Letter 8008: VARIAE, BOOK 8, LETTER 8

VIII. KING ATHALARIC TO VICTORINUS, A VENERABLE MAN, BISHOP. [1] Concerning faith and steadfastness, those persons must be admonished who are shaken by human longings under a changeable lot. But you, whom wisdom renders firm and a religious mind makes steadfast, it is more fitting should be roused to the bringing-together of the provincials, since he justly becomes the agent of another's will who deserves to be heard by the many. Therefore, greeting you with the veneration which is your due, we announce with the greatest grief that which can indeed impose mourning upon you: the passing of our lord and grandfather of glorious memory. [2] But from this your sadness can be tempered, because, with the divine favor propitious, he has set us upon the seat of his kingdom, so that he may not seem to have been entirely snatched away from your longing, since he rises again for you, restored in the succession. Now favor with sacred prayers our auspices, gladly, that the heavenly King may confirm the human realms for us, may grind down the foreign peoples, may absolve our sins, and, propitious, may strengthen and preserve what He deigned to grant to our glorious forebears. [3] Therefore let your holiness admonish all the provincials that, keeping concord among themselves, they ought in all things to be most pure toward our kingdom. For we desire that fidelity be found in our subjects, such fidelity as we may be able to reward with abundant kindness.

VIII. VICTORINO VIRO VENERABILI, EPISCOPO ATHALARICUS REX. [1] De fide atque constantia tales sunt commonendae personae, quae desideriis humanis diversa sorte quatiuntur. vos autem, quos sapientia firmos efficit et mens religiosa consolidat, ad provincialium potius convenit adunationes animari, quia iuste debitor fit alieni arbitrii, qui a pluribus meretur audiri. quapropter salutantes veneratione qua dignum est, quod vobis quidem maerorem possit indicere, transitum gloriosae memoriae domni avi nostri cum dolore maximo nuntiamus. [2] Sed inde potest vestra tristitia temperari, quia nos in sede regni sui divinitate propitia collocavit, ut in totum desiderio vestro non videatur ereptus, qui vobis consurgit in successione reparatus. favete nunc orationibus sacris nostris libenter auspiciis, ut rex caelestis humana nobis regna confirmet, gentes externas atterat, peccata absolvat, consolidet et conservet propitius quod parentibus nostris dignatus est praestare gloriosis. [3] Quapropter sanctitas vestra provinciales cunctos ammoneat, ut inter se habentes concordiam regno nostro per omnia debeant esse purissimi. cupimus enim in subiectis fidem reperiri, quam larga possimus pietate munerari.