As far as concerns my inward state and its end, I am vigorous with some little strength of my poor frame, yet anxious, because I learn nothing of my lord your son, nor of the conclusion of the conference, since I was not even in that place where I could have learned it. For, occupied with the monasteries of Grenoble, I had for some while been away from my city dwelling. Indeed the delicacies which you sent with your accustomed condescension found me on the road, and still placed farther from the city. And these—which is manifoldly wondrous—your servant Leonianus, groaning much and taking very little, transmitted with an eager but empty belly. You would have thought your blessings were being presented, borne by the talons of ravens with tenacious beak, for the feeding of Elijah (1 Kings 17).
So far, that my jesting insult against you might more justly be exercised, did the hungry man send what, coveting it, he was unable to devour. I would now like to know what it profits that you so cater to the gullet of your particular servant—for whom the welcome occasion of my being away carries me off, lest he snatch from my very mouth, or even from the empty dishes, the banquets given me by God and by you. For the rest, concerning the fresh delicacies, since you command it, I both cede my own portions and his manifold ones. Let him use the capacity of bowls in place of cups; let him vary flasks with his lips, and encircle them with a thickness of patches in place of rings. For I too will take care—since I know that he wishes it—that when I shall have obtained something similar of your blessing, then, for multiplying the fresh fare for his burning gullet, if no means is contrived in the cups, it may be set in the fishes.