From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges
To: Constantius (his son?)
Date: ~495 AD
Context: A wonderfully frank letter to a young man devoted to wine, music, and dancing girls — urging him to cool his passions while admitting he is probably not ready to hear it.
Bishop Ruricius to his son Constantius.
Even though I am well aware that you are devoted to Bacchus, to music, to various performances, and even to choruses of dancing girls — still, because it is good to be called away from these things while youth burns hottest, I write to remind you that the one who said "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden" [Matthew 11:28] offers a lighter burden than any of these pleasures, which weigh the soul down even as they seem to set it free.
XXIIII. FILIO CONSTANTIO RURICIUS EPISCOPUS.
Quamlibet Baccho, symphoniis et diuersis musicis nec non
etiam et puellarum choris te deditum esse cognouerim, tamen,
quia bonum est ab his, dum perualde feruet adulescentia,
6] Matth. 11, 28. 12] Matth. 19, 28.
5 adoratione 81, adortatione 82 7 honerati S iugo scripsi, iugum
S, nobis suae lenitatis imponat, ut suppl. ex II 32 XI . 8 humilitatis
et miseriM om. S in textu, sed in margine mari. alt.: causa humilitatis
et miseriM exstat, libertatis et misericordiae v 9 curui S subiungamus
scripsi, subiungemus S1, subiungimus 82, subiungamur v, subiuaa
gemus Mommsenus, fortasse subiungeremus scribendum deremus S (au
man. alt.), deliberemus Mommsenus 11 iuditio S 12 premonere S
\'
13 consederit Kr., consederet S, consideret v merito S 15 precepta S
17 excludit S 18 deputauit S 19 hisde S, iisdem v porcionem S
21 constancio 8 22 bacho S simphoniis 8 24 perdede 81(?), perualde
SJ
aliquoties respirare et magis domino uacare, quam Libero, parentibus
quoque operam dare, quam cantibus, moneo, ut crastino,
quod erit quarta feria, Briuae, temporius tamen, quod te
facturum minime credo, mihi ieiunus occurras.
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From:Ruricius, bishop of Limoges
To:Constantius (his son?)
Date:~495 AD
Context:A wonderfully frank letter to a young man devoted to wine, music, and dancing girls — urging him to cool his passions while admitting he is probably not ready to hear it.
Bishop Ruricius to his son Constantius.
Even though I am well aware that you are devoted to Bacchus, to music, to various performances, and even to choruses of dancing girls — still, because it is good to be called away from these things while youth burns hottest, I write to remind you that the one who said "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden" [Matthew 11:28] offers a lighter burden than any of these pleasures, which weigh the soul down even as they seem to set it free.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.