Letter 32: Paulinus and Therasia rejoice over Augustine's episcopal role and send Licentius a poetic warning against Roman ambition.

To Romanianus, a brother deservedly praised and honored: Paulinus and Therasia. The day before sending this letter, the brothers returned from Africa, the very men you saw us anxiously waiting for, and we received letters from that region from the most desired, holy, and dearly loved men: Aurelius, Alypius, Augustine, Profuturus, Severus, now all bishops together. Rejoicing in the freshest words of so many holy men, we hurried to share our joy with you, so that in your anxious pilgrimage we too might bring you the joy you had been waiting for with the most festive news. If perhaps you have already learned the same things about those venerable and most loving men through the arrival of other ships, receive them again from us and rejoice once more, as though your gladness were renewed. But if this is the first report to reach you from us, congratulate us that, by Christ's gift, we have gained such affection in your homeland that whatever divine Providence does there, wonderful as always among his saints, we know either first or among the first. We write not only to rejoice that Augustine has received the episcopate, but because the African churches have deserved such care from God that they may hear heavenly words from Augustine's mouth. He was advanced by a new form of honor into the greater grace of the Lord's gift: he was consecrated not to succeed a bishop in the chair, but to join him. While Valerius, bishop of the church of Hippo, remains alive, Augustine is his fellow bishop. That blessed old man, whose pure mind has never been stained by any mark of envious jealousy, now gathers from the Most High fruits worthy of his peaceful heart. The man he had simply desired as successor to his priestly office he has deserved to keep as colleague. Could anyone have believed this before it happened? But in this work of the Almighty too the Gospel saying can be used: "These things are hard for human beings; but with God all things are possible." Let us exult and rejoice in the one who alone does wonders, and who makes people of one mind live in one house, because he has looked upon our lowliness and visited his people with good; he has raised up a horn in the house of David his servant, and now he has lifted up the horn of his Church in his chosen ones, so that he may break the horns of sinners, that is, of the Donatists and Manichaeans, as he promised through the prophet. If only this trumpet of the Lord, through which he now thunders in Augustine, would strike the ears of our son Licentius, and strike that ear by which Christ enters, from which the enemy does not snatch away God's seed. Then Augustine, the high priest of Christ, would truly seem great to him, because Augustine would feel that he had been heard by the Most High, if the one whom he made worthy for you in literature he also bore as a son for himself in Christ. Even now, believe me, Augustine has written about him with the most burning concern. We trust in almighty Christ that Augustine's spiritual vows will prevail over the bodily desires of our young man. He will be conquered, even unwillingly, believe me; he will be conquered by the faith of his most devoted father, lest a bad victory conquer him if he would rather win to his own ruin than be overcome for his salvation. So that the duty of brotherly kindness might not seem empty, we have sent five loaves of soldiers' bread from the Christian campaign, in whose battle line we serve every day on the rations of frugality, for you and for our son Licentius together. We could not separate from our blessing the one whom by the same grace we desire to bind wholly to ourselves. Yet let us speak a few words to him as well, so that he may not deny that what is written about him to you is written to him. Aeschinus is being addressed, though Micio hears. But why should I speak from other people's plays, when in our own household we can say everything, and when speaking from alien things is usually no sign of a sound head? By God's grace our head is sound and safe, for Christ is our head. May we have you safe for many years and always blessed with your whole household, as we desire, in Christ, my lord brother, deservedly most honored and longed for. Listen, then, my son, to the law of your father, that is, to Augustine's faith, and do not reject the counsels of your mother. Augustine's affection can rightly claim that same name over you, since he carried you as a little child in his own lap and first fed you with the milk of secular wisdom from infancy, and now he longs to nurse and nourish you for the Lord with spiritual breasts. He sees that although you have grown in bodily age, in spiritual things you are still wailing in the cradle, still an infant in the word of God, hardly crawling in Christ with your first steps and a wavering foot, unless Augustine's teaching guides the unsteady child like a mother's hand and a nurse's arm. If you listen to him and follow him, to draw you again with Solomon's words, "My son, you will receive a crown of graces for your head." Then you will truly be the consul and priest you once dreamed, not shaped by an empty image in sleep, but formed by truth itself, with Christ filling the empty appearances of the false vision with the solid effects of his own work. For you will truly be a priest and truly a consul, Licentius, if you cling to Augustine's prophetic and apostolic discipline, as blessed Elisha clung to the consecrated Elijah and young Timothy to the illustrious apostle, as an inseparable companion on the divine roads, so that you may learn to deserve priesthood with a whole heart and to counsel peoples for salvation with your teacher's mouth. Enough of warning and exhortation. I think that with little speech and labor, my Licentius, you can be stirred toward Christ, since from childhood you were already set aflame by Augustine's spirit and mouth for the study of truth and wisdom, both of which are truly Christ, the highest good of every good. If he has had too little power with you for your own sake, what can I accomplish, coming so far behind him and poor in all his wealth? Yet trusting both in the power of his ability and in the humanity of your mind, I hope for fuller and greater things already worked in you than needing to be worked. I have dared to open my mouth by a double grace: first, so that I might be compared with that man, by due love, in concern for you; and second, so that among those who love your salvation I might at least be numbered by the affection I profess. I know the victory in your perfection is destined above all for Augustine. I fear, my son, that I may have offended your ears by the roughness of rash speech and through your ears wounded your mind with weariness of me. But I remember your letter, by which I learned you were familiar with musical modes, a study I too did not shrink from at your age. So, remembering your letters, I found a remedy to soothe your mind if I had irritated it in any way: I would call you to the Lord, the craftsman of every harmony, by the rhythm of a poem. I beg you, listen with your ear, and do not despise the cause of your salvation in my words. Instead, gladly receive a pious care and a father's mind even in words you might otherwise look down on, for the name of Christ, which is above every name, has been planted in them, and that name deserves such reverence that it cannot be despised by a believer. So come now, break the delays and the clinging chains of the age. Do not fear the gentle yoke of the mild Lord. The present world is beautiful, yes, but strange and dazzling to wandering minds; a wise mind is not stunned by it. Now it tempts you with many misleading forms. Powerful Rome, alas, can overturn even strong souls. But may your father Augustine always meet you, my son, against all the city's enticements. Looking to him and holding him in your heart, you will be safe among such dangers of fragile life. I will say this again and again: flee the slippery path of hard military service. Honor is a sweet name, but the service is harsh, and its end is sick with regret: what now delights you to want, you will soon be sorry to have wanted. It is pleasant to climb high places, but terrifying to descend from them; if you slip, the higher the tower, the worse the fall. Now false goods please you; ambition catches every breeze and carries empty fame in a glassy lap. But when the ruinous belt of office has bound you in a great heat, and barren labor has broken you, too late and uselessly you will accuse your empty hopes, and you will want to break the chains you now are weaving. Then you will remember, in pain, that you despised the truthful warnings of father Augustine. So, if you are wise and if you are devout, young man, listen. Take the words of fathers and the counsel of elders. Why draw back your fierce neck from the yoke? "My burden is light; the yoke of Christ is sweet." Believe God when his loving voice says it. Put your head under the yoke, give your mouth to the soft bridle, and place your lowered shoulders under the light load. You can do this now, while you are still free, while no marriage bond holds you, no care of a wife, no high office. This is good freedom: to serve Christ, and in him to stand above all. The one who gives himself to Christ the Lord serves neither human masters nor vices nor proud kings. Do not think that nobility is free because you now see it carried high through an astonished Rome. It seems to itself so free that it disdains to bend its neck to God, yet it is miserable, enslaved to many mortals and even buying slaves so that they may rule it. Those who have endured eunuchs and great palaces, and everyone who willingly endures Rome in misery, know at what cost of sweat and loss of dignity the cloak of office there and the honor here are bought. Even the man who has purchased the highest rank of all, so that he may serve no one, does not attain it. After boasting himself lord over the whole city, he serves demons if he worships idols. What grief! Is it for these people that you linger in Rome, Licentius, and despise Christ's kingdom in order to please them? You call them masters and greet them with bent necks, while you see that they are servants of wood and stone. They worship silver and gold under the divine name; their religion is the disease of greed loving what it loves. Let the one who does not love Augustine love them; let the one whom it pleases to honor them not honor Christ. God himself says that two masters cannot be served, because one mind pleases God. There is one faith, one God, and one Christ from the Father; there is not double service to one Lord. As far as heaven and earth stand apart, so far apart are the affairs and empires of Caesar and of Christ. Lift yourself from the ground. While breath still rules these limbs, pierce heaven with your mind; the delay of the flesh does no harm. Die even now to bodily acts, and with a clear mind rehearse the good of heavenly life. You are spirit, though held by a body, if now with a devout mind you overcome the work of the flesh. These things, dear boy, I have written under the pressure of faithful love. If you receive them, you will be received by God. Believe that Augustine has now been doubled for you in me. Take two fathers with one devotion. If we are despised, you will be dragged away with a greater grief for two men. If we are heard, you will be a sweet pledge to two men. In you the joyful care of two fathers has labored, and for you it will be a great honor to have made two men glad. Yet when I join myself with Augustine, I do not boast that I am equal to him in merit; I compare myself only in love for you. What can I pour over you, sprinkling from my poor stream? Apart from me, you are washed by a double river: brother Alypius and master Augustine, one sharing your blood, the other fathering your mind. With such a brother and such a teacher, Licentius, do you hesitate to follow the stars on such wings? Whatever you do, since the world should not hope to have you as its friend, you will not be given to the earth, a soul owed to Christ. Though you think of marriage chambers and high honors, you were long ago to be restored to your Lord. I believe two righteous men will conquer one sinner, and their brotherly prayers will drive away your desires. Return, then, at the voice of a parent, at the voice of a brother by blood. Both priests command you to return. They draw you back to what is yours, for now you are chasing what belongs to others. These kingdoms that hold you are more truly yours. Seek them again, long for them, and do not waste your time on foreign things. If you refuse your own goods, who will give you another's? You will not belong to yourself; sent far through alien things, alas, you will live exiled from the feeling of your own heart. It is enough for an anxious parent to have sung these things to his son, since for you I either desire or fear what I do for myself. If you receive this page, it will one day bring you life; if you refuse it, this same page will be a witness. May Christ grant that you be safe for me, dearest son, and give you to himself as a servant forever. Live, I pray, but live to God. To live for the world is the work of death; to live for God is living life.

EPISTOLA 32 Scripta paulo post superiorem. Paulinus Romaniano, ditissimo ac beneficentissimo Augustini municipi, significat quantopere gavisus sit nuntiis ex Africa allatis (n. 1), ecclesiae Hipponensi gratulans quod Augustinum meruit episcopi conlegam (n. 2). Licentium, Romaniani filium, pro quo scripserat Augustinus, hortatur ad aulae fastum spernendum Deoque se dandum, ut Augustinum magistrum, soletur (n. 3-5). Huic epistolae carmen adiungit hortatorium a se conscriptum ipsique Licentio dicatum. Domino merito praedicabili et honorando fratri Romaniano, Paulinus et Therasia Nuntiis a fratribus allatis gaudet. 1. Pridie quam has daremus, reversis ex Africa fratribus nostris, quorum exspectatione nos pendere vidisti, optatissime sanctorum et carissimorum virorum, inde epistolas receperamus, id est Aurelii, Alypii, Augustini, Profuturi, Severi, iam omnium pariter episcoporum. Ergo tot sanctorum talium recentissimis sermonibus gratulantes, properavimus ad te nostram referre laetitiam, ut tibi quoque exspectatum in peregrinatione sollicita gaudium festivissimis conferremus indiciis. Si forte eadem de venerabilibus et amantissimis viris per aliarum adventus navium comperisti, per nos etiam repetita accipe, et quasi renovata hilaritate rursus exsulta. Quod si primus hic a nobis tibi nuntius veniet, gratulare tantam nobis in tua patria caritatem Christo donante partam, ut quidquid illic divina Providentia gerat, mirabilis semper, ut scriptum est, in sanctis suis 1, vel primi, vel cum primis sciamus. Augustinus Hipponensis episcopi conlega ordinatus. 2. Non autem tantum hoc scribimus gratulandum, quod episcopatum Augustinus acceperit, sed quod hanc Dei curam meruerint Africanae Ecclesiae, ut verba coelestia Augustini ore perciperent, qui ad maiorem Dominici muneris gratiam novo more provectus, ita consecratus est, ut non succederet in cathedra episcopo, sed accederet. Nam incolumi Valerio Hipponensis Ecclesiae episcopo, coepiscopus Augustinus est. Et ille beatus senex, cui purissimam mentem nulla unquam liventis invidiae macula suffudit, dignos sui cordis pace nunc ab altissimo fructus capit, ut quem successorem sacerdotii sui simpliciter optabat, hunc mereatur tenere collegam. Credine hoc potuit antequam fieret? Sed in hoc quoque Omnipotentis opere dici evangelicum illud potest: Hominibus haec ardua; apud Deum autem omnia possibilia 2. Exsultemus itaque et laetemur in eo qui facit mirabilia solus 3, et qui facit unanimes habitare in domo 4, quoniam ipse respexit humilitatem nostram 5, et visitavit in bono plebem suam 6: qui erexit cornu in domo David pueri sui 7, et nunc exaltavit cornu Ecclesiae suae in electis suis, ut cornua peccatorum, sicut per prophetam spondet, hoc est Donatistarum Manichaeorumque, confringat 8. Paulinus pro Licentio sollicitus. 3. Utinam haec nunc Domini tuba, qua per Augustinum intonat, filii nostri Licentii pulset auditus, sed ut illa audiat aure, qua Christus ingreditur, de qua non rapit Dei semen inimicus 9! Tunc vere sibi summus Christi pontifex Augustinus videbitur, quia se tunc et exauditum sentiet ab excelso, si quem tibi dignum genuit in litteris, hunc et sibi digne filium pariat in Christo. Nam et nunc, velim credas, flagrantissima de ipso nobis sollicitudine scripsit. Credimus in omnipotente Christo, quod adolescentis nostri votis carnalibus spiritalia vota Augustini praevaleant. Vincetur vel invitus (mihi crede); vincetur piissimi parentis fide, ne mala victoria vincat, si maluerit in perniciem suam vincere, quam pro salute superari. Ne vacuum fraternae humanitatis officium videretur, de buccellato christianae expeditionis, in cuius procinctu quotidie ad frugalitatis annonam militamus, panes quinque tibi pariter et filio nostro Licentio misimus. Non enim potuimus a benedictione secernere, quem capimus eadem nobis gratia penitus annectere. Paucis tamen et ad ipsum loquamur, ne neget sibi scriptum quod de se tibi scriptum est. Aeschino enim dicitur, quod audit Micio. Sed quid de alienis loquar, cum de proprio cuncta possimus, et aliena loqui non soleat esse sani capitis? quo Dei gratia sano et salvo sumus, quibus caput est Christus. Incolumem te aetate quamplurima, et beatum semper cum tota domo tua, ut cupimus, habeamus in Christo, domine frater, merito honorandissime et desiderantissime. Paterne Licentium hortatur 4. Audi, ergo, fili, legem patris tui, id est fidem Augustini, et noli repellere consilia matris tuae 10, quod aeque nomen in te Augustini pietas iure sibi vindicat, qui te tantillum gestavit sinu suo, et a parvulis prima lacte sapientiae secularis imbutum, nunc etiam spiritalibus lactare et enutrire Domino gestit uberibus. Quoniam te adultum aetate corporea, in spiritalibus adhuc cunabulis vagientem, videt adhuc infantem verbo Dei, vixdum in Christo primis passibus et vestigio titubante repentem, si tamen Augustini doctrina tanquam manus matris et ulna nutricis instabilem regat parvulum. Quem si audias et sequaris, ut rursum te sermone Salomonis alliciam, Fili, coronam, accipies gratiarum tuo vertici 11. Et tunc vere eris ille non phantasmate somniatus, sed ab ipsa veritate formatus consul et pontifex, vacuas imagines falsi operis implente Christo solidis suae operationis effectibus. Vere enim pontifex et vere consul, Licenti, eris, si Augustini vestigiis propheticis et apostolicis disciplinis, ut sacrato beatus Elisaeus Eliae 12, ut illustri Apostolo Timotheus adolescens 13, adhaereas, indivulso per itinera divina comitatu, ut et sacerdotium corde perfecto discas mereri, et populis ad salutem magistro ore consulere. Instantius ad Christum sectandum excitat Licentium. 5. Sat hoc monitis et hortatui: modico enim sermone et labore te arbitror, mi Licenti, ad Christum posse incitari, iam a pueris ad studia veritatis et sapientiae, quod utrumque vere est Christus, et omnis boni summum bonum venerabilis Augustini spiritu et ore flammatum. Qui si parum apud te pro te valuit, quid ego tanto intervallo posterior, et omnium illius opum pauper, efficiam? Sed quia et illius facultatis potentia, et tui ingenii humanitate confisus, pleniora atque maiora in te spero elaborata quam elaboranda, ausus sum hiscere duplici gratia, ut et illi viro debita caritate compararer in sollicitudine tui, et inter eos qui salutem tuam diligunt, vel contestato numerarer affectu. Nam effectus in tui perfectione palmam Augustino potissimum destinatam scio. Vereor, fili, ne aures tuas asperitate temerarii sermonis offenderim, et per aures animo etiam tuo taedii mei vulnus intulerim. Sed in mentem venit epistola tua, qua te musicis familiarem modis intellexi: a quo studio ego aevi quondam tui non abhorrui. Itaque mihi ad tuam mentem, si in aliquo exulcerassem, deliniendam remedium, litteras tuas recordatus reperi, ut te ad Dominum harmoniae omniformis artificem, modulamine carminis evocarem. Quaeso te ut aure audias, neque causam salutis tuae in verbis meis spernas; sed piam curam et mentem paternam etiam in despiciendis sermonibus libenter accipias, quibus insitum Christi nomen, quod est supra omne nomen 14, hanc deberi venerationem facit, ut non possit a credente contemni. Carmen elegiacum Paulini ad Licentium Quare age, rumpe moras 1, et vincla tenacia secli: Nec metuas placidi mite iugum Domini, Pulchra quidem, sed mira vagis praesentia rerum Mentibus, at sapiens non stupet ista animus. Nunc te sollicitat variis malesuada figuris, Heu! validos etiam vertere Roma potens; Sed tibi, nate, precor, semper pater Augustinus Occurset, cunctas Urbis ad illecebras. Illum tanta inter fragilis discrimina vitae Aspiciens, et habens pectore, tutus eris. Hoc tamen et repetens iterumque iterumque monebo 2, Ut fugias durae lubrica militiae. Blandum nomen honos, mala servitus, exitus aeger Quem nunc velle iuvat, mox voluisse piget. Scandere celsa iuvat, tremor est descendere celsis: Si titubes, summa peius ab arce cades. Nunc tibi falsa placent bona, nunc rapit omnibus auris Ambitus, et vitreo fert cava fama sinu. Ast ubi te magno damnosus cinxerit aestu Balteus, et sterilis fregerit inde labor, Serus et incassum spes accusabis inanes, Et modo quae nectis, rumpere vincla voles: Tunc reminisceris frustra patris Augustini Contempsisse dolens veridicos monitus. Quare si sapiens, et si pius es, puer, audi, Et cape verba patrum, consiliumque senum. Quid retrahis fera colla iugo? mea sarcina lenis, Suave iugum Christi est 3, vox pia, crede Deo: Et caput adde iugis, da mollibus ora capistris, Demissosque levi subde humeros oneri 4. Nunc potes hoc, dum liber agis, dum nulla retentant Vincula, nulla thori cura, nec altus honor. Haec bona libertas, Christo servire, et in ipso Omnibus esse supra: non dominis hominum, Non vitiis servit, non regibus ille superbis, Tantum qui Christo se dederit Domino. Nec tibi nobilitas videatur libera, quam nunc Sublimem attonita conspicis Urbe vehi. Quam cernis tanta sibi libertate videri, Ut dedignetur flectere colla Deo. Multis ille miser mortalibus 5, et quoque servis Servit, et ancillas ut dominentur, emit. Norunt eunuchos et magna palatia passi, Et quisquis Romam, sponte miser, patitur: Quanto sudoris pretio, damnoque decoris Constet ibi chlamydis, hic honor officii. Nec tamen ipse potens, qui celsior omnibus esse Emerit, ut nulli serviat, assequitur. Cum bene se tota dominum iactaverit Urbe, servit daemoniis, si simulacra colit. Proh dolor! hos propter remoraris in Urbe, Licenti Et regnum Christi spernis, ut his placeas: Hos vocitas dominos, curva et cervice salutas, Quos ligni servos conspicis et lapidis! Nomine divino argentum venerantur et aurum, Religio est quod amat morbus avaritiae. Imprecor hos ut amet, qui non amat Augustinum, Non colat et Christum, cui placet hos colere. Inde ait ipse Deus, dominis non posse duobus Serviri 6, quoniam mens placet una Deo: Una fides, Deus unus 7, et unicus e Patre Christus, Haud duplex uni servitus est domino. Quanta etenim coelo ac terris distantia, tanta est Caesaris et Christi rebus et imperiis. Tollere humo, sed nunc dum spiritus hos regit artus 8, Mente polum penetra, nil mora carnis obest. Corporeis iam nunc morere actibus, et bona vitae Coelestis liquido praemeditare animo. Spiritus es, quanquam tenearis corpore, si nunc Mente pia victor carnis opus perimas. Haec tibi, care puer, fido compulsus amore Scripsi; si recipis, suscipiere Deo. Crede Augustinum tibi nunc in me geminatum, Sume duos una cum pietate patres. Spernimur? abstraheris maiore dolore duobus: Audimur? pignus dulce duobus eris. In te laeta patrum sudavit cura duorum, Et tibi magnus honos laetificasse duos. Sed me Augustino, cum copulo, non meritorum Iacto parem, solo comparo amore tui. Nam quid ego adfundam, rorans tibi paupere rivo? Me praeter, gemino flumine prolueris; Frater Alypius est, Augustinusque magister, Sanguinis hic consors, hic sator ingenii. Tanto fratre vales et praeceptore, Licenti, Et dubitas pennis talibus astra sequi? Quidquid agas (nam te nec speret mundus amicum), Non daberis terrae, debita Christo anima. Tu thalamos licet, et celsos mediteris honores, Nunc olim Domino restituere tuo. Credo unum vincent iusti duo peccatorem, Et tua fraternae vota preces abigent. Ergo redi, qua voce parens, qua sanguine frater, Ambo sacerdotes te remeare iubent. Ad tua te retrahunt, nam nunc aliena petessis; Haec mage, quae retinent regna tui, tua sunt. Haec repete, his inhia, externis ne contere tempus, Si tua nolueris, quisquam aliena dabit? Non eris ipse tuus, missusque per extera longe Sensibus heu proprii pectoris exsul ages. Sollicitum satis haec nato cecinisse parentem, Dum tibi quae mihimet, vel volo, vel metuo. Haec tibi, si recipis, feret olim pagina vitam: Si renuis, eadem haec pagina testis erit. Incolumem mihi te, fili carissime, Christus Annuat, et servum det sibi perpetuo. Vive, precor, sed vive Deo: nam vivere mundo Mortis opus; viva est vivere vita Deo.