Letter 2033: Our brother and fellow priest Capillutus has doubly pleased us on this visit: he himself was long desired and has...

33. To the holy and apostolic lord, to be cultivated by me with all honor and love in a more special way, brother Caesarius the bishop, from Ruricius. Our brother and fellow presbyter Capillutus on this occasion appeared welcome to us in a twofold way, since he both came to us, long desired by us, and through your letter set before us a certain presence of yourself. As he was returning, I took care to send back this letter, by which I repay to your blessedness the due office of charity. But as for what you write, asking why I did not come to the synod, as our conversation had arranged, this was caused by infirmity, not by unwillingness. For you yourselves can recall how worn out you saw me at Burdigala [Bordeaux], and that in winter, when I am usually stronger than is my custom, I who in the summer days, even in my own lodging and in cold places, am scarcely able to bear that habitual infirmity of mine -- not to say that I could have endured those heats of that region, had I come. Hence I rather hope that you may deign to pray for me, and that, if at another time, which you indicate, should God grant me life, you wish to come, you may inform us beforehand through your man, since I make known that your letter came to me only most belatedly -- by which letter, even if not in accordance with our dignity, yet on account of our age, we ought not to be reminded later than others, we who perhaps, that I may speak with less prudence, deserved to be sought after, because, if authority lends the name of cities to others, the humility of our city ought not to take authority away from us, seeing that it is much better and much more eminent for a community to become known from its priest than for a priest to become known from his community.

XXXIII. DOMINO SANCTO ET APOSTOLICO OMNIQVE A ME HONORE ET AMORE SPECIALIUS EXCOLENDO FRATRI CASSARIO EPISCOPO RURICIUS. Frater et conpresbyter noster Capillutus dupliciter hac uice nobis gratus apparuit, dum et ipse nobis iam diu desideratus occurrit et quandam uestri praesentiam nobis per uestras lit-. teras repraesentat. quo redeunte has reddere procuraui, quibus debitum beatitudini uestrae rependo caritatis officium. quod uero scribitis, cur ad synodum, sicut conlocutio habuit nostra, non uenerim, fecit hoc infirmitas, non uoluntas. ipsi etenim recolere potestis, quam fessum me Burdigala uideritis et hoc hieme, quando esse soleo fortior solito, qui aestiuis diebus etiam in hospitio meo et locis frigidis ipsam consuetudinariam infirmitatem sustentare uix ualeo, ne dicam, quod illos aestus regionis illius ferre quiuerim, si uenissem. unde magis spero, ut pro me orare dignemini et, (si) ad tempus aliud, quod intimatis, si deus uitam cesserit, uenire uultis, nobis per hominem uestrum maturius indicetis, quia litteras uestras ad me modo tardissime uenisse significo, quibus, etsi non pro dignitate, uel pro aetate non debemus tardius quam alii commoneri, qui fortasse, ut minus prudens dicam, merebamur ambiri, quia, si aliis nomen urbium praestat auctoritas, nobis auctoritatem demere non debet urbis humilitas, siquidem multo melius multoque eminentius est ciuitatem de sacerdote, quam sacerdotem de ciuitate notescere. 1 etiam om. v exteriobus S 2 obto 8 5 excolendo Kr. coll. II40, colendo add. v, om. S 6 ac S 9 sepraesentat S 10 offitiu S 11 sy- Ie donum S conloquutio S 12 enim 11 13 recore S Burdigalia uel Burdigali v 14 forcior S qui aestiuis Luetjohann, quia stiuis S 16 uix 82 m ras . aestus r, coetus SKr., aeres infra p. 420, 24 18 dignimini S si addidi, om. S si] me, si Mommseum, Kr. post si lacwnae signum. posuit 21 quibus scripsi, quia S, quin Mommsenus 22 non v, ne S 24 prestat S 27 notiscere S, noscere v XXI. Fanrt. 27