Letter 27

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Same recipient as previous letter Date: ~496 AD Context: Ruricius writes even though he has received no reply, preferring to seem overaffectionate rather than negligent. Another letter from the same. Even though I did not deserve to receive a letter through the deacon Justus from your kind heart and eloquent mouth — letters that would have educated my mind and fed my longing — I am writing anyway. I would rather be thought overaffectionate than be found wanting in my duty.

XXVII. ITEM EIUSDEM ALIA. Quamlibet per diaconem Iustum non meruerim litteras benigni pectoris et facundi oris accipere, quibus et erudiretur ingenium et desiderium pasceretur, ego tamen, qui malo affectuosus 8 fletibus v 4 ille 81, illo 82 6 defecit S 7 difinitioni S tribuet ut v 8 percensire S 9 putet 8 10 affecta te S, affecta aetate v 12 praepropere v, praeponere S 14 interpraes S 15 de cordis potest 81 16 uos v, nos S 19 ribus S 21 debit S 24 cerneres v 25 obtauerat S 29 facundioris S 30 mallo S rusticus, quam urbanus impius iudicari, scribendi oportunitatem mihi perire non passus sum, utpote qui mihi nolim, non dicam occasionem scribendi, sed nec uidendi uos unius saltim horae spatium deperire. ideoque salue plurimum dico et rogo, ut sine communi detrimento et utriusque conpendio nos semper oportunitate porrecta litteris uestris inlustrare dignemini, quia, quod nobis in affectu inpenditis, non expenditis, quod tribuitis, non amittitis et, quod nobis in charta transmittitis, uobiscum corde retinetis.