Letter 13025: I am writing to let you know that I have spoken with Hadrian, our chartulary, about the matter of your debt to this...

We have received the letter of your greatness by the hand of the bearer of the present writing; and although the time appointed for the repayment of the money in the granted truce has now elapsed, we have nonetheless judged that your petition ought by no means to be met with sorrow. And so to Adrian, our chartulary [keeper of records], whom we have sent there to administer the patrimony of our church, we have at present enjoined what he ought to discuss with you concerning this matter, so that neither may the advantage of the church be in any way neglected, nor your request fail to obtain its effect. Since therefore you ought to be more anxious for the salvation of your soul than for the advantage of earthly things, greeting you, we exhort you with fatherly affection that your mind, oppressed by the burden of tribulation, may not murmur against God, lest after the loss of your goods losses of the soul also should follow. Hasten to acquire nothing from wicked deeds, nothing with sin, as though necessity were compelling it; but, having hope in the mercy of our Redeemer, who does not forsake those who trust in Him, bear with endurance the hardships you have suffered. Lift up your spirits. Let not tribulation crush your strength. Let patience overcome the adversities of the age. Let a mind at peace despise the pomp of the world. Let your action occupy itself with the things that are God's; considering how worthless is whatever is subject to chance, whatever is bounded by an end. And let not your heart afflict itself beyond what is fitting, but let it strive, so far as it may, to trust rightly in the protection of Almighty God, who both bestows things not possessed, restores things lost, and guards things restored. For He is mighty, if He shall know you to walk in the way of His commandments, both to repair here with manifold compensation the losses inflicted, and to grant you eternal life, which above all is to be sought with every effort.

istolam magnitudinis vestrae latore* praesentium deferente suscepimus et, licet tempora restituendae pecuniae in indutiis ^ data ^ defluxerint, pctitionem tamen vestram nullo modo« duximus contristandam. Adriano** itaque cartulario nostro^, quem illic ad regendum ecclesiae nostrae patrimonium direximus®, de praesenti iniunximus quae Yobiscum exinde loqui debeat, ut nec ecclesiastica in aliquo^ neglegatur utilitas et postulatio vestra sortiatur effectum. Quia ergo plus de animae vestrae salute quam» de terrenarum rerum** utilitate debetis* esse solliciti, salutantes paterno affectu hor- tamur, ut mens onere^ tribulationis oppressa contra Deum non murmuret, ne post amissionem^ rerum etiam animae sequantur dispendia. Nihil'" de pravis actibus, nil cum peccato, necessitate quasi faciente, festinetis adquirere, sed spem in redemptoris nostri misericordia habentes, qui confidentes in se non deserit, tolerabiliter quae per- Mense eet. om. 1. 4 — ian (pro febr.) ^ 1; febr. praeter Jtl,Q*2.3.Q3.R*l etiam Vat. A. B. E (ed. M.J. XIII, 24 litulum om.Q*1.4 — pro Honorio lacuna 9 litt.El; Honorio q.q*2.3. R* 1 — Tarentino Bl.R*l; Terentino Q 1 ; Terontiano q*2, 3. q 3. ») enosceris R 1. XIII, 25 titulum om. q* 1.4 — Pascali Rl — consuli {pro et Consolantiae) Rlet ed. O. ») latore om. Rl. ex indutias corr. Rl. c) nullomo Ql. *) Hadr. Q.Q*. ®) direxiremus qI. ^ ali- quod Rl.Ql. ft) salutom qua Ql. **) rerum om. q1.q*1. debomuH Rl. honore Q* 1. commissionero Rl. <") nil Q»Q*1. Xin, 24. Maxima para hmus ep. scripta eat seciMdum f. IHumi 31. — De praedecessore Honorii cf. ep. III, 44 n. 1) De hoc baptisterio in ecclesia coHocato cf. Baluziwn in editiotie Ditirm Bozi^riana p. 56. XIII, 25. Baluzius in editione Diwmi Bozieriana p. 10 titulum emendat: Paschali exconsuli pro P. et Consolantiae. Quani coniecturam refutandam non esse credo. Siciliae locativum sensum Jiabere videtur. — Momtnsen conicit: praetori. 1) Cf. ep. X, 16 n. 2. XIII, 28 n. 3. 2) De Adriatw cf. ep. IX, 110 n. XI, 30 n. tulistis incommoda sustinete. Erigite aniraos. Tribulatio vires non opprimat. Adversa saeculi patientia superet. Pompam mundi mens secura despiciat. Actio vestra se ad ea quae Dei sunt occupet"; considerantes, quam nullum sit, quicquid casibus subiacet, quicquid fine concluditur. Et cor se vestrum® ultraP quam convenit** non affligat, sed studeat, quatenus' in omnipotentis Dei protectione iure confidat, qui' et* non habita donat, amissa" rcparat et reparata custodit. Potens est enim, si vos in mandatorum suorum via ambulare cognoverit, et hic inlata damna multiplici compensatione sarcire^ et vitam vobis, quae toto magis adnisu petenda est^, uetemam concedere.