Epistula ad Eucherium Lugdunensem‏

To his true lord, holy and friend of God, and to be received by me in Christ with every reverence, Pope Eucherius, Rusticus the presbyter. Having transcribed with exultation and haste what you sent to be copied at my request, I immediately dispatched both volumes to your blessedness. But that unique and incomparable teaching, by which you most absolutely open the questions of great enigmas from both testaments, removing the veil and pouring the true light of spiritual understanding into the eyes of the heart—how much I admired it, I could not declare more plainly than to confess that it cannot be worthily praised by me. Yet why should I say that I alone am unequal to extolling what you publish? Let it be said with peace to all who are best trained in what are called the liberal studies, that not even by them, I think, can the wonderful praises of your books be sufficiently worthily cultivated. For although they judge it easier to judge than to speak, I am nevertheless so persuaded that this is not easy that I rightly define that no one could more rightly be a proclaimer of such a distinguished work than its discoverer and author, because, just as no one could so discover it, so certainly no one praises it thus. But while I silently revolve these things with myself, there occurs to me something I once read as a boy in the libraries of students of secular literature, passing by, as the curiosity of that age has.

For when the overseer and master of the above-mentioned building had placed beneath the individual likenesses, expressed in small stones or in colored waxes and fashioned images, of either orators or even poets, the epigrams of each in their own autotypes, he came to the poet of prejudiced eloquence and began thus: "The poet Virgil is better praised by his own poems; while rivers run into the straits, while shadows will traverse the mountain slopes, while the pole will feed the stars, always your honor, your name, and your praises will remain." And truly, provided I am free from fault in your prayers, because among the sacred writings and commemorations of the saints examples from my worldly scriptures are brought forth, the work mentioned in memory rightly recurs to me as I recall my lord Eucherius in my mind. For as long as the things comprehended above exist, you will be celebrated, to be praised in the future, by the mouth and love of all Christians, while you teach posterity. Pray for me, lord, truly holy and friend of God, and father to be received by me in Christ with every reverence.