Gregory to all the bishops of Corinth. It is our desire that those at discord return to concord, and that those be united in grace whom diversity of will makes to be divided from mutual love. Reading through, therefore, the writings of your fraternity, we have recognized that those who had said certain things against Adrian, our brother and fellow bishop, have now come into friendship with that same bishop, and great joy at their unity has for the present been caused to us. But since we do not suffer the things which have been said to remain undiscussed, we are directing a deacon of our See to investigate them;
for the nature of the reported crime vehemently impels us that we ought by no means to disregard what we have heard, especially since you have indicated that the accusers and the accused have made peace among themselves; this it is necessary for us to search out more subtly, lest perchance their concord has been purchased; which, if—God forbid—it shall have been established not out of charity but for a reward, must be punished with a greater correction. For we who, canonically, God revealing it, hasten to cut away preceding evils, if indeed they are true, by no reasoning dismiss without vengeance a fault afterward committed.