Letter 5

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: Maximus, a bishop (probably in Italy) Date: ~500 AD Context: A letter of recommendation for a priest from Gaul who is traveling to Italy to ransom a relative's son from a barbarian count named Betancus — a vivid glimpse into the human cost of the barbarian settlements and the role bishops played as intermediaries. Avitus, bishop, to Bishop Maximus. Though I have not earned any letter from Your Apostleship to prompt this initiative, your reputation compels me to offer this page of dutiful service even without an invitation. For we are drawn to meet your spirit — if we do not merit your sight — by fame, even while absence holds us back. To this is added the fact that you comfort the misfortunes of the wretched people of Gaul with the consolation of counsel and the generosity of aid, so that under the guise of the mercy I have witnessed, those who hasten to Italy to make known their needs — having earned, with Christ as their guide, the sight of your person after a long pilgrimage — rightly believe they are entering their own homeland. I commend to you the priest of our region who bears this letter. He has undertaken the labor of his journey to ransom the son of a certain relative of his, but he was also sent by a certain noble provincial gentleman with my support to seek out — and with the help of your intercession, recover — the boy named Avulus, son of the aforementioned man, who was taken as a hostage by Count Betancus about four years ago. I beg you furthermore: deign to show through a letter worthy of Your Beatitude both to those suffering in exile there that their freeborn status can be restored, and to those longing here that the path to correspondence is open to all.

Avitus episcopus Maximo episcopo. Licet nulla, quibus ad praesumendum hoc ipsum officium provocarer, vestri apo- stolatus scripta promeruerim, offerre me tamen paginam debiti famulatus, cum appella- tione non iusseritis, opinione compellitis. Si quidem ad occurrendum animis vestris, si non meremur aspectibus, fama trahimur, etiam dum absentia cohibemur. His addi- tur, quod ita aerumnas infelicium Gallorum consolatione consilii et largitate palpatis, ut sub specie eius, quam comperi, misericordiae ad agnoscendam suorum necessitatem in Italiam festinantes post longam peregrinationem, cum duce Christo vestram meruerint videre personam, merito propriam credant intrare se patriam. Commendo, quod super- est, regionis nostrae presbyterum, praesentis scilicet obsequii portitorem. Qui licet pro redimendo cuiusdam propinqui sui filio laborem fatigationis adgressus sit, a quo- dam tamen nobili viro provinciali cum mea prosecutione directus est, ut praefati filium a comite Betanco, nomine Avulum, ante hos circiter quattuor annos pro pignere obsi- datus adsumptum, sub auxilio vestrae intercessionis requirat ac revocet. Quod superest obsecro, ut dignabili beatitudinis vestrae rescripto et illic exulantibus ingenuitatis statum reparabilem et hic desiderantibus scribendi aditum doceatis esse communem. Apollinaris episcopus Avito episcopo. Satis licet iam poenarum dederit sera paenitudo, tamen, quia ad diem festum angelis nobiscum colendum nec vicario quidem famulatu adesse merui, qui devotionem non ostendi, vel satisfactionem deferre curavi. Ad quod vere, ut confido, ipso sum beato, reverentissime domine, spiritu visitante commonitus. Nam in ipsa sancta nocte in visione nescio quid manibus meis haeserat, quod considens iuxta me fulgentissima, sed inusitato colore rubea columba vellebat. Cumque expergefactus cotidianum quidem manuum mearum horrorem recognoscerem, sed purgari me immerito nihilominus memi- nissem, dum ipsum ambiguum maestus mecum atque anxius volvo, repente .quasi stimulo percussus illico sum reliquati faenoris recordatus. Iam quae me hinc confusio quaeve presserit amaritudo, pietas sancta perpendit. Aliquatenus tamen hac spe sola- tus sum, quod ignoscat, quae commonere dignata est, ut misero mihi non omnis sancti obsequii opportunitas fraudaretur. Vnum tantum mixta debitis commemorationi eius officiis supplicatio deposcit, ut hanc quoque indulgentiae suae partem sensibus vestrae, quae in me plus iam iusta est, imputationis inspiret.