E05656: Desiderius of Cahors, in a letter written in Latin in Gaul in the mid 7th century, requests the favour of the courtier Chlodulf for his cathedral at Cahors, dedicated to *Stephen, the First Martyr (S00030).

Desiderius of Cahors, Letters 1.8

Desiderius begins the letter by recalling past favours which Chlodulf had bestowed on him, and goes on to describe the vividness of his memories of Chlodulf's father. He then concludes the letter with the passage translated here.

Interea, quamquam necessarium esse non ducam, latorem praesentis offitii multa deuotione conmendo, et, ubi quod aut iste dixerit aut aditum cognoscitis oportunum, condiciones patroni vestri beati Stefani, cuius administrationem gerere uideor, habete receptas et per omnia commendatas, ut ipsi dominus rerum, cui uice nostri redemptoris seruire uidemur, ipsi uobis inpendia aeterna conpenset ac supplimentum suae tribuat largitatis.

'Meanwhile, although I should not consider it necessary, I commend with much devotion the bearer of the present message, and, when he says or because you recognise a suitable occasion, may you consider as accepted and recommended in all things the requirements of your patron the blessed Stephen, whose administration I carry out, so that the Lord himself, whom we serve as a deputy of our redeemer, may compensate your expense with an eternal reward and grant you an addition to his largesse.'

Text: Norberg 1961, 24. Translation: David Lambert