From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges
To: Bassulus, a bishop
Date: ~490 AD
Context: Ruricius thanks Bishop Bassulus for sending books and spiritual correction, comparing himself to the barren fig tree of the Gospel, and asks whether Bassulus will come to the feast of the saints at Gurdon.
Ruricius to his own lord and patron in Christ, Bishop Bassulus.
How much your holy devotion and devout holiness deigns to love me, you prove through manifold affection: you send me things to read, you correct what I have neglected, you provoke love by loving, and what you preach in words you teach by example. But since your seed does not prosper in sterile and thorny ground — choked, as it were, by the brambles growing over it — I beg you: lest the Lord of the vineyard order me cut down like that barren fig tree [Matthew 21:19] which he waited for so long in vain, delay the harsher sentence through your prayers until the bitterness of my unfruitful life is sweetened by the richness of your teaching, as by manure.
But since my sins outweigh my words, and I cannot atone for my deeds through speeches, I at least offer the tribute of a letter. I am letting you know that I have returned the book you lent me, and I hope you will have another of yours sent back through the bearer of this letter, if it is no longer needed. Also, please let me know through the returning messengers whether you will be coming to the feast of the saints at Gurdon [a local shrine], God willing.
VII. DOMINO SUO PECULIARI IN CHRISTO PATRONO BASSULO EPISCOPO RURICIUR.
Quam me diligere sancta pietas et pia sanctitas uestra dignetur,
multimodo probatis affectu, dum legenda transmittitis
et neglecta corrigitis, dilectionem diligendo prouocatis et, quod
praedicatis uerbis, docetis exemplis. sed quoniam semen uestrum
in terra sterili et dumosa non proficit, utpote quod sentibus
supercrescentibus suffocatur, -ne sicut infructuosam illam ficulneam
me iubeat dominus uineae, quem tanto tempore nequiquam
expectat, abscidi, uos seueriorem sententiam orando differte,
donec doctrinae uestrae pinguedine tamquam stercore
amaritudo infructuosa dulcescat. sed quoniam plus sunt apud
me delicta quam uerba nec possum facta expiare sermonibus,
obsequium saltim epistulare dependo et librum, quem praestiteratis,
me remisisse significo aliumque identidem uestrum,
si iam necessarius non est, spero per portitorem harum remitti
iubeatis simulque, si propitio deo ad solemnitatem sanctorum
Gurdonem uenturi sitis, me recurrentibus scire faciatis.
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From:Ruricius, bishop of Limoges
To:Bassulus, a bishop
Date:~490 AD
Context:Ruricius thanks Bishop Bassulus for sending books and spiritual correction, comparing himself to the barren fig tree of the Gospel, and asks whether Bassulus will come to the feast of the saints at Gurdon.
Ruricius to his own lord and patron in Christ, Bishop Bassulus.
How much your holy devotion and devout holiness deigns to love me, you prove through manifold affection: you send me things to read, you correct what I have neglected, you provoke love by loving, and what you preach in words you teach by example. But since your seed does not prosper in sterile and thorny ground — choked, as it were, by the brambles growing over it — I beg you: lest the Lord of the vineyard order me cut down like that barren fig tree [Matthew 21:19] which he waited for so long in vain, delay the harsher sentence through your prayers until the bitterness of my unfruitful life is sweetened by the richness of your teaching, as by manure.
But since my sins outweigh my words, and I cannot atone for my deeds through speeches, I at least offer the tribute of a letter. I am letting you know that I have returned the book you lent me, and I hope you will have another of yours sent back through the bearer of this letter, if it is no longer needed. Also, please let me know through the returning messengers whether you will be coming to the feast of the saints at Gurdon [a local shrine], God willing.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.