Letter 68: 1. When my kinsman, our holy son Asterius, subdeacon, was just on the point of beginning his journey, the letter of your Grace arrived, in which you clear yourself of the charge of having sent to Rome a book written against your humble servant. I had not heard that charge; but by our brother Sysinnius, deacon, copies of a letter addressed by som...

Letter 68 — Jerome to Augustine: A Measured and Cautious Response (A.D. 402) To Augustine, my lord, truly holy and most blessed father — Jerome sends greetings in Christ. My kinsman, our holy son Asterius the subdeacon, was just on the point of setting out when your Grace's letter arrived, in which you clear yourself of the charge of having sent to Rome a book written against your humble servant. I had not actually heard that charge. But through our brother Sysinnius the deacon, copies of a letter addressed — apparently to me — have arrived here. In that letter I am urged to sing my recantation, confessing error in my interpretation of a passage in the apostle's writing, and to imitate Stesichorus, who, having vacillated between abuse and praise of Helen, recovered the eyesight he had forfeited for speaking against her by then singing her praises. Although the style and line of argument appeared to be yours, I must frankly confess to your Excellency that I did not think it right to take for granted the authenticity of a letter I had only seen in copies, lest — if offended by my reply — you might justly complain that I ought first to have made sure you were the author before addressing you in response. Another cause of delay was the prolonged illness of the pious and venerable Paula. Attending on her through her severe sickness kept me long occupied, and I nearly lost sight of your letter entirely — or rather, the letter written in your name. The verse came back to me: "Like music in a time of mourning is an ill-timed speech" (Sirach 22:6). Therefore: if the letter is yours, write and tell me plainly that it is, or send me a more accurate copy, so that we may devote ourselves to discussing scriptural truth without any heated quarreling — and I may either correct my own mistake or demonstrate that the criticism was made without good grounds. Far be it from me to presume to attack anything your Grace has written. It is quite enough for me to defend my own views without finding fault with others. But it is well known to a man of your wisdom that every person is content with his own opinion, and that it is the puerile vanity of the young to seek glory by assailing men who have already won their reputation. I am not so foolish as to feel insulted by the fact that you offer an interpretation different from mine; and you, on the other hand, are not wronged by my views being contrary to yours. The kind of reproof through which friends truly help each other is when each, failing to see his own bag of faults, observes — as Persius puts it — the wallet the other one carries. Let me say one more thing: love the one who loves you, and do not, because you are young, challenge a veteran of the scriptures. I have had my time, and I have run my course to the fullest extent of my strength. It is only right that I should rest while you in your turn run and make progress. In the Church there is no room for envy: we should rejoice in each other's virtues. Greet with my respects the holy brothers who are with you and who serve God. Farewell in Christ.

From Jerome to Augustine (A.D. 402) To Augustine, My Lord, Truly Holy and Most Blessed Father, Jerome Sends Greeting in Christ. 1. When my kinsman, our holy son Asterius, subdeacon, was just on the point of beginning his journey, the letter of your Grace arrived, in which you clear yourself of the charge of having sent to Rome a book written against your humble servant. I had not heard that charge; but by our brother Sysinnius, deacon, copies of a letter addressed by some one apparently to me have come hither. In the said letter I am exhorted to sing the παλινωδία, confessing mistake in regard to a paragraph of the apostle's writing, and to imitate Stesichorus, who, vacillating between disparagement and praises of Helen, recovered, by praising her, the eyesight which he had forfeited by speaking against her. Although the style and the method of argument appeared to be yours, I must frankly confess to your Excellency that I did not think it right to assume without examination the authenticity of a letter of which I had only seen copies, lest perchance, if offended by my reply, you should with justice complain that it was my duty first to have made sure that you were the author, and only after that was ascertained, to address you in reply. Another reason for my delay was the protracted illness of the pious and venerable Paula. For, while occupied long in attending upon her in severe illness, I had almost forgotten your letter, or more correctly, the letter written in your name, remembering the verse, Like music in the day of mourning is an unseasonable discourse. Sirach 22:6 Therefore, if it is your letter, write me frankly that it is so, or send me a more accurate copy, in order that without any passionate rancour we may devote ourselves to discuss scriptural truth; and I may either correct my own mistake, or show that another has without good reason found fault with me. 2. Far be it from me to presume to attack anything which your Grace has written. For it is enough for me to prove my own views without controverting what others hold. But it is well known to one of your wisdom, that every one is satisfied with his own opinion, and that it is puerile self-sufficiency to seek, as young men have of old been wont to do, to gain glory to one's own name by assailing men who have become renowned. I am not so foolish as to think myself insulted by the fact that you give an explanation different from mine; since you, on the other hand, are not wronged by my views being contrary to those which you maintain. But that is the kind of reproof by which friends may truly benefit each other, when each, not seeing his own bag of faults, observes, as Persius has it, the wallet borne by the other. Let me say further, love one who loves you, and do not because you are young challenge a veteran in the field of Scripture. I have had my time, and have run my course to the utmost of my strength. It is but fair that I should rest, while you in your turn run and accomplish great distances; at the same time (with your leave, and without intending any disrespect), lest it should seem that to quote from the poets is a thing which you alone can do, let me remind you of the encounter between Dares and Entellus, and of the proverb, The tired ox treads with a firmer step. With sorrow I have dictated these words. Would that I could receive your embrace, and that by converse we might aid each other in learning! 3. With his usual effrontery, Calphurnius, surnamed Lanarius, has sent me his execrable writings, which I understand that he has been at pains to disseminate in Africa also. To these I have replied in past, and shortly; and I have sent you a copy of my treatise, intending by the first opportunity to send you a larger work, when I have leisure to prepare it. In this treatise I have been careful not to offend Christian feeling in any, but only to confute the lies and hallucinations arising from his ignorance and madness. Remember me, holy and venerable father. See how sincerely I love you, in that I am unwilling, even when challenged, to reply, and refuse to believe you to be the author of that which in another I would sharply rebuke. Our brother Communis sends his respectful salutation.

EPISTOLA 68 Scripta a. 402. Hieronymus, iam Augustini epistola accepta, quae de mendacio officioso agit, sed dubitans etiam num an sit Augustini, negat se responsurum nisi prius certus sit de auctore seque nolle a iuvene provocari (n. 1-2) ficto nomine denique meminit Rufini (n. 3).   Domino vere sancto, ac beatissimo papae Augustino, Hieronymus, in Christo salutem Triste asperumque responsum. 1. In ipso profectionis articulo, sancti filii nostri Asterii hypodiaconi, necessarii mei, Beatitudinis tuae litterae supervenerunt, quibus satisfacis te contra parvitatem meam librum Romam non misisse. Hoc nec ego factum audieram; sed epistolae cuiusdam, quasi ad me scriptae, per fratrem nostrum Sysinnium diaconum huc exemplaria pervenerunt. In qua hortaris me, ut super quodam Apostoli capitulo canam, et imiter Stesichorum, inter vituperationes et laudes Helenae fluctuantem; ut qui detrahendo oculos perdiderat, laudando receperit 1. Ego simpliciter lateor Dignationi tuae, licet stilus et tua mihi viderentur, tamen non temere exemplaribus litterarum credendum putavi; ne forte, me respondente laesus, iuste expostulares, quod probare ante debuissem tuum esse sermonem, et sic rescribere. Accessit ad moram sanctae et venerabilis Paulae longa infirmitas. Dum enim languenti multo tempore assidemus, pene epistolae tuae, vel eius qui sub tuo nomine scripserat, obliti sumus, memores illius versiculi: Musica in luctu, importuna narratio 2. Itaque, si tua est epistola, aperte scribe, vel mitte exemplaria veriora, ut absque ullo rancore stomachi in Scripturarum disputatione versemur, et vel nostrum emendemus errorem, vel alium frustra reprehendisse doceamus. Non vult provocari. 2. Absit autem a me, ut quidquam de libris Beatitudinis tuae attingere audeam. Sufficit enim mihi probare mea, et aliena non carpere. Caeterum optime novit prudentia tua, unumquemque in suo sensu abundare 3, et puerilis esse iactantiae, quod olim adolescentuli facere consueverant, accusando illustres viros, suo nomini famam quaerere. Nec tam stultus sum, ut diversitate explanationum tuarum me laedi putem; quia nec tu laederis, si nos contraria senserimus. Sed illa est vera inter amicos reprehensio, si nostram peram non videntes, aliorum iuxta Persium, manticam consideremus 4. Superest ut diligas diligentem te, et in Scripturarum campo iuvenis senem non provoces. Nos nostra habuimus tempora, et cucurrimus quantum potuimus. Nunc, te currente, et longa spatia transmeante, nobis debetur otium: simulque (ut cum venia et honore tuo dixerim) ne solus mihi de poetis aliquid proposuisse videaris, memento Daretis et Entelli 5, et vulgaris proverbio, quod bos lassus fortius figat pedem. Tristes haec dictavimus. Utinam mereremur complexus tuos, et collatione mutua vel doceremus aliqua, vel disceremus! Queritur se contumeliis affici a Rufino. 3. Misit mihi, temeritate solita, maledicta sua Calphurnius cognomento Lanarius, quae ad Africam quoque studio eius didici pervenisse. Ad quae breviter ex parte respondi; et libelli eius vobis misi exemplaria, latius opus, cum opportunum fuerit, primo missurus tempore. In quo illud cavi, ne in quoquam existimationem laederem christianam, sed tantum ut delirantis imperitique mendacium ac vecordiam confutarem. Memento mei, sancte ac venerabilis papa. Vide, quantum te diligam, ut ne provocatus quidem voluerim respondere, nec credam tuum esse quod in altero forte reprehenderem. Frater communis suppliciter te salutat.