Ep. XCI.
(A letter of no great importance, except as shewing the
friendly feelings which Gregory continued to maintain towards his
successor.)
Affairs with us go on as usual: we are quiet
without strifes and disputes, valuing as we do the reward (which has no
risk attaching to it) of silence, beyond everything. And we have
derived some profit from this rest, having by God’s mercy fairly
recovered from our illness. Do
you ride on and reign, as holy David
says,
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and may God, Who has honoured you with
Priesthood, accompany you throughout, and set it for you above all
slander. And that we may give each other a proof of our courage,
and may not suffer any human calamity as we stand before God, I send
this message to you, and do you promptly assent to it. There are
many reasons which make me very anxious about our very dear
Pancratius. Be good enough to receive him kindly, and to commend
him to the best of your friends, that he may attain his object.
His object is through some kind of military service to obtain relief
from public office, though there is no single kind of life that is
unexposed to the slanders of worthless men, as you very well
know.
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Ps. xlv. 4
.