Letter 12040

From: Pope Gregory I To: Venantius, Patrician Date: ~602 AD Context: Gregory promises that when he recovers his health, he will explain certain acts of Solomon allegorically My dear Venantius, I am glad to make you this promise: when my health allows me to devote the necessary time and concentration to it, I will write for you the allegorical exposition of those acts of Solomon that you asked about. The texts you have in mind are genuinely rewarding when read in the light of the deeper meaning they carry, and I look forward to unpacking them for you. But I cannot do justice to the task in my present condition — the work requires sustained mental effort that illness makes impossible. Be patient with me, and know the promise is genuine.

AD VENANTIUM PATRICIUM. | Spondet ze, ubi convaluerit, facta quedam Samoniz allegorice expositurum. Gregorius * Venantio palricio Panormitano. Desideratissimz excellentiz vesirz 8cripla suScepi, in quibus tantum de absentis collocutione gavisus Sum, quantum ipsum qui locutus est semper mihi cupio es3e prexsentem. Vultis ergo ut quzedam de Samsonis factis allegorice dis8erantur, sed lanta mihi debilitas corporis accidit, ut si qua subire Þ va- luerim, exercere animus non assurgal. Bono aulem desiderio vestro congaudeo, quia dum expositionem sacrorum verborum cupitis, quam $lricte ip$um au- ctorem eorumdem verborum quzritlis demonstralis. Si igitur vires salulis recepero, auctore omnipotente Domino vestris desideriis parebo. Uro autem ut in cunctis aclibus vestris gratia vos Superna custodiat, quatenus in bono opere et aspirando vos repleat, 6 adjuvando conforiet.