Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 615

Gregory to Asclepiodotus, patrician in Gaul. Those who cleave to earthly kings, the more room for prevailing is granted them, so much the more ought they to be readier in causes that earn reward, so that by the fruit of good work they may both here enjoy the favour of those whom they serve, and afterward merit to enter the hall of the heavenly kingdom. Wherefore, although we are confident that you love this, and that you are intent upon it; nevertheless, since a fatherly address always adds something to good minds, we exhort that, as often as a fitting time for helping shall be at hand, you by no means defer what you ought to do. For he who relieves a brother in mourning, raises the oppressed, consoles the grieving, let him not doubt that it will be repaid him by Him to whom he expends the whole, who says:

Whatever you did to one of these least, you did to me (Matt. 25:40). Since therefore Hilarius, bearer of the present letter, in that he asserts that the enmities of certain men have without cause blazed against him, has by our letter begged to be commended to your guardianship — being certain that, with you as his patrons, the adversity of no one against reason can harm him — therefore, greeting your glory with fatherly affection, we ask that he be fortified by the grace of your favour; and that what you indulge to others who justly petition, you would also bestow the more largely upon him for our intercession, and not suffer him to be oppressed against equity, but stretch forth to him the hand of aid where the order of reason shall have called;

so that, to the reward of your glory, both he himself may find in you what he has altogether earnestly sought, and you may be seen — which is exceedingly glorious — to have succoured one afflicted and humbly supplicating. For as good ointment the report of good men gives forth its fragrance, and the odour of your glory has reached hither from the Western parts. Sprinkled indeed with the sweetness of that breeze, I have, I confess, greatly loved one whom I did not know, and with the hand of love I have seized you within the bosom of my heart; nor did I any longer love unknowing him whose good qualities I had come to know. For of him who is known to me by great intention, but remains unknown to the sight of the body, of him I can without doubt say truly, that I know his person, but know not his house.

But a great confirmation of your praise is given, in that your glory is reported diligently to cleave to the excellent king of the Goths; for since among the wicked the good are always displeasing, it is certain that you are good, seeing that you have pleased the good. Therefore, discharging the due address of greeting, I desire you to be exercised in those things which you have begun, so that in you may be fulfilled that truthful saying of Solomon which says: The path of the just goes forward like a shining light, and grows even to the perfect day (Prov. 4:18). For now, when the light of truth shines upon us, when the sweetness of the heavenly kingdom opens itself to our minds, it is indeed already day, but not yet perfect. But then the day will be perfect, when there shall no longer be in our mind anything of the night of sin.

But do you grow even to the perfect day, so that, until the eternal fatherland be beheld, the increases of good works here may be enlarged; that so much greater afterward may be the fruit of the gift in the recompense, as now the zeal of labour shall have grown. Therefore we commend to your glory our most beloved son Cyriacus, Father of our monastery, so that, the things enjoined upon him being accomplished, no delay of returning may hinder him. May Almighty God protect you with the shelter of His heavenly arm, and grant you to be both glorious now among men, and, after the long courses of the ages, to be among the angels.