Letter 20: The fact that yesterday you were absent from the council meeting of the city is taken by the better part of the...

Sidonius to his friend Pastor, greeting. 1. That you were absent yesterday from the deliberation of the community in the council, the better part took to have been done deliberately, suspecting that you were guarding against this: that the burden of the coming embassy should be laid upon your shoulders. I congratulate you, that you live by such habits that you must needs fear being elected; I praise your effectiveness, I look up to your prudence, I attend with praise upon your good fortune; in short, I wish equal things for those whom I love equally. 2. Many men frequently, whom an accursed craving for popularity drives, grasp by the hand the greatest of the citizens and lead them aside from the public assembly, and, once they are set apart, plant kisses upon them and pledge their own service, though unasked; and, that they may seem to be delegated to the championing of the common business, they refund the cost of travel and even decline of their own accord the very expenses, and out of ambition they privately beg individuals to be publicly begged by everyone. 3. So too, although a freely-offered exertion might gladly be accepted, yet the modest are chosen more gladly and more lovingly, even though at a cost; so much weight does the shamelessness of those who thrust themselves forward carry, that not even to the levy under the name of their own tribute is anything added. Therefore, although it has not escaped you what each good man was contemplating, give yourself back nonetheless to the prayers of those who await you, and prove the affection of those who desire you, you who have already proved your own modesty. That you were absent the first time is set down to your moderation; the second postponement looks toward sloth. 4. Besides, as you are about to set out for Arles, on the journey there is your venerable mother, loving brothers, and the soil of a homeland that loves you back, to which it is delightful to come even apart from any occasion; then your own house, whose steward, vineyard, harvest, olive-grove, and even the very roof, it is a matter of convenience to inspect, even while you are merely passing by. Wherefore, sent by us, you also arrive at your own; for such, unless I am mistaken, will be the arrangement and opportuneness of your journey and our cause, that you may seem able at any time to charge it to the community as a favor, that you have seen your own people. Farewell.

EPISTULA XX Sidonius Pastori suo salutem. 1. Quod die hesterno tractatui civitatis in concilio defuisti, ex industria factum pars melior accepit, quae suspicata est id te cavere, ne tuis umeris onus futurae legationis imponeretur. gratulor tibi, quod istis moribus vivis, ut necesse habeas electionem tui timere; laudo efficaciam, suspicio prudentiam, prosequor laude felicitatem; opto denique aequalia his, quos aequaliter amo. 2. multi frequenter, quos execrabilis popularitas agit, civium maximos manu prensant deque consessu publico abducunt ac sequestratis oscula impingunt, operam suam spondent, sed non petiti; utque videantur in negotii communis assertionem legari, evectionem refundunt ipsosque sumptus ultro recusant et ab ambitu clam rogant singulos, ut ab omnibus palam rogentur. 3. sic quoque, cum fatigatio gratuita possit libenter admitti, libentius tamen atque amabilius verecundi leguntur, idque cum expensa; tantum impudentia sese ingerentum ponderis habet, etiam fasci cum tributario nomine ipsorum nil superfunditur. proinde quamquam non te fefellit, quid boni quique meditarentur, redde te tamen exspectantium votis expetentumque caritatem proba, qui iam probasti pudorem. quod defuisti primum, modestiae adscribitur; ad ignaviam respicit secunda dilatio. 4. praeterea tibi Arelate profecturo est venerabilis in itinere mater fratres amantes redamantisque patriae solum, ad quod et praeter occasionem voluptuose venitur; tum domus propria, cuius actorem, vineam messem olivetum, tectum quoque ipsum, vel dum praeterveharis, inspicere res commodi est. quapropter, missus a nobis, et tibi pervenis; namque erit talis viae tuae causaeque nostrae condicio, ni fallor, atque opportunitas, ut pro beneficio civitati posse imputare quandocumque videaris, quod tuos videris. vale.