Letter 147: Since you have written asking for an explanation of the passage, I will answer briefly.

To Roputhebonios. If Eusebius [a bishop responsible for the ordinations in question] ordained these men in ignorance, he will have a modest defense in his ignorance; but if, as you say, he did it knowing them quite precisely, then he has handed over the flock (for which Christ also poured out his precious blood) to wolves because of their rapacity, to dogs because of their lecheries, and to foxes because of their malice. In that case he has failed to find any defense, however great. I say this, not as though those men will be free of accountability and will not be required to pay the penalty, but because the one who furnished the seeds of their sins will be punished more severely. For the one who gives the cause is the cause of what results. The doglike and bestial part of the appetites must not be feasted at a lavish table, but must be banqueted on what is necessary—if indeed "good cheer" signifies "being well"—so that it may become tame and manageable for us. For those who have overstepped self-sufficiency both outrage satiety through their gorging, and dull the senses, and, without realizing it, destroy through pleasure the pleasure of food.

Εἰ μὲν ἀγνοῶν Εὐσέβιος ἐχειροτόνησεν αὐτοὺς, ἔξει μετρίαν ἀπολογίαν ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ· εἰ δὲ, ὡς φῆς, μάλα ἀκριβῶς ἐπιστάμενος, λύκοις μὲν διὰ τὰς ἁρπαγὰς, κυσὶ δὲ διὰ τὰς λαγνείας, ἀλώπεξι δὲ διὰ τὴν κακουργίαν παραδέδωκε τὸ ποίμνιον (ὑπὲρ οὗ καὶ τὸ τίμιον αὐτοῦ αἷμα ἐξέχεεν ὁ Χριστός)· πάσης ἀπολογίας ἥμαρτε μείζονα. Ταῦτα δέ φημι, οὐχ ὡς ἐκείνων ἀνευθύνων ἐσομένων, καὶ δίκας μὴ ἀπαιτηθησομένων, ἀλλ’ ὡς τοῦ τὰ σπέρματα τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων παρασχόντος, μειζόνως κολασθησομένου. Ὁ γὰρ τὴν αἰτίαν διδοὺς, τῶν ἐκβαινόντων αἴτιος· καθέστηκεν. Τὸ κυνικὸν καὶ θηριῶδες τῶν ὀρέξεων οὐχ ἑστια- τέον τραπέζῃ πολυτελεῖ, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἀναγκαίοις εὐωχητέον· εἴ γε ἡ εὐωχία τὸ ἐὖ ἔχειν μηνύει, ἵνα καὶ ἥμερον ἡμῖν καὶ χειρόηθες γένηται. Οἱ γὰρ τὴν αὐτάρκειαν ὑπερπηγμένοι, καὶ τὸν κόρον διὰ τῆς πλησμονῆς ὑβρίζουσι, καὶ τὰς αισθήσεις καταμα- ραίνουσι, καὶ λανθάνουσι διὰ τῆς ἡδονῆς τὴν ἡδονὴν τῆς τροφῆς ἀπολλύντες.