Gregory to Marinianus of Ravenna. When Candidus the abbot, the bearer of these presents, came here to ask for relics — which have indeed been granted — as greatly as I rejoiced over the nourishment of your Fraternity, because in him there appeared the zeal of your Fraternity, so greatly was I saddened that I could not, as I wished, enjoy his presence, since he found me sick, and departing left me still lying in infirmity. For it is now a long time that I am unable to rise from my little bed. For now the pain of gout torments me here, now I know not what fire spreads itself with pain throughout my whole body; and it often happens that at one and the same time the burning contends with the pain within me, and both body and spirit fail in me.
709:2
QuaDlisautemaliisnecessitatibusextrahaecquaeretuliinfirmitatisafficiar, enumerarenonvaleo. Sedbreviterdicoquiasicmeinfectiononihumorisimbibit, utviveremihipoenasit, etmortemdesideranterexspectem, quamgemitibusmeissolamessecredoposseremedium. Proinde, tratersanctissitne, divinaepromepietatismisericordiamdeprecare, utpercussionissuaeergameflagellapropitiusmitiget, etpatientiamtolerandiconcedat, nenimio, quodabsit, taedioinimpatientiamcorerumpat, eteaquaebenecurariperplagampoteratculpa, crescatexmurmureb. DatummenseFebruarii, indict. 4. (Cr. Joan. Diac. I. IV, c. 67.)
But with what other troubles, beyond these of infirmity which I have related, I am afflicted, I cannot enumerate. But I say briefly that the infection of a noxious humour so pervades me that to live is a punishment to me, and I long for death, which alone I believe can be a remedy to my groanings. Therefore, most holy brother, entreat for me the mercy of divine loving-kindness, that He may graciously mitigate the scourges of His striking upon me, and grant patience to endure, lest, which God forbid, from excessive weariness my heart break out into impatience, and the fault which could well have been cured through the stroke should grow from murmuring. Given in the month of February, in the fourth indiction.