Letter 8011: The kind voice of Gregory the physician came to the sick man

To Bishop Gregory — About His Illness The kind voice of Gregory the physician came to the sick man from the city of Tours, while I lay on a country bed — swiftly recited by the priest Leo in his calm way — that I should come where the festivals of holy Martin are held. Then, I confess, laboring heavily from the weakness of illness, burning with the highest fever, I was already rigid with the deepest chill. With my fragile body reduced by a strong languor, my breath was sick, lifting tired flanks. A dry heat went burning through my panting lips; a cooking blast went forth from my inward parts. I was all fever, a sad pyre, a furnace of fire, and fever stood hidden yet plain in my very fibers — until Christ poured back his help in streaming sweat, and the feverish fire drove out its cold waters. Restored, then, to this health, kindly father, I greet you: be, I pray, shepherd, a help to your lean sheep.

XI Ad Gregorium episcopum pro infirmitate sua Venit ad aegrotum medici vox alma Gregori urbe ex Toronica, dum cubo rure toro, concite presbytero recitante Leone sereno, irem ut Martini sunt ubi festa pii. tum, fateor, morbi grave debilitate laborans febre calens summa iam rigor imus eram. hinc fragili nimium forti languore redacto ilia lassa levans halitus aeger erat. ibat anhelanti vapor aridus ora perurens, ibat ab arcanis flatilis aura coquens. fervor eram totus, tristis rogus, igne caminus, febris et in fibris stabat operta patens, donec Christus opem sudore undante refudit, fervidus et gelidas ignis abegit aquas. redditus ergo isti, pater alme, saluto saluti: auxilium exili sis, rogo, pastor ovi.