To Queen Brunhild, Commending Hilarius

Gregory to Brunhild, and so on. [a]

To govern a kingdom, courage needs justice and power needs fairness, and neither is enough for this without the other. With how great a love your care for these things shines is shown plainly enough by the praiseworthy way you govern crowds of nations. Who, then, considering this, could distrust the goodness of your excellency, or doubt that he will obtain his request, when he thinks it right to ask for what he knows you would gladly grant your subjects? The bearer of this letter, then, Hilarius, a servant of your excellency, thinking that our intervention with your power will help him, has asked to be supported by letters of commendation from us. He is sure that he will obtain more fully the kind of favors you grant to others if our intercession speaks for him. So, paying you our greeting with the affection of a father’s love, we ask this. Since he says he is laboring under hardships through the wrongdoing of certain persons, let the protection of your excellency defend him; and, in case he should be oppressed against reason, order by your command that he be kept safe. Then, while no one’s opposition will have any place unjustly or out of mere willfulness, we may give thanks for having obtained what we ask, though we ask it rather for your own reward; and the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, whom you will honor in us with Christian devotion by granting what we ask, may repay your excellency. [b]