Letter 29: A fragment of a letter in which Simplicius addresses the emperor on the increasingly troubled situation in the...

Fragment of Pope Simplicius to the Emperor Zeno. (15 July.) He replies to the emperor's request concerning the removal of John and the promotion of Peter. Here begins the letter of Simplicius, pope of holy memory, to the Emperor Zeno. Among other matters, and to the same point. But let us now come to those of whom your Tranquility's writings declare that the one is to be excluded from the episcopate of the church of Alexandria, and the other to be set over it; and first, if it please you, let us weigh the merit of the person of Peter. This man is, to be sure, an accomplice of the parricide Timothy, and most deserving of perpetual exile by your decree as well. This man is ever a comrade and teacher of those who war against the truth. This is the man about whose expulsion from the city of Alexandria there is no doubt that I have often asked you by letter; and if he were of right faith, he would assuredly have remained within the Catholic communion. But if he is now approaching it to be corrected, by that very fact he is convicted of an error long held. Yet if even now he should seek out that correction with a sincere mind, he would consequently bring forth satisfaction: he does not seek dignity who, after his repentance, is worthy of pardon, not of honor. Far be it that I should begrudge his salvation, if he comes to his senses: I embrace him, I exhort him, and I rejoice, most glorious emperor; but to one long wounded by the injury of depravity, the indulgence of medicine is fitting, not that of power. For then it will be able to be called an act of religion, if, having condemned his perversity, he shall have chosen to return to a sound faith. Otherwise it is manifest that he does not desire the cure of his own sickness, but aspires to high station, by which he may pour out the poison of his treachery upon wretched living souls more confidently and more freely, and from a higher place may with far greater violence reduce Catholic liberty into servitude. I ask further, who they are that support his advancement; and I hear that they are archimandrites and monks, or whoever else there may be, who have separated themselves from the Catholic communion. Their testimony, therefore, is to be approved? Their person to be admitted, men for whom the cause of sound faith and conscience does not stand, and who are held bound in the same equal error with that same man? The end. [Footnote: Thus I have altered what in the edition reads "this same."] [Footnote: The same sentiment recurs very often in this matter; compare letter 18, no. 3 (note 8); Felix II, letter 15, no. 3.]

^a 48-2d. Simplicii papae ad Zenouem imperatorem fragmentam. 15 Jul.) Hespondet impfratoHs th rejiviendo Johannv et promovendo Petro postu/ationi, p. Ineipit epistola sanotae memoriae Simplioii papae ad Zenonem imp^ratorem. Inter oetera et ad loonm. Sed jani veniamus ad eos, quorum imum a pontificio Alexan- drinae ecclesiae secludendum, alterum huic j)raeficiendum trauquilli> tatis tuae scripta pronuntiant, ac prinio, si placet persona^) Petri, meritum expendamus. Nimirum liic est complex parricidae Tiniothei et exsilio sempiterno vestra quoque jussione dignissimus. Hic contra veritatem militantium socius semper et doctor. Hic, de quo Ale- xandrina urbe pellendo saepe me litteris rogasse non dubiuni est; qui si esset rectiie fidei, in catholica utique communione mansisset. Quod si ad eam nuper emendandus accedit, hoc') ipso diu retenti confutatur erroris. Quam tamen eniendationem si vel nunc sineera niente perquireret, satisfactionem consequenter afferret : non ^) expetit dignitatem, qui post poenitudinem indulgentia dignus est, non ho- nore. Absit, ut ejus sahiti, si resipiscit, invideam: complector, hor- tor et gaudeo, gloriosissime imperator; sed diu pravitatis vulnere sauciato medicinae venia conipetit, non potestatis. Timc enim reli- gionis poterit nuncupari, si perversitate damnata ad sanam fidem renieare praeelegerit. Alioquin manifestum est, eum non curationeui jiroprii desiderare languoris, sed ambire fastigium, quo perfidiae suae virus miseris animantibus confidentius licentiusque difiimdat et de superiore loco multo violentius in servitutem catliolicam redigat liber- tatem. Quaeso deinde, qui ejus provectui suflTagentur; et eos audio esse archimandritas et monachos vel si qui smit alii, qui sese a conmmnione catholica separaverunt. Horiun ergo testimonium com- probandum est: quorum^) admittenda persona, quibus sanae fidei et ') Ita mutavi, quod in edit. hoc ipsum. ') Eadem senteutia saepissime in hac causa recurrit; cf. epist. 18 n. 3 (not. 8); Folic. II epist. 15 n. 3. EPISTOLAE 19-21. 213 coiiscieiitiae causa uoii suppetit, et qui cum eodeui pari teueutur a. 482. errore? Finis.