Letter 3029: Ad Anthimium diaconum

29 To the deacon Anthimius Receive these little verses, Anthimius, a pledge of one who loves you, which love has poured out for you from a sincere heart. When caressing sleep was holding your eyes shut and had made your weary limbs lie upon the couch, while I hesitate, I sin against my will, unwilling to trouble your repose: thus my fault will be the cause of your slumber. I depart in silence, like a thief, with no one to point me out, nor did I say, embracing you: farewell, beloved brother. I was not permitted to entrust my charges to a dear soul, nor did even a single hour detain me with your words. I call the Lord to witness that it grieves me grievously that I thus go away and do not carry off your sayings. But to you, present, I could then willingly have said more; now let this sent page make me speak in a few words. Yet this gift I ask of you before God, that you grant me: that everywhere, to all, you may ever shine dear; let no one provide me a garment, no one provide me coins: what sweetness counsels, let no one deny me that.

XXIX Ad Anthimium diaconum Suscipe versiculos, Anthimi, pignus amantis , quos tibi sincero pectore fudit amor. cum tua blanditus retineret lumina somnus lassaque fecisset membra iacere toro, dum dubito, pecco nolens vexare quietum: sic mea culpa tui causa soporis erit. discedo tacitus, veluti fur, indice nullo, nec dixi amplectens: frater amate, vale. non licuit mandata animo committere caro nec tenuit verbis hora vel una tuis. testificor dominum mihi fortiter esse molestum, quod sic abscedo nec tua dicta fero. sed cui plura volens poteram tunc dicere praesens, nunc faciat paucis pagina missa loqui. haec tamen ante deum rogo te mihi munera praestes: omnibus ut semper, carus ubique mices; nemo mihi vestem, denaria nemo ministret : quod dulcedo monet, hoc mihi nemo neget.