Letter 2066: My dear Theodorus, there is a matter of real injustice in the current law that I want to bring to your attention,...

TO THEODORE THE PHYSICIAN. Having exposed the iniquity of a recently issued law, he exhorts Theodore to offer his letter to the emperor and to urge him to revoke the law. Gregory to Theodore the physician. How great are the benefits of Almighty God and of my most serene lord the emperor that I possess, my tongue does not suffice to set forth. For these benefits, what is there of mine to give in return, except to love their very footsteps purely? But, with my own sins bringing it about, from whose suggestion or counsel I do not know, in the past year he has issued such a law in his commonwealth that anyone who loves him purely ought to weep vehemently. To that law I could not respond at the time, because I was ill. But now I have made some suggestion to that same lord. For he commands that no one who has discharged a public office, and no one who has been a junior officer [optio], or marked with the hand [enlisted by tattoo or mark], or counted among the soldiers, may be allowed to convert in a monastery, unless perchance his military service has been completed. This law, as those who know the old laws say, was first issued by Julian, concerning whom we all know how greatly he was hostile to God. But if our most serene lord did this for the reason that perhaps many soldiers were converting, and the army was decreasing, [...] did Almighty God [subdue] the empire of the Persians? Were not his tears alone heard, and, by that order which he himself did not know, did He not subdue the empire of the Persians to his rule? But it seems to me very harsh that he should forbid his soldiers from the service of Him who has bestowed all things upon him, and has granted him to rule not only over soldiers, but even over priests. Surely, if the intention is the safeguarding of property, could not those very monasteries which should receive soldiers give back what belongs to others and keep only the men for conversion? Because these things grieve me greatly, I have made a suggestion to that same lord. But let your glory offer my suggestion to him in secret at an opportune time. I do not wish it to be given to him publicly by my representative [responsalis, papal agent at court], because you who serve him more intimately can speak to him more freely and openly the things that are for his soul, since he is occupied in many affairs, and his mind is scarcely found free from greater cares. Do you indeed, glorious son, speak for Christ. If you are heard, it is gain for the soul of your aforesaid lord, and for yours. But if you are not heard, you have made gain only for your own. LETTER LXVII. TO DOMITIAN THE METROPOLITAN. He defends, according to the spiritual sense, an exposition brought to him some time ago concerning the rape of Dinah, Genesis xxxiv. He congratulates Domitian, both because, occupied with secular affairs, he meditates on the Scriptures, and because he has preached the faith to the emperor of the Persians. Gregory to Domitian the metropolitan. Receiving the writings of your most sweet and most pleasant beatitude, I rejoiced greatly, because they spoke to me of many things from sacred Scripture. And because I found beloved feasts in them, I ate them eagerly. In which certain things also concerning external and necessary matters are mingled. And as if preparing a banquet for the mind, you have acted so that the dishes set before me might please the better by their variety. And although the external matters, like inferior and lowly foods, have less savor, yet they have been so prudently spoken by you that they are gladly partaken of, because even contemptible foods often become sweet from the seasoning of one who cooks well. But, the truth of the history being preserved, this which I said some time ago concerning the divine signification ought in no way to have been rejected. For although, since you wish it so, its signification does not suit me, yet from its very surrounding contexts that which was said from it can without hesitation be maintained. For its corrupter is also called the prince of the earth (Genesis xxxiv), by whom the devil is openly designated: because our Redeemer says: Now shall the prince of this world be cast out (John xii, 31). Who also seeks a wife, because, namely, the malignant spirit hastens to possess freely the soul which he had first corrupted by hidden seduction. Whence the sons of Jacob, vehemently angered, take up swords against the whole of Shechem, his house and his fatherland (Genesis xxxiv); because by all who have zeal those too are to be pursued who become the helpers of the malignant spirit. On whom they first enjoin circumcision, and afterward they slay them placed in pain. Because oftentimes the more severe masters, if they know not how to moderate their zeal, although through preaching they cut back the vices of corruption, when now that which had been perpetrated is lamented by the offenders, yet they still rage through the harshness of discipline, and grow harder. For those who had already cut off the foreskins ought by no means to have died, because those who lament the fault of lust, and turn the pleasure of the flesh into pain, ought not to feel the harshness of discipline from their masters, lest the Redeemer of the human race himself be loved less, if for his sake the soul is worn down more than it ought. Whence also to those same sons of Jacob he [Jacob] says: You have troubled me, and made me odious to the Canaanites (Genesis xxxiv, 30). For when those who already bewail their failings are still cruelly pursued by their masters, in a weak mind the very love of its Redeemer grows lukewarm, because it considers itself afflicted there where it does not even spare itself. These things, then, I have said, that I might demonstrate from the surrounding contexts that the understanding which I put forward is not improbable. But those things which were said from the same passage by your sanctity for my consolation, I gladly accept, because in the understanding of sacred Scripture, whatever does not resist sound faith ought not to be rejected. For just as from one and the same gold some make little chains, some rings, some bracelets for ornament, so from the one understanding of sacred Scripture the several expositors compose, as it were, varied ornaments through innumerable understandings, which nevertheless all serve toward the adornment of the heavenly bride. But I rejoice greatly that your most sweet beatitude, even occupied with secular affairs, vigilantly leads back your intellect to the understanding of the sacred eloquence. For so indeed it is necessary that, if those things [secular affairs] can in no way be avoided, these things [the Scriptures] be not altogether set aside. But I beg you through the Almighty Lord, as I labor amid such great waves of tribulations, to stretch out the great net of prayer, that by your intercession I may be lifted up to the heights, who am pressed down to the depths by the weight of my faults. As for the emperor of the Persians, although I grieve that he was not converted, yet I altogether rejoice that you preached the Christian faith to him, because although he did not deserve to come to the light, yet your sanctity will have the reward of its preaching. For even the Ethiopian enters the bath black, and goes out black, yet nevertheless the bath-keeper receives his coins. But concerning Maurice you speak well, that in his action I should recognize the statue from its shadow, that is, that in the least things I should weigh the greater. In this, however, we believe him, because the sacraments and the hostages bind his soul to us.

AD THEODORUM MEDICUM. Ostensa late legis iniquitate, Theodorum horlatur ut epiztolam suam imperetori offerens, ipsi de revocanda lege 8uadeat. Gregorius * Theodoro medico Þ. Quanta bona omnipotentis Dei et serenissimi do- B mini mei imperatoris habeam , lingua mea non suſ- ſicit © explere. Pro quibus bonis quid est meum retribuere, nisi eorum vesligia pure amare? Peccatis autem meis ſacientibus, ex quorum suggestione vel consilio nescio, 4 transacto anno, talem in republica Sua legem protulit, ut quisquis evum pure amat, flere vehementer debeat. Ad quam legeim tunc respondere non potui, quia #grotus ſui. Modo aute2m eidem do- mino aliqua $Suggessi. Precipit enim ut nullus qui actionem publicar egit, * nullus qui optio, vel manu signalus , GJS vel inter milites ſuit habitus, ei in monaslerio converti liceat , nisi forte si militia ejus ſuerit expleta. Quam legem primum, sicut ij dicunt qui leges veleres noverunt, Julianus protulit, de quo $cimus omnes quantum Deo adversus ſuerit. Quod si ideo gerenissimus dominus noster ſecit, quia forte multi milites convertebantur, et exercitus decresce- EersrT, LXVI (Al. 65). — * Erat hic Mauricii impe- raloris archiaier, vir ingenio sagax et eloquens , inquit Simocatila, lib. vi, cap. 11, et ex eo Nicepho- rus, lib. xvi, cap. 29. lllum oratorem ad Avarum regem ſelici exitu misit Priscus Patricius, dux exer- . ciius Mauricii, ct pra:fectus Orientis. De qua re vide auclores Citalos , et historiam Miscell., lib. xva, ad 2nn. 15 Maur cij. Gussavv. | + 4 Vitiose ac contra Mss. fidem additur in Editis «an veslro. Reg. et omnibus quos mihi consulere licnit. Nullus amem dubilo quiu ita legatur in Mss. Anglic., Vatic. et aliis optime notz, At qui ad illos Codd. sancti Cregorii epislolas contulerunt, minime intelligentes quid signilicar2t optio, vel obtio, ut legitur in Cod. Reg., hoc pro mendo habuerunt, et legere maluerunt, nullus qui officio vel manu signatus. [ujus autem vocis nolionem ded.mus in notis, ad cap. 55 lib. iv Dialog. Hoc in loco adverie constructionem grammalicz le- gibus repugnantem : nullus qui optio... ei in mona- s!erio converti liceat. Eadem occurrit in regula S. P. Bened., c. 58 : Noviter reniens quis ad conversionem, non et ſacilis tribuatur ingres8us. ! Meminit victori:e insignis de Persis reportalz, Cpla Marlyropsli civitiate munitissima : qua gesta bellica vide apud Theophariem. Praterea Mauricius Ubosroem Persarum regem e regao pulsum restituit; unde ipsi regem regnumque Subditum fuisse aliqua- lenus dici potest. 3 Excusi, lucrum operatus es. Sequimur Vatic. om- omnipotens Deus imperium Persarum? Nunquid non $0le lacrymz illius audit $unt, et eo ordine quem jpse nescivit, ejus imperio Persarum imperium sub- didit? Valde autem mihi durum videtur ut ab ejus servilio milites 8uos prohibeat , qui ei et omnia tri-_ buit, et dominari eum non solum militibus, sed etiam 8acerdotibus concessit. Nunquid si intentio est $er- vandarum rerum, non poterant ea ipsa monasleria; , que milites suscepissent , alienas res reddere atque ad conversionem homines tantummodo habere? Hzc quia mihi valde dolent, eidem domino suggessi. Sed vestra gloria opportuno tempore secrete Suggestio- nem meam ei offerat. Nolo eam a responsali meo publice dari, quia vos qui ei ſamiliarius servitis, lo- qui ei liberius et apertius potestis quzz pro ejus sunt anima, quoniam in multis est occupatus, et vix ani- mus ejus invenitur a curis majoribus vacuus. Tu quidem, gloriose fili, pro Christo loquere. Si auditus ſueris, 5 lucrum est anime predicti domini tui, et lu:e. Si vero auditus non ſueris, lucrum solummodo tuz ſecisli. EPISTOLA LXVIE. AD DOMITIANUM METROPOLITANUM. Allatam dudum a ze raptus Dine, Genes. xxx1v, juxia spiritulem sensum exponaitionem propugnat. Domi- tiano gratulatur, lum quod s&cularibus causis 0ccu- patus Scripturas meditetur, tum quod Persarum imperatori fidem predicaverit. Gregorius * Domitiano metropolitano. Scripla dulcissime et suavissime beatitudinis vestrz2 SusScipiens , valde gavisus gum, quia multa mihi de sacra Scriptura loquebantur. Et quia dilectas nes nostris ſere semper consentientes, Corb., etc. EerxT., LXVII (Al. 63). — * Erat hie Melitinz epi- Scopus, Armeniz metropolitanus, Mauricii imperato- ris consanguinens , vir prudens et industrius, verbo et opere potentissimus, et ad res maximas gerendas eflicacissimus, inquit Evagrius, lib. v1, cap. 16, 47, 18. De eo Theophyl. Simocatta, lib. rv Histor. Mau- rie., capite 14; lib. vim, c. 14 : Melitines presu! Do- mitianus, genere Mauricium attingens , et cum honore zjuanctus sacerdos, tum vile inslitulo sanctior, sermone 8uavis, actione 80lers, consilio prudentissimus, aucto- ritate imperaloria ad Chosroem contendit, etc. Quant autem eum ſecerit Mauricins, indicat idem Simocat= ta, lib. vin, cap. 11, nempe quod ineunte imperium Heraclio tabell:ze involutz et obsignalz invenlz $unt, in quibus descriptum erat quidquid post 8uum ex hac vita discessnm fieri vellet Mauricius. Cum enim imperii Sui anno 15 in pericu!osum morbum esset lapsus, de imperio consliluit, etc. Fi/iis suis etaie adhuc immatu- ris Domitianum cognatum suum, nobi(is Ecclesice Meliti- nensis anlistitem, virum inrebus agendis dex/arum, con- 8ilio dexleriorem, (ulorem des'qnavit. (Juamobrem im- perator majoris momenti neqo'ia & expedienda ob eximiam prudentiam commiltebat. Plura passim de eo idem Simocaita. De 1orte autem ipsius sic Theopha- nes in Chronographia : Indictione 5, mense Januario, Domitianus, Melitines episcopus, imperatoris consangui- neus , diem ex:remum obiit, et a Cyriaco patriarcha ad 8anctos apostolos sepulius es, senatu universo ſunebri- bus honoribus memoriam ejus prosequente. Cxterum Melitine, seu Melitene, hodie Malatia, tesle Nigro, urbs olim regionis Melitenz caput, post provinc. Armenie secundz, seu minoris metropolis; ad fluvium Euplhre tem sita, Cazsaream inler et Samosalam. GUSganv. —— —_——_ - 4) 5 > Rey Ace e_s « in eis epulas reperi, eas avide comedi. In quibus A Giiis Jacob dicit : Turbastis me, et odiosum ſecislis qguzdam quoque de causis exterioribus et necessariis Sunt permis!a., Et quasi menti convivium G79 pre- parautes egislis, ut oblatz epulz ex diversitale me- lius placerent. Et si quidem exlcriores caus2 velut inſeriores et abjecti cibi minus sapiunt , ita lamen a vobis prudenter dictz sunt, ut libenter sumantur, quia et cibi contemptibiles plerumque dulces ex condimento bene coquentis fiunt. Servata autem ve- ritate historiz, hoc quod dudum de divina 8ignilica- tione dixerain , respui nullo modo debuit. Nam etsi mihi, quoniain ita yultis , signiſicatio ejus non con- gruit, ex ipsis lamen locis suis circumstantibus hoc quod ex ea dictum est incunctanter teneri potest. Nam et eorruptor ejus princeps terrz dicitur (Genes. Chananeis (Ibid., 50). Quando enim GBQ hoc quod jaw delinquentes planguat, adbuc magistri crudeliter _ inSequuntur, infirmz menti ipse Redemptoris 8ui amor tepescit, quia ibi se aſfligi considerat, ubi sibi et ipsa non parcit. Hec igitur dixerim, ut intellectum, quem protuli, non esse improbabilem ex locis eircumstantibus de- monstrarem. Ea vero que ex eodem loco a vestra Sanctitate in meam consolationem dicta $unt , liben- ter accipio, quia in intellectu sacrz Scripturz, ” re- Spui non debet quidquid sanz fidei non resistit. Si- cut enim ex une auro alii murenulas, * alit annulos, alii dextralia ad ornamentum faciunt, ita ex tha 4 sacre Scriplure intelligentia expositores qrique XXXx1V), per quem aperie diabolus designalur : quia B per innumeros inteltectrs quas? vari# ornamema Redemptor nosler ail : Nunc princeps hujus mundi ejicietur ſoras (Joan. x11, 31), Qui ctiam uxorem pelit , quia malignvs videlicel spiritus fſestinat, ut liceuter possideat animam quam prius occulla sedu- clione corruperit. Unde Jacob filii vebemeater irati, contra omnem Sichem domum ejusque patriam gla- dios sumunt (Genes. xxx); quia a cunctis zelum habentibus ipsi quoque insequendi $unt, qui maligni Spiritus adjutores (fiunt. Quibus prius circumcisionem precipiunt , quos in dolore positos posumodum occi- dunt. Quia plerumque magist(ri severiores , $i zelum Siam moderarti nesciant, quamvis per pradicationem vitia corruptionis resecent, cum jam a delinqueatibus plaugitur quod fuerat perpetratum, adhuec tamen ipsi per asperitatem disciplinz sxviunt, et duriores exi- Stunt. Qui enim jam et praputia absciderant, mort minime debebant, quia qui calpam ptangunt luxurte, et voluptatem carnis in dolorem veriuat, a magistris zentire non debent asperitatem disciplidz, ne ipse humani generis Redemptor minus ametur, si pro eo animna plus quam debet atteritur. Unde et eisdem © Omissa duo verba, alii annulos, cx Mss. omnibus, ———_— componrnt, qu tamen omnia ad decorem eolestis sponsz proficiunt. Valde autery gaudeo quod dulcis- sima beatitudo vestra etfam cansis 82cofaribus ocen- pata, ad rmellectwm 82eri efoquii vigitanter ingenian reduecit. Sic quippe necesse es if si( illa omnimodo caveri now possint, isfa non ommimodo postponantur. Seq per omnipotentem Dominum rogo, mihi in tantis tribulationum fluctibus hGoranti tende orationis magnum, ut ex vevtra intercessione ad snmma relever, qui culparum mearum pondere ad profundum pre- mor. Imperaorem vero Persarum &tsi non faisse conversam doleo , vos tamen ei Christianam fidew predicasse omnimodo exsnito, quia etsi ile ad lacew venire now meruit, vestra lamen $anctitas prediea- C tionis $ue proeminny habebit. Nam et @thiops in balneum niger inlrat, et niger egredifur, sed tamew balneator nummos acci pit. De Mauricio autem bene dicitis, ut in actione ejus ab umbra statuam cognoscam, id esl in minimis ma- jor perpendam. li hoc tamen ei credimus, quia 6Jus nobis animam $acramenta et obsides ligant. Vatic., Norm., Turon., Corb., etc;, restituimus. 4 Recent. Ed., Scripture sententia, quos libenter, si per Mss. Coudices liceret, Sequeremur. At omnes habeuf, inteſfigentia, vel, scientia.