(While Gregory was at Xantharis, an opportunity came up for him to see Olympius, but a relapse of his illness kept him from taking advantage of it. He writes to express his regret, and he also takes the opportunity to ask that Nicobulus be exempted from responsibility for the Imperial Posts.)
(While Gregory was at Xantharis an opportunity presented itself for seeing Olympius, but a return of illness prevented him from taking advantage of it. He writes to express his regret, and takes the opportunity also to request that Nicobulus may be exempted from the charge of the Imperial Posts.)
I was happy only in a dream. I had been brought as far as the Monastery to get some relief from the bath, and I was hoping to meet you. This good fortune was almost within my grasp, and I had stayed a few days waiting for it, but suddenly I was carried away by my illness, which was already painful in some ways and threatening in others. If one must find some explanation for this misfortune, I suffered in the same way that polypods do—when they are torn by force from the rocks, they risk losing the suckers by which they attach themselves to the rocks, or they carry off some piece of the rock itself. My situation is something like this. What I would have asked Your Excellency for if I had seen you, I now venture to ask even though I am absent. I found my son Nicobulus very troubled by the responsibility for the Post and by the demanding attention required by the Monastery. He is not a strong man, and he has a great dislike of solitude. Use him for anything else you wish, for he is eager to serve your authority in all things. But if possible, free him from this duty—if for no other reason, then at least to honor him as my host. Since I have asked many favors from you for many people and have received them, I need your kindness for myself as well.
I was happy in a dream. For having been brought as far as the Monastery to obtain some comfort from the bath, and then hoping to meet you, and having this good fortune almost in my hands, and having delayed a few days, I was suddenly carried away by my illness, which was already painful in some respects and threatening in others. And, if one must find some conjecture to account for the misfortune, I suffered in the same way as the polypods do, which if torn by force from the rocks risk the loss of the suckers by which they attach themselves to the rocks, or carry off some portion of the latter. Something of this kind is my case. And what I should have asked Your Excellency for had I seen you, I now venture to ask for though I am absent. I found my son Nicobulus much worried by the care of the Post, and by close attention to the Monastery. He is not a strong man, and has great distaste for solitude. Make use of him for anything else you please, for he is eager to serve your authority in all things; but if it be possible set him free from this charge, if for no other reason, at any rate to do him honour as my Hospitaller. Since I have asked many favours from you for many people, and have obtained them, I need also your kindness for myself.