Iberian Fathers, Volume 2

Letters

LETTER 1 Isidore to the archdeacon Braulio, dearest and most beloved brother in Christ,! Since I am not able to enjoy you with the eyes of the flesh, let me at least enjoy conversing with you, that I may be consoled by learning from a letter of yours of the good health of one whom I wish to see. It would be good if both were possible; but I may at least refresh myself concerning you mentally if I cannot do so bodily. While we were together, I asked you to send me the sixth decade of St. Augustine.2 Please find some way to make me acquainted with that work. I have sent you my little book called Synonyms,3 not because it has any value, but because you wanted it. I commend to you this boy,4 and I commend myself, that you may pray for wretched me, for I am much weighed down, both by the ills of the flesh and by the faults of my mind. For both I ask your aid, since I deserve nothing of myself. Finally, I ask that, if I live long enough, you cause me to rejoice in hearing from you while there is a chance for the letter carrier to return to us. 1 Written 610-620. 2 Commentaries on Psalms 51-60. 3 A work on grammar. 4 Who carried the letter. 15 16 BRAliUO OF SARAGOSSA LETTER 2 Isidore to the archdea(l)l/ Brallliu, II/OSt iJeloved sal/ in Christ the Lord.l vVhen you receive a letter from your friend, clearest son, you would not hesitate to embrace it in place of your friend. \'\Then friends are separated, the second best consolation, if the beloved one is not present, is that his letter should be embraced in his stead. I have sent you a ring because of my affection, and a pallium as the cloak of our friendship, which is the ancient source of this word.2 Therefore, pray for me. May the Lord so fill you with grace that I may yet deserve to see you in this life, and that you will again delight with your presence one whom you saddened by your departure. I have sent you a small pamphlet of Rllles~ by my messenger Maurentio, the primicleri1ls.4 Finally, I hope always to hear that you continue to be well, my beloved master and dearest son. LETTER 3 IJralllio, unworthy servant of the saints of God, to my lurd and trlle lord and elect of Christ, Isidore, greatest of bishops.! o pious lord and most excellent of men, I have been late in sending this request and slow in finding an opportunity 1 Written 610·620, perhaps earlier than Letter 1 and the earliest of the whole collection. It is first in the manuscript. 2 In the true Isidorian style, the author here assumes an etymological relation between (Il11ictlls and alllicilia. 3 This qllaternio could have contained selected chapters from Isidore's Regula monachorul1l, which we still possess, or similar material. -4 He apparently had the task of distributing altar bread to clerics according to rank. This seems to be a different word from primicerius, the only form which is in the dictionaries. Cf. Madol 74 n. 13. Written in 625. LETTERS 17 to write, because as my sins pile up I have been prevented from making my demands by a terrible invasion-not only by the evil of famine and poverty, but also by that of pestilence and the presence of the enemy.2 Now, however, although oppressed by a thousand adversities and a thousand cares, after a long period of misery, as though aroused from the sloth of a shameful sleep, so to speak, I dare add a dutiful greeting to the words of my petition and, prostrate with humility of both heart and body, I beseech you to use the preeminent influence of your blessedness to keep commended ever to the end your special servant, whom you have always received with pious consideration and holy favor. For, so is Christ my witness, I am tortured with severe pain in that, after the passage of such a long time, I do not even yet de· serve to see you face to face, but I hope in Him who does not forget to have tenderness,3 and casts not off forever,4 that He will hear the prayer of...