Letter 65

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Volusianus, bishop Date: ~510 AD Context: One of the last letters in the collection — Ruricius writes to a fellow bishop after a long silence, blaming neglect, the times, and bodily infirmity, and seeking to revive an old friendship before it is too late. Bishop Ruricius to his brother, Bishop Volusianus. What is worse, long forgetfulness has so thoroughly erased the old and deep-rooted love between us — partly, I must confess, through our own negligence, partly through the necessities of the times, and partly through bodily infirmity — that we have become utterly forgetful of ourselves. Not only have we failed to visit you with any mutual courtesy, but we have not even sought you by letter. I write now to repair what time and silence have nearly destroyed, before it is too late.

LXV. RURICIUS EPISCOPUS FRATRI UOLUSIANO EPISCOPO. Ita, quod peius est, caritatem antiquam et insitam nobis partim, quoniam confitendum est, neglegentia nostra, partim necessitate temporis, partim corporis infirmitate faciente longa deleuit obliuio, ut penitus inmemores nostri facti non solum uos nullis officiis mutuis sed nec litteris requiramus. miror nobilitatem tuam quasi filium ad me litteras destinare, cum sine ullo respectu religionis aut propinquitatis tibi iniuriae nostrae sic placeant, ut eas uindicare non uelis. unde, nisi 9 conloquutione S simulquae S depraecor S 11 instinctum S 12 uultuum v, uultum S 15 uehicola S 16 jjpicia S 19 distinabo S 23 partem S ubique quoniam v, quam S, expungit Mommsenwi 25 delebit S penitus S inmemoris S 26 nos S mutuis om . v 27 distinare S 29 uellis S existimationem personae meae aut officii cogitassem, portitorem litterarum tuarum talem ad te remiseram, quales homines meos non matrona uestra, sed domina procax nimium et effrenata perduxit, cuius mores, si tu tanto tempore cum famae tuae diminutione aut uoluntarie aut necessitate subportas, alios noueris nec uelle ferre nec esse contentos. nam quod scribis te metu hostium hebetem factum, timere hostem non debet extraneum, qui consueuit sustinere domesticum. 2 miseram v 3 et effrenata nimium v 4 fame S 5 uoluntariae S 6 timetu S habetem S 8 domesticum] finit. FINIUNT EPISTULE DOMNI RURICII EPISCOPI LEMOUICENI add. S EPISTULAE AD RURICIUM SCRIPTAE.