Letter 17: Ambrose, Bishop, to the Emperor Theodosius.

Ambrose to the Emperor Theodosius. 1. Although I have very recently written to your august clemency, indeed even a second time, it has nonetheless not been enough for me to have discharged the duty of correspondence merely with an equal exchange of words; for I am so bound by the favors of your clemency, so frequent, that I can repay with no services what I owe, most blessed and most august Emperor. 2. And so, just as the first opportunity was not to be let slip, by which I might give thanks to your clemency through your chamberlain and present the duty of my address, [I write] chiefly lest it should be thought that it was rather from laziness than from necessity that I did not write at the earlier time. Therefore I had to seek out a reason by which I might pay to your piety the owed observance of a greeting. 3. With good reason, moreover, I have sent my son Felix the deacon to carry forward my letter, both that he might present the office in my stead, and likewise to make mention on behalf of those who, seeking mercy, have fled for refuge to the Church, the mother of your piety; whose tears I could not endure, but that I should anticipate the arrival of your clemency with my entreaties. 4. Great is what we ask, but [we ask it] from him to whom the Lord has granted things unheard-of and wondrous, from him whose clemency we have known, and whose piety we hold as a pledge. Hence we confess that we expect more; since, as you have conquered yourself by your valor, so also you ought to conquer yourself by your piety. For your victory, after the ancient manner and the old miracles, such as was granted to holy Moses, and to holy Joshua son of Nun, and to Samuel, and to David, is reckoned to have been conferred upon you not by human estimation, but by the outpouring of heavenly grace: here we beg for an equal piety, by whose merit so great a victory itself was sought.

EPISTOLA LXII. Quod pridem ad THEODOSIUM non scripserit, excusat; seque ad eum mittere diaconum significans, ut ipsius preces pro quibusdam in Ecclesiae asylum receptis admittat petit. AMBROSIO THEODOSIO imperatori. 1. Quamvis proxime scripserim augustae clementiae tuae etiam secundo, mihi tamen non satis fuit velut pari vice sermonis officium reddidisse; cum beneficiis clementiae tuae tam frequentibus oppigneratus sim, ut nullis officiis possim compensare quae debeo, beatissime atque augustissime Imperator. 2. Itaque ut prima occasio non praetermittenda fuit, qua per cubicularium tuum clementiae tuae gratias agerem, et alloquii mei officium 1022 repraesentarem; maximoe ne desidiae putaretur fuisse potius quam necessitatis, quod tempore superiore non scripserim. Itaque requirenda mihi causa fuit, qua pietati tuae deferrem debitum salutationis obsequium. 3. Merito autem ad praeferendam epistolam meam filium meum Felicem diaconum misi, simul ut mei vicem officii repraesentaret, memoratum quoque pro his qui ad matrem pietatis tuae Ecclesiam, petentes misericordiam, confugerunt; quorum lacrymas sustinere non potui, quin adventum clementiae tuae meis obsecrationibus praevenirem. 4. Grande est quod petimus, sed ab eo cui Dominus inaudita et admiranda concessit, ab eo cujus clementiam novimus, et obsidem pietatem tenemus. Unde plus exspectare nos confitemur; quoniam ut te virtute vicisti, ita etiam tua te vincere debes pietate. Victoria enim tua antiquo more vetustisque miraculis, qualis sancto Moysi, et sancto Jesu Nave, et Samueli, atque David, non humana aestimatione, sed coelestis gratiae effusione tibi collata censetur: hic pietatem aequalem poscimus, cujus merito tanta victoria ipsa quaesita est. 1010