medicus est qui vulnus videt. © Pueros vero episcopo similes non ransmilto , nisi prius cum omnipoltentis Dei et Bea- dtudinis vestre solatio a terrenis implicationibus . exutus jpse episcopus ſuero. Quando enim me apud meipsum invenero, lunc foris mei similes videlicet deſorines quzro. 4 Data x Kal. Januarii.