Letter 5006: To Apollinaris [a kinsman, likely the same as above].

To Apollinaris [a kinsman, likely the same as above]. As soon as summer gave way to autumn and the fears of the Auvergne could be somewhat relieved by the change of season, I came to Vienne [an important city on the Rhone in southeastern Gaul], where I found your brother Thaumastus — whom I embrace with the reverence due to kinship and seniority — in the deepest distress. Though deeply affected by his recent widowerhood, he was nearly as anxious on your account: he feared that the barbarian storm or the wickedness of the military might concoct some false charge against you. For he confirms that certain villains secretly whispered poisoned reports to Chilperic, the master of soldiers [a Burgundian military commander] — most victorious of men — alleging that it was principally through your scheming that the city of Vaison [Vasio, in Provence] was being attached to the faction of the new emperor. If any suspicion of this kind is being directed at you and yours, inform me at once by return letter from your household, so that you do not lose the benefit of my concern and my presence. If you judge there is anything to guard against, I shall make it my particular care either to secure you through obtaining favor or to make you more cautious through learning the full extent of any anger. Farewell.

EPISTULA VI Sidonius Apollinari suo salutem. 1. Cum primum aestas decessit autumno et Arvernorum timor potuit aliquantisper ratione temporis temperari, Viennam veni, ubi Thaumastum, germanum tuum, quem pro iure vel sanguinis vel aetatis reverenda familiaritate complector, maestissimum inveni. qui quamquam recenti caelibatu granditer afficiebatur, pro te tamen parum minus anxius erat: timebat enim verebaturque, ne quam tibi calumniam turbo barbaricus aut militaris concinnaret improbitas. 2. namque confirmat magistro militum Chilperico, victoriosissimo viro, relatu venenato quorumpiam sceleratorum fuisse secreto insusurratum tuo praecipue machinatu oppidum Vasionense partibus novi principis applicari. si quid hinc tibi tuisque suspicionis incutitur, raptim doce recursu familiarium paginarum, ne vobis sollicitudinis aut praesentiae meae opportunitas pereat. curae mihi peculiariter erit, si quid tamen cavendum existimabis, ut te faciat aut gratia impetrata securum aut explorata iracundia cautiorem. vale.