To Rusticiana the Patrician, on Her Gout and the Agent Beator

Gregory to Rusticiana, and so on. [a]

As often as anyone comes to us from the royal city, we take care to ask about your bodily health; but, because of my sins, I always hear what I am sorry to hear: that, frail and weak as you already are, the pains of gout are still growing worse in you. But I pray the Almighty Lord that whatever befalls your body may be directed to the health of your soul, that temporal scourges may prepare eternal rest for you, and that through pains that have an end he may grant you joys without end. As for me, I live amid such groaning and such business that I am weary of having come to the days I am now spending, and my only comfort is the expectation of death. So I beg you to pray for me, that I may soon be released from this prison of the flesh, and no longer be tormented by such great pains.

Further, I must tell you that a certain man named Beator has come here, who presents himself as count of the private affairs. He is doing many things against everyone, but chiefly against your excellency’s people, or those of your most noble granddaughters, as though he were inquiring into matters of public concern. We for our part will not let him act wrongfully; but neither can we stand in the way of the public interest. So deal with the most devout princes as you can, so that they may countermand any wrongful proceedings of his. For the public interest is not served by any kind of turmoil, and he does not seem to be recovering anything of great value. I beg that my sweetest son, the lord Strategius, be greeted on my behalf. May Almighty God bring him up for himself and for you, and always comfort you by his own grace and by the young lord’s life. Further, what should I write to you about your return here, when you know how much I desire it? But when I consider the demands of the business that keeps you there, I despair. And so I implore the Creator of all that, wherever you are, and wherever you may be, he would protect you by stretching out his right hand, and keep you from all evil. [c]