Letter 4: Our traveler and letter carrier wears the ruts of his accustomed road, traversing again and again the stretch of...

Sidonius to his lord the bishop Graecus, greeting. 1. Our traveler and letter-carrier wears down the wheel-ruts of the accustomed route, traversing again and again the stretch of road and of the regions that keep our towns apart. For this reason it befits us too to pursue the duties of a diligence once resolved upon, which we ought to redouble both with the rest of those passing through and especially when Amantius is running between us, and to do so with a certain intentness of mind, lest perhaps he himself should seem to demand letters out of custom more than we dictate them out of love, my lord bishop. Therefore be the more mindful of your own people, among whom we presume to be reckoned, and who, just as we are lifted up by your favorable fortunes, so are we cast down by your adverse ones. 2. For the news that you have lately endured many anguishes through the distress of certain of the brethren has reached us in a tearful report, to us who weep. But you, flower of priests, jewel of bishops, strong in knowledge, stronger in conscience, spurn the threats and the surges of the world's storms, since you yourself have frequently taught that one comes to the promised banquets of the patriarchs, or to the nectar of the heavenly cups, by way of the goblets of earthly bitternesses. 3. Whether you will or not, whoever attains the kingdom of the despised Mediator follows His example. However many cups of anxieties of the present life the affliction may pour out for us, we endure but little, if we remember what He drank at the gibbet who invites us to heaven. Deign to be mindful of us, my lord bishop.

EPISTULA IV Sidonius domino papae Graeco salutem. 1. Viator noster ac tabellarius terit orbitas itineris assueti spatium viae regionumque, quod oppida nostra discriminat, saepe relegendo. quocirca nos quoque decet semel propositae sedulitatis officia sectari, quae cum reliquis commeantibus tum praecipue Amantio intercurrente geminare cum quadam mentis intentione debemus, ne forte videatur ipse plus litteras ex more deposcere quam nos ex amore dictare, domine papa; ideoque vestrorum plus mementote, quos inter praesumimus computari, quique, sicut vestris erigimur secundis, ita deprimimur adversis. 2. nam quod nuper quorumpiam fratrum necessitate multos pertuleritis angores, flebili ad flentes relatione pervenit. sed tu, flos sacerdotum gemma pontificum, scientia fortis fortior conscientia, minas undasque mundialium sperne nimborum, quia frequenter ipse docuisti, quod ad promissa convivia patriarcharum vel ad nectar caelestium poculorum per amaritudinum terrenarum calices perveniretur. 3. velis nolis, quisque contempti mediatoris consequitur regnum, sequitur exemplum. quantumlibet nobis anxietatum pateras vitae praesentis propinet afflictio, parva toleramus, si recordamur, quid biberit ad patibulum qui invitat ad caelum. memor nostri esse dignare, domine papa.