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Enjoying reading the highly opinionated letters of the ninth-century bishop Lupus of Ferrières:
'I was not charmed by the German language, as some have very foolishly claimed, nor did I burden myself with such a hard and tedious undertaking [to learn it].
'I was not charmed by the German language, as some have very foolishly claimed, nor did I burden myself with such a hard and tedious undertaking [to learn it].
'It is true that an abscess developed in my right groin and merely threatened to be fatal, but it produced such an abundance of prayers wherever the report of my illness spread that I make bold to suggest that this was brought about by divine favour.'
Ouch:
'But as for Probus, I am not so surprised that he has published something as I am that he has not yet lifted material from everybody for his writing.'
'But as for Probus, I am not so surprised that he has published something as I am that he has not yet lifted material from everybody for his writing.'
'I have not wished to make extravagant claims concerning your generosity until I find out whether the shipment of fish which is supposed to be on its way exceeds my feeble powers of description, not only because of the size, but also, as I imagine, the superb quality'.
'Moreover, as for my nephew's headache, moderation in his drinking will probably afford relief if he is found too addicted to it. Otherwise, he shall be placed under the care of a doctor who believes that he can heal all illnesses, being ignorant of none.'
'As soon as you have an opportunity, be sure to send me cups suitable for Communion, very rich in design and quality, woodenware at least, for when I see the costly ones which you have presented to others, I almost fall ill with envy.'
'I have sent with the courier the peaches which I promised. If, as I fear, he eats them or complains that they were stolen from him, insist that he at least hand over to you the seeds, unless he has eaten them too, so that you may sometime also enjoy those delicious peaches.'
'As for the pine nuts, I have had as many sent to you as the courier could carry, that is to say, ten.'
