Anastasius Augustus to Pope Hormisdas through Theopompus and Severianus, men of great distinction.

Everything conceived in the benignity of spirits is propagated with sweet ambit and praiseworthy haste; they believe no rest can be granted to themselves until they have led their desired outcomes to the most beneficial affection. And then there is a certain rest in that haste itself, when the hope of vows is attained. This we have carried out in the present matter with certain reason, until heavenly favor grants a hearing to our petition, and your promise provides a serene effect. Therefore, because the vast distance of the journey and the unusual harshness of the winter season made uncertain what we desired, we meanwhile compressed the desired things within our minds, seizing the divine benefits that fall with its intervention for a good outcome.

Recognizing therefore that it granted us its first grace, that the legation sent to us should return happily to your beatitude, we proceeded to the second, that a promised legation directed by us should be sent, through which both a remembrance of what we have deliberated at length with the most holy men would be made, and from there, God willing, the bright light of both our petition and your grace may shine forth in full, granting the awaited joys to the whole world. Therefore, in place of remembrance and rendering the honor of salutation, we directed Theopompus, an illustrious man, count of the domestics, agent of our sacred palace school, faithful to us both for his morals and for the affection of our province itself, and Severianus, a man of great distinction, count of our sacred consistory, to your holiness. They, testifying to the order of letters with their own voice, provoke the awaited matters to swiftness, which we also believe have pleased heavenly mercy. Given on the 17th day before the calends of August in Constantinople, under the consulship of Peter, a man of great renown (in the year of our Lord 516).