Letter 123: There are many who go halting upon both feet, and refuse to bend their heads even when their necks are broken, persisting in adherence to their former errors, even though they have not their former liberty of proclaiming them. Respectful salutations are sent to you by the holy brethren who are with your humble servant, and especially by your pio...
From Jerome to Augustine.
There are those who limp along on both feet and refuse to bow their heads even when their necks are broken — clinging to their old errors even after they've lost the freedom to proclaim them openly.
The holy brethren here with me send you their warmest regards, and especially your devoted and venerable daughters in the faith. I beg your Excellency to greet my lords Alypius and Evodius on my behalf. Jerusalem is held captive by Nebuchadnezzar [context: Jerome uses this as a metaphor for a community or person in spiritual bondage], and will not listen to the counsel of Jeremiah [context: the prophet who warned Jerusalem against trusting in Egypt] — preferring instead to gaze longingly toward Egypt, only to die at Tahpanhes [context: an Egyptian city where, according to Jeremiah, the Jewish refugees who fled there after Jerusalem's fall met their end in permanent exile] and perish there in everlasting slavery.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
EPISTOLA 123
Scripta autumno a. 410.
Hieronymus Augustino quaedam de haereticis et de amplissimo quodam viro per aenigma renuntians.
1. Multi utroque claudicant pede, et ne fractis quidem cervicibus inclinantur, habentes affectum erroris pristini, cum praedicandi eamdem non habeant libertatem. Sancti fratres qui cum nostra sunt parvitate, praecipue sanctae ac venerabiles filiae tuae suppliciter te salutant. Fratres tuos, dominum meum Alypium, et dominum meum Evodium, ut meo nomine salutes, precor coronam tuam. Capta Ierusalem tenetur a Nabuchodonosor, nec Ieremiae vult audire consilia; quin potius Aegyptum desiderat, ut moriatur in Taphnes, et ibi servitute pereat sempiterna.
Related Letters
Paulinus and Therasia, sinners, to their lord, holy brother and kindred spirit in Christ, Augustine.
Paulinus and Therasia, sinners, to their lord, kindred spirit, and venerable brother Augustine.
I do not dwell upon the strength of the love men bear to their native land, for you know it. It is the only emotion which has a stronger claim than love of kindred. If there were any limit or time beyond which it would be lawful for right-hearted men to withdraw themselves from its control, I have by this time well earned exemption from the burd...
1. You are sending me letter upon letter, and often urging me to answer a certain letter of yours, a copy of which, without your signature, had reached me through our brother Sysinnius, deacon, as I have already written, which letter you tell me that you entrusted first to our brother Profuturus, and afterwards to some one else; but that Profutu...
Is it true, my beloved Augustine, that you are spending your strength and patience on the affairs of your fellow citizens (in Thagaste), and that the leisure from distractions which you so earnestly desired is still withheld from you? Who, I would like to know, are the men who thus take advantage of your good nature, and trespass on your time? I...