Gregory to Vantilo and Arigius. It accrues to the praise of your glory's rule, that Hilarius, the bearer of the present letter, trusts himself to be relieved by strong protection, if he shall have merited to obtain the favour of your guardianship. Which indeed, as it is, he esteems so great, that to obtain it he has striven to employ even our commendation of him as a helper. Since therefore we see that he desires eagerly to take refuge in your patronage, we have not judged that writing on his behalf should be deferred: confident that you willingly impart defence to those who seek it, as much as you know that he, placed in sadness and in straits, suppliantly awaits it.
On this account, greeting your glory with fatherly sweetness, we ask that — since the aforesaid bearer asserts himself to be subjected against reason to the enmities of certain men — he may find your patronage, which he greatly desires, and that you suffer him to bear no annoyance against equity, no vexation; but that by the grace of your patronage he be protected from every affliction which not reason, but the will of assailants, shall have brought upon him; so that both here he may rejoice to have found in you, as he hopes, the refuge he wished, and that it may profit something to your reward, and that others may likewise learn to seek from you, as from us, solace in tribulation.