Letter 27: to God promissa are ualeant adimpleri.

[...] the things promised to God may be allowed to be fulfilled. For the difference is total, both in the way of life of the one and in the duties of the other. For there [in the monastery] there is repose, prayer, the labor of the hands; but here [in the priesthood] there is the condition of lawsuits, assemblies, business, public litigation, and whatever either the ecclesiastical institutions or the necessity of petitioners demands. But may God grant that those who are either nurtured by you in this manner of life, or who grow up in the monasteries, be such that, at an advanced age and with a life proven worthy, they may be promoted not to the offices of litigation, but to the priesthood. [Critical apparatus of manuscripts and variant readings: Manuscripts: B folios 26-26v, folio 45v; E folio 65, E3 folio 69, E4 folio 34v; F1 folios 161v, F2 folio 128v, F3 folio 14r. "titore": from "potitore" in E4. "nulla": Gratian adds "uobis" (to you). Line 3 "uere satis" (truly enough): "satis ualde" in Gratian. "amassimum" in F3. Line 4 "deduci" (to be led down): "adduci" (to be led to) in B (whether rightly?). Line 5 "sunt": written above the line in B2; "adinpleri" in E4 and F1. "et": "est" in Gratian. Line 6 "est": omitted in Gratian. Line 7 "condicio" (condition): "cognitio" (inquiry) in Gratian. Line 8 "uel": followed by "de" deleted (underlined) in E3. Line 9 "sint": Gratian adds "hii" (these). Line 10 "uobis": apparently corrected from "nobis" in B2 (?); "nobis" in Gratian.] [Editorial note] On the heading "To the patrician Antonina": Nothing forbids, but neither does it positively recommend, my asserting that she is the wife of Belisarius. Concerning her, compare E. Caspar, op. cit., pp. 231-232; E. Stein, Histoire..., pp. 285-286; 386-387; 481-482; 495-498; 589. [Editorial note on section 3] Therefore, for Pelagius the priesthood not only does not disgrace monks, but is even to be regarded as the greatest crown of monks. Our letter, moreover, is of no small weight for discerning the pontiff's mind concerning the office of defender. [Heading] Letter 27, 1-3; 28 Who is to be ordained abbot of a monastery.

Deo promissa sunt ualeant adimpleri. Omnimoda enim et illius 2 habitus et istius officii diuersitas est. Illic enim quies, oratio, labor manuum; at hic causarum condicio, conuentiones, actus, publica litigia, et quaecumque uel ecclesiastica instituta uel suppli¬ cantium necessitas poscit. Faciat autem Deus, ut tales sint qui 3 uel a uobis in isto habitu nutriuntur, uel in monasteriis crescunt, ut prouecta aetate et probata uita non ad litigiorum officia, sed ad sacerdotium ualeant promoneri. ^ Codd,: B fol. 26-26^; fol, 45^^, E ^ fol. 65^, £3 fol, 69, £4 fol. 34^; Fj fol. 161^-^, F* fol, 128^, Fi fol, 14r\ titore] ex potitore £* nulla] add. uobis Gratianus 3 uere satis] satis ualde Gratian. amassimum F 3 4 deduci] adduci (an recte?) B 5 sunt] superscr. B2 adinpleri £4 Fi et] est Gratian. 6 est] ow. Gratian, 7 condicio] cognitio Gratian. 8 uel] seq. de delet, (lin, subnotat.) in £3 9 sint] add. hii Gratian. 10 uobis] ex nobis corr. vid. B2 (?), nobis Gratian. Tit. Antoninae patriciae: Nihil prohibet, sed neque positive com¬ mendat, quominus eam uxorem BeUsarii esse adseram. Quoad istam, cf. E. Caspar, 0 . c., p. 231-232; E. Stein, Histoire ..., p. 285-286; 386-387; 481-482; 495-498; 589. 3. Pelagio, ergo, sacerdotium non solum monachos non dedecet, verum etiam ut corona maxima manachorum habendum est. Epistula nostra, praeterea, non parvi est ponderis ad dinoscendam pontificis men¬ tem de munere defensoris. EPISTUI^ 27,1-3; 28 Quis monasterii abbas sit ordinandus.