Letter 269: So important is the solemnity at which your brotherly affection invites me to be present, that my heart's desire would carry my poor body to you, were it not that infirmity renders this impossible. I might have come if it had not been winter; I might have braved the winter if I had been young: for in the latter case the warmth of youth would hav...

To Nobilius, my most blessed and venerable brother and partner in the priestly office, Augustine sends greeting. The ceremony to which your brotherly affection invites me is of such importance that my heart's desire would carry my poor body to you, if only my failing health would allow it. I might have come had it not been winter; I might have braved the winter had I been young — for in that case the warmth of youth would have borne the cold season without complaint, while in the other, summer's warmth would have gently met the chilly weariness of old age. As things stand, my lord most blessed, my holy and venerable partner in the priestly office, I cannot undertake so long a journey in winter, burdened as I am with the frozen feebleness of very many years. I return the greeting owed to your dignity, ask for your prayers on behalf of my own wellbeing, and pray myself that the Lord God may grant lasting peace and prosperity to follow the dedication of so great a building to His sacred service.

To Nobilius, My Most Blessed and Venerable Brother and Partner in the Priestly Office, Augustine Sends Greeting. So important is the solemnity at which your brotherly affection invites me to be present, that my heart's desire would carry my poor body to you, were it not that infirmity renders this impossible. I might have come if it had not been winter; I might have braved the winter if I had been young: for in the latter case the warmth of youth would have borne uncomplainingly the cold of the season; in the former case the warmth of summer would have met with gentleness the chill languor of old age. For the present, my lord most blessed, my holy and venerable partner in the priestly office, I cannot undertake in winter so long a journey, carrying with me as I must the frigid feebleness of very many years. I reciprocate the salutation due to your worth, on behalf of my own welfare I ask an interest in your prayers, and I myself beseech the Lord God to grant that the prosperity of peace may follow the dedication of so great an edifice to His sacred service.

EPISTOLA 269 Scripta probabiliter hieme a. 429/430. A. Nobilio episcopo nuncians ad novae fabricae dedicationem se venire non posse. BEATISSIMO AC VENERABILI FRATRI ET CONSACERDOTI NOBILIO, AUGUSTINUS. 1. Tanta est solemnitas ad quam me affectus tuae Fraternitatis invitat, ut corpusculum meum ad vos traheret voluntas, nisi teneret infirmitas. Possem venire si hiems non esset; possem hiemem contemnere, si iuvenis essem: aut enim ferret rigorem temporis fervor aetatis, aut temperaret frigus aetatis fervor aestatis. Nunc hieme iter tam prolixum non suffero cum annositate algida quam mecum fero, domine beatissime, sancte ac venerabilis frater ac consacerdos. Salutationem debitam reddo meritis tuis: salutem vero meam commendo precibus tuis, poscens et ipse a Domino ut dedicationem tantae fabricae pacis prosperitas prosequatur.