Letter 4: Sent to Florentius along with the preceding letter, which Jerome requests him to deliver to Rufinus. This Florentius was a rich Italian who had retired to Jerusalem to pursue the monastic life. Jerome subsequently speaks of him as a distinguished monk so pitiful to the needy that he was generally known as the father of the poor.

To Florentius How widely your name and holiness are celebrated among the most diverse peoples, you can judge from this: I began to love you before I ever met you. For just as, according to the apostle, "some men's sins are plain before they reach the judgment seat," so in the opposite way the report of your generosity has spread so far that it's considered less praiseworthy to love you than criminal to refuse to. I'll skip the countless times you have fed, clothed, and visited Christ in the person of the poor. The help you gave our brother Heliodorus in his hour of need could loosen the tongue of a mute. With what gratitude, what admiration he speaks of the kindness with which you smoothed a pilgrim's path! I am, it's true, the most sluggish of men, consumed by an unbearable illness. Yet sharp affection and longing have put wings on my feet, and I come forward to greet you and embrace you. I wish you every blessing and pray the Lord may establish this friendship of ours that is just beginning. Our brother Rufinus has reportedly arrived from Egypt to Jerusalem with the devout lady Melania. He is bound to me by an unbreakable brotherly love, and I beg you to do me the favor of delivering the enclosed letter to him. But don't judge me by the virtues you'll find in him. In him you'll see the clearest marks of holiness, while I am just dust and worthless dirt -- even now, still alive, already ashes. It's enough for me if my weak eyes can bear the brightness of his excellence. He has washed himself clean, white as snow; while I, stained by every sin, wait day and night in dread to pay the last penny. But since the Lord frees the captive and rests upon whoever is broken in spirit and trembles at his word, perhaps he will say even to me, lying as I do in the tomb of sin: "Jerome, come forth!" Our reverend friend Evagrius sends you warm greetings. We both, with united respect, greet our brother Martinianus. I very much want to see him, but the chain of sickness holds me back. Farewell in Christ.

To Florentius Sent to Florentius along with the preceding letter, which Jerome requests him to deliver to Rufinus. This Florentius was a rich Italian who had retired to Jerusalem to pursue the monastic life. Jerome subsequently speaks of him as a distinguished monk so pitiful to the needy that he was generally known as the father of the poor. (Chron. ad A.D. 381.) 1. How much your name and sanctity are on the lips of the most different peoples you may gather from the fact that I commence to love you before I know you. For as, according to the apostle, Some men's sins are evident going before unto judgment, so contrariwise the report of your charity is so widespread that it is considered not so much praiseworthy to love you as criminal to refuse to do so. I pass over the countless instances in which you have supported Christ, Matthew 25:34-40 fed, clothed, and visited Him. The aid you rendered to our brother Heliodorus in his need may well loose the utterance of the dumb. With what gratitude, with what commendation, does he speak of the kindness with which you smoothed a pilgrim's path. I am, it is true, the most sluggish of men, consumed by an unendurable sickness; yet keen affection and desire have winged my feet, and I have come forward to salute and embrace you. I wish you every good thing, and pray that the Lord may establish our nascent friendship. 2. Our brother, Rufinus, is said to have come from Egypt to Jerusalem with the de vout lady, Melanium. He is inseparably bound to me in brotherly love; and I beg you to oblige me by delivering to him the annexed letter. You must not, however, judge of me by the virtues that you find in him. For in him you will see the clearest tokens of holiness, while I am but dust and vile dirt, and even now, while still living, nothing but ashes. It is enough for me if my weak eyes can bear the brightness of his excellence. He has but now washed himself and is clean, yea, is made white as snow; while I, stained with every sin, wait day and night with trembling to pay the uttermost farthing. Matthew 5:26 But since the Lord looses the prisoners, and rests upon him who is of a contrite spirit, and that trembles at His words, Isaiah 66:2 perchance he may say even to me who lie in the grave of sin: Jerome, come forth. John 11:43 The reverend presbyter, Evagrius, warmly salutes you. We both with united respect salute the brother, Martinianus. I desire much to see him, but I am impeded by the chain of sickness. Farewell in Christ.

> 4: Ad Florentinum de ortu amicitiae [1.1] Quantus beatitudinis tuae rumor diversa populorum ora conpleverit, hinc poteris aestimare, quod ego te ante incipio amare quam nosse. ut enim apostolus ait: "quorundam hominum peccata manifesta sunt praecedentia ad iudicium" [1 Tim. 5:24], ita e contrario tuae dilectionis fama dispergitur, ut non tantum laudandus sit ille, qui te amat, quam scelus putetur facere ille, qui non amat. [1.2] praetermitto innumerabiles, in quibus Christum sustentasti, pavisti, vestisti, visitasti: Heliodori fratris a te adiuta necessitas mutorum etiam potest ora laxare. quibus gratiis, quo ille praeconio peregrinationis incommoda a te fota referebat, ut ego ille tardissimus, quoniam intolerabilis languor, pinnatis, ut aiunt, pedibus charta caritatis et voto te salutaverim et iam conplexus sim! gratulor itaque tibi et, nascentem amicitiam ut dominus foederare dignetur, precor. [2.1] Et quia frater Rufinus, qui cum sancta Melania ab Aegypto Hierosolymam venisse narratur, individua mihi germanitatis caritate conexus est, quaeso ut epistulam meam huic tuae epistulae copulatam ei reddere non graveris. noli nos ex eius aestimare virtutibus. in illo conspicies expressa sanctitatis insignia; ego cinis et vilissimi pars luti et iam favilla, dum vegetor, satis habeo si splendorem morum eius inbecillitas oculorum meorum ferre sustineat. [2.2] ille modo lavit, mundus est et tamquam nix dealbatus; ego cunctis peccatorum sordibus inquinatus diebus ac noctibus opperior cum tremore reddere novissimum quadrantem. sed tamen quia "dominus solvit conpeditos" [Ps. 145.7] et super humilem et trementem verba sua requiescit, forsitan et mihi in sepulchro scelerum iacenti dicat: 'Hieronyme, veni foras'. sanctus presbyter Evagrius plurimum te salutat; et Martianum fratrem iuncto salutamus obsequio, quem ego videre desiderans catena languoris innector.