Letter 2031: I give thanks to your devotion for deigning to console me about the ordination of the city.

Bishop Ruricius to his son Capillutus, greeting. I give thanks to your devotion, that you think me worthy to be consoled concerning the ordination of the community, since you yourselves, with God favorable, can suffice for it abundantly enough. And therefore, because what is pleasing to you and to your brothers ought not to displease us, you do well in ordaining the man whom the common consent has chosen. But admonish him to be zealous for truth, not falsehood; for peace, not destruction; for discipline, not discord; for the public good, not private greed; for justice, not plunder. Let him protect the good, correct the guilty, not make men wretched but defend them, set right the offenders, guard the innocent, so that, acting in this way, he may be able to please the future judgment rather than the present one.

XXXI. RURICIUS EPISCOPUS CAPILLUTO FILIO SALUTEM. Gratias ago pietati uestrae, quod me consolare de ciuitatis ordinatione dignamini, cum uobis sufficere deo propitio satis abundeque possitis. et ideo, quia, qui uobis et fratribus uestris 11] 1 Cor. 12, 30. 14] Iac. 5, 16. 15] Luo. 11, 5. 1 preualebit S acusantis S 5 quantum S 6 interiores S 9 nris S, uestris v 10 sua largitatio v in textu, sua largitio v in notis 11 Paulum om. v 13 pro om. v cotidiae S 17 petiit, fieri potest suppl. Mommseum prastitum S insistentes S 19 indicare v 20 tardita S 21 dignimini S 24 consulere v ciuitatis S, antistitis Luet- johann, ciuis talis Mommsenus, inter uerba ciuitatis et ordinatione excidisse electione et uestra suspicatur Kr . 26 abundique S quij quod r I placet, nobis displicere non debet, bene facitis, ut hominem, quem communis consensus elegit, ordinetis. sed admonete illum, ut ueritati studeat, non falsitati, paci, non perditioni, disciplinae, non discordiae, utilitati publicae, non priuatae cupiditati, iustitiae, non rapinae. tueatur bonos, emendet reos, miseros non faciat, sed defendat, corrigat sontes, custodiat innocentes, ut ita agens magis futuro possit placere iudicio quam praesenti.