LETTER XXV
Sidonius to his dear Domnulus, greetings.
1. I cannot delay sharing with you this great joy, for you are surely eager to learn what our father in Christ and bishop, Patiens, accomplished at Chalon-sur-Saone in the manner of his accustomed piety and constancy. When he had arrived at the aforementioned city, attended in part by a preceding and in part by an accompanying company of the provincial bishops, with the purpose of ordaining some eminent bishop for the municipality whose church discipline had been tottering since the younger Bishop Paulus had both departed and died, the episcopal council was met by the divided wills of the townspeople.
2. And also by those private ambitions that always overturn the public good. These had been kindled by a triumvirate of rival candidates, of whom one belched forth the ancient prerogative of his noble birth, destitute of every other gift of character; another forced his way in through the parasitic applause of his kitchens, his supporters purchased by Apician banquets; and the third had promised by tacit agreement, should he gain the coveted office, that the Church's estates would become the plunder of his supporters.
3. When the holy Patiens and the holy Euphronius -- who held, beyond favor and hatred alike, the first place in the rigor and firmness of the sounder judgment -- perceived this, they communicated their plan secretly to their fellow bishops before revealing it publicly. Then, despising the uproar of the raging mob, with hands suddenly joined, they seized upon the holy John -- a man distinguished for his honor, his kindness, and his gentleness -- who at that moment expected and desired nothing less than what was being done.
4. (This man had been first a reader, then a minister of the altar, and that from his childhood. After the long progress of years and labors, he became archdeacon -- in which rank or ministry he was held for a long time on account of his industry, unable to be advanced in dignity precisely so that he might not be released from his authority.) Nevertheless, this man, now already a priest of the second order, amid the discordant voices of the factions -- who delayed praising one who did not campaign but dared not blame one who was praiseworthy -- while the partisans stood stunned and the malicious blushed, while the good acclaimed and none protested, was consecrated by them as their colleague.
5. Now therefore, if the monasteries of the Jura, to which you customarily ascend with pleasure -- already rehearsing in advance for the heavenly and celestial dwellings above -- now release you, it is fitting that you rejoice in the harmony of our common fathers and patrons, whether their accord expressed their judgment or their judgment expressed their accord. Exult also in the name of the man they have created, whom Euphronius chose by testimony and Patiens by the laying on of hands, both by their judgment. In this, Euphronius did what befitted not only the age of his years but also the long life of his dignity, and Patiens -- a man equal to great praises however great they may be -- did what well became the person who is head of our city through his priesthood, and of the province through the city. Farewell.
EPISTULA XXV
Sidonius Domnulo suo salutem.
1. Nequeo differre, quin grandis communione te gaudii festinus inpertiam, nimirum nosse cupientem, quid pater noster in Christo pariter et pontifex Patiens Cabillonum profectus more religionis, more constantiae suae fecerit. cum venisset in oppidum suprascriptum provincialium sacerdotum praevio partim, partim comitante collegio, scilicet ut municipio summus aliquis antistes ordinaretur, cuius ecclesiae disciplina nutabat, postquam iunior episcopus Paulus discesserat decesseratque, exceperunt pontificale concilium variae voluntates oppidanorum,
2. nec non et illa, quae bonum publicum semper evertunt studia privata; quae quidam triumviratus accenderat conpetitorum, quorum hic antiquam natalium praerogativam reliqua destitutus morum dote ructabat, hic per fragores parasiticos culinarum suffragio comparatos Apicianis plausibus ingerebatur, hic, apice votivo si potiretur, tacita pactione promiserat ecclesiastica plosoribus suis praedae praedia fore.
3. quod ubi viderunt sanctus Patiens et sanctus Euphronius, qui rigorem firmitatemque sententiae sanioris praeter odium gratiamque primi tenebant, consilio cum coepiscopis prius clam communicato quam palam prodito strepituque despecto turbae furentis iunctis repente manibus arreptum nihilque tum minus quam quae agebantur optantem suspicantemque sanctum Iohannem, virum honestate humanitate mansuetudine insignem
4. (lector hic primum, sic minister altaris, idque ab infantia, post laborum temporumque processu archidiaconus, in quo seu gradu seu ministerio multum retentus propter industriam diu dignitate non potuit augeri, ne potestate posset absolvi): attamen hunc iam secundi ordinis sacerdotem dissonas inter partium voces, quae differebant laudare non ambientem sed nec audebant culpare laudabilem, stupentibus factiosis erubescentibus malis, acclamantibus bonis reclamantibus nullis collegam sibi consecravere.
5. nunc ergo Iurensia si te remittunt iam monasteria, in quae libenter solitus escendere iam caelestibus supernisque praeludis habitaculis, gaudere te par est de communium patrum vel patronorum seu sic sentiente concordia seu sic concordante sententia. illius quoque nomine exulta, quem creaverunt Euphronius testimonio, manu Patiens, ambo iudicio. in quo fecit Euphronius quod conveniret non senectutis modo suae verum etiam dignitatis longaevitati, fecit et Patiens, vir quamlibet magnis par tamen laudibus, quod satis decuit facere personam, quae caput est civitati nostrae per sacerdotium, provinciae vero per civitatem. vale.
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LETTER XXV
Sidonius to his dear Domnulus, greetings.
1. I cannot delay sharing with you this great joy, for you are surely eager to learn what our father in Christ and bishop, Patiens, accomplished at Chalon-sur-Saone in the manner of his accustomed piety and constancy. When he had arrived at the aforementioned city, attended in part by a preceding and in part by an accompanying company of the provincial bishops, with the purpose of ordaining some eminent bishop for the municipality whose church discipline had been tottering since the younger Bishop Paulus had both departed and died, the episcopal council was met by the divided wills of the townspeople.
2. And also by those private ambitions that always overturn the public good. These had been kindled by a triumvirate of rival candidates, of whom one belched forth the ancient prerogative of his noble birth, destitute of every other gift of character; another forced his way in through the parasitic applause of his kitchens, his supporters purchased by Apician banquets; and the third had promised by tacit agreement, should he gain the coveted office, that the Church's estates would become the plunder of his supporters.
3. When the holy Patiens and the holy Euphronius -- who held, beyond favor and hatred alike, the first place in the rigor and firmness of the sounder judgment -- perceived this, they communicated their plan secretly to their fellow bishops before revealing it publicly. Then, despising the uproar of the raging mob, with hands suddenly joined, they seized upon the holy John -- a man distinguished for his honor, his kindness, and his gentleness -- who at that moment expected and desired nothing less than what was being done.
4. (This man had been first a reader, then a minister of the altar, and that from his childhood. After the long progress of years and labors, he became archdeacon -- in which rank or ministry he was held for a long time on account of his industry, unable to be advanced in dignity precisely so that he might not be released from his authority.) Nevertheless, this man, now already a priest of the second order, amid the discordant voices of the factions -- who delayed praising one who did not campaign but dared not blame one who was praiseworthy -- while the partisans stood stunned and the malicious blushed, while the good acclaimed and none protested, was consecrated by them as their colleague.
5. Now therefore, if the monasteries of the Jura, to which you customarily ascend with pleasure -- already rehearsing in advance for the heavenly and celestial dwellings above -- now release you, it is fitting that you rejoice in the harmony of our common fathers and patrons, whether their accord expressed their judgment or their judgment expressed their accord. Exult also in the name of the man they have created, whom Euphronius chose by testimony and Patiens by the laying on of hands, both by their judgment. In this, Euphronius did what befitted not only the age of his years but also the long life of his dignity, and Patiens -- a man equal to great praises however great they may be -- did what well became the person who is head of our city through his priesthood, and of the province through the city. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.