Letter 8011: The kind voice of Gregory the physician came to the sick man

XI To Bishop Gregory, concerning his [the poet's] illness There came to me in my sickness the kindly voice of the physician Gregory, from the city of Tours, while I lay abed on my couch in the countryside, urging that, with the serene priest Leo reading it aloud in haste, I should go to where the festal rites of holy Martin are held. Then, I confess, laboring under the grievous weakness of my disease, burning with the highest fever, I was now sunk in the lowest chill. From this my too-fragile frame, brought low by a heavy languor, my sick breath kept lifting my weary flanks. A parched vapor went forth, scorching my panting lips; a steaming exhalation went forth, seething from my inmost parts. I was all on fire, a sorrowful funeral-pyre, a furnace with its flame, and the fever stood within my fibers, hidden yet plain to see, until Christ poured back his aid with a streaming sweat, and the burning fire drove off the icy waters. Restored therefore to this man [Gregory], O kindly father, I greet you, my salvation: be, I beg you, a help to your slender sheep, O shepherd.

XI Ad Gregorium episcopum pro infirmitate sua Venit ad aegrotum medici vox alma Gregori urbe ex Toronica, dum cubo rure toro, concite presbytero recitante Leone sereno, irem ut Martini sunt ubi festa pii. tum, fateor, morbi grave debilitate laborans febre calens summa iam rigor imus eram. hinc fragili nimium forti languore redacto ilia lassa levans halitus aeger erat. ibat anhelanti vapor aridus ora perurens, ibat ab arcanis flatilis aura coquens. fervor eram totus, tristis rogus, igne caminus, febris et in fibris stabat operta patens, donec Christus opem sudore undante refudit, fervidus et gelidas ignis abegit aquas. redditus ergo isti, pater alme, saluto saluti: auxilium exili sis, rogo, pastor ovi.