Letter 90: 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...
Nectarius→Augustine of Hippo|c. 401 AD|Augustine of Hippo|To Hippo Regius|Human translated
Nectarius to Augustine, my noble and esteemed brother, greetings.
I write to you, revered bishop, on behalf of the citizens of Calama, who have recently committed acts that I know are indefensible — but for whom I plead mercy nonetheless.
You have heard what happened. During a pagan festival, a mob attacked the Christian church, assaulted clergy, and caused damage to church property. The ringleaders have been identified, and the law calls for severe punishment. I do not dispute the law. But I beg you to consider tempering justice with mercy.
These people are not evil at their core. They are ignorant, superstitious, attached to old customs, and easily led by hot-headed agitators. Destroying them will not advance the cause of Christ — it will only create martyrs for paganism and deepen the resentment that already smolders in many hearts.
I am a pagan myself, as you know. I tell you this not as a provocation but as a qualification: I understand these people because I am one of them. And I believe that the God you serve — if he is the God of mercy you say he is — would rather see them converted than crushed.
Spare them, bishop. For the sake of a city that needs peace more than punishment.
Your friend and servant, Nectarius.
[Context: This remarkable letter comes from a pagan city elder writing to a Christian bishop, pleading for leniency after anti-Christian riots in Calama (modern Guelma, Algeria). It captures a moment when paganism was still a living force in North Africa — not yet driven underground, still capable of organized violence against Christians. Nectarius's frank admission of his own paganism, combined with his respectful appeal to Christian mercy, reveals the complex religious landscape of Augustine's world.]
Letter 90 (A.D. 408)
To My Noble Lord and Brother, Worthy of All Esteem, Bishop Augustine, Nectarius Sends Greeting.
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 burdens which it imposes. But since love and gratitude towards our country gain strength every day, and the nearer one comes to the end of life, the more ardent is his desire to leave his country in a safe and prosperous condition, I rejoice, in beginning this letter, that I am addressing myself to a man who is versed in all kinds of learning, and therefore able to enter into my feelings.
There are many things in the colony of Calama which justly bind my love to it. I was born here, and I have (in the opinion of others) rendered great services to this community. Now, my lord most excellent and worthy of all esteem, this town has fallen disastrously by a grievous misdemeanour on the part of her citizens, which must be punished with very great severity, if we are dealt with according to the rigour of the civil law. But a bishop is guided by another law. His duty is to promote the welfare of men, to interest himself in any case only with a view to the benefit of the parties, and to obtain for other men the pardon of their sins at the hand of the Almighty God. Wherefore I beseech you with all possible urgency to secure that, if the matter is to be made the subject of a prosecution, the guiltless be protected, and a distinction drawn between the innocent and those who did the wrong. This, which, as you see, is a demand in accordance with your own natural sentiments, I pray you to grant. An assessment to compensate for the losses caused by the tumult can be easily levied. We only deprecate the severity of revenge. May you live in the more full enjoyment of the Divine favour, my noble lord, and brother worthy of all esteem.
EPISTOLA 90
Scripta aestate a. 408 vel 409.
Augustino Nectarius paganus, agens ut suis civibus Calamensis coloniae condonentur quae expetendae erant ab ipsis poenae non modo violati Caesaris edicti recentissimi (vetantis sacra solemnia idolis fieri), sed et iniuriarum, quibus ipsi sacrorum suorum occasione Christianos affecerant.
DOMINO INSIGNI ET MERITO SUSCIPIENDO FRATRI, AUGUSTINO EPISCOPO, NECTARIUS.
1. Quanta sit caritas patriae, quoniam nosti, praetereo. Sola est enim quae parentum iure vincat affectum. Cui si ullus esset consulendi modus aut finis bonis, digne iam ab eius muneribus meruimus excusari. Sed quoniam crescit in dies singulos dilectio et gratia civitatis, quantumque aetas fini proxima est, tantum incolumem ac florentem relinquere patriam cupit: idcirco gaudeo primum quod apud instructum disciplinis omnibus virum mihi hic est sermo institutus. In Calamensi colonia multa sunt quae merito diligamus; vel quod in ea geniti sumus, vel quod eidem magna contulisse videmur officia. Haec ergo, domine praestantissime et merito suscipiende, non levi populi sui erratu prolapsa est. Quod quidem si iuris publici rigore metiamur, debet plecti severiori censura. Sed episcopum fas non est, nisi salutem hominibus impertire, et pro statu meliore causis adesse, et apud omnipotentem Deum veniam aliorum mereri delictis. Quamobrem quanta possum supplicatione deposco, ut si defendenda res est, innoxius defendatur, ab innocentibus molestia separetur. Praesta hoc quod secundum naturam tuam pervides postulari. De damnis facilis potest haberi taxatio; tantum supplicia deprecamur. Acceptior Deo vivas, domine insignis et merito suscipiende frater.
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Nectarius to Augustine, my noble and esteemed brother, greetings.
I write to you, revered bishop, on behalf of the citizens of Calama, who have recently committed acts that I know are indefensible — but for whom I plead mercy nonetheless.
You have heard what happened. During a pagan festival, a mob attacked the Christian church, assaulted clergy, and caused damage to church property. The ringleaders have been identified, and the law calls for severe punishment. I do not dispute the law. But I beg you to consider tempering justice with mercy.
These people are not evil at their core. They are ignorant, superstitious, attached to old customs, and easily led by hot-headed agitators. Destroying them will not advance the cause of Christ — it will only create martyrs for paganism and deepen the resentment that already smolders in many hearts.
I am a pagan myself, as you know. I tell you this not as a provocation but as a qualification: I understand these people because I am one of them. And I believe that the God you serve — if he is the God of mercy you say he is — would rather see them converted than crushed.
Spare them, bishop. For the sake of a city that needs peace more than punishment.
Your friend and servant, Nectarius.
[Context: This remarkable letter comes from a pagan city elder writing to a Christian bishop, pleading for leniency after anti-Christian riots in Calama (modern Guelma, Algeria). It captures a moment when paganism was still a living force in North Africa — not yet driven underground, still capable of organized violence against Christians. Nectarius's frank admission of his own paganism, combined with his respectful appeal to Christian mercy, reveals the complex religious landscape of Augustine's world.]
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
EPISTOLA 90
Scripta aestate a. 408 vel 409.
Augustino Nectarius paganus, agens ut suis civibus Calamensis coloniae condonentur quae expetendae erant ab ipsis poenae non modo violati Caesaris edicti recentissimi (vetantis sacra solemnia idolis fieri), sed et iniuriarum, quibus ipsi sacrorum suorum occasione Christianos affecerant.
DOMINO INSIGNI ET MERITO SUSCIPIENDO FRATRI, AUGUSTINO EPISCOPO, NECTARIUS.
1. Quanta sit caritas patriae, quoniam nosti, praetereo. Sola est enim quae parentum iure vincat affectum. Cui si ullus esset consulendi modus aut finis bonis, digne iam ab eius muneribus meruimus excusari. Sed quoniam crescit in dies singulos dilectio et gratia civitatis, quantumque aetas fini proxima est, tantum incolumem ac florentem relinquere patriam cupit: idcirco gaudeo primum quod apud instructum disciplinis omnibus virum mihi hic est sermo institutus. In Calamensi colonia multa sunt quae merito diligamus; vel quod in ea geniti sumus, vel quod eidem magna contulisse videmur officia. Haec ergo, domine praestantissime et merito suscipiende, non levi populi sui erratu prolapsa est. Quod quidem si iuris publici rigore metiamur, debet plecti severiori censura. Sed episcopum fas non est, nisi salutem hominibus impertire, et pro statu meliore causis adesse, et apud omnipotentem Deum veniam aliorum mereri delictis. Quamobrem quanta possum supplicatione deposco, ut si defendenda res est, innoxius defendatur, ab innocentibus molestia separetur. Praesta hoc quod secundum naturam tuam pervides postulari. De damnis facilis potest haberi taxatio; tantum supplicia deprecamur. Acceptior Deo vivas, domine insignis et merito suscipiende frater.