Letter 16

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Sidonius Apollinaris, bishop of Clermont (called "Videns" — "the Seer") Date: ~490 AD Context: A warm letter to the great Sidonius, expressing long admiration and addressing him by his spiritual name. To the venerable, admirable, and equal of all the saints, my brother Sidonius the Seer — Ruricius. I have known you for a long time, dearest brother, through the celebration of your most widespread fame. I have gazed upon you in the seat of love with those eyes of the mind by which you yourself look beyond earthly things and contemplate heavenly and divine realities — which is why I have inscribed the very name of the one whose gift I saw you to be. And so, while I gaze upon you in the mirror of my heart and ardently admire the beauty of your inner person, I long to know you more deeply.

XVI. DOMINI UENERABILI, ADMIRABILI ET SANCTIS OMNIBUS AEQVIPERANDO FRATRI SIDONIO UIDENTI RURICIUS. Olim te, frater carissime, fama celeberrima praedicante cognoui et in sede caritatis illis, quibus ipse melius terrena dispicis et caelestia diuinaque consideras, oculis mentis aspexi, unde ipsius nomen adscripsi, cuius munere donatum esse te uidi. et ideo, dum te in speculo cordis diligenter et pulchritudinem interioris hominis tui uehementer admiror, ad 22] cf. 1 Reg. 9, 9. 1 se melius v, semilius S 5 quod v, quotquot S 6 pietate a 9 retuleram scripsx, retulerim S accersioue v, arcersione S 10 offitium S 18 flducia S presummo S 14 feceritis v, facieritis S 15 dictis v intellen v 16 beatitudinis S 17 tanto v 28 carissimae S predicante S 24 despicis v 27 post diligenter Mommseim intueor imerit desiderandum animi mei uiscera concitasti, quae in tantum affectum tuum meracissima dilectione commota sunt, ut, quem spiritalibus oculis contemplor, etiam carnalibus cernere concupiscam. quam ob rem salue in Christo domino plurimum dicens specialius quaeso, ut una cum domno meo episcopo, quem ad nos uenturum pro sua dignatione confido, uobis ad humilitatem nostram uisitandam faciatis iniuriam, ut possimus in unum positi fructum de nostra inuicem capere praesentia, dum sciscitantis intentio fit respondentis eruditio et mutuus quodam modo profectus discentis efficitur et docentis. pax, pax, pax.