neque te sacerdotibus potius admixtum vitio vertat malignus interpres; nam grandis ordinum ignorantia tenet hinc aliquid derogaturos, quia, sicuti cum epulum festivitas publica facit, prior est in prima mensa conviva postremus ei, qui primus fuerit in secunda, sic absque conflictatione praestantior secundum bonorum sententiam computatur honorato maximo minimus religiosus.
And let no malicious interpreter misconstrue it as a fault on my part that you are classed with priests. A great ignorance of the two orders possesses those who would disparage this profession. When a public festival provides a banquet the last guest at the first table ranks before the first guest at the second table; so beyond question, according to the view of the best men, the humblest ecclesiastic ranks above the most exalted secular dignitary.
final_alignments\Sidonius_Letters_Book7.json