Letter 21: Gold is changed and transformed into various forms at various times, being fashioned into many ornaments, and used by art for many purposes; yet it remains what it is — gold; and it is not the substance but the form which admits of change. So also, believing that your kindness will remain unchanged for your friends, although you are ever climbin...
Gregory to a friend.
Gold is shaped and reshaped into many forms over time -- fashioned into all kinds of ornaments, put to countless uses by art -- and yet it remains what it is: gold. It is not the substance but the form that changes. So too, believing that your kindness toward your friends will remain unchanged even as you rise ever higher, I have ventured to send you this request. I do not honor your high rank more than I trust your generous disposition.
I ask you to receive and assist the bearer of this letter. Show him the kindness that befits one in your position, and in doing so you will be giving me a gift worth more than gold itself.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Original text not yet available in this corpus.
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- 2026-03-20v2.1.0-import
Initial corpus import from New Advent / NPNF.
Fields: letter text, metadata, source links. Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3103c.htm
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