PL 61 · cols. 223–226

Paulinus of Nola, Letters

Letters XIV–XV

in amplam possessionem hereditatis aeternae. Habes jam in Christo magnum tui pignus, et ambitiosum suffragium, conjugem, quae tibi tantum gratiae in coelestibus parat, quantum tu illi a terris opulentiae suggeris; non illam, ut dixi, luctibus cassis honorans, sed vivis muneribus accumulans, quibus illa nunc gaudet; jamque illi hujus operis tui usus in fructu est, cujus adhuc tibi munus in semine.

into the ample possession of the eternal inheritance (Matt. 7:13). You have now in Christ a great pledge of yourself and an eager advocate, your wife, who prepares for you in heaven as much grace as you supply to her of wealth from the earth; for you honour her not, as I said, with empty mourning, but heap her with living gifts, in which she now rejoices; and already she has the use of this work of yours in its fruit, while for you its reward is still in the seed.

28. Jam honoratur tuis illa meritis, jam pascitur tuis panibus, et affluit tuis opibus, in vestitu deaurata circumamicta varietate, pretioso lumine; non eget alienae manus digito refrigerari, propriis ipsa digitorum suorum roribus, id est, dexterae tuae operibus, infusa. Non aeque ampla dote nubentem locupletaveras, ut nunc ditificas quiescentem. Quantam enim tunc partem tuorum munerum cepit, cum eo solo, quod poterat induere, frueretur; nunc quantumcunque contuleris, totum simul, omnium sensuum voluptate dives, animo possidebit. Beata, cui tam numerosa apud Christum suffragia sunt; et cujus caput tam multiplex ambit illustrium corona gemmarum, nec alienis intexta floribus, sed domesticis corusca luminibus. Vere illa pretiosa Domino anima, quae de tribus pretium margaritis capit. Est enim conjux fidei, soror virginitatis, filia perfectionis; cui Paula mater, soror Eustochium, tu maritus.

28. Already she is honoured by your merits, already she is fed with your loaves, and abounds in your riches, in gilded clothing, wrapped about with variety (Ps. 44:10), in precious light; she does not need to be cooled by the finger of another's hand, being herself bedewed with the dews of her own fingers, that is, with the works of your right hand. You had not enriched her as a bride with so ample a dowry as that with which you now make her rich in her rest. For how small a part of your gifts did she receive then, when she enjoyed only what she could put on; now, whatever you bestow, she will possess it all at once in her soul, rich with the delight of all the senses. Blessed is she who has so many advocates with Christ, and whose head is encircled by so manifold a crown of shining gems, not woven of others' flowers, but flashing with lights of her own house. Truly that soul is precious to the Lord which takes its price from three pearls. For she is the wife of faith, the sister of virginity, the daughter of perfection: she whose mother is Paula, whose sister is Eustochium, and whose husband is you.

EPISTOLA XIV.

LETTER XIV.

Beatissimo et venerabili, semper nobis desiderantissimo patri DELPHINO, PAULINUS.

To the most blessed and venerable father DELPHINUS, ever most longed for by us, PAULINUS.

1. Laetati sumus in iis quae per Cardamatem scripta et apportata sunt nobis. Sospitatis enim tuae nuntius sermo, velut oleum laetitiae impinguavit ossa nostra, ut repleti gaudio diceremus: Magnificavit Dominus facere nobiscum, qui nos in tui doloris lectulo visitavit; ut exsurgentes in tua sanitate, caneremus hymnum Domino nostro, quoniam eripuisset oculos nostros a lacrymis; differens te coronae tuae, sed reservans adjutorio nostro, ut te intentis orationibus tuis onera nostra relevante, et itinera praeviante, leviores curramus in odorem unguentorum Domini: quem nobis in tua sanctitate fragrantem, etsi non apprehendimus merito, attamen sequimur affectu, sperantes per inseparabilem caritatis tuae copulam deducendos nos ut perveniamus tuo ductu, quo tu

1. We rejoiced in the things that were written and brought to us by Cardamas (Ps. 121:1). For the word that announced your recovery fattened our bones like the oil of gladness, so that, filled with joy, we said: The Lord has done great things with us (Ps. 125:3), Who visited us on the bed of your pain (Ps. 40:4); so that, rising up in your health, we might sing a hymn to our Lord, because He had rescued our eyes from tears (Ps. 114:8), deferring you from your crown but keeping you for our help, so that, with you lightening our burdens by your earnest prayers and going before us on the way, we may run more lightly in the odour of the ointments of the Lord: that odour, fragrant to us in your holiness, though we do not lay hold of it by merit, yet we follow it with affection, hoping that through the inseparable bond of your charity we are to be led on so as to arrive, under your guidance, where you

Editors' notes and page, col. 223

Scripture references

[script. a] ‹anchor: hereditatis aeternae› · call in col 223 Matth. VII, 13.

Matthew 7:13.

[script. b] ‹anchor: circumamicta varietate› · call in col 223 Psal. XLIV, 10.

Psalm 44:10.

[script. c] ‹anchor: apportata sunt nobis› · call in col 223 Psal. CXXI, 1.

Psalm 121:1.

[script. d] ‹anchor: facere nobiscum› · call in col 223 Psal. CXXV, 3.

Psalm 125:3.

[script. e] ‹anchor: lectulo visitavit› · call in col 223 Psal. XL, 4.

Psalm 40:4.

[script. f] ‹anchor: nostros a lacrymis› · call in col 223 Psal. CXIV, 8.

Psalm 114:8.

[script. g] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 223 or 224 Johan. XI, 4.

John 11:4.

[script. h] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 223 or 224 Gen. XXVII, 1, et XLVIII, 10.

Genesis 27:1 and 48:10.

[script. i] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 223 or 224 Job. I, 14; et II, 7; et IV, 1; et V, 1.

Job 1:14; and 2:7; and 4:1; and 5:1.

[script. j] ‹anchor: prosperatur in via sua› · call in col 224 Psal. XXXVI, 7.

Psalm 36:7.

[script. k] ‹anchor: quid accidit mihi› · call in col 224 Eccli. V, 4.

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 5:4.

[script. l] ‹anchor: ubi parebimus› · call in col 224 Prov. XI, 31; I Pet. IV, 18.

Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 4:18.

[script. m] ‹anchor: in refrigerium› · call in col 224 Psal. LXV, 12.

Psalm 65:12.

Editors' notes

(*) ‹anchor: EPISTOLA XIV› · call in col 223 Alias 18; quae autem 14 erat, nunc 27. Scripta anno 398, post Pascha.

Formerly 18; and the one that was 14 is now 27. Written in the year 398, after Easter.

(printed under page 115)

(a) ‹anchor: a terris› · call in col 223

Sic mss. Reg. et Vien. cum edit. Chiffl. Ante erat a terrenis.

So the Royal and Vienna manuscripts with Chifflet's edition. Formerly it read "a terrenis" ("from earthly things").

(printed under page 115)

(b) ‹anchor: luctibus cassis› · call in col 223

Ita mss. Reg. et Vien. cum edit. Chiffl. et Schot. in marg. Alii, luxibus.

So the Royal and Vienna manuscripts with Chifflet's edition and Schott's in the margin. Others: "luxibus" ("with luxuries").

(printed under page 115)

Edit. Rosv., circumacta.

Rosweyde's edition: "circumacta" ("driven round").

(printed under page 115)

(d) ‹anchor: mater, soror› · call in col 223

Mss. Reg. et Vien., Eustochia.

The Royal and Vienna manuscripts: "Eustochia".

(printed under page 115)

(e) ‹anchor: semper nobis› · call in col 223

Editi, desideratissimo.

The printed editions: "desideratissimo" ("most longed-for").

(printed under page 115)

(f) ‹anchor: et itinera› · call in col 223

Ms. Vien. et edit. Grin., breviante. Melius in aliis codicibus praeviante, ut ex sequentibus patet.

The Vienna manuscript and Grinaeus's edition: "breviante" ("shortening"). Better the other codices' "praeviante" ("going before"), as is plain from what follows.

(printed under page 115)

(g) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 223 or 224

Ita ms. Vien. Ceteri codices, providebant.

So the Vienna manuscript. The other codices: "providebant" ("they foresaw").

(printed under page 115)

Editors' prose

Gratulatur redditam Delphino valetudinem, sapienter exponens quare justis eveniant mala. Et gratias agit de Basilii presbyteri explicato negotio.

He rejoices with Delphinus on the restoration of his health, explaining wisely why evils befall the just. He also gives thanks for the settling of the affair of the priest Basil.

Page

running head: 223 S. PAULINI NOLANI EP[ISTOLAE] (right part of the head cut off in this image; col. 224's page shows "...NI NOLANI EPISCOPI")
marginal letters: A ‹nias in amplam possessionem›; B ‹enim tunc partem tuorum munerum›; C ‹rantissimo patri Delphino›; D ‹apprehendimus merito, attamen›
old-edition numerals: 82 after ‹fructu›
other: column opens with the word-end "nias" split from col. 222, not completed here. "hereditatis" printed with a worn first letter (looks like "nereditatis"); set as hereditatis. A superscript "37" before "fidei" taken as a numbered note call and left out. Asterisk call after EPISTOLA left out. EDITORS' PROSE: the italic argumentum of Ep. XIV is set above under Editors' prose. Address names printed in small capitals, set as capitals. References d, e, f taken from the foot-note line as seen in the col. 224 images (Psal. CXXV, 3; xl, 4; cxiv, 8).

PL 61:224

proprio nisu perveneris. Nam infirmitates tuae non sunt ad mortem, sed pro claritate Dei, ut et virtuti tuae perfectionem, et infirmitati nostrae virtutem conferant. De te enim ne perturbemur, multa nos jam a patriarchis Sanctorum Domini exempla confirmant.

have arrived by your own effort. For your infirmities are not unto death, but for the glory of God (John 11:4), so that they may bring both perfection to your virtue and virtue to our infirmity. For many examples, from the patriarchs onward, of the Saints of the Lord already reassure us, so that we should not be troubled about you.

2. Sicut ipsi patres fidei, praeter alios vitae suae labores in illa etiam senectute prophetica, qua interius luminati, jam mundi aeternitatem et omnium seculorum seriem praevidebant; corporeis tamen graves oculis in infirmitate carnali spiritalem consummaverunt virtutem. Sic et beatus Job tentatus est ut probaretur, dimicavit ut vinceret, humiliatus est ut exaltaretur, flevit ut gauderet. Quid ipse Sanctus sanctorum? nonne tunc vicit cum judicaretur; et cadendo per mortem resurrexit in gloriam? Quae fortibus passionis infirmitatum, infirmis incitamenta virtutum sunt. Infirmatur etenim validus, ut confortetur infirmus, et imitatione robusti discat superare congressus. Et ideo et justus castigatur, ut emendetur injustus.

2. So the fathers of the faith themselves, besides the other labours of their life, even in that prophetic old age in which, enlightened within, they already foresaw the eternity of the world and the course of all the ages, were nevertheless heavy in their bodily eyes, and brought spiritual virtue to perfection in the infirmity of the flesh (Gen. 27:1; 48:10). So too blessed Job was tempted that he might be proved, fought that he might conquer, was humbled that he might be exalted, wept that he might rejoice (Job 1:14; 2:7; 4:1; 5:1). What of the Holy of holies Himself? Did He not conquer just when He was being judged, and by falling through death rise again into glory? What are sufferings of infirmity to the strong are incentives to virtue for the weak. For the strong man is made weak so that the weak may be strengthened, and by imitating the robust may learn to overcome in the encounter. And therefore the just man too is chastised, so that the unjust may be amended.

3. Quare duplicem utilitatem operatur Sanctorum carnalis infirmitas; ut et ipsorum spiritalis virtus exerceatur; et qui prosperatur in via sua, et viribus inoffensae sanitatis insultans, dicit: Peccavi, et quid accidit mihi? non audeat sibi de corporea felicitate blandiri: et forsitan metu divinae potestatis adstrictus, ad justitiam corrigatur, dum ultricem Domini coelestis manum impiis actibus jure expavescit, quam videat et justis severam. Nam si vos vix citra verbera castigationis evaditis, nos iniqui et peccatores ubi parebimus? Credimus autem, quia ideo proximis his temporibus graviora solito corporalium tribulationum tela perpessus es, pridem febrium ardore, nunc capitis humore vexatus, ut in illa requie Domini beatus possis dicere: Transivimus per ignem et aquam, et induxisti nos in refrigerium. Laetificati igitur hac Dei misericordia, qua respexerat in bonum humilitatem nostram, ut gravissimae anxietudinis poenam lucraremur, cum pariter indicasses nobis sollicitudinem de te nostram, et securitatem; aliud in iisdem litteris divinae gratiae munus accepimus, illud videlicet curae nostrae negotium de sancti presbyteri Basilii domo per operam tuam, ita ut desideravimus, explicatum.

3. Therefore the bodily infirmity of the Saints works a twofold benefit: both that their own spiritual virtue may be exercised, and that he who prospers in his way (Ps. 36:7), and, exulting in the strength of unimpaired health, says: I have sinned, and what has befallen me? (Sir. 5:4), may not dare to flatter himself about bodily good fortune; and perhaps, held fast by fear of the divine power, he may be corrected towards justice, while for his impious deeds he rightly dreads the avenging hand of the heavenly Lord, which he sees to be severe even towards the just. For if you scarcely escape without the stripes of chastisement, where shall we, the wicked and sinners, appear? (Prov. 11:31; 1 Pet. 4:18). But we believe that you have suffered in these recent times the darts of bodily tribulations more heavily than usual, vexed lately by the heat of fevers and now by a humour of the head, so that in that rest of the Lord you may say in blessedness: We passed through fire and water, and Thou hast brought us into refreshment (Ps. 65:12). Gladdened, then, by this mercy of God, by which He had looked with favour upon our lowliness, so that we were spared the pain of the heaviest anxiety, since you made known to us at one and the same time our cause for concern about you and our relief, we received in the same letter another gift of divine grace: namely, that the business that concerned us, about the house of the holy priest Basil, has been settled through your efforts, just as we desired.

4. Veniat tota illa benedictio super caput tuum, et in coronae tuae cumulum supertexta florescat, qua benedixerunt Dominum in te, non solum

4. May all that blessing come upon your head, and, woven over it, flower to crown your crown, with which they have blessed the Lord in you, not only

Editors' notes and page, col. 224

Footnotes

(h) ‹anchor: induxisti nos in› · call in col 224

Sic ms. Vien. et Latinius. Sic quoque in Psalteriis quinque, in Vulgata, apud LXX et S. Augustinum in Psalmos. In aliis codicibus nostris erat refrigerio.

So the Vienna manuscript and Latinius. So too in five Psalters, in the Vulgate, in the Septuagint and in St Augustine on the Psalms. Our other codices had "refrigerio" (ablative, "refreshment").

(printed under page 115)

(i) ‹anchor: Lætificati igitur› · call in col 224

Ms. codex Viennensis, e Dei misericordia, qui, etc.

The Vienna manuscript codex: "e Dei misericordia, qui", etc. ("from the mercy of God, who…").

(printed under page 115)

Page

running head: S. PAULINI NOLANI EPISCOPI 224
marginal letters: A ‹proprio nisu perveneris›; B ‹et cadendo per mortem›; C ‹gationis evaditis, nos iniqui›; D ‹4. Veniat tota illa benedictio›
old-edition numerals: 83 after ‹infirmitates›
other: superscript numbered calls after "mundi" and "aliud" left out. An editor's cross-reference "(V. not. 6)" printed after "coronae" left out (not a scripture reference). UNSURE: "passionis" as printed (sense requires "passiones"; English follows the sense; not certain enough to record as a misprint at this resolution). "Transivimus" and "Basilii" read through worn/low-resolution type.

PL 61:225

ipsi ad quos beneficium pertinebat; sed tota propemodum Capua, et celeberrima urbis ipsius ecclesia gaudio presbyteri coexsultans, dedit laudem Deo, qui adjuvisset pauperem de mendicitate, et humiliasset alta divitum corda, ut et ipsi habeant spem aeternae domus in civitate habitationis, qui digni habiti sunt per interventum sermonis tui ad intellectum bonum illuminari: quo per exigui domicilii justam reformationem, aeternum sibi in coelesti tabernaculo pauperis sancti, a quo invicem recipientur, hospitium paraverunt.

those very persons to whom the benefit belonged; but almost the whole of Capua, and the most renowned church of that city, exulting together in the priest's joy, gave praise to God, Who had helped the poor man out of his beggary and humbled the lofty hearts of the rich, so that they too may have the hope of an eternal house in the city of habitation, who have been counted worthy, through the intervention of your word, to be enlightened unto good understanding: for by the just restoration of a little dwelling they have prepared for themselves an eternal lodging in the heavenly tabernacle of a holy poor man, by whom they in turn will be received (Luke 16:9).

EPISTOLA XV.

LETTER XV.

Sancto et merito venerabili, ac dilectissimo fratri Amando, Paulinus.

To his holy and deservedly venerable and most beloved brother Amandus, Paulinus.

1. Excepimus Cardamatem in gaudio caritatis et benedictione dulcedinis afferentem nobis omnia bona, litteras indices sanitatis vestrae, laetificantes corda nostra, et dulciores super mel et favum: quarum suavitas sicut oleum penetravit interiora nostra, exsultaverunt ossa humiliata, et in voce exsultationis diximus Domino: Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam, qua liberasti pauperem de potente, et humilem de manu fortioris ejus. Concurrebant undique in animum causae gratulationum, quod accipiebamus litteras vestras, quod nostri memores probabamus, quod ad votum nostrum audiebamus incolumes, quod dominum meum (Delphinum) patrem nostrum ex gravi et longa infirmitate sanatum cognoscebamus. De utroque vestrum pariter laetificati sumus: quia sicut eadem est tribulatio, quae illum corpore, te corde confecerat; ita et eadem visitatio, quae illi divinam opem super lectum doloris, et tibi refrigerium securitatis in cubili compassionis attulerat. Sed nihilominus cogitantes nos illius aegrimonias et animum tuum, stimulabat noster affectus, quod in illo tribulationis vestrae tempore nos forsitan sani atque etiam laeti fuissemus. Sed gratias Domino, qui ignorantiae culpam relaxat, nec, ut meruimus, fecit nobis; praeveniens tristitiam nostram gratulatione, cum ita providere dignatus est, ut aegritudinis vestrae fugam eodem indice nosceremus, qui pariter nuntiaret et redditum sanitatis.

1. We received Cardamas in the joy of charity and the blessing of sweetness, as he brought us every good thing: your letter, the herald of your health, gladdening our hearts and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb (Ps. 18:9, 11). Its sweetness penetrated our inmost parts like oil; the humbled bones exulted (Ps. 50:10), and with the voice of exultation we said to the Lord: We have received, O God, Thy mercy (Ps. 47:10), by which Thou hast delivered the poor from the mighty (Ps. 71:12), and the lowly from the hand of him who was stronger than he (Ps. 34:10). From every side causes for rejoicing ran together into our mind: that we were receiving your letter; that we found you mindful of us; that we heard, as we had prayed, that you were safe; that we learned that my lord (Delphinus), our father, had been healed of a grave and long infirmity. We were gladdened about both of you alike: for just as it was one and the same tribulation that had worn him down in body and you in heart, so too it was one and the same visitation that had brought to him divine help upon the bed of pain (Ps. 40:4), and to you the refreshment of relief upon the couch of compassion. But none the less, as we thought of his sicknesses and of your mind, our affection stung us, because in that time of your tribulation we had perhaps been well and even cheerful. But thanks be to the Lord, Who pardons the fault of ignorance and has not dealt with us as we deserved, forestalling our sadness with rejoicing, since He deigned so to provide that we learned of the departure of your sickness from the same messenger who announced at the same time the return of health.

2. Quid de illo vestrae sanctitatis opere dicam, quo tantum nobis etiam ad praesentis gratiae cumulum, quantum vobis ad mercedis aeternae copiam contulistis?

2. What shall I say of that work of your holiness, by which you have bestowed on us as much towards the fullness of present grace as on yourselves towards the abundance of an eternal reward?

Editors' notes and page, col. 225

Scripture references

[script. a] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 Luc. XVI, 9.

Luke 16:9.

[script. b] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 Psal. XVIII, 9 et 11.

Psalm 18:9 and 11.

[script. c] ‹anchor: exsultaverunt ossa humiliata› · call in col 225 Psal. L, 10.

Psalm 50:10.

[script. d] ‹anchor: misericordiam tuam› · call in col 225 Psal. XLVII, 10.

Psalm 47:10.

[script. e] ‹anchor: pauperem de potente› · call in col 225 Psal. LXXI, 12.

Psalm 71:12.

[script. f] ‹anchor: manu fortioris ejus› · call in col 225 Psal. XXXIV, 10, sec. Psalt. Rom.

Psalm 34:10, according to the Roman Psalter.

[script. g] ‹anchor: lectum doloris› · call in col 225 Psal. XL, 4.

Psalm 40:4.

[script. h] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 or 226 Psal. XXIX, 12.

Psalm 29:12.

[script. i] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 or 226 Psal. XCI, 11.

Psalm 91:11.

[script. j] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 or 226 Psal. CXVII, 15.

Psalm 117:15.

[script. k] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 or 226 Luc. I, 48.

Luke 1:48.

[script. l] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 or 226 Psal. CXLVI, 3; et XXXIV, 26.

Psalm 146:3; and 34:26.

[script. m] ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 or 226 Psal. XXIX, 12, sec. Psalter. Rom. et vetus.

Psalm 29:12, according to the Roman and the Old Psalter.

[script. n] ‹anchor: non sunt transgressi› · call in col 226 Eccli. XXXI, 10.

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 31:10.

Editors' notes

(*) ‹anchor: title of the letter, not visible› · call in col 225 Alias 25; quæ autem 25 erat, nunc 40. Scripta anno 398 et missa cum superiore.

Formerly 25; and the one that was 25 is now 40. Written in the year 398 and sent with the preceding one.

(printed under page 116)

(a) ‹anchor: incolumes, quod› · call in col 225

Ms. Regius, domnum. Ms. Vien., Dominum nostrum.

The Royal manuscript: "domnum" ("lord"). The Vienna manuscript: "Dominum nostrum" ("our lord").

(printed under page 116)

(b) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 225 or 226

Ms. Reg., domnu. Sic veteres et idem ms. frequenter. [the variant word is blurred in the scan]

The Royal manuscript: "domnu". So the ancients write, and the same manuscript often.

(printed under page 116)

Editors' prose

Gratulatur Amando, quod Delphinus a gravi infirmitate liberatus, pristinae sanitati sit restitutus: gratias agit de beneficio in Basilium presbyterum a se commendatum collato: comiter ludit in Cardamatis continentia.

He congratulates Amandus that Delphinus, freed from a grave illness, has been restored to his former health; he gives thanks for the kindness shown to the priest Basilius, whom he had commended; he jests good-humouredly about Cardamas's abstinence.

Page

running head: 225 EPISTOLA XV. (the head is printed across the page)
marginal letters: A ‹ipsi ad quos beneficium›; B ‹(end of the argumentum, before the address line)›; C ‹quod ad votum nostrum audiebamus›; D ‹eodem indice nosceremus›
old-edition numerals: 84 after ‹Capua›; 85 before ‹2. Quid›
other: the column ends "con-"; set whole as "contulistis" from the first line of col. 226 (which opens "tulistis?"). Numbered calls after "recipientur", "liberasti", "super" left out. EDITORS' PROSE: the italic argumentum of Ep. XV ("Gratulatur Amando ... in Cardamatis continentia") not set. UNSURE: "dulciores" (type looks like "aulciores"); "celeberrima" (worn e).

PL 61:226

id est de sancti presbyteri Basilii negotio; cujus planctum convertistis in gaudium, et senectutem composuistis in misericordia uberi. Facta est in tabernaculo ejus vox laetitiae et salutis: neque cessat cum tota domo sua gaudens consonis Ecclesiae gratulationibus benedicere Dominum, qui respexerit humilitatem ejus, et religaverit contritiones ejus; et eos qui gratulabantur malis ejus confusione perfuderit; ipsum vero conscisso tristitiae sacco, laetitiae vigore praecinxerit.

I mean the business of the holy priest Basil, whose mourning you have turned into joy (Ps. 29:12), and whose old age you have settled in rich mercy (Ps. 91:11). The voice of gladness and of salvation has come to be in his tabernacle (Ps. 117:15); and he does not cease, rejoicing with all his house amid the harmonious rejoicings of the Church, to bless the Lord, Who has looked upon his lowliness (Luke 1:48) and bound up his bruises, and has covered with confusion those who rejoiced at his misfortunes (Ps. 146:3; 34:26); and him, his sackcloth of sadness torn off, He has girded with the strength of gladness (Ps. 29:12).

3. Unde pro ipsis fratribus nostris, quos ante rogari poposceramus, nunc unanimitatem vestram petimus, ut eos ultra solitum affectum diligatis; et si forte ipsi Burdigalam, ut solent, venerint, praesentibus gratias etiam de nostrorum sensuum ac viscerum affectione reddatis. Aut si tarda fuerit eorum copia, cum prima adfuerit occasio, dignamini eis gratulationem debitam, et meritam benedictionem operis sui mittere, ut sciant et intelligant quam acceptum Deo sacrificium dederint hac obedientia fidei suae, qua petitionem nostram in vestro interventu exorabiles receperunt; nobis quidem gaudium praesens de sua devotione praestantes; sed saluti suae aeternum commodum providentes. Nam etsi debitum fecerint agnoscendo justitiam, ut alienum reddi juberent; tamen gratia largiter habenda digni sunt pro ipso bonae voluntatis affectu, quo potuerunt transgredi, et non sunt transgressi; et maluerunt id facere quod expediebat, quam quod licebat; et quod tam absoluto et puro corde nobis parere dignati sunt, ut de beneficio eorum disputari non posset: quandoquidem domum suam sancto presbytero, etiamsi propriam non probaret, restitui tamen sine difficultate jusserunt; ut eam, si de suo jure non posset, de illorum tamen munere possideret. Neque perdiderunt hujus tam sanctae liberalitatis gratiam: nam vir ipse sanctissimus, cui Dominus juxta meritum vos interventores providit, ita gratulatur et praedicat, tanquam indebitum munus acceperit. Sed ipsis fratribus nostris modo respondere distulimus, quia per ipsorum homines saepius de Campania commeantes, opportuniores occasiones non deerunt, quae statim ad ipsos, ubicunque sunt, dirigant.

3. Therefore, on behalf of those brothers of ours whom we had earlier asked to have entreated, we now beg your unanimity to love them beyond your usual affection; and if perhaps they come to Bordeaux, as they are accustomed to, that you thank them in person also out of the affection of our feelings and our heart. Or if the chance of meeting them should be slow in coming, deign, at the first occasion that offers, to send them the congratulation that is their due and the blessing their work has earned, so that they may know and understand how acceptable a sacrifice they have offered to God by this obedience of their faith, by which, yielding to entreaty, they accepted our petition through your intervention, providing us indeed with present joy at their devotion, but securing an eternal advantage for their own salvation. For although they did only what was owed, acknowledging justice so as to order another's property to be returned, yet they deserve to be thanked generously for that very disposition of good will by which they could have transgressed and did not transgress (Sir. 31:10), and preferred to do what was expedient rather than what was lawful; and because they deigned to obey us with so unreserved and pure a heart that there could be no dispute about their kindness: since they ordered the house to be restored to the holy priest without difficulty, even if he could not prove it his own, so that, if he could not possess it by his own right, he might possess it by their gift. Nor have they lost the grace of so holy a liberality: for that most holy man himself, for whom the Lord provided you as intercessors according to his merit, rejoices and proclaims it as though he had received a gift that was not owed. But we have put off replying to those brothers of ours for now, because, with their own people travelling quite often from Campania, more suitable occasions will not be lacking to carry a letter straight to them, wherever they are.

4. De Cardamate ipso non modicam nos unanimitati tuae gratiam debere profitemur, quem non solum ministerio provectum, sed et spiritu proficientem recepimus. Nam cum in diebus Quadragesimae advenisset, et cum ut clericum fraterno excepissemus affectu, quotidiana jejunia non refugit, et pauperem mensulam vespertinus conviva non horruit. Et quod

4. As for Cardamas himself, we confess that we owe your unanimity no small thanks, for we have received him not only advanced in the ministry but also advancing in spirit. For when he had arrived in the days of Lent, and we had welcomed him as a cleric with brotherly affection, he did not shrink from the daily fasts, and as an evening guest he did not recoil from our poor little table. And what

Editors' notes and page, col. 226

Footnotes

Ms. Vien., fecerunt.

The Vienna manuscript: "fecerunt" ("they did").

(printed under page 116)

(d) ‹anchor: eam, si de› · call in col 226

Addidimus suo ex ms. Reg. et edit. Bad. et Grin.

We have added "suo" ("his own") from the Royal manuscript and the editions of Badius and Grinaeus.

(printed under page 116)

(e) ‹anchor: meritum vos› · call in col 226

Eadem notione Isaias dicitur Ezechiæ interventor carm. 23, v. 195.

In the same sense Isaiah is called Hezekiah's "interventor" (intercessor) in poem 23, line 195.

(printed under page 116)

(f) ‹anchor: ubicumque sunt,› · call in col 226

Ms. Vien. dirigantur.

The Vienna manuscript: "dirigantur" ("may be directed").

(printed under page 116)

Page

running head: EPISTOLA XV. 226
marginal letters: A ‹tulistis? id est›; B ‹affectione reddatis. Aut si tarda›; C ‹eorum disputari non posset›; D ‹mitati tuae gratiam debere›
old-edition numerals: 86 after ‹nos›
other: column opens with "tulistis?", the end of "con-tulistis" begun in col. 225. Numbered calls after "Basilii", "recepimus", "horruit" left out. "unanimitatem" read through a damaged glyph; "et maluerunt" printed with worn type (looks "ei"); both set as the sense requires, UNSURE. "Dominum" is followed by a stray mark, not set.