Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 565

To the holy and most blessed pope, bishop Gregory, Reccared. At the time when the Lord in His compassion made us to be at variance with the abominable Arian heresy, and holy catholic Church gathers into her bosom those improved on the path of the faith, it was then the mind of our will earnestly and with full intent of soul delightfully to seek out so most reverend a man, who among the other prelates excels [thus in the manuscript], and who in every way would praise so worthy a thing, acceptable to God, on behalf of us men. Whence we, bearing many cares of the kingdom, occupied by various occasions, three years passed by that in no way satisfied the will of our mind. And after this, to you from the monasteries

chose envoys, who should make their way even to your presence, and offer to holy Peter the gifts directed [thither] by us, and more clearly announce to us the greeting of your holy reverence. Who, hastening, and already almost descrying the shores of Italy, in the violence of the sea came to cling upon certain rocks near Marseilles, and scarcely could free their lives. But now we have entreated the presbyter whom your Glory had directed as far as the city of Málaga, to come into our sight. But he himself, detained by bodily infirmity, was in no way able to reach the throne of our kingdom.

But because we most certainly learned that he had been directed by your Holiness, we have directed a golden chalice adorned above with gems, which — as we trust concerning your Holiness — you may deign to offer, as worthy of the apostle who first shines in honour. For I also beg your Highness to seek us out with your sacred letters, when opportunity is found. For how truly I love you, you yourself, the Lord inspiring, I do not believe can be hidden from the fruitfulness of my heart. Sometimes it is wont that those whom expanses of lands or seas divide, the weighty things of Christ, as it were visibly, glue together. For those who by no means behold you in person — your goodness is disclosed to them by report.

Leander, moreover, priest of the Church of Seville, I commend to your holiness in Christ with all veneration, because through him your good will has been made clear to us; and while we speak with that same bishop concerning your life, we judge ourselves to be the lesser in your good deeds. Truly I take delight, most reverend and most holy man, to hear of your welfare, and I ask the prudence of your Christian charity that you may frequently commend us and our peoples—who are governed by our rule under God, and who in your times have been won for Christ—to our common Lord in your prayers, so that by this same means the true charity exercised toward God may happily grow strong among those whom the breadth of the world holds apart.