Letter 50123: There are many who limp on both feet and refuse to bow their heads even when their necks are broken — clinging to...
Augustine of Hippo→Alypius and Augustine (A.D. 419)|c. 405 AD|Augustine of Hippo
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From Jerome to Augustine.
There are many who limp on both feet and refuse to bow their heads even when their necks are broken — clinging to their old errors even after losing the freedom to proclaim them openly.
The holy brothers here with me send you their warmest regards, as do especially your devoted and venerable daughters. I ask Your Excellency to greet on my behalf our brothers, my lord Alypius [context: Augustine's closest friend, Bishop of Thagaste] and my lord Evodius. Jerusalem has been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar [context: Jerome is speaking figuratively — likely referring to someone refusing sound counsel], and will not listen to the warnings of Jeremiah, but looks longingly toward Egypt instead, so that it may die at Tahpanhes [context: an Egyptian city associated with exile and ruin in the Hebrew prophets] and perish there in eternal bondage.
From Jerome to Augustine (A.D. 410)
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From Jerome to Augustine.
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 pious and venerable daughters. I beg your Excellency to salute in my name your brethren my lord Alypius and my lord Evodius. Jerusalem is held captive by Nebuchadnezzar, and refuses to listen to the counsels of Jeremiah, preferring to look wistfully towards Egypt, that it may die in Tahpanhes, and perish there in eternal bondage.
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From Jerome to Augustine.
There are many who limp on both feet and refuse to bow their heads even when their necks are broken — clinging to their old errors even after losing the freedom to proclaim them openly.
The holy brothers here with me send you their warmest regards, as do especially your devoted and venerable daughters. I ask Your Excellency to greet on my behalf our brothers, my lord Alypius [context: Augustine's closest friend, Bishop of Thagaste] and my lord Evodius. Jerusalem has been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar [context: Jerome is speaking figuratively — likely referring to someone refusing sound counsel], and will not listen to the warnings of Jeremiah, but looks longingly toward Egypt instead, so that it may die at Tahpanhes [context: an Egyptian city associated with exile and ruin in the Hebrew prophets] and perish there in eternal bondage.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.