Pope Pelagius II → Gregory
Tradução moderna em inglês
Pelagius, bishop, to his beloved son Gregory, deacon [Gregory was serving as the papal ambassador (apocrisiarius) at the imperial court in Constantinople].
We have taken care to inform you of everything necessary through Honoratus the notary, whom we have sent to you along with our brother and fellow bishop Sebastianus. Since Sebastianus has been in those regions as far as Ravenna until now with the distinguished lord Decius the Patrician, he himself can inform you through his own report about all matters. And if you judge anything further to be necessary, you may bring it to the attention of the lord emperor. For the calamities and tribulations inflicted upon us by the treachery of the Lombards — in violation of their own sworn oath — are so great that no one could adequately describe them.
As for how we received the aforementioned brother Sebastianus, and with what affection he was held among us at your suggestion, you will be able to learn from his own account. He has also promised to report to the most pious lord emperor the needs and dangers of all Italy.
Speak, therefore, and negotiate together how you can swiftly come to our aid in these dangers. For the state here is so hard-pressed that unless God inspires the heart of the most pious emperor to show the mercy that is natural to him toward his servants, and to grant at least one master of soldiers [magister militum: the highest-ranking military commander] and one duke [dux: a regional military governor] for this diocese [administrative district], we are left utterly without help in every crisis — since the Roman territories especially appear to be stripped of all defense. And the Exarch [the emperor's governor in Ravenna, the senior imperial official in Italy] writes that he can provide us no relief, since he declares that he cannot even manage to defend his own regions.
May God therefore command him to come swiftly to our rescue, before the army of this most wicked nation — God forbid — is able to seize the places still held by the state. For "those who act wickedly shall be cut off, and the enemies" [Psalm 36:9] of the Lord shall perish.
Send the priest back to us quickly, God willing, for he is recognized as being absolutely essential both in your monastery and in the work to which we have assigned him.
Given on the fourth day before the Nones of October [October 4th], in the third indiction [approximately 584–585 AD].
Texto latino / grego
EPISTOLA PRIMA | Olim 111], aD CRECORIUN DIACONUM Ut ab imperalore auxilium contra Langobardos sibi impelrel. Praedictum autem fratrem Sebastianum quomodo SuSceperimus, vel in quali apud nos, le Snggerente, ſuerit charitate, ipsius poteris relatione cognoscere; qui etiam promisit nohis necessilates vel pericula Pelagius episcopus dilecto filio Gregorio diacono, D 1otius ltaliz piissimo domino imperatori suggerere. Omnia quidem quz necessaria ſucrunt, per Honora- lum notarium tibi curavimus indicare; quem cum ſraire, et coepiscopo Sebastiano ad dilectionem tuam direximus , ut quia illis iu partibus ad Raven- nam usSque nunc cum viro glorioso domino Decio Patricio ſuit , ipse sua relatione te de omnibus stu- deat informare : vel si qua necessaria judicaveris, possis domino imperatori suggerere. Quia lantze calamilales ac tribulationes nobis a perfidia Lango- bardorum illatz sunt, contra suum proprium jusju- raudum, ut nullus possit ad reſerendum suflicere. *Ex annotalionibus Labbxzi quz apud Mansi erant ad marginew, breviores nos in t2xtu inter uncinos collocomus , lougiores vero juſra paginam relega- Loquimini ergo, et Iractale pariter, quomodo nos1ris possilis celeriter subvenire periculis : quia ita bie coanguslala est respublica, ut nisi Deus piissimi in corde principis inspiraverit, ut insitam sibi miseri- cordiam suis ſamulis largiatur, et super ilJan diaco- posin, vel unum magistrum militum, et unum du- cem dignetur concedere, in omni sumus angusiia destituti , quia maxime partes Romanz omni przsi- dio vacuatz videntur. Et Exarchus scribit, wulkun nobis posse remedium fſacere, quippe qui nec ad il- las partes custodiendas se leslalur posse Suflicere. mus. Yide quod in five operum Pelagii nolavimus, inſra col. 759. Evit, 703 EPISTOLA ET DECRETA. 706 Imperet crgo illi Deus nostris velociter periculis A quia qui nequiter agunt exterminabuntur, et inimici s1 venire, antequam neſandissime gentis exercitus loca, que adhuc a republica detinentur, Deo sibi contrario, quod absit, pravaleant occupare. Presby- lerum * autem ad nos, Deo adjuvante, retransmit- tere ſestina : quia et in monasterio tuo, et in opere, cui eum preposuimus, necessarius esSe Omnino Cco- guoscitur. Data iv Nonas Octobris, indictione 5-