LETTER XVIII
Sidonius to his dear Constantius, greetings.
1. With you it began; with you it shall end. For I have sent the work you requested, having hastily selected copies that came to hand in small number, because nothing can be found unguarded by one who had given no thought until now to the compilation of this little book. These few pieces, which are also slight, I completed quickly, although my mind, once set in motion, had not yet ceased its itch to write -- carefully maintaining this one measure of restraint: that the length of the letters should be extended even as their number was reduced.
2. At the same time, I judged that the book you, most discriminating of readers, would desire would be sufficiently manageable and entirely defensible if, since the lightness of the thoughts and structures might offend you, you were at least less burdened by the bulk of the parchment. I therefore commend to your judgment the various movements of my heart, well aware that the mind lies as open in a book as the face in a mirror. For I composed some things by way of exhortation, very many in praise, some in persuasion, a few in sorrow, and several in jest.
3. And if you have ever found me, in your reading, somewhat more heated against certain persons, I want you to know that, with the help of Christ's right hand, I shall never endure servitude of spirit. I hold it absolutely certain that there are two kinds of judgment passed by men on such conduct: for just as the timid call me reckless, so the steadfast call me free. Between the two, I myself determine that the position of the man whose opinion must remain hidden is sufficiently abject.
4. I return to the point. Meanwhile, whenever you draw breath from the continuity of sacred reading, you may divert yourself with these trifles. And the material will not cause weariness by its vastness, because since each subject is generally concluded within a single letter, once you have taken in at a glance what catches your eye, you will stop reading before you stop wanting to read. Farewell.
EPISTULA XVIII
Sidonius Constantio suo salutem.
1. A te principium, tibi desinet. nam petitum misimus opus raptim electis exemplaribus, quae ob hoc in manus pauca venerunt, quia mihi nil de libelli huiusce conscriptione meditanti hactenus incustodita nequeunt inveniri. sane ista pauca, quae quidem et levia sunt, celeriter absolvi, quamquam incitatus semel animus necdum scripturire desineret, servans hoc sedulo genus temperamenti, ut epistularum produceretur textus, si numerus breviaretur.
2. pariter et censui librum, quem lector delicatissimus desiderares, et satis habilem nec parum excusabilem fore, si, quoniam te sensuum structurarumque levitas poterat offendere, membranarum certe fascibus minus onerarere. commendo igitur varios iudicio tuo nostri pectoris motus, minime ignarus, quod ita mens pateat in libro velut vultus in speculo. dictavi enim quaepiam hortando, laudando plurima et aliqua suadendo, maerendo pauca iocandoque nonnulla.
3. et si me uspiam lectitavisti in aliquos concitatiorem, scias volo Christi dextera opitulante me numquam toleraturum animi servitutem, compertissimum tenens bipertitam super his moribus hominum esse censuram. nam ut timidi me temerarium, ita constantes liberum appellant. inter quae ipse decerno satis illius iacere personam, cuius necesse est latere sententiam.
4. ad propositum redeo. interea tu, si quid a lectionis sacrae continuatione respiras, his licebit neniis avocere. nec faciet materia ut immensa fastidium, quia cum singulae causae singulis ferme epistulis finiantur, cito cognitis in quae oculum intenderis ante legere cessabis quam lecturire desistas. vale.
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LETTER XVIII
Sidonius to his dear Constantius, greetings.
1. With you it began; with you it shall end. For I have sent the work you requested, having hastily selected copies that came to hand in small number, because nothing can be found unguarded by one who had given no thought until now to the compilation of this little book. These few pieces, which are also slight, I completed quickly, although my mind, once set in motion, had not yet ceased its itch to write -- carefully maintaining this one measure of restraint: that the length of the letters should be extended even as their number was reduced.
2. At the same time, I judged that the book you, most discriminating of readers, would desire would be sufficiently manageable and entirely defensible if, since the lightness of the thoughts and structures might offend you, you were at least less burdened by the bulk of the parchment. I therefore commend to your judgment the various movements of my heart, well aware that the mind lies as open in a book as the face in a mirror. For I composed some things by way of exhortation, very many in praise, some in persuasion, a few in sorrow, and several in jest.
3. And if you have ever found me, in your reading, somewhat more heated against certain persons, I want you to know that, with the help of Christ's right hand, I shall never endure servitude of spirit. I hold it absolutely certain that there are two kinds of judgment passed by men on such conduct: for just as the timid call me reckless, so the steadfast call me free. Between the two, I myself determine that the position of the man whose opinion must remain hidden is sufficiently abject.
4. I return to the point. Meanwhile, whenever you draw breath from the continuity of sacred reading, you may divert yourself with these trifles. And the material will not cause weariness by its vastness, because since each subject is generally concluded within a single letter, once you have taken in at a glance what catches your eye, you will stop reading before you stop wanting to read. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.