TH E LO EB C L A S S IC A L L IBRA RY

E D ITE D BY

T E . . PAG E , u nn
n .

E C A PPS ,
. PH D
. .
, W . H D ROUS E , n
. . m n
.

S E L E C T L E T TE R S

OF S T . J E R OM E
 S . J E RO M E I N TH E DE S E RT
L ft h nd p n l P
e a a e ,
op e Dam asus a nd E us eb ius , B isho p of
C ae sarea .

R ight h nd p n l P a a e ,
aul a a nd E ust o ch ium .

T he m s k n ng gu
all eel i fi re s re p res e nt t he p at r o n wh o c om miss io ne d t he
pi
ct ur e nd
a n h is so .

! R eproduced f rom the p i ctur e b y Bottic im , by permi ss ion

'

f
o the tr us tees of the Na tion al Gallery ] .
 SE LE C T LE TTE RS
OF ST JEROME .

W I TH
A
“I
A N ENG LIS H TR A NS L A TION BY
'
W R G H T, M A .

PRO F E SSOR OP C LA %ICS IX LO NDON

.

’
b

LO N D O N : ILLI A M H EI N E M A N N L TD
W
NE W YO R K : G P P U T N A M S S O N S
.
’
.

HC
 C ONT E NT S

ST . J ERO M E IN TH E D ES E RT Fr ontisp iece

PA G E
INT RO DU C I I O N
‘

I . Tm: W O MA N S TR U CK BY S EV E N
S W O R DS
VII . F A M I LY A FF A I RS

"
X IV . TH E A S CETI C LI FE
X XXI I TH E V I R G I N S PR O F ES S I O N
.
’

XXX V II I . A G OO D W O M AN
XL . O NA S US TH E W I N D BA G
fl XL III . Tm: CO UNTR Y LIFE
XLI V . A L ETTER O F THA N K S
X LV . INN O C E NT F R IE ND S H I P S
’
0 5 5 LH . A C L E R G YM A N $ D UTIE S
L IV W I DO W S
.

LE T TE R O F CO N S O LA TI O N
LX . A .

, LXX V I I THE E ULOG Y O F FA B IO LA

.

Y C V I I A G I RL ’S E D U CA TIO N
.

C X V I I D ANG E R O U S FR IBND S II I P S
.

C xX v G OO D A ND BA D M O NK S
.

C XX VI I M A R C E LLA AND TH E S A C X O F
. Ro m :
$ CXX V II I F E M I NI N E TR A IN ING
» .

A P P EN D I C ES
I ND E X O F PR OPR R NA M ES
 IN T R ODUC T ION

L I E o r J ER O M E
( ) Fa

J E ROME to give him his s igni ficant G r e ek n ame ,

Eus ebius Hieronymus w as born A D 345 at S tr id o n

—
. .

in D al matia a sm all town near Aquileia which was

, ,

partly destroyed by the G oths during their invas ion

o f 37 7 .His father Eus ebius and his moth er were
, ,

Chr is tians of moderate wealth and were alive i n3 7 3

when J erome firs t went to the E as t but probab ly ,

died when S tr id on was taken by the barbarians .

J erome himself received a good education at his

local s chool and then like most young pro vincials of
, ,

ta lent he was attracted to Rome where he studi ed

, ,

rheto ric under the great grammarian Aelius Donat us ,

returni ng with hi s friend Bo no sus to Aquileia in 37 0 .

In th at town he established his firs t s ociety of

asc e tics w hich lasted for three years unti l some
,

event referre d to by him variou s as a sudden

—

s torm and a mons trous rendi ng asunder broke —

up the fellows hi p and J erome with a few o f his clos er

,

associates went eas twards to A nfi oc h But even .

this sm all company did not remai n long to gether ,

and a meeting w it h the old hermit M alch us made

J erome resolve to seek complete —
soli tude The .

adj acen t desert of Chalcis w as a lready ful l of hermits

living under the rule of Theodosius and J erome soon ,

bec ame one of the ir number s leep ing in a bare cell

, ,

v ii
 I N TROD U CTIO N

clothed in sackcloth submitting him self to rigoro us

,

penances and for five years givi ng all his days to

,

d e v o fi onal exercise and to the study o f t he Scriptures

'

’
This firs t period o f J er om e s life ended in 379 when
he returned to Antioch and was ordained presbyter
by Bishop Paul inus W ith Paulinus he attended
.

the Second General Council at Constantinople ,

where he met Gregory Naz ianz e n and Gregory of

’
Nyssa and in hi s bi shop s company he came to R ome
,

for the Church Council held there in 38 2 and for the ,

next three years lived in t he great city The Pope .

at that tim e w as Dam as us t he clerical di lettante

,

who made the catacombs a show place for t he world ,

and J erome soon became his intimate friend and

trusted adviser constantly consulted o n all points
,

of bibli cal knowledge and finally commis sioned to

write a revis ed L atin version of t he Psalms and the
New Testament This was a ta sk of pur e sc holar
.
’

ship but J erome also found amid the luxury and

,

splendour o f R ome a few ardent souls most of them ,

women w ho were ready to embrace and follow his

,

as cetic rule One of his disciple s was Paula the

. ,

heiress of t he great A emilian family who brought ,

over her two daughters Bl e silla and E usto chi um .

Another was the wealthy M arcella at whose palace ,

o n the Aventine m aster and pupils used to come

together for t he study o f Hebrew to j oin in earnest
,

prayer and to sing psalms During these months

,
.

J erome W as perhaps as happy as he ever thought it

right to be but t he death of his protector D am as us
,

unchained against him all t he enmities that his

rigorous virtues had challenged and hi s bitter
sarcasms provoked Th e new Pope Siricius regarded
.

him as a dangerous rival ; the mob were e m age d b y

viii
 I NTR OD U CTI O N

the sudden death of Blesilla which was be l ieved to

,

have been caused by her prolonged fas tings and

enances ; th e cry was rais ed The monks to t he
p
Tiber and J erome left Hom e and E urope for ever .

’
Then began the thi rd period inJ c rome s life He .

’
resolved that he woul d no longer sing th e Lord s song
in a strange land and taki ng Paula and E us to chi um
,

wi th hi m he went onc e more t o the East the true ,

home o f asce tic belief and after some litt le delay

,

settle d down in J udaea at B ethlehem where he ,

remained for the last thi rty fo ur ye ars o f hi s exi sten c e

—
.

At Bethlehem he built a monas tery o f whic h he w as

head a co nvent over which firs t Paula and then
,

E us t oc hi um presided a church where bo th com

,

m un i ti e s assemble d for worship and a ho spic e to ,

lodge the p flgrim s who came from all pa rts of the

world to that holy gro und The expens es o f these
.

various ins ti tu tions were borne by Paula until even

her great wealth was exhausted and then by J erome ,

hims elf who sold the remains o f his family property

,

for their support The ir adminis tration must h ave

.

occupied a po rtion of his time but the greater part ,

of hi s energy was given a t Be thleh em as every ,

where to wri ting and study Not that hi s lif e w as

, .

pe aceful or that he p assed his days in quie tude

, .

His own character alway s en s ured a certain amount

o f friction ; he quarrelled bitterly with the B is h op

o f J erusalem ; his health was never of the best ; and

the calm of his monastery was continually being

broken by rum ours o f wars and by th e actual s hock
o f invasion .

The sack o f R ome in 4 1 0 for example spread, ,

terror even i n Palestine and i t is from J erome

,

perhaps that we get the clearest ide a o f the con

ix
 I NTR OD U CTI ON
s t er natio n caused throughout the world by t he
fall of the imperia l city In the preface to his.

Ezekiel he writes I w as so st up e fie d and dismayed

that day and night I could think of nothing but the
welfare o f the R oman community I t seemed to me .

that I was s haring the captivity of th e saints and I

could no t open m y lips until I received some more
definite news All t he whi le full o f anxiety I
.
, ,

wavered be t ween hope and despair torturing myself ,

with the mi s fortunes o f others But when I heard .

that the brigh t light of all the world w as quenched ,

o r rather that the R oman Empire had lost i ts h ead

and that the whole uni verse had perished in one city :
then indeed I becam e dumb and hum bled myself
,
”
and kept silence from good words But however .

troubled at heart J erome might be neither public ,

calamity nor private sorrow could stop his labours .

Paula p as sed away from him in Palestine ; M arcella

only survived the barbarities of th e sack of R ome for
a s hort period ; even E usto chium although she was ,

o f a younger generation succumbed to t he rigours

,

of the ascetic life But the ol d man nearly blind

.
,

and over seventy was still working at his c omm e n

,

tary o n J eremiah when his last illness came He .

di ed September 2 0th 4 2 0 and his body w as buried

, ,

beside Paula near t he grotto of t h e Nati vity at

Bethlehem in later days to be transferred and to be
,

t h e cause of many a miracle at t he Ch urch o f Santa

M aria M aggiore in R ome .

’
6
( ) J E RO M E S W O R KS

The literary works of J erome apart from t he ,

L etters are very voluminous for he lived a long life

, , ,

X
 I N TROD U CTI O N

was a quick writer and possessed enormous powers of ,

i nd us try The following lis t is given by Canon

.

Frem antle .

I Bible Tra n
. slations .

( )
a From the Hebrew T he Vulgate of the Old .
—

Testament written at Bethle h em begun 39 1 and

, ,

finished 404 .

( b) From the Septuagint The Psalms as us ed at —

.

Ro me wr i t ten in R ome 38 3 and the Psal ms as us e d

, ,

in Gau] wri tten at Bethlehem 388 this Galli can

, ,

Psalter being col late d with the Hebrew The Book .

of J ob writt en at Bethlehem 38 6—392

,
.

( )
0 From t h e Ch aldee The Books of Tobit and .
—

J udi th Bethlehem 3 9 8
.
, .

( )
d From th e Gree k The Vulgate version of the —

New Testament made at Rome 38 2 385 , ,

— .

I I Commentaries
. .

(a) Original Eccle s iastes 385 Isai ah 4 1 0

.
—
, .
, .

J er emiah i X xxii 4 1 9 Ezekiel 41 0 4 1 4

—
Dani el
, .
,
—
.
,

407 M inor Prophets

. 3 9 1 406 St M atthew ,
—
. .
,

39 8 Galatians Ephe s ians Ti tus Philemon 388

.
, , , , .

Al ] thes e written at Bethle hem .

b
( ) Translate d from the Greek o f Origen J ere .
—

miah and Ezekiel Bethlehem 38 1 St Luke , , . .

,

Bethlehem 38 9 Cantic les R ome and Bethlehem

, .
, ,

385 38 7 —
.

’
A comm enta ry on J ob and a trans la tion of Origen s
I s aiah are als o often attributed to J erome .

II I Books o nSc riptural S ubj ects

. .

( ) A gloss ary o f proper nam es in the Old Tes ta

a

ment 388 , .

xi
 I N TR O D U CTI O N

( b) Questions o nGenesis 388 , .

(e) A translation o f Eusebius

’
On th e sites and
names o f Hebrew places 388 , .

(1
) A
’
tran s lation of Didymus On the Holy
Spi rit 38 5 387 ,
—
.

All thes e written at Bethlehem .

I V Books o nChurch History and Controversy

.
.

( a) Book of Illustriou s M en Bethle hem 392 , , .

( b) Dialogue with a Luciferian Antioch 37 9 , , .

( ) Lives o f t he Herm its : Paulus Desert of

o .

Chalcis 37 4 Hilari on and M alchus Bethlehem 390

, .
, , .

(d) Trans lation of the R ule of Pachomius Be t hle ,

hem 404 , .

( ) Against Hel vidi us R ome 384 Against J ovi

e , , .

nian B ethlehem 39 3 Against Vigi lantius Be thle

, , .
,

hem 406 Against J ohn o f J erusalem Bethlehem

, .
, ,

39 8 Aga inst Rufinus Bethlehem 402 404

.
, ,
—
.

V General His tory

. .

Translation with additions , , of th e Chronicle of

Eusebius Constantinople 3 82
, , .

Few writers in any age or in any country can

surp ass this catalogue Among L a tin authors .

Cicero Livy and Augus tine come neare s t to J erome

, , ,

but even th ey fall short o f his immens e productive

'
ness The Vulgate alone would be a full life s work
.
,
’
and yet it forms only a small part of J crome s labours .

History biography theological controversy scrip

, , ,

tural e xegesis all flow e d with equal readiness from

,

his pen and like Cicero w ho is his closest e xemplar

, ,

in L a tin li terature he writes on all subj ects with equal

,

skill The two men in character are altogether

.

X II
 I N TRO D U CTI O N

di fl e r e nt : Cicero wi shed to pleas e everybody ,

J erome wis h ed to pleas e no one ; Cicero was wrappe d

up in the things of this world J erome fixe d his gaze ,

ste adfastly on t he world to come ; Cicero reserved

his deepest feelings of uns el fishness for his son and
daughter J erome would s eem to disco urage all
,

procreation and child bearing But th ey are ali ke in

—
.

on e r e 5 e c t : they are both firs t and foremost men

p , ,

of letters and when J erome has a subj ect that gives

,

s cope for skill subj ects such as he finds in hi s contro

,

v er s with J o vini an in the lives o f the three hermits

y ,

Paul Hilarion and M alchus and in many of his

, ,

Letters he shows hi ms elf a wonderful master of

,

words .

() 0 TH E L ETT E RS
There are four considerable coll ec tions o f le tters
in L atin literature those of Cicero Senec a Pliny
, , ,

and J erome O f the s e the letters of Cicero and o f

.

J erome are the largest in bulk and the most impor

tant in substance and even if Cicero has some
,

advantage inwit and grace of style there can be no ,

doubt t hat for a Chris tian reader t he subj ects w ith

whic h J erome deals make hi m infinit e the more
valuable W e h ave now extant one hundred and
.

fifty four epistles from his pen written between

-
,

the years 370 and 41 9 and varyi ng in length from a

,

few li nes to several thousand words which in Hil ,

’
berg s edition fill nearly sixteen hundred pages The .

difficul ty of selection h as been mai nly a di fficul ty o f

what lette rs to omit and a few words may be s aid
,

here of those that appe ar i n this volum e Le tter I .

’
is probably the earliest of J crome s compositi ons
and is interes ting by reason bo th of its style and i ts
xi ii
 I N TROD U CTIO N

subj ect which show s that J erome li ke Augustine

, , ,

was a sturdy believer in miracles L etter VII is o ne .

o f the very few in whi ch J erome mentions hi s own

fami ly : i t is s hort and pithy and may be compared ,

wi th X L XLIII X L IV X LV which exhibit the

, , , ,

various s ides of his personal character The first of .

these four shows hi m as a violent satiris t the second ,

as a lover o f nature the third is a graceful letter of

,

thanks and the fourth a vigorous defence of his

,

friends hi ps with women t his last being in a way a ,

pendant to L etter CXV II Another group of thre e .

letters XIV LII LX is concerned with Helio dor us

, , , , ,

Bis hop o f A l tinum the first reproaching him for his

,

abandonm ent o f the ascetic life the second Iaying ,

down for his nephew Ne po t iant h e duties o f a clergy

man the third one o f the finest letter s cons oling him
, , ,
’
for Nepo ti ans death L etter CXXV treating of .
,

monasticism draws a vi vid picture of the good and

,

bad monk and the remaini ng seven letters deal w ith

,
’
t h e oth er of J e r om e s two main interests t he po s ition ,

o f woman in t h e Chri s tian C hurc h as virgin wife and ,

widow Three of them XXX V III LXXV I I CXXV I I

.
, , ,

are elaborate portraits of married women two ,

others CV I I CXX V III are concerned with the

, , ,

educa tion o f girls L etter L IV instructs a widow in

.

the best means of maintai ning her widowhood which ,

J erome holds to be t h e se c ond of t he thr ee de gree s of

chas tity ; and L etter XXI I t he most famous in the ,

collection is a fervent panegyric of the life of

,

virginity .

( )
d TE XT A ND BI BLIO G R A P H Y
The text used for this translation is that of the
masterly edition o f Isidor Hilb erg (Vienna 3 vols ,
.
,
 I N TROD U CTI O N
a book to whi ch the present translation is under
especial obligations For a general account o f t he
.

early Latin Fathers including J erome two recent

, ,

books may be consulted : L atin Chr istianity

( P de L ab ri olle London
.
, and Fathers of the
,

Chur ch ( F A W right London

. .
, ,

The E di tors wish to t hank the R ev Father Sharpe

. ,

of M ore Hall Stroud for help in finding some

, ,

abstru s e references .

x vi
 S A N C T I E U S E BII H IE R O NYM I
E PISTU LA E

A D INNOC E NT IUM PR E S RYTE R UM D E S E PT IE S PE R C US S A

1 S A RPE
a me Innoce nti caris sime postul asti u t de
, , ,

eius mir aculo rei quae in nost r am ae t at em i nc id er at

, ,

non t ac e r em C um q ue ego id v er e c und e et vere ut

.
,

nunc exp er io r negarem meque ads e q ui posse

,

difli d e r e m sive q uia omnis hum anus sermo inferior

,

esset laude c ae l e st i sive quia otium quasi quaedam ,

ingenii r obig o p arv ulam li ceì fac ult at em pristini sic

_
’

casset e lo q ui i tu e contrario ads er eb as in Dei rebus

,

non po ssib ilit at em i nspic i debere sed animum neque , ,

eum posse verba d e fic er e qui c r edi di sse t in verbo , .

2 Quid igitur fac i am

. Quod inpl er e nonpossum
neg are non andeo Super onerariam nav em rudis .

vector inponor et homo qui necd um sc almum in lacu

, ,

rexi E ux ini M aris credor fragori Nunc mihi

, .

e v ane sc e nt ib us terris cael um undi q ue et undiq ue

1
A
m em b er o f J me s
c o r ’
firs t b and o f as c et ica inA qui leia ;
he acc o m p ani e d J ero me t o Anti o c h where he di ed in37 4 .

2
 S E LE C T L ETT E R S
ST .
JE R O M E

LETTER I

The woman: tr uc kby nw

seve or ds

W ri tt en A D . . 37 0

YOU have o ft en in the p ast as ked me my cle ares t ,

Innocent to relate t hat mi rac ulous happening which

1
,

occurred in my li fe tim e To that request I gave

.

a modest and as I now find by tr ial a j us ti fied

, ,

refusal I dist rust ed my power of achi evement both

.
,

beca us e all th e l angu age o f man is i nadequa te to th e

prais e of heaven and also be caus e lack o f exercis e
, ,

like rust upon the mind has dried up any s light

,

power of eloquence that in the pas t I might have

You on the other hand declared that
in the thi ngs of God one ought to consider not the
possibil ity but the will and that he who believ e d in
, ,

the W ord co ul d not find words fail him .

What then shall I do ? I cannot ful fil thi s task ,

but I do not dare to refus e it A novice in shi p craft

.
—
,

I am put o n board a v essel heavi laden ; a poor

fellow who has never steer e d a S kiff upon a lake I am ,

en t r us te d to the roar of the E nxine Sea The l and .

fades from sight around me now on every side is

,

3
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

’
pontus nunc unda tenebris horr esc e ns et c ac c a
,

nocte nim b o r um spumei fluc t us c anesc unt Hort ar is .

,

ut t umida malo vela suspendam rudentes e x plic em

, ,

c l av um regam Par c o iam i ub ent i et q uia caritas

.
,

omni a potest spiritu s anoto c ur sum pr ose q uent e

,

co n fidam hab it ur us in ut r aq ue parte sol ac ium : si me

ad op t atos portus aestus adp uler it gubernator puta
,

b o r ; si inter asp e r os o r at ion i s an fi;agtus inpoli t us _

sermo sub st it e r i t fac ult at e m for sit anq uaé r as volu m

, ,

tatem certe flagit ar e non pot e r is .

.3 Igitur V e r c ell ae L igur um civitas hand pr o c ul

a r adi c ib us A lp i um sita olim po t e ns nunc raro habi
, ,

t at or e s e m ir uta Hanc c um ex more c o nsul ar is

.

inv is e r e t ob l at am sibi q uand am m uli e r c ul am una

,

cum adultero nam id crimen marit a s i npege r at

—

poenali c ar cer is hor r or e c ir c um de di t Neque multo.

post cum livi das carnes ungula cruenta pulsar e t et

,

su l c at is l at e r ib us dolor q uae r e r e t v er it at em infeli ,

c i ssim us i uv e n i s volens c o np e ndi o mortis longos v it ar e

cruciatus dum in suum m e ntit ur sanguinem accus a

, ,

vit ali enum s ol us q ue omni um miser m e ri t us visus est

p ercuti quia non r e liq ui t inno x iae unde posset
, ,

negare At vero mulier sexo fortior suo c um e cul e us

.
,

corpus e x t end er e t et s or did as p ae d or e c ar c e r is manus

4
 LETTER I

sky on every si de the sea

,
darkn ess roughens
the waves and in the black night o f t he storm clou ds —

the billows show white with foam Yo u bid me .

hoist t he swel ling sails to t he mast top to let the ,

s heets run loos e and take the ti ller in my hand To .

day I obey your command : love is all powerful and -

with the Holy Spirit guidi ng my cours e I may feel ,

confident that in either case I s hall find comfort If .

t he surgi ng waves dr ive me to t h e desired haven I ,

s hall be considered a skilful steers man : if my

unva r nis hed tale strikes the rocks among the roug h
windi ngs of my story you may perhaps find me
,

lacking in ability but you certainly will not be able to

c hallenge my good will—
.

V e r c e llae then is a Li gurian city near the foothi lls

of t he Alp s once a place o f importance but now
, ,

lying half in rui ns with only a few i nhabitants .

W hen the governor paid it his us ual visit a woman ,

and her lover were brought before him a c cus ed by

the husband of adulte ry and were by hi m consigned
,

to the dr ead torture chamber of t he publi c pri son .

There by agony the truth was sought ; and the

unhappy yout h soon gave way A s t he bloo d
.

stained hook furrowed hi s sides and tore his blackened

fles h he determined to e s cape from his long dr awn
,
—

torments by t he short road of death and lyi ng aga ins t

,
’
his own bo dy accused another s as well S o for once .

a mis erable wretch seemed to de s erve hi s fate for ,

he le f t an innoc ent person no ch ance o f denying the

charge brought agains t her But th e woman for her
.

part showed a courage superior to her s e x Her .

body was stretched upon the rack and her hands ,

black wi th the pri son filth were bound with cords

1
Virg i] A ene id II I 1 93
, , . .
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JEROM E .

post tergum vincula co hib e r ent oculis quos tant um , ,

tortor alligare non p ot e r at s usp e x it ad caelum et

,

’
vol ut is per or a l acrimi s : Tu inq ui t testis
, , ,

domine Iesu c ui o c c ult um nihil est qui es scrutator

, ,

renis et cordis non ideo me negare velle ne pe r e am a

, , .

At tu mi serrime homo si i nt erir e festin as cur duos

, , ,

int e r im is innocentes ? E q ui d e m et ipsa cupio mori ,

cupio i nv isum hoc corpus e x uer e sed non quasi ,

adultera Praesto i ugul um m ic ant em intrepida

.
,

e x c i io
p m uc ron e m i nnoc e n
, t i am tantum mecum
’
f e r am .Non moritur quisquis vi c t ur us oc c idit ur
, .

4 Igitur c o n
. su lar is pas t is cruore l umi ni b us ut ,

fera quae gus t at um semel sanguinem semper sitit

, ,

duplicare t ormenta inhet et s aev um d entib us fr e nd e ns

simi l e m c arn i fic i mini t at us est poenam ni s i co nfit er e ,

t ur sexus infirmi or quod non p ot uer at robur virile

,

5
. S ucc ur r e ,
domine Iesu ad unum hominem
tuum quam plura sunt inventa supplicia ! Crines
ligant ur ad s t ipit e m et toto corpore ad e c ul e um
fortins al ligato vi c inus pe di bus igni s adp o ni t ur ,

ut r um q ue latus carnifex fo di t ne c p apilli s dantur

i nd ut iae : inmo t a mulier manet et a dolore corporis
S piritu separato dum cons cien tiae bono fr uit ur
, ,

v e tui t circa s e s ae vi r e tormenta Inde x c rud eli s .

quasi s up er at us adtollit ur illa dominu md epr e c at ur ;

,

6
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JEROME .

s ol v u nt ur membra npgg ib us illa oculos ad caelum

co ,

tendit ; de communi scel er e alius c onfit et ur illa pro ,

co n fit e nt e negat et p e r iclit ans ipsa alium vi ndi c at

p e ri c li tant em .

6 U na interim v o x :
. C a e d e nr e lacera ; non , ,

feci Si di c t is t ollit ur fides v e nie t die s quae hoc

.
, ,
’
crimen di lige nt er e x c ut iat ; hab eb o i udi c em meum .

Iam lassus tortor suspir ab at in ge m it um nec erat novo

vulneri locus iam vieta s ae v itia corpu s quod l ani ar at
, , ,

horr e b at : e x t e m pl o ira e x c i t us c o ns ul ari s Quid

’
mi r am ini , inq uit , nt e s
c i r c um s t a , si t or q uer i m av ul t
mulier quam perire ? A d ult er ium certe sine duob us
,

c o mm i t t i non potest et esse c r e di b ili us r e or no x i am

re am negare de sc e l er e quam innoc ent em iuv e nem

,
’
co nfit e r i .

Pari igitur prolata in utr um q ue sententia

d am nat os carnifex tra hit Totu s ad s p e c t acul um
.

’
populus e fiundit ur et pr ors us qua s i migrare civitas
,

u t ar e t ur st i ati s p r o r ue ns portis turba d en s at ur

p , p .

Et qui dem mis err im i i uv e nis ad primum statim i c tum

am ut at u r gladi o caput t r un c um ue in s uo sanguine
p q
v ol ut at ur cadaver Po s tq uam vero ad f e m inam
.

v en t um est et fiexi s in t e rr am p o plit ib us super

t r em en t e m c e r vi c e m m ic an s elevatu s e s t gladi us et

e x e r c it atam carnifex d e x t er am totis vir ib us c o n

c i tavi t ad primum corporis t ac t u
, m st e tit mucro letalis
et leviter p er s t ringe ns cutem r asur ae m odi c ae
sanguinem asp er sit Inb ell em manum percussor
.

8
 LE TT ER I

she onl y l ifts her eyes to heaven Ano ther confesses .

thei r co mmon guilt ; she on hi s be half deni es what

he confessed and in danger herself tries to save
,

another from danger .

H er cry was still the same B eat m e b urnm e t e ar , ,

me in pieces I di d not do it If you do not bel ieve

. .

my words the day wi ll soon come that will s ift this

,
’
c harge aright I have One who will j udge me
. By .

this time t he torturer was sighi ng and groani ng .

There w as no room for fresh wounds The m anhim .

sel f shuddered to s e e the body he had S O mangled ,

and even his ferocity gave way But t he governor .

w as only roused to f res h rage and cried o ut fort h ,

with : Why does it surpris e you bystanders that , ,

a woman pre f ers torture to death ? Obviously it

takes two pers ons to commit adultery and I cons ider ,

that it is far more likely that a guilty woman should

deny a crime than that an inno cent youth s hould
’
co nf ess o ne .

The s ame senten c e therefore was passed upon, ,

both and the executioner dr agged away his vic tims

, .

The whole populace rus h ed o ut to see the sight ,

po uring in dens e mass e s from the crowded gates so ,

that you might have thought the enti re city was

m igrating At the very first stroke o f the sword the
.

’
mis erable youth s head w as cut o ff and his headle s s ,

co rpse rolled over in its o wn blood Then came t he .

’
woman s turn With bent knee s she s ank to t he
.

ground and over her quivering neck the gleaming

,

sword w as raised The executioner brought down

.

his well trained arm wit h all his mi g ht but directly

-
,

it touched he r body the deadly sword w as stayed and ,

lightly grazing the skin made a scratch j us t s uffic i e nt

’
to dr aw blood At hi s hand s defeat t he s triker
.

9
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

av i t , et v ic t am d e x t e r am gladi o marcescente
ex
p
m i r at us in s e c und o s impetus t o r q ue t L anguidus .

r ur s um in f e m inam mucro d el ab i t ur et quasi ferrum ,

re am t im e r e t adti nger e circa c e r vi c em t9rp e t

,

i nno x ium . Itaque furens et anhel us lictor paluda

mento i nc er vi c em retorto d umt o t as expedit vires
, ,

fib ul am quae c hl am y di s m o r d e b at oras in hum um

, ,

g ar us q ue rei e ns e m lib r at in vulnus et

e x c ussi t i n En
’
tibi ait mulier e x um ero aurum ruit
, , Collige .

’
mul t o quaesitum labore ne pereat , .

8 R ogo quae est ista s e c ur it as ? Im p e nd e nt e m

.
,

nontimet mortem l ae t at ur p e r c uss a carnifex p alle t ;

, ,

oculi glad ium non videntes tantum fib ul am vident et ,

ne parum esset quod non for m id ab at i nt e r it um

, ,

p r ae st ab at b e ne fic ium s ae v ie nt i I am igitur et
.

terti us ictus : sacramentum fr ust r av e r at trinitatis .

I am speculator e x t e r r it us et non credens ferro mucro

nem ap t ab at in i ugul um ut qui secare non p o te r at
, , ,

s altim premente manu c o r o r i c o n d ere t ur O omnibus

p
inau di ta r e s s aecul is ad c apulum gladiu s r e flec tit ur
—
,

et velut dominum suum victus aspic i e ns c o nf e ssus es t

se ferire non posse .

9 Hue huc mihi t r i um exempla pue r o r um qui

.
, ,

inter frigi dos fiamm ar um globos hymnos e di d e r e pro

fle tib us circa quorum sarabara s anc t am q ue c ae s ar i e m
,

IO
 LE TTER I

trembled and looked in amazement at hi s co nquered

arm : then swinging hi gh th e craven blade he pre
pared to gi ve a second stroke Again t he sword fell .

feebly on the woman and lay s till and harmless on her

neck as t hough t he steel feared to touch the acc us ed
,
.

Thereupo n the h ea ds man pant ing now with rage , ,

Hung his cloak back over his shoulders so t hat he ,

might exert all his s t rengt h without hi ndrance The .

action loo s ened the brooch that fastened his garment ,

and it fell to t he gr ound unnoticed by the man who, ,

’
was poising hi s sword for another blow Look .
,

cried the woman your gold brooch has fallen from

,

your shoulder Pick it up o r you wi ll los e somethi ng

.
,
’
for which you have worked hard .

What I as k is t he s ecret o f such confidence ? She

, ,

has no fear o f the dea th that threatens her she ,

rej oices in her woun ds it is the executioner who ,

turns pale Her eyes do not see the sword t hey only
.
,

see the brooch It is not enough for her to feel no

.

dread of death she does an act o f kindne ss to her

,
’
savage tormento r And now t he third blow fell
.
,

only to be rendered vain by the sacred power of th e

Trini ty By thi s time the s ol di er was completely
.
‘

frightened and no longer trus ting the blade put the

,

sword point to he r throat wi th the idea that though it

,

coul d not cut t he pressure of his hand might force it

,

into her body But the sword O marvel unheard

.
—

o f through all t h e ages bent back to t he hilt and

—
,

in its defeat seemed to look at i ts master as if con ,

fessing th at it co uld not strike .

Now now let me recall the example o f the thr e e

,

children who ami d the cool c ircles o f the fir e sang

,

hymns instead of sheddi ng tea rs while the flames ,

played harml essly about the ir t urbans and the ir holy

II
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

inno x ium incendium H ue beati D ani heli s

l us it .

r e v oce t ur historia i ux t a quem ad ul ant ib us c audi s

,

p r ae d am suam l e o num ora t i m ue r unt i Nunc Susann a

nobilis fide mentes omnium s ub e at quae iniquo ,

dam mata iudicio sanoto spiritu p uer um r e pl ent e

servata e st Ecce non di spar in ut r aq ue mi sericordi a
.

domini : illa liberata per iudi c e m ne iret ad gl adium , ,

haec a ind ic e d amnat a absoluta per gladi um est .

10 Tandem ergo ad f e mi nam vi ndi c and am populus

.

a r matur O m nis aetas om ni s s exus c arni fic em fugat

.
,

et co e t u in c ir c ulum co e unt e non credi t pacue

unus q ui s q ue quod vidit ,
Tur b at ur tali nunt io urbs
.

propinqua et tota lic t o r um caterva glom e r at ur .

E quibus medi us ad quem d am nat o r um cura per

,

t i ne b at e r um p e n
,
s et c an i t i e m im m undam perfuso
’
pulvere t ur p ans M eum i nq ui t O cives p e titi s
, , ,

caput me illi v ic/ari um datis ! Si misericordes si

, ,

clementes esti s si v ul tis servare d am nat am innocens

, ,

’
certe p erire non d eb e o Quo fietu vulgi co nc ussus
.

est ani mus m aest us q ue s e per omnes torpor i nsinuat

et mi r um in modum voluntate mutata cum pi et atis ,

f uis s e t quod ante d e f e nd er ant pie t at is visum e s t

, ,

genus ut p at e r e nt ur occ idi

,
.

1 1 Novu s igitur en s i s novus percussor

. ,
ad
poni t ur .

1 2
 LE TTER I

locks Le t me repe at again the s t ory of the blessed

. ,

D aniel before whom the lions crouched with fawning

,

tails and trembled at the man who was to be t heir

,

prey Let all men remember once mo re the grande ur

.

’
of Sus ann a s fai th w ho condemned by an unj ust
, ,

j udgment was saved by a lad inspired by th e Holy

,

Spirit No t unlike was the mercy of the Lord in bot h

.

cas es : Sus ann a was set free by the j udge and saved
from th e s word : this woman w as condemned by t he
j udge but by the sword acquitted .

So at lengt h the popul ace took up arms to defend

t he woman People o f every a e and eve ry sex j oin
.

in driving off the headsman T e whole crowd form .

into a ring about her and hardly one among th em can

believe his own eyes The news of t heir action throws
.

the neighbouring city into co nfusion and the gover ,

’
nor s atte ndants muster in f orce From their mi ds t .

t he o fficer charged wi t h the care o f condemne d

criminals dashed forth and as he ,

Pour ed d e fili ng dust upon grey ha ir befouled 1

cried : It is my life that you are taking f ellow ,

countrymen You ar e making me he r subs titute

. .

Even if you do f eel mercy and co mpassion even ,

if y o u are set on rescui ng a woman condemned

to death surely it is not rig ht for an innocent man
,
’
l ike myse lf to die This lamentable appe al shoo k
.

’
the people s resolution and a spirit o f gloomy ,
’
torpo r soon becam e universal M en s f ee l ings were .

strang e changed It had seemed their duty to

.

defend t he woman it now se emed t he ir du ty in a

,

way to allow her to be executed .

Accordine a new sword and a new execu tioner

1 V rgil A n
i e e id XII 6 1 1
, , . .

1 3
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST . JERO ME

Stat v ic ti ma Christo tantum fav e nt e munita Seme ] .

e r c ussa c on c uti t ur iterum r e p e ti t a uas s at ur tert io

p , q ,

vulnerata pr ost er nit ur e t O di vinae p ot enti ae

—

s ub li m an d a m ai e s t as quae prius fuer at quarto

—

p e r c us s a nec laesa ideo, p au l ul u m visa est mori ne ,

pro e a p er ir et innox ius .

1 2 Clerici quibus id o ffic u erat c rue nt um linteo

.
, ,

c adaver ob vo lv un t et foss am hum um l api di b us co n

s tr ue n t e s ex more t um ul um parant Festinato sol .

cursu occ as um petit et misericordiam domini c elat ur a

,

no x adv e ni t Subito fe minae p alpit at pectus et oc ulis

.

u ae r e n t ib us l uc em corpus an i m at ur ad vitam : i am
q
s ir at iam videt iam s ub l e v at ur et loquitur iam in
p , , ,

illam pote s t v o c em e r um p er e : Dominus auxiliator ,

’
meus non tim e b o quid faci at mihi homo
, , .

1 3 Anus interim quaedam quae ecclesiae sustenta

.
,

batur opib us debitum caelo spir it um r e ddi dit et

, ,

quasi de industria ordi ne c urr ent e rerum vi c ari um

tumulo corpus op e rit ur Dubia adhuc luce in lic tor e
.

zalb l m occurrit q uae r i t cadaver o c c is ae s e p ul chr um

, ,

sibi m ons t r ar i petit vivere putat quam mori ,

o tu i ss e mi r at ur R ec en s a c l e r ic is c a e sp e s osten di
p .

tur et d udum s up er i e ct a humus cum his v ocib us

in g\teri r fia i tan
g t i : E r ue scilicet ossa iam condita
3 ,

infer novum s ep ulchr o bellum et si hoc parum e st , ,

14
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

av ib us f e r i sq ue l ani and a
membra di sc e rp e ; s e pti es
’
p e r cus s a debet aliqui d morte plus perpe ti .

1 4 Tali invidia c ar n
. i fic e confuso clam domi mulier
fo c ilat ur et ne forte creber ad e cc l e si am medici
,

c omm e at us s us ic ion
p is p and e r e t viam cum qui bus ,

dam v irgini b us ad s e c r e tio r em v illulam s eeto crine

t r ansmi tt it ur Ibi p aul atim v irili habitu veste mutata
.

in c ic atr ic em vulnus ob d uci t ur E t O vere ius .

summum summ a malitia ! post tanta miracula —

adhuc
… t leges
‘
.

1 5 En q uo m e gestorum ordo pr o tr ax it ! l am
.

eni m ad E v agr u nostri nomen adv e nim us Cuius ego .

pro Christo laborem si arbitrer a me di ci posse non ,

s a i am si p e n i t us tacere velim voce in gau di um

p , ,

e ru m p e nt e non p o ssim Quis eni m val ea t digno ca mere

.

p r ae c o nio A ux e ntium M e di ol anii inc ub ant em hui us

e x c ub iis se
pul t um p ae ne ante quam mortuum ,

R omanum e p is c o pum iam pacue fac tio ni s l aq ueis

i nr e tì t um et v i c iss e advers arios et non noc ui ss e
s up e r atis ?

Verum haec ips e e q uid e m sp atus e x cl usus ini q uis

Pr ae t e r e o atque aliis post me m emoranda relinquo .

T e renc e Heant Ti m 7 9 6
1
, . . .

E v agr ius r es byt r o f Anti och l ate r c 3 88 ) c ons ec rate d

p e .

J L III
, ,

b ishop of that see ; o f te nreferr e d t o by ero me ( e tters ,

IV V and XV ) also by B as il Le tter C X X X V

, , , III .

1 6
 LE TTE R I

be as ts to mangle ; a woman who has received seven

strokes of t he sword ought to su ffer some thing more
’
than death .

The odi um o f s uch an acti on sent the e xecutioner

away in confusion and the woman was secretly cared
,
’
for indoors Finally lest the doctor s frequent vis its
.
,

t o the church s hould give ris e to s uspicion she had ,

her hair cut s hort and in company with some

,

virgi ns was sent to a lonely hòus e in the coun t ry .

’
There for a little time she put onmen s clo thes un til
t he scars formed over her wound And yet to day .
—

How true it is that complete legali ty is complete

inj ustice ! 1
after all these wondro us ha ppeni ngs
—

the laws are still raging against her .

See no w to what poi nt the order of events has

brought me At la s t we have reached t h e name o f
.

ou r friend If I were to th ink that I could

’
describe all his labours o n Chris t s behalf I s hould ,

indeed be fooli sh W ere I minded to pass th em over

.

completely I could not do so for my voice o f itself

, ,

would burst into cries of j oy W h o could write a .

fitti ng panegyric of t he man whos e vi gilance put

A ux e nt ius 3 t hat pest of M ilan into the grave before
, ,

the ti me of hi s death and enabled t he bi shop of

,

Rome to e s cape from t he entangling snar es of

faction to overcome his enemies and to show them
,

mercy in defeat ? But

This I must leave for others relate to ,
’4
Shut out myself by time and unkind fate .

’
A ux ent ius , t he A rian b isho p of Mil an, Amb ro se s pre
d eces sor, die d 3 74
IV
.

Virgil, G eorgios , . 14 7 .

I 7
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

Pr ae s e ntis t antum rei fine co nt e ntus sum : impera

torem industria adit p r e c ib us fatigat merito la it,
, ,

sol licitudi ne pr om er e t ur ut r eddi t am vita e r edd er et

,

li bert ati .

VI I
AD C H RO M A TI U M , IOV INU M , E US E RIU M

I . NON debet harta dividere quos amor mutuns

c ,

c o ulav i t nec per s i n ulo s o fficia mei sunt

p , g p ar ti e nd a
s e rm o n i s cum sic i n
, vi c e m nos am e t is ut non minus ,

tres caritas i ungat quam duos natura soc iavi t Quin

, .

potins si rei condicio p at er e t ur s ub uno li tt e r ulae

, ,

a\p i ce no m ine indiviso c onc lud er e m v e st r i s quoqu e

ita me litteris pr o v oc ant ib us ut et in uno tres e t in ,

trib us unum put ar e m Nam p ost q uam s anc t o .

E v agr io t r ansm itt e nt e in ea ad me beremi parte

d e l at ae sunt quae inter Syros et Sarracenos vastum
,

limitem d uc it s ic gavi s us sum ut illum di em Ro m anae

, ,

f e li c i tat is quo primum M arcel li apud N olam pr o eli o

,

post C anne nse m pugnam superba Hanni b alis agmi na

c on c id e r unt ego vi c e rim Et licet supra di c t us
, .

frater saepe me vi s it e t atque ita ut sua in Christo

vi s cera fo v e at tamen longo a me spatio s e i unc t us
,

1
wr itten in A D 3 7 4 t o thr ee young fri end s
T his le tte r . .

( w ho all lat er be c ame b i sho ps ) f ro m t he d e se rt of C halci s ,

where Jerome then w as living g ives some d etails of the ,

18
 LETT ER I A ND LETTE R VI I

I am sa tisfied t o reco rd the end of my present story .

E v agri us se eks a special interview wit h the Emperor

weari es him with hi s prayers secur es hi s sympathy
,

by th e me r its o f his cas e and finally by an x ious care

,

wins t he day Th e Emperor restored to freedom the

.

woman who had been thus restored to l ife .

LE TT ER VI I
1
To C H ROM A TIU S , J OVINU S AN D E US E B I U S
Fa mi ly
f a a rsì
TH OS E whom mutual love has j oined toge ther
ought not t o be sep arated on a written page There .

fore I must not divide between you in di vi dually t he

words that I owe to y o u all Two of you as brothers
.
, ,

are alre ady natural par tners but so strong is t h e love

,

whi ch you feel for one another th at a ffec tion unites

the thre e in a bond t hat i s e qually close Inde ed .
,

if actual condi tions a llowed I would make one ,

abbre viation i nclude all your nam es without divi sion ;

for your letter c h allenged me to regard y o u as
t hree in one and o ne in three That lett er was .

handed t o me by the sai ntly E v agri us inthat p art of

the desert which forms a broad bo undary line
betwe en t he Syrians and th e Saracens and it filled ,

me wi th j oy a j oy surp ass ing even the exultati on

,

felt at Rome over th e victory o f M arcellus at Nola ,

’
when for the first time after Cannae Hanni bal s
proud hos ts were defeated The abo ve named .
—

brother often pays me a visit and cheri sh e s me in ,

Chris t like hi s own flesh ; but he is s ep arated from m e

’
wr iter i t r whose name is unkno wn and o f
s s s e , , t he co nditi on
of t he c hurc h inDalmatia C f p 308 note 2
. . .
, .
 SELE CT LE TT E R S O F ST . JE R O ME
non minus mihi d e r eliq ui t ab e undo desiderium ,

quam a dt ule r at v eni endo l ae t it iam .

2 Nunc cum v e s tri s litteris fab ulo r illas ample x o r

.
, ,

illae mecum lo q uunt ur illa e hic tantum L atine ,

s c i un t . Hic enim aut b arb ar us seni sermo di sc end us

est aut t ac e nd um est Q uot ie nsq ue c aris sim os .

mi hi v ult us no t ae manus r e fe r unt i mpressa vestigia ,

t ot i e ns aut ego hic non s um aut vos hic estis Credite .

amori vera dicenti : e t cum has s cri b e r e m v os ,

v i d e b am Quibu s hoc p r imum q uer or cur tot

.
,

in t e r i ac e nt ib us s p at ii s maris et t e rr ar um tam p ar v am
e p is t ul am m is e r it is ni s i quod ita merui qui vobi s ut
, , ,

sc r ib i t i s ante non sc r ip si C har t am d e fuiss e non

, .

puto A e gy p t o ministrante commercia Et s i aliq ui .

Pt o lo m ae us maria c laus isse t tamen re x Attalus ,

membranas e Pergamo m i s e r at ut penuria c hartae ,

p e llib us p e ns ar e t ur ; unde p e rgam e nar um nomen

ad hanc usque di em tradente sibi i nvic e m p o s t e r it at e
s e r v at um e st Qui d igitur ? Arbitrer b ai ulum
.

f e s t inasse ? Q uam v is lo ngae e pist ulae una nox

s ufii c it An v os aliq ua occ up at io ne detento s ? Nulla
.

necessitas maior e s t e ar it at e R e s tant duo ut aut .

,

vos p igue r i t aut ego non m e r ue r im E quibu s malo .

vo s i n c e s se r e t ar d it at is quam me c o nd e m nar e non

,

meriti Fac ili us enim negligentia e m e ndar i potest

.
,

quam amor na s ci .

3 Bo nos us ut s c r ib i t is quasi filius ix6 50 9 aquosa

.
, , 1

petit nos pri s tina contagione s or d e nt e s quasi r guli

,
e

n
’
L e has bee nba ptiz e d
'
1
i x9 v s I a o îî s X pw r òs 9 6 0 6 Ti òs
J
. .

’
2 w r ép Bo n
. o s us , c ro m e s f os t er b ro th er , st udi e d wit h h im
-

at R o m e , j o in e d h is b an d o f as c eti cs at A q uil e ia and wh en ,

t his bro ke up retire d t o l iv e as a hermit on a s m all i sland

near A q ui le ia .
 LE TTER VI I

by a great di stance and his departure always,

caus es me as much regret as his coming has broug ht

delight .

Now I talk t o your letter I embrace it it carri es

, ,

on a conversation with me it is the only thi ng here

,

that knows L atin In t his plac e an o ld man has

.

either to learn a barbarous j argon or els e to hold ,

hi s tongue The handwriti ng I know so we ll brings

.

your dear faces before my eyes ; and then either I

am no longer here o r els e you are here with me .

Believe love when it tells you the truth : as I write

thi s letter I see you before me However I have .
,

one complaint to make fir s t Why is it th at wi t h .

such stretc hes of sea and land between us you sent

me so s hort a letter ? Perhaps I deserved it ; for as
you say I did not wri te fir s t Paper I i ma gine
,
.
, ,

cannot have failed you now that Egypt suppli es the

market Even if s ome Ptolemy had closed the s e as
.
,

K ing Att alus was t here to send you skins f rom

Pergamum and by parchm ent you could have made
,

up for lack of paper The very word p archment as

.

it e x ists to day handed down from generation to

-
,

genera tion reveals its origin W ell am I to suppose

,
.
,

t hat your messenger was pressed for tim e ? On e

night is s ufli c i e nt to write a letter in however long ,

t he letter be W ere you prevente d by some urgent

.

bus iness ? Nothi ng has a greater cl ai m o nyou t han

a ff ection Two reasons are left ; either you felt
.

dis inclined o r els e I w as no t deserving

, I prefer to .

accus e you Of sloth rather than condemn myself as

unwort hy The correction o f carelessness is an
.

easier matter th an t he bi rt h o f love .

You tell me th at Bo nosus like a true son of the ,

Fish makes for watery places 1 For myself I am

, .
,

2 1
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO M E .

et scorpiones ar e ntia q uae q ue s e e t am ur Ille iam .

c alc at super colubri caput no s serpenti t err am ex ,

di vina sententia c om e d e nti adhuc cibo s um us Ille .

potest summum gr ad uum p sî lmum scandere nobis ,

a d huc in pri mo asc e n s u fie ntib us nescio an di cere

ali uan do contingat L evavi oculo s meos in montes
q ’
,

unde v e ni at auxili um mihi Ille inter m inac es .

s ae c uli fluc t us in tu t o i nsulae hoc e st ecclesiae ,

gremio s ed e ns ad exemplum Iohanni s li b r um forte

,

i am d e vo r at ego in s c eler um m eo r um s ep ul c hr o
,

i ac e ns et peccatorum vinculi s c onligat us d o mi n i c um

de evangelio e xp ecto c lam or em : Hie r ony m e veni ,
’
foras Bo nos us inq uam qui a secundum prophe tam
.
, ,
—

omnis di aboli virtus in l umbo e st trans E uphr at en —

tulit lumhar e suum ibi illud in for ami ne petr e e

ab sc o n d e ns et postea seiss um r epp e ri e ns c e cini t
Domine tu p oss e di sti renes meos ; disr upisti
,
’
vincula mea ; tibi s ac ri fieab o hosti am landis ,

me verus Nabuchodonosor ad Bab y lorie m i d est ,

Confusione m mentis mcae c at enat um d ux it ; ibi ,

mihi c ap ti vi t atis ingum inposuit ibi ferri c ir c ul um ,

i nne c t e n s de c ant ic is Sion cantare pr aec epit Cui .

ego di xi : Domi nus solvit c onp edi t os dominus ,

i nlumi nat c ae eos et ut b r e vi t er c o eptam dis ,

s im i li t udi nem fini àm ego veniam d epr e c or ille , ,

ex
p e e t at c o r o nam .

4. Soror mea sancti Iuli a ni in Christo fructus est

1
P m c xxi I The s o c allcd
sal s al ms of
. .
-
“
P de grees , c xx
c x xxi v c han
,
ted ont’he steps of the T emple , are ta kenas
ty pe of the Chris tians progress .

Revelati on x 9 1 0
J ere miah X iii 4 —5
. .
, ,

. .
,

P sal m c xxx ix 1 3 . .

5
Psalm c xx xvii 3 . . P sal m c xlvi 7 8
. .

P
,

. 18 . n . I : her co nversi on i s ag ai n referre d to in

 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST . JERO ME
ille plant av it , rigate dominus iner em e ntum
v os ,

d ab it Hanc mi hi I e s u s pro eo vulnere quod

.
,

diabolus i nfii x e r at pr aest it it vivam reddendo pro ,

mortua Huic ego ut ait gentilis poeta omnia

.
, ,

etiam tuta timeo S ei tis ipsi lub r ic um adol esc e nt iae

.

iter in quo et ego lapsus sum et vos non sine tim oris e
,
.

t r ans i t is Hoe illa cum maxime ingredi ens omni um

.

f ulei e nd a pr ae e e pt is omnium est s us t e nt and a sola ,

c iis ,id est c r e b ris v est ra e s anetit udi ni s e pist uli s

r ob o r an d a et qui a carita s omnia s ust ine t o b s e c r o
, ,

ut etiam a papa Valeriano ad eam eonfor t and am

li t t e r as e x igat is Nostis p uellar es anim os his rebus
.

plerumque solidari si se i nt elle gant curac es s e ,

m aio ri b us .

5 In mea enim patria deu s

venter es t et de die v i vi t ur : s anet ior est ille qui ,

di tior est A c c e ssit huie patellae i ux t a t r i tum

…
.
W
o u v e r b i um di num operculum L u i c inus
p p g p ,

sacerdos secundum illud quoque de quo semel in

—
,

vita C r as sum ait ri sis s e Lucilius : S imilem habent

labra lac t uc am asino cardus c om e d e nt e videlicet —

ut p e r fo r at am nav e m debilis gubernator regat et

caecus c ae eos ducat in fov e am t alisq ue s it rector ,

u ales illi q u i r e un t u
q g r .

6 M at r em c o m m une m quae e um vobis s anc t i t at e

.
, ,

1
Virg il , A eneid, IV . 2 98 .

For t he t e rm
1
P op e c f 308 , not e 2
p
. . .

3
A pri est or b i shop o f S tri( on, a S paniard by birth, who
w as at v ari ance with J
ero m e p ro b ab ly b e c ause h e o p p ose d

m onas ti c is m .

C
i c ero , De Fi n v 30 . . .

5
Fo r t hi s prov er b (t he prec is e po i nt of whi c h i s not c lear)
cf al s o E ug en ius C arm 8 9 ( M ig ne, P a tr olog L a t , L X X X V , II
I
. . .
, .

I C anu 50, p
. . C ard uua et sp i n
. a , cum p as tam p raeb et
aaello, la ctuca lab r i s camp e r es t .

24
 LETT ER VI I

J ulian He planted you must water the Lord wi ll

.
, ,

give the increas e J esus has given her to me as

.

compensa tion for the wound whic h t h e devil in flicted .

He has brought her back from death to li fe But .

,

as the h eat hen poet says for her ,

’1
All thi ngs though safe in semblance I do fear
, , .

You know you rselves how treach erous is the p ath o f

youth a p ath where I fell and whic h you are now
,

traversing not without fear At thi s moment .

,

when she i s entering upon it sh e needs to be ,

’
supported by all men s encouragement con… ed ,
’
by all men s advice ; in other words strength ened ,

by s uch frequent letters as your saintliness will

sugge s t Love endureth all thi ngs ; and I t herefore
.

2
beg you to get a le t ter from Pope Valerian also so ,

that her courage may be increas ed You know that .

’
a girl s spirit is often fo rt i fie d by the t hought that
her elders are i nterested i nher .

As fo r my ow nc ountr y i t is ens laved to barbarism

, ,
’
and men s family God is t heir belly People live .

only for the day and the rich er you are the more
,

saintly you are held to be Furt h ermore to us e a .

,

well worn popular saying the cover there is worthy

—
,

of the dish ; for L upic inus is their priest It bears

3
.

out the proverb which as L ucili us te lls us made

, ,

Crassus laugh for the only t ime in his life 1 : When ‘

an ass eats thistles up hi s lips have lettuce like

,
’5
t hems elves I mean tha t in my country a crippled
.

helmsman steers a leaki n ship a blind man leads g

,

the blind into a pit ; as t he ruler is so are the ,

ruled .

I send my gree tings to your mother who is a ,

2 5
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

t f I n eo v o s p r aev e ni t qui a tales genuit

s o ei e a r , ,

cuius vere venter aureus potest dici eo salutam us ,

honore quo nost is ; una quoque suspic i e nd as c unc t is

,

s or o re s quae se x um vicere cum sacculo quae oleo

, ,

ad lam padas lar git er preparato spo nsi opp e r iunt ur

ad v e n t um O beata domus in qua m or ant ur Anna
.
,

vidua vir gine s pr ophe tiss ae geminus S am uh e l

, ,

nutr it us in templo ! O t ecta felicia in quibus c e rnim us

,

M ac chab aeor um m ar ty r um coronis cinc t am m art y r em

m at r e m l Nam licet cotidi e C hris t um c o nfit e am ini ,

dum eius p r aec epta s e rv ati s t amen ad pri v at am

,

gloriam publica haec accessit vobis et aperta con

f e ssi o quod per v o s ab urbe vestra A r r ian
, i quondam

dogm atis virus e x clus um est . Et m ir em ini for sit an

,

uod in fine iam e i st ulae r urs us e x or sus sim Quid

q p .

fac i am ? V oc e m p e c to r i negare non valco Epistulae .

b r e vit as co np e llit tacere desiderium v e str i cogit lo q ui

, .

Pr ae pr op er us sermo ; confusa t ur b at ur oratio ; amor

o r di ne m ne sc it .

2 6
 LETT E R VI I

mother t o us all with the deep respect whi ch y o u

,

know I feel She is yo ur close associate in holy life

.

but she has o ne advan tage over you in t hat she i s the
mother of such sons as yours elves Truly her womb .

may be cal l e d golden 1 s alute your sisters a lso for

.
,

they ar e worthy o f universal re sp ect They have .

triumph ed over sex and the world and now await ,

’
th e Bridegroom s comi ng their lamps well fi lled
,

with o il How happy is the hous e where dwells

.
,

a widowed Anna vir gins that are prophetesses and

, ,

twin Samuels 1 reared in the temple precincts Ho w .

fortunate the roof that shelter s for us the martyr

mother o f t he martyr M accabees all g irt with
crowns .
2
Though every day y o u confess Chris t by
keeping his commandm ents you have added to ,

thi s private glory the public fame o f an op en c o n

f es si o n and it was by your e fforts in the pas t t hat
,

the poison of the Arian heresy was expelled from

your city 3 Perhaps y o u may wonder at my begin
.

ning t hus a fresh at t he end of a letter What am .

I to do ? I cannot preclude my heart from utterance .

The bri ef limits o f a letter force me to b e silent but ,

my longing for your company compels me to spe ak .

M y words pour o ut in eager haste ; my lan guage is

confused and di sj ointed ; but lov e knows nothi n g of
order .

1
I Chromatin
. e. s an d E us eb i us , t v
c f . sec . .

Cf 2 M ac ca bees , vii
. .
3
A q uil ei a .
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

A D HE L I O DO R UM M O NA C H UM

1 .
Q UANTO s t udi o et amore co nt e nd er im ut ,

pariter in heremo m or ar e m ur co nsci um m ut uae ,

car i ta t is pectus agno s c it Q uibus lam e ntis quo

.
,

dolore quo ge mi t u te atg e ntg m pe rs e c ut us sim

, _ _ _ ,

iste c quoque litt erae te s tes sunt qu as lacr imis ,

cernis int e r li t as Verum tu quas i p arvul us delig tus

.

co n t e m ptum r o gantis per b l an dim e nt a fo vis ti et ego

i nc autus quid t une age r e m ne sc i e b am
, , Tac er em ? .

Sed quod ar d e nte r v o le b am mod erate di ssi mul are ,

non po t e r arn Im p e ns i us o b s ec r ar e m ? Sed au di re

.

no le b as quia s imiliter non amabas

, Quod unum .

t ui t spreta ca r itas f ecit Quem r aes e nt em

p o , p .

r e ti n er e non v alui t q uae ri t absentem Q uoni

, .

igitur et tu ips e ab ie ns postularas ut tibi pos tq uam , ,

ad deserta migrass em invi tator iam a me sc riptam ,

tr an s m i tt ere m et ego fac t um m r e c e p e r am i nvito

, , ,

iam p ro pe r a Nolo pris ti nar um nw it at nm t e

.

c o rd e ris nudos amat he r e m us nolo te anti q uae

— —

e r e rin ati on i s t e rr e at di fii c ultas Qui in Christo

p g .

c r e di s et eius crede se r m o n
, i b us : Q uae ri t e prim um
regnum Dei et haec omni a adpnne nt nr
,

No nger a tibi s um e nda non virga est ; adj ati m dives

, __

est qui cum Christo pauper es t

, .

2 8
 L ETT ER X IV

LE TT E R XIV
To HE L IO DO R U S

The a scetic li f e

Written A D 37 4
. .

YO U R ow n heart consciou s of o ur mutual a ffection

knows with what loving zeal I urged you to let us
stay togeth er in t he dese r t Thi s letter even .
,

blotted as you s e e with tears bears witness to the

, , ,

grief the sobs and the lamentations where wi th I

, ,

accompani ed your departure Yo u like s ome spoilt .

,

c hild s moothed over your contemptuou s refus al then

,

with soft words and I in my folly did no t know what

to do Ought I to have h eld my tongue I could no t
.

conceal my ardent desires under a cloak of i ndi ffe r

ence Ought I to have pleaded with more urgency ?
.

You would not have li stened for y o u did not love ,

me as I loved y o u The a ff ection you scorned

.

has done the one th ing it could It was not able .

to keep you when present but it no w comes to ,

seek you wh en y o u are far away At your departure .

you asked me to send you a letter o f invitation when

I took up my home in t he de s ert and I promi s ed t hat ,

I would do so That letter of invitation I now send

.

come and come quickly Do not think of old ties

, .

t he desert loves t he naked d o not be deterred by —

t he hards hips o f our fo r mer tr avel s As you beli eve .

in C hrist beli eve als o in hi s words :

‘

, Seek ye first
t he kingdom o f God and all t h e s e things s hall be
,

added unto you 1 You need not take scrip nor

sta ff he is abundantly rich who is poor wi th Chris t .

1
St . M atthew , vi . 33 .

2 9
 SELE CT LETTER S O F ST JERO ME .

2 . Sed quid ago ? Rur sus i np r o vi d us ob s ec r o ?

A b e ant preces , b landim e nta di s c e dant ; debet
amor ir asc i . Qui ro
gant e m co nt e m ps er as , fo rs itan
audi es g nt emob i u
Quidr f ac is in paterna domo
a .
,

deli c ate miles ? U bi vallum , ubi fossa ubi hi em ps ,

ac t a sub p e l li b us ? Ec ce de caelo tuba ca ni t cum ,

nubib us d e b ellat urus orhem imperator armatus

e gr e di t ur , ecce bis acutus gla di us ex regis ore pro
cedens obvia q uae q ue m e tit : et tu mihi de cubiculo
ad ac i e m , de umbra e gr e d e ris ad solem ? Corpus
m t unica lor i8?e îfin
’
ad s ue t u o s ufie rt , caput o
p m
e r tu

linteo galcam r e c us at , mollem oti c manum d uru s

e x as
p er at ca
p ul us . Audi edictum regis tui : Q
mecum non est contra me est ; , et qui mecum non
’
c o lli
gi t , sp ar gi t . R ecordare t i r oc o nii tui di em quo ,

Christo in b apt ism at e co ns ep ult us sacramenti verba

i ur as t i : pro nomine eius no n te matri p ar c it ur um
es s e non patri
, . Ecce a d v ers ar i us in pectore tuo
C hr is t um co nat ur occidere ; ecce denat iv um , quod
mi li t at ur u
s ac c e
p er as , hostilia castra s uspir ant Licet .

par vulus e x collo p e nd e at nepos licet sparso crine et

,

sc is s is v e s t ib us ubera , quibus nutri e r at , mater

o st e nd at licet in limine pater
, i ac e at , per calcatum

30
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST . JERO ME

perge p at r e m , ad vexillum crucis vola !

sic c i s o c ulis

Pi e t at i s genus est in hac re esse c r ud el em .

3 Ve n
. i e t postea dies quo victor r e v ert ar is in
,

p at ri am quo Hie r osolym am c aele st em v ir fortis

,

c or o n at us inced e s Tune m unic ip at um cum Paulo

.

e s pies t une et p ar entib us tuis e i usd em civi tatis ius

,

petes t une et pro me r o gab is qui ut vi nc er e s

, , , ,

incitavi Neque vero nescio qua te nunc di cas

.
,

con Non e st nobis fe rr e um pectus

p e d e p raep e d ir i .

nec dura praecordia non e x silic e natos Hy r c anae ,

nut r i e r e t igrid e s Et nos per ista t r ansi vim us

. .

Nunc tibi b landi s vidua soror haer e t lac erti s nunc ,

illi eum quibus adol e v isti v e rnul ae aiunt : Cui nos

, ,

s e r vi t ur os r e li n ui s ? Nunc et gerula quondam

q ,

iam anus et nutricius secundus post nat ur al em

, ,

p e t at is pater c lam it at : M o r i t ur o s expecta paulis

i ,

’
per et s ep e li For sit an et laxis ub er um p e llib us
.
,

arata rugis fronte antiquum r e fe r e ns m arta na l allar e

c o n e mi n et D i c ant si v ol unt et grammatici
g .
, ,

’
In t e omnis domus inclinata r e c um b it Facile .

rumpit haec vincula amor C hristi e t timor gehenna s .

At s cr ipt ur a p r aec ipi t p ar e ntib us ob se q ue nd um

s e d q uic um q ue e o s supra C hr i st um amat per di t ,

animam s uam G ladium tenet hostis ut me peri

.
,

mat et ego de matris lac r imi s c ogit ab o ? Propter

,

32
 LETT ER XIV

with tearless eyes t o th e st andard o f the Cro ss In .

’
thes e matters t o be cru el is a son s duty .

The day will come later when y o u shall return in

triumph to your true country wh en crowned as a , ,

man of might you shall walk t h e streets o f th e

,

heavenly J erusalem Then you shall s hare with.

Paul t he franchi se o f t hat city and as k t he same ,

privilege for your parents Yes and for me al s o .

,

you shall i ntercede w ho ur ge d you o n to victory I

, .

know full well th e fetters whi ch you will say impede

you M y breas t is not o f iron nor my heart o f
.

stone I was not born from a rock o r suckled by

.

Hyr canian tigers 1 I t oo have p assed through all

.

thi s Your wi dowed sister cli ng s to y o u to day

.
—

with lovi ng arms ; t he house S laves in whos e —

,

company y o u grew to manh ood cry To what ,

master are y o u leaving us ? Your Old nurs e and

h e r husband who have the next cl ai m to your
,

a ff ecti on after your own father exclai m Wai t for , ,

’
a few months till we di e and then give us b urial .

Perhaps your foster mother with sagging breasts

and wrinkl ed face may remind you o f your o ld
lullaby and sing it once aga in Your tutors even if .
,

h h
t ey wis may say with Virgil
,
2

’
On you the whole hous e resting leans .

The love of Christ and the fear o f hell ea sily break

such bonds as these .

But y o u will say the Scriptur e bids us to obey

, ,

our parents Nay whosoever loves his p arents more

.
,

than Christ los es his own soul The enemy takes up .

’
his sword to slay me : shall I thi nk o f my moth er s
tea rs ? Shall I desert from my army because o f m y
1
C i A eneid ,
. IV . 3 66 . A eneid, X II . 59 .

33
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

atr e m m ili t iam d es e r am , cui s e ult ur am C h risti

p p
causa no n d èb e o quam etiam omnibus eius causa
,

d eb eo ? Domino passuro timide c o ns ule ns Petrus

candalum fuit Paulus r e ti n en tib us fr at ri b us ne
s .
,

Hiero soly m am p e r ger e t r espondi t : , Quid fac itis

l o r an t es et con t ur b an t es cor meum ? Ego no n
p
solum ligari sed m or ì in Hie r us al em paratus sum pro
,

’
nomine domini nostri Iesu Christi Aries iste .

u atit ur v an e lii r e t un d e nd us
”

p i e t ati s quo
, fide s
q e
g ,

e s t muro : M ater mea et fratres mei hi sunt q ui ,

cumque fac i unt v olunt at em patris mei qui in caelis ,

’
e st . Si c r e dunt in C hristo fàve aat mihi pro eius,
‘

nomine pugnat uro si non c r e dunt m ort ui s ep eliant ,

’
m ort uos suos .

’ ’
4 . Sed hoc ais , I n m ar ty r i o
, Erras frater
.
, ,

erras si putas umq u

, am C hris tianum p e r s ec utione m £

no n pati ; et nunc cum maxim e oppugnar is s i te ,

o u n ari n esc is A d v e rs ar i us noster tamquam leo

pp g .

r u i en ali uem d e v or ar e q uae r e ns circuit et tu

'

g s
q ,

pacem putas ? S e d et in insidiis c um div itib us in

o cc u ltis ut int e r fic i at i nno c e nt e m ; oculi eius in
,

au e r e m r es ic iun t ; i n sidi at ur in occulto sicut leo

p p p
in spelunca sua ; i nsidiatur ut rapiat p aup er em
et tu frondos ae arb ori s t ect us umb r ac ulo molles
somnos … a carp is ? Inde me perse ‘

, ,

u i t u luxuria inde avarit i a c on at ur i n r um e r e

q r , p ,

34
 LE TTE R X I V
’
father to whom in Christ s ca us e I o w e no rit es o f
,
’
b uri al although in Chris t s caus e I o w e them to all
,
’
men ? Peter with his craven couns el was an o flenc e
’
to Our Lord before Hi s p assion Paul s answer to .

his brothers who would have s tayed hi s j ourney to

,

J erusalem was this : What mean ye to weep and

, ,

to break my h eart ? For I am ready n o t t o be

bo und only but als o to di e at J erusalem for the n ame

,
’1
of the Lord J es us The battering ram of a ff ection .
—

which shakes faith must be beaten back by t he wall

of the Gospel : M y mother and my brethr en are
thes e whosoever do th e wi ll o f my fat her which is in
,
’2
heave n If men believe in Christ they s hould
.
,

cheer me o n as I go to fight in His name If they .

’3
do not believe let the dead bury their dead , .

All this is well enough y o u reply if one is a , ,

martyr Ah you are mistaken grievously mi staken

.
, , ,

my bro ther if y ou thi nk that there is ever a time

,

when the Christi an is not su ff ering persecution At .

this very moment y o u are being furiously attacked

when you do not know that any att ack is be ing made .

Our advers ary as a roaring lion walketh about

seeki ng whom he may devour 1
an d do you think ,
"
you are at peace ? He sitteth in ambus h with t he
rich in secret to murder the i nn oc ent his eyes are ,

priv i set agai nst the poor He lieth in wai t .

secretly as a lion in hi s den ; he lieth in wai t to catch

’5
the poor and do you his destined prey enj oy your
, , ,

s oft slumbers un der th e S hady coverin g o f a leafy

tr ee ? On one side self ind ulgence pur sues me on -

another avarice tries to break in on another my belly ,

1
Acts xxi 13 . . S t Matthew XII
. 50
1 S t Pe te r v 8
, , . .

S t Matthew viii
. 22
Psalm x 8
. . . . . .
,

. .
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST . JE R O ME

inde venter meus vult mihi deus ess e pro Christo ,

c o n e llit libido ut hab i tant em in me spirit um

p ,

s anctum f uge m ut templum eius violem pers e

, ,

q u i t ur me i n q u
,am hostis c ui nom
, , i na mi lle mille ,

nocendi artes et ego infeli x v ic tor em me put ab o ,

dum c apior ?
5 Nolo frater cariss ime e x ami nat o pondere delic
.
, ,

t orum minora ar b it r e r is i dolat r iae crimina esse ,

quae di x im us immo apo s to li di s c e sent ent iam qui ,

ait : Hoc e nim s c itot e int ellegent e s qui a omni s ,

fornica t or aut imm undus aut fr aud at or quod e st

, ,

idolatria non habet her e di t at em in regno Dei et

,
’
Christi Et quamquam generaliter adversum De um
.

sapi e t q uid q uid diaboli est et quod diaboli est

, , ,

idola tri a sit c ui omnia idola m anc ip ant ur tamen et

, ,

in alio loco sp ec iatim nomi nat im q ue d e t e rmi nat

di c e n s : M or ti fic at e membra vestra quae in terra ,

sunt exponentes fornic atio nem i mm undi tiam et

, ,

c on c up is c e n ti am malam et c upi di t at e m quae sunt ,

’
i dolor um se r vi t us propter quae venit ira Dei
, Non .

est tantum in eo s èrv it us idoli si quis d uob us di gi,

tulis tura c om pr ehe ns a in b ustum ar s e i ac iat aut

haust um patera f undat merum Nege t av ariti am
.

i d ol at r i am qui potest t ri gint a arge nt e is dominum

,

v en di t um appellare i usti tiam ; meget s ac rilegi um in

libidine sed is q ui membra Christi et hostiam vivam
,

l ac e n t e m Deo cum p ub li c ar um libidi a v ic t im is

p

3 6
 LETT E R X IV
’
wis hes to be my god in Chr ist s place : lus t urges m e
to drive away th e Holy Spiri t that dwells withi n me
and to violate His temple ; I am purs ued I repea t , ,

by an enemy w ho has
1
A thous and n ames a thous and arts for ill
,

and shal l I poo r wretch deem my s e lf a conqueror

, ,

when I am be ing led i nto captivity ?

Do not weigh one transgression t oo closely agai ns t M
another dearest brother nor thi nk t hat the sins I
, ,

h ave mentioned are less heinous than idolatry Nay .

,
’
listen to th e apostle s verdi ct : For this we know ,

t hat no whoremonger or uncle an p erson no r covetous ,

man who is an idolater hath an inh e ritance in th e

, ,
’2
kingdom of Chris t and o f God Spe aking generally .

all t hat is o f the devil savours o f enmity to God and ,

what is o f the devil is idolatry since all idols are in ,

his ser vice .But in another place the apostle la ys

down a sp ecial la w sa yi ng expressly : M orti fy y Our
,

members which are upon the ear th Ia ying as ide ,

f ornication uncleanness evi l concupiscence and

, ,
’
covetous ness which are idolatry for which things
, ,
’3
sake the wrath of God cometh Idolatr y is not .

co n fine d to ta king some grai ns of incens e in tw o

fingers and throwing them upon an alta r fire nor to ,

po uring a libation of wi ne from a bowl L et him .

deny t hat avarice is idolatry w ho can ass e r t th at ,

the selli ng of th e Lo rd for thirty pieces of silver was

a fi ght e ous act L e t him but only him deny that
.
, ,

there is s acrilege i n carnal lust who has po lluted ,

t he li v ing o ff ering of his b ody pleas ing to God by

shameful i ntercours e with the vic tims o f public
1
Virgil , A en
e id , VII 33 7
. .
1
E phesians v , . 5 .

Co loss ians, iii . 5 .

 SELE CT LE TTE R S O F ST . JERO ME

n efari a qon ly vj one vi olavit non fat e at ur idolatras eos

fl ,

s ed similis eorum qui in A c t ib us Apostolorum ex

,

patrimonio suo partem pr e tii r es erv ant e s p3 3 nti

p er ie r e vindi cta An i m adv ert e
. frater : non ti bi ,
’
licet de tuis q uic q uam habere rebus Om n is .
,

i nq ui t domi nus q ui non r e nunt i av e ri t c unc tis

,
’
quae possid e t non potest meus esse discipulus
, .

6 C nr ti mido animo Christianus es ? R espice

.

c um patre r elic t um rete respice sur gent em de ,

teloneo p ub lic anum sta ti m aposto lum , Filius .

hominis non habet ubi caput r ec linet , et tu amplas

porti cus et inge nt ia tectorum spatia m e tariS ?
He r e di t at e m expectas s aec uli coheres Christi ? ,

I… re v oc ab ul um monachi hoc est nomen ,

tuum : quid facis in turba qui solus es ? Et haec ,

ego non i nt egris rate v el m er cib us quasi ignar os

fluc t uum doctus nauta p r ae m one o sed quasi nup e r ,

naufragio c i e c tus in litus timida navigat ur is voce

d e nunt io .In illo s estu Charybdi s lux uri ae s alut em
v o r at , ibi ore virgineo ad pudi c iti ae p e rp e t r and a
_

naufr agia S c y llac e um r e ni d e ns libido b landi t ur ;

hic barbarum litus hic diabolus pirata cum soens ,

portat vi ncla e apie ndi s Nolite credere nolite .

,

esse securi Licet in morem stagni fus um aequor

.

ad ri d e at licet vi x summa i ac e nt is elementi spiritu

,

terga c r isp e nt ur magnus hic campus montes habet

, ,

1
A c ts v, . 1 .
2 S t Luke
.
, x iv . 33 .

38
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

intus i nc lus um est pe r iculum in tus est ho s tis , .

Expedite ruden t es vela susp endi t e Crux ant emnae

, .

figat ur in fr o nt ib n s : t r an q uillit as ista t em p e stas e s t .

Q uid ergo ? q uic um que in civitate s unt Chris tiani ,

non sunt ? Non est tibi eadem caus a quae ceteris , .

Dominum ausculta di c e nt e m : Si vi s perfectus es se ,

vade vende omnia tua et da p aup e ri b us et veni

, ,
’
s e ue r e me
q Tu autem p e rf ec tum te esse polli c it us
.

es Nam cum derelicta mi litia castrasti te propter

.

regnum c aelor um qui d aliud quam p e r fe c t am

,

sec t at us es vitam ? Perfectus autem servus Christi

nihil praeter C hr ist um h abet ; si praet er C hri st um
habet perfectus no n est Et si p erfectus non e st
, .
,

cum se p e r fe c t um Deo fore p olli cit us sit ante m e ntit us ,

’ ’
est . Os autem quod m entit ur oc cidi t ani mam
, , , .

I git ur ut co nclud am si perfectus es cur bona paterna

, , ,

d e side r as ? Si perfectus no n es dominum f e fe llis t i , .

Divi nis evangelium v oc ib us tona t : Non p o t e s tis

’
d uob us dominis servire et audet quisquam menda ,

cem C hr ist um facere m am onae et domino s e r vi endo ?

V o e ife r at ur ille saepe : Si quis vult post me venire ,

ab n e e t se ipsum et t ollat c r uc e m suam et se q uat ur

g
’
me . Et ego o nust us auro arb itr o r me C hr is t um
se u
q i ?
Q ui dicit s e in Chr i sto manere debet , ,
’
quomodo ille am b ulavi t et ipse ambulare ,
.

7 Q uo dsi nihil habes ut r espo nsur um te scio cur

.
, ,

1 St . Matthew
, X iX . 21 . W is d om , i . 11 .
 LETT E R X I V

i t There is danger in its dep ths the foe is lurki ng

. ,

there Stow your tackle reef yo ur s ails and let t he

. , ,

cr oss which the yard arm makes b e fas tened o n your —

fron t That sti llness means a tempest

. .

Well you may say are not all my fellow townsmen

, ,
-

Christians ? Your cas e is not th e s ame as that of

other men L isten t o the Lord sp eaking : I f t hou
.

wilt be perfect go and se ll t hat thou h as t and give ,

’1
to the poo r and co me and follow me
, You .

p r omis ed to be perfect When you gave up t he .

army and made yo urself an eunuch for t he kingdom

’
o f h ea ven s sake w h at other purpos e had you in vi ew
,

save th e pe rfect lif e ? A perfect servant o f Chr is t

has nothi ng be s ide Chri st if he has anyt hing beside
Christ he is not perfect And i f he is not perfect . .

when he promis ed God t hat he would b e perfect his ,

first promis e was a li e Now the mouth that lie th .

’2
slayeth t he soul To conclude then if you are
.
, ,
’
perfec t why do you b anker after your father s
prope r ty ? If you are no t perfect you have played ,
’
t he Lo rd fals e The Gosp el thunders with G od s
.

ow n voice : Ye cannot serve two m asters and

does any man dare t o ma ke Christ a liar by serving
M ammon and the Lord together Often d oes H e ?

cry : I f any one will come after me let hi m

deny hi ms elf and take up hi s cross and follo w
’4
me . Do I think that I am follo wing Chri s t
when I load myself wi th gold ? H e that saith he
abideth in Him ought hi ms elf also to walk even as
’5
He walked .

’
I know what your reply wi ll b e I poss ess nothi ng .

When you ar e so well equipped for war why do y ou ,

St . Matt he w v i. 24 . St . Matt he w xvi 24

J
, , . .

5
1 oh n ii
, . 6 .

41
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JEROME .

”
tam bene p ar at us ad bella non militas ? Nisi forte
’

in patria tu a te arb itr ar is ho c facere cum in sua ,

dominus signa non fec eri t Et cur id ? Cum auc tor i .

tate um e rationem : Nemo pr ophet a in sua patri a

î
ho no à hab e t
’ ’
Non q uae r o i nq ui es honorem ;
.

’
, ,

s ufli ci t mihi c onsc i entia mea Neque dominus .

q uaer e b at quippe qui ne a t ur b i s rex c o n

, s t i t ue r e t ur
, ,

aufu i t
g Sed ubi honor non e st ibi c ont e m p t us est ;
.
,

ubi c ont em ptus ibi fr e q ue ns tgig j g ; ubi autem

,

i niuri a ibi et indignatio ; ubi indignatio ibi q ui e s

, ,

nulla ; ubi q ui es non est ibi mens a proposito saepe ,

d e d uc it ur ; ubi autem per i nq m e t udi ne m aliquid —

auf e r t ur e x studio mi nus fi t ah eo quod t olli t u

, r et , ,

ubi minus est p er fe ct um non po t est dici Ex hac

, .

s upp ut ati on e illa summa n as cit ur , m o nac hum per

f… patria sua ess e non posse Pe rf e c t um .

autem esse nolle d elin q uene e st .

8 Sed de hoc gradu pulsus prov o c ab is ad c ler ic o s

.

An de hi s aliquid and e dicere qui certe in suis

’ ,

ur b ib us c o m m or ant ur ? 1Absi t u t q uic q uam de his

sinistrum lo q uar qui apostolico gradui suc c e d e nt es
,

Christi corpus sacro or e w nficignt per quo s no s __ ,

etiam Christiani sum us qui claves regni c aelor um ,

h ab e nt e s quodammodo ante i udi c ii diem i udi c ant ,

qui domi ni sobri a c as tit at e conservant .

Sed alia ut ante pr aestr ux i monachi caus a est alia

, , ,

e l e r ic or um Clerici oves p asc unt ego pascor ; illi

. ,

de alt ar i o v ivunt mihi quasi infr uc t uosae arbori

,

se c ur i s p o nit ur ad radices s i munus ad altare non ,

1 C f p 4 1 2,
. . not e 1 .

42
 LE TTER XIV

not take the field ? Perhaps y o u th ink y o u can do

so in your own country although t he Lord could
,

do no signs in His Why could He not.

? Hear the
re ason t hat has His authority : No pr ophet has .

’ ’
honour in his own country I do not seek honour
.
,
’
you will say ; my o w nconscience is enough for me .

Neither di d the Lord seek it ; for when t he crowds

would have made Him king He fled away But .

where there is no honour there is contempt ; where

,

there is contempt insult is frequent ; wh ere there is

,

insult there is indignation ; where there is indigna

,

tion there is no rest ; wh ere there is no rest t he

, ,

mind is often di verted from its purpos e M oreover .

,

where through restlessness something of zeal is lost ,

zeal is lessened by what it los es and when a th ing is

,

lessened it cannot be called p erfect We may sum .

up our account by saying that a monk cannot be

perfect in hi s o wn country ; and not t o wish to be
perf ect I S a sin
'

Shi fted from this position you will appeal to the

’
clergy . dare to criticiz e them y o u will ,
’
sa
y
, who yet assuredly remain in their own cities
‘
?

He aven forbid th at I should say anything un

favo urable about th e men who as successors to th e
,

apostles make the body of Christ for us with holy

,

words ; who baptiz e us as Christians ; w ho hold

the keys o f the kingdom o f h eaven and in a way ,

j udge us before t he J udgment Day ; who in

sober chasti t y guard the bride o f Christ But as .
,

I have laid d Ow n already t h e cas e o f a mo n

, k is
di fferent from that of t h e clergy 1
The clergy feed
.

’
Christ s sheep ; I a monk am of their flock The
, , .

clergy live o f the altar ; if I bring no gift to the altar

steps I am a barren tree and the axe is laid to my
,

43
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JE R O ME .

d e fe r o . Nec possum ob t end er e paup ert at em cum ,

in evangelio e num vi d e am duo quae sola sibi super ,

e r an t
, aera m it t e nt e m M ihi ante pr esb y t er um .

s edere non licet ; illi si p ec c av er o licet tradere me

, ,

S at anae in int e r it um carnis nt spiritus s alv us fiat , .

Et in v et e ri quidem lege q ui c um q ue s ac er do tib us ,

non o b t em per ass e t ant extra castra posit us lapida

,

b at nr a populo aut gladio cervice s ub i e c t o con

t e m pt n m e x piab at cruore Nunc vero i nob o e d .

i e ns spiritali mucrone t r unc at ur aut ci e c t n s de

ecclesia rabido d ae m o num or e di sc erp i t nr Quod si .

te quoque ad eundem o r d ine m pia fratrum blandi

menta sollicitant gaud eb o de as c e ns u t im eb o de
, ,

laps u . Qui e pisc o p at um desiderat bonum opus ,

desiderat S c im us ista sed innge quod sequitur , ,

Opor t e t autem hui us m o di inr epr ehensib ile m esse ,

unius uxori s virum s o b r ium pu dicum pr ud e nt e m

, , , ,

ornatum ho sp it al e m do cì hì lexnn
, o nvi n
, ol e nt um non , ,
’
e rc u s s o r e m sed mod estum Et ceteris de eo quae
p , .
,

sequuntur e x plic itis no n minore,.in t ertio gradu ad

,

hib uit di ligentiam di c e ns Diaco no s similiter pudicos ,

non bili ngues non multo vino d e ditos non t urpi

, ,

lucros hab e nt e s mysterium fid e i in c onsci e nt ia p ura

,
.

Et hi autem p r ob e nt ur primam et sic mi ni str ent

’
nullum crimen hab e nt es Vae illi homi ni qui vestem
.
,

non habens nuptiale m i ngr e di tnr ad c e nam ! Nihil

s up e r e st ni s i ut statim andi at : Amice quomodo
,
‘
,

1
I C orinthi ans , v . 5 . Dent … xv n 12. .

44
 LETTE R X I V

roots I cannot plead poverty for in the Gospel I

.
,

s e e the aged woman o fle ri n g the last two pe nni es

'

she had left It is not permi tted m e to sit in the

.

presence of a presbyter : it is permitted hi m if I ,

sin to deliver me to Satan for t he de s tr uction of th e

, ,

flesh that the sp i rit may be saved 1 .

U nder the old law anyone w ho refus ed obe dience

to the pri ests was p nt outside the c amp and ston ed
by the people or els e he w as beheaded and expiated
,

his contempt with his blood 2 To day the di s .

—

obedi ent ar e smitt en with t he spiritual sword or ,

t hey are exp elled from the Church and torn in

pieces by t he rave ni ng j aws o f demons If the .

pions persuasion o f your brethren in vi t es you to take

cleri c al orders I shall rej oice at your present ris e and
,

fear a future fa ll If a man desire the o ffice of a

.

’3
bis hop he des ireth a goo d work
, W e know th e .

pas s age : y o u must continue th e quota tion : S uc h

an one mus t be blameless th e h usband o f one wife , ,

vigil ant sob er ch aste o f good behaviour given to

, , , ,

hosp itali ty apt t o teac h not given t o wine no

, , ,
’
str iker but pa ti ent Aft er setting o nt some
.

further details th e apostle shows no less care i n

dealing with clergy of t he third degree Likewis e .

’
must the dea cons be grave he says not double , ,

to ngued not given to muc h wine no t greedy of

, ,

filthy lnc r e holdi ng the mystery of t he f aith in a

,

pur e conscience And let t hese also firs t be proved ;

.

’s
then let t hem minister being found blameless , .

Woe to the man who enters the feas t without a

wedding garment ! Nothing re mains for him bu t
the quick c hallenge Fri end how cam est t ho u in
, ,

Ti moth y , iii . 2 .

5
I Timothy iii , . 8 .

45
 SELE CT LE TTER S O F ST JERO ME .

huc venisti ? e t illo o b m ut e sc ent e di c at nr minis tris

To lli t e illum p edibus et m anib us et m ittit e e um in,

’
t en e b r as exteriores ibi erit flet ns et stridor dentium .

Vac illi qui ac c ep t n , m t ale nt um in su dari o ligans

ceteris lncr a fac i e nti b ns id tantum quod acc ep e r at , ,

r es e rv ari t ! Ili c o indi gnant is domi ni clamore ferie

t nr : Serve ne q nam quare non d e di sti p ec uni am
,

meam ad m ens am et ego v e ni e ns cum us nri s e x e gis

,
’
sem ? id es t : d epo sui ss e s ad altare quod ferre ,

non p ot er as Dum enim t n ignav us negotiator

.
, ,

d e nari nm tenes alterius locum qui p ec uni am dupli

, ,
’
care p o t e r at occup asti , Quam ob rem s icut is qui
.
,

bene mi ni st r at bonum grad um sibi ad q ui rit ita

, , ,

qui indigne ad c alic e m domini acc e di t rens erit ,

domi nici corporis et sanguinis .

9 Non omnes episcopi episcopi A d t e ndi s

Pe t r nm sed et Indam co n
. .

sidera S t e phanum s us
picis s ed et Ni c olaum respice quem dominu s in
.
,

, ,

A p oc alyp si s ua o di t ; qui tam tur pi s et nefanda

c om m e n tn s est nt Ophi t ar nm he r e sis e x i lla ra dice
,

nas c at ur Prob e t se unnsq uis q ne et s ic acc e d at

. .

Non facit ecclesiastica di gnit as C hr istiannm Cor .

ne li us centurio adhuc e thn jgus dono spiritus sancti

i nnnd at ur ; p r esb y t e r o s Dan i hel puer i ndi c at ; Amos
uborum mora d e st ri nge ns repente pr ophe t a est ;
David pastor ad legit nr in regem ; m ini mum dis
c i uln m I esus amat l ur im n m In f erius frater
p p .
, ,

1 S t Matthew x xii Il
.
, . .
3
S t L uke
. , xi x . 23 .

3
The ass um e d f o und er of t he s ec t of t he N i colaitanes ,
R ev .
, ii . 6 .

46
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST . JERO ME
ac c um b e , ut minore veni ente sursum i ub e ar is
accedere Super quem dominus r e q uie sc it nisi
.
,

super humi l em et q uie t um et t re m e nt e m verba sua ?

Cui plus c r e di tur plus ab eo e xigit ur
, Potentes .

’
potenter tormenta pat ie nt ur Nec sibi quisquam
.

de corporis tantum mundi c as tit at e s upplaud at cum ,

omne verbum otiosum q uo dc um q ue loc uti f ue r int

,

homines r e d di t ur i sint pro eo rationem in di e i udi cii

, ,

cum etiam c o nv ic ium in fr atr em hom ic idii sit reatus .

Non est facile stare loc o Pauli tenere gradum iam ,

cum Christo r egnantium ne forte v eniat angelus

, ,

qui scind at velum templi tui qui candelabrum tuum

,

loco m ov e at A e di fic at ur us t urr em futuri operis

.

su m pt us m pp ut a
.
Ln fah xai um sal ad ni hilum est
utile nisi ut pr oic iat ur foras et a poreis co nc ulc et ur
, .

M onachus si ce ci d e ri t r ogab it pro e o sacerdos ; pro

,

s ac e rd o t is l a s u quis r o at ur us est ?
p g
1 0 Sed quia e s c opulosis locis e nav igavi t oratio
.

e t inter cavas spum e is fluc tib us c aut e s fragilis in

altum c umba pr oc essit e x p and e nda vela sunt ventis
,

et q uae stionum s c op ulis t r ansv adatis laet antium more

naut ar um e pilogi celeu ma c ant and um e s t
__ _
0 de .

sert um Chris ti flor ib us v ernans ! O solitude i n qua ,

illi nasc unt ur lapides de quib us in A poc alypsi

,

civitas magni regis e x tr ui tur ! O he r em us famili ari

Deo gaudens ! Quid agis frater in s aec ulo qui
, , ,

maior es m undo ? Quam diu te tectorum umbrae

48
 LETT E R X I V

that when one less honourable comes y o u may be

bidden to go up higher U pon whom does t he
.

Lord rest save upon him th at is lowly and of a

con t rite spirit and that trembleth at hi s words Th e
?

more that is entrusted to a man the more is de ,

m and e d from him : The mighty will s uff er torments

’1
mi ghtily. L et no man applaud hi ms elf becaus e
o f his bodily chastity alone o nt h e day of j udgment ,

for men shall render acco unt for every idle word
they have spo ken and abuse o f a brot her shall be
,

counted as the sin o f murder It is no e asy thing to

.

’
stand in Paul s place and to hold the rank of those
w ho now reign wi t h Christ .Perchance an angel
may come to rend the veil o f your temple and to
remove your ca ndlestick from its place If y o u are .

thi nking o f buildi ng a tower reckon up the cost o f

,

the structure first Salt that has lost its savour is

.

wort hless : it can only be c as t o ut and trodden

underfoo t by swine If a monk fal ls a priest will
.
,

intercede for him ; but w ho shall intercede for a

fallen priest ?
M y di scours e has now sai led cle ar o f the reefs and ,

from t he mids t o f hollow crags with foami ng waves

my frail bark has won her way into deep water .

Now I may spread my canvas to the wi nd and le avi ng ,

the rocks o f cont roversy as t e m like some m erry

,

sailor s ing a cheerful ep ilogue O W ilde r ness

.
,
’
bright with Christ s spring flowers ! O solitude ,

whence come tho s e stones wherewi th i n the Apoc a

lyp se t h e city of the mighty king is b ui lt ! O des ert ,
’
rej oic ing in God s fami liar presence ! What are y ou
doing in the world brother you w ho are more than
, ,

t he univers e ? How long is t he shade o f a roof going

1
W isd om vi 6
, . .

49
 SELE C T LE TTERS O F ST JERO M E .

p re m unt Quam diu fum e us harum urb ium c are er

?

i ncl udi t ? Crede mihi nescio qui d plus lucis aspicio / , .

L ibet sarcina carni s ab i e c t a ad purum ae t her is

volare fulgor em Paup e rt at em t imes ? sed beatos
.

p pau er e s C hristus appellat L ahor e t e rr e r i3 ? sed .

nemo athleta sine sudorib us c o r onat ur De cibo .

cogitas ? sed fides fam e m non sentit Super nudam .

”
m e t ui s hum um e x e sa i e i uniis m e m b r a òo nli d er e ?
s ed dominus tecum i ac e t Squalidi capitis horret .

inculta c aes ari e s ? sed caput tuum Christus est .

I nfini ta beremi vastitas terret ? s e d tu p ar adi sum

m e nt e … a Quoti ensc um que illuc cogita
.

tione co ns c end eris t o tiens in heremo non eris, .

Scabra sine b alneis adt r ahi t ur cutis ? se d qui in

Christo semel lotus est non illi necesse est iterum ,

lavare Et ut b r evi t er ad cuneta aposto lum andi as

.
, ,

r es o n d en t em : Non sunt c ondi nae assi ones

p g p
hui us s ae c uli ad s up er v e nt ur am gloriam quae ,
’
r e v e lab it ur in nobis Dehc at us es cariss ime si et
.
, ,

hic vis gaudere cum sacculo et postea regnare cum

Chris to .

Il V e n
. i e t v e ni e t illa dies qua corr up tiv um hoc
, ,

et mortale i nc o rr uptionem i nduat et immortali

tatem Beatus servus quem dominus inv e ne ri t
.
,

v igilan t em Tunc ad v oc e m tubae p av e b it terra

.

cum populi s tu gaud eb is Iudic at ur o domino

, .

lugubre mundus imm ugi e t ; tribus ad trib um f e ri e nt

pectora ; p o t e nt is?fi i î uond am reges nudo latere

50
 LETTER X I V

to co nfine you ? How long shall the smoky prison o f

thes e cities shut y ou in ? Believe me I s ee some ,

thing more o f ligh t than you behold How sweet it .

is to fling o ff the burden of the flesh and to fly aloft ,

to th e clear radi ance of the sky ! Are you a frai d o f

poverty ? Christ calls the p oor blessed Are you .

frightened by the thought o f to il ? No athlete gains

his cro w n without sweat Are you thinking about
.

food ? F aith feels not h unger Do you dread .

brui s ing your limbs worn away with fasting o n

the bare ground ? The Lo rd lies by your side .

Is yo ur rough head bri s tli ng with uncombed hair ?

Your head is Chr is t Does the infinite vastness of
.

the desert seem terrible ? In spirit you may always

stroll in paradis e and when in thought you have
,

as cend ed there y o u will no long er be in the des ert

/
.

Is your skin rough and scurfy withou t baths ? H e

who has once washed in Chr ist needs not to wash
’
agai n Listen to the apostle s brief reply to all
.

complaints : The s ufferings of this present tim e are

not worthy to be compared wi th the glory which
shall come after them which shall be revealed in
,
’1
us
. You are a pam pered darling indeed dearest ,

brother if you wis h to rej oice here with t his world

,

and afterwards to reign with Christ .

The day the day will come when thi s corrupt and
,

mortal body shall put onincorruptibility and be co me

immortal Happy the servant whom the Lord t hen
.

s hall fin d o n t he wa tc h Then at th e voice o f the

.

trumpet the e arth with its peoples shall quake ,

and you will rej oice When the Lo rd comes to give

.

j udgment the univers e will utter a mournful groan

the tribes o f men will beat their bre as ts ; ki ngs once
1 R omans viii , . 18 .
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

p alpit ab unt ; e x hib eb it ur cum prole sua vere t une

ignit us Iuppiter ; ad d uc e t ur et cum sui s s t ul t us

Plato d is c ip ulis ; A r i s t o t e li argumenta non p ro

d er unt . Tune tu r ust ic a nus et pauper e x ult ab is ,

r id e b is et dices : Ecce c r uc i fix us Deus meus ecce ,

iude x , qui o b vo lut us pa mmis in p r a e se i

po v ag nt .

Hic es t ille o
p er ar u et fi lius hic qui
, ,

matris ges ta
t u
s s imu hominem Deus fugit in A e gy p

turn hic , v e s t i t us c o c c i no hic , se nt ib us coro nat us hic ,

magu s d ae m o ni um habens et S am ari t es . Cerne

manus , Iud ae e , q uaS fixe ras ; r -
cerne latus R omane , ,

quod fo d e r as . V i de t e corpus , an idem s it , quod

’
d ic e b at is clam nocte t ulis s e disc ip ulos . U t haec
tibi frater dicere ut his interes s e contingat qui
, , , ,

nunc labor durus est ?

XXII
An E US TO C H IU M

l .
‘
A U D I filia et vide et inclina aurem tuam et
, ,

ob li visc e r e populum tuum et d o m um patris tui ; et

’
co nc upisc e t rex decorem tuum . In quadragesimo
quarto p s alm o Deus ad animam loquitur hum anam ,

52
 L E TT ER XIV A ND LE TT E R XXI I

mos t mighty wi ll shi ver wi th n aked flanks ; J upiter

wi th all his o ffspri ng w il l then be shown ami d rea ]
fires ; Plato wi th his di sciples will be revealed as but
’
a fool ; Aristotle s argum ents will not h elp him .

Then you th e poo r rustic w il l exult and s ay with a ,

smile : Behold my c ruc i fie d God behold the j udg e , .

This is h e who once was wrapped inswaddling clothes

and uttered baby c ries in a manger This is th e .

so n of a working man and a woman w ho served for

’
wages Thi s is he w ho carri ed in his mother s
.
,

arms fl ed i nto Egypt a God from a man This

, , .

is he w ho was clad in a scarlet r obe and crowne d

w ith th o m s This is h e w ho w as called a magician
.
,

a man w ith a devil a S am arita n , Be hold th e .

hands ye J e w s th at y o u nailed to th e cros s

, , .

Behold the side ye R omans that you pierced S e e

, , .

w hether this is the same body th at you s aid the

’
disciples c arried o ff s ec retly i nthe night .

O my broth er that it may b e yours t o say th es e

,

words and to be present on tha t day what labour ,

now ca nseem h ard ?

LETT ER XXI I
To E usr o c rmm

W ri tten AD
. . 384

HE AR O daughter and cons ider and inc line

, , ,

thi ne ear ; forget als o thin e own p e ople and thy

' ’1
father s hous e and t he king shall desire thy beau ty
, .

So in the forty fourth Ps alm God s p eaks to the

-

P sal m xi v 1 1 . .
( Vulg . P sal m xliv ) .

53
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

ut secundumexemplum A b r ahaè e x ie ns de t erra sua

et de c ognatione sua r elinq uat C hald ae os qui quasi ,

d ae m o ni a i nt e rp r e t ant ur et hab i te t in regio n e ,

vi v e n t i um quam alibi pr oph et a suspir at d ic e ns

, ,
’
Credo Videre bona domini in terra v iv e nt ium .

Verum no n s ufli c it tibi e x ir e de patria nisi ob livis ,

caris populi et d om um patris tui et carne c ont em p t a

’
s on
p si i u n gar i s am l e x i b us
p Ne r esp e x eris i nq ui t .
, ,

retro nec s t et er is in tota circa regione ; in montem

’
s àl v um te fac n e forte c o m pr e h e nd ar is
, Non .

expedit adpr e he nso aratro r e spic er e post tergum

nec de agro reverti d o m um nec post C hristi t unic am
ad to lle nd um aliud v estim e nt um té c ta d e sc e nd e r e —
.

Grande m ir ac ulum : pater fili am c ohor tat ur : Ne ‘

’
m e m i1i e r is patri s Vos de p atre di abolo esti s et
.

desideria patris v e str i v ultis facere d icit ur ad

Iud ae os e t alibi : Qui facit p ec c at um de diabolo
‘

,
’
est . Tali primum parente generati nigri s um us et
po s t p ae ni te nti am nec d um culmi ne v ut utis ascenso
’
d ic i m us : Nigra sum et speciosa filia Hi er us ale m .

E xi v i de domo i nfant iae m e ae oblita sum patris , ,

r en asc or in Christo Quid pro hoc m er c e di s ac c ipio ?

.

’
Sequitur Et c o nc up isc e t re x decorem tuum Hoc .

ergo illud magn um e s t sacramentum : Propter hoc

r e li n u e t homo p at r e m e t m at r e m et a d ha e r e b i t
q
uxori s uae et e r unt ambo i n carne una ? Iam —

1
P sal m xx v u 1 3 Genesis x ix . l7 .

St J J
. .
,

ohn viii 44 1 oh n iii . 8 .

J
.
, . . ,
5
S ong of S olom on l me ,
re alters
. 5
. t e x t o f t he
r
e o he t he
V ul g ate Ni gm sum s ed f or mos a , filiae J er us alem V ulg . .

Cant .
,
i . 4 .
6
E p hesì ans, v . 31 .

54
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST . JEROM E

non ,ut ibi in una carne sed spiritu Non est

, , .

s on
p s us tuus adr o gans non superbus : A e thiopi s s am
,

d ux it uxorem Statim ut v oluer i s s apie nti am veri

.

audire S alom o nis et ad eum veneri s c o nfit e b it ur ,

tibi cuneta quae novit et ind uc e t te rex in

, ,

cubiculum suum et m ir um in mod um colore mutato

s ermo tibi ille c o nv enie t : Quae est is t a quae ‘

as c e n di t dealbata ?
2 Haec i d c ir c o mi domina E ust o c hium d ominam
.
,
—

quippe d eb e o vocare sp o ns am domini mei ut e x —

ipso principio l e c tionis agnosc er e s non me nunc laudes

v ir i n i t at is ess e di c t ur um quam pro b asti optime
g , ,

eam cum secuta es nec e num e r at ur um molestias

,

nuptiar um quomodo uterus int um e sc at infans

, ,

v a iat c r uc i e t ae l e x domus cura so lli c it e t et omnia

g , p , ,

quae p ut ant ur bona mors extrema pr aec id at

,

habent enim et m ar itat ae o r di nem su um ho nor ab ile s ,

nupt ias et c ub ile imm ac ulat um sed ut int e lle ge r e s —

tibi e x e unt i de Sodoma t im e rid um esse Loth uxoris

e xemplum Nulla in hoc libello a dulat io adulator
.
—

q uippe b land us i nim ic us est nulla e rit r he t or ic i —

pompa se rm o nis quae te iam inter angelos s t at uat et

,

b e at udi ne vi rgi n i t atis e xp o sit a mundum s ub ic iat

pe dibus tuis .

3 Nolo tibi venire s up e r b iam de proposito sed

. ,

t i mo r e m .Onus ta i nc e di s auro latro v itand us est , .

S tadi um est h aec vita m or tali b us : hic c o nt e ndi m us ,

ut alibi c or o nem ur Nemo inter se rp entes et

.

’
s corpiones se c ur us i ngr e dit ur Ine b ri at us est .
,

56
 LE TT E R XX I I

but of one spir i t Your bridegroom is not arrogant

.
,

not ha ughty ; He has marri ed a woman o f

As soon as y o u re solve t o he ar the wis d o
true Solomon and come to Him H e will avow t o
, ,

you all His knowledge ; H e will lead you as a king

to His cha mbe r ; your colour wi ll be m iraculously
ch ang ed and to y o u th e word s wi ll be fitting : W ho
,

h h
is this that go eth up and at been m de w te a hi ? 1

I am writi ng this to you Lad y E us toc hium ( I ,

’ ‘
bo und to c al l my Lord s bride Lady that from th e
very be ginni ng of my di scours e you may lea r n th at
I do not t o—day intend to s ing th e prais es of t he
'

virginity whic h you ha ve adopted and prov e d to b e

so good Nor s hall I now r eckon “ p — the dis
…
…

advantag es o f marnag e such as p re gh Î

_ _ _ .
…

_ ,

c b ah the tortu o f j eal ousy th e cares of

hW
res ,

…
_

an a rrie nt and th è p ut t i n
ge , g
dea th of all its fancied blessings M arried women .

have their due allott e d plac e if they live i nhonour ,

able mar riage and keep their b ed und e file d M y .

purpos e in this lett er is to show you that you are

fleei ng from Sodom and that you should ta ke warning
’
by Lo t s wi fe There is no flatt e ry in these pag es
. .

A flatt er e r is a smooth spoken enemy Nor wi ll -

.

there be any pomp of rhetoric in e xpounding t he

bea ti t ude of vi rgini t y s etti ng you among the angels
,

and putti ng the w orld be neath your feet .

I woul d have you dr a w from yo ur vows not pride

but fear When you walk lad en with gold you mus t
.

be w are of robbers For mortals this li fe is a rac e

.

we run it on e arth that we may rec eive o ur crown

els ewhere No man can w alk secur e amid serpents
.

an d scorpions The Lord says : M y swor d hath

.

1 So ng of S olom on v iii 5 ( Se pt ua gint )

, . . .

57
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST . JEROM E
’
i nq ui t dominus , gladi us meus in caelo , e t tu pacem
ar b i tr aris in t erra , quae t r ib ulos ene r at et s pinas ,
g
quam s erp ens c om e dit ? Non est nobis c o nluc t at io
adversus carmem et sanguinem sed adversus princi ,

patus et pot est at es hui us mun di et harum tene

’
brarum adversus spir it alia ne q uitiae in c ae le stib us
, .

M agnis i n i m ic orum c ir c um d am ur agm inib us hostium ,

plena sunt omnia Caro fra gilis et cinis futura post

.

modicum pugnat sola cum pluribus .

Cum aut en î jàfiièri t di ssoluta et v e ne r i t princeps

mundi istius et i nv e neri t in ea ni hil t une secura ,

audi es per pr ophe t am : No n t im e b is a timore

nocturno a sagi t ta volante p er di em a ne go tio
, ,

e r am b ul an t e in tenebris ab i nc urs u et d a e m o ni
p , o

meridi ano Cadent a latere t

. m ill et decem ,

milia a d e x tr is tuis ad te autem n ,

Q uod si eorum te m ult it ud o t ur b av e r it et ad singula

i nc it am e nt a v i t ior um c o e p e r is ae st uar e et dix e ri t
tibi c ogit at io tua : Quid fac i em us ? r esp ondi t
He li se us : Noli timere quo niam p lur e s nobiscum
,
’
sunt quam cum illis et or ab it et di c e t : Domine
, , ,
’
ad ap e r i oculos p ue ll ae tuae et vi d e at Et ap e rt is .

oc uli s v i d e b is i gn e um c urr um qui te ad exemplum ,

He liae in astra s us t ollat et t une lacta c ant ab is : ,

Anima nostra quasi passer e r ep ta est de laqueo

v en ant ium : laqueus c ont r it us est et nos liberati
’
s um us .

4 Q uam di u hoc fragili c o rp usc ulo c o nt inem ur ,

.

q uam d i u h ab e m us t he s aur um i s t um in vasis fic t i

1
I i
sa ah, xxxi v . 5 .
2 E phes ians v i 1 2 , . .

3 P salm x ci . 5 . 2 Kin gs v i 1 6
, . .

5
2 C orinthi ans , iv . 7 .
 ! LE TTE R XXI I

drunk its fill inheaven 1

and do you exp ect peace
on t he earth whi ch yields only thorns and thi stles
,
’
and is itself the s erpent s food ? O ur wrestling is
not agains t fle s h and blood but against t he princi ,

ali ti es agains t t h e po wers against t h e world rulers

p , ,

of this darkness against t he sp iritu al hosts of wicked

,
’2
ness in the heavenly places We are surrounded .

by the thronging hosts of o ur fo es o ur enemi e s ar e ,

on every side The flesh is weak and soon it will be

.

as h es but to day i t figh ts alone agai ns t a multitude

,
-
.

But when the flesh has been melted away and the
Pri n ce o f yonder world has come and found in it no
’
s in t h en i n safety you s h all li s ten to t he prop h et s
,

words : Thou s hall not be afraid for the terro r by

ni ght nor for the arrow th at fli e th by day ; nor for
'

t he trouble which h aunt e th t h ee in t he darkness ;

nor for t he demon and his attacks at noonday A .

thousand s hall fall at thy side and ten th ousand at

’3
thy righ t hand ; but it shall not come nigh t he e . .

If the hosts o f the enemy be s et you if t he allure ,

ments of sin begi n to b urn withi n your breast if in ,

your tr oubled thoughts you ask What shall I d o ?

’
Elisha s words will give you an answer : Fear not ,

w ith t h em 1 .
"
for the y that be with us ar e more than they that be
He will pray for you and wi ll say :
-

Lo rd open the ey es of thy handm aid that she may

,
’
see . And wh en your eyes have been opened y o u
wi ll see a ch ariot of fire whi ch wi ll carry y o u as it ,

carried Eli j ah up t o the stars ; and then you will

,

j oyfully si ng : O ur soul is escaped as a sparrow out

o f the s nare of t he fowlers : the s nare is broken and
’5
we are e s caped .

As long as w e are held down by thi s frail body ;

_

as long as we keep our treasur e in e arth en ves s els 6 ,

59
 SELE CT LE TT E RS O F ST . J E R OME
libus et c onc up iscit spiritus adversus carmem et
c aro adversus s piri t um nulla est certa victoria , .

A d v e rs ari us noster diabolus t amquam leo r ug i e ns

’
aliquid d e vo r ar e q uae r e ns circuit Pos uis ti ait .
,
?
David t e neb r as et facta est nox In ip sa per t r an
, .

s ib un t omnes b e s ti ae silvae ca tuli l e o num r ugi e nt e s , ,

’
ut r apiant et q uae r ant a Deo e sc am sibi Non .

q uae r i t di abolu s homines i nfid e le s non eos qui , ,

foris sunt et quorum carnes rex in olla s ucc e nd it

A ssy r i us : de ecclesia C hristi rapere f e st inat E sc ae .

eius secundum A m b ac um e lec t ae s unt : Iob s ub v e r

tere cupit et d e v or at o I uda ad c ri b r ando s apostolo s
e x p e t it potesta tem Non veni t salvator p acem .

mittere super t e r r arn sed gladi um C ec idit L ucifer , .

,

qui mane or i eb a t ur et ille qui in paradi s o d e lic iar um

, ,

nut ri t us est meruit au di re

, Si alte f er aris ut aquila ,
’
inde te d e t r aham di cit dominus , Di x e r at e nim .

‘
in corde suo : Super sidera caeli po nam s edem
’
meam et ero similis alt is s imo U nde cotidi e ad eos .
,

qui per s c alam Iacob som niant e d e sc e nd unt loquitur ,

Deus : Ego di xi : dii estis et fi lii altissimi omnes .

Vos autem sicut homines m ori e mi ni et tamquam unus

’
de p r inc ipib us c ad e tis C e c idi t enim primus dia .

b olu s et cum stet Deus in sy nagoga deorum in medio

, ,

autem deos d isc e m at apost olus e is qui di i esse , ,

d e sinunt sc rib i t :
, U bi enim in vobis di s s e ns io nes et
aemulationes nonne homines estis et secundum
,

homi nem am b ulat is ?

5 Si Paulu s ap os t ol us v as e l e c t io n
. i s et p r e p ar at us
,

in evangelium Chri s ti o b carnis ac ule o s et incentiva ,

1
P s alm civ 20
Jr
. .

1 R efere nc e d o ubtful b ut p erhap s of e e m ah i xx i x . 22 .

I
.
,

H a bakkuk i 1 6 ,
. . s aia h, xiv . 13
5 P salm lx xx ii 6 . . 1 Co rinthi ans , 11 1 . 3 .

60
 LE TTE R XX I I

and the fle s h lus teth aga i ns t the spirit the spiri t ,

agains t t he flesh : so long can th ere be no s ure

victo ry Our adversary the devil goeth abo ut as a
.

roaring lion s eeki ng whom he may devour Davi d .

says : Thou makest darkness and it is ni ght ;

w herein all the beasts o f the forest do creep fort h .

The young lions roar a fter their prey and seek t heir
’1
meat from God . The devil does no t loo k for un
be lievers or for those who are without wh os e fles h ,

the Assyrian king roasted in a pot 2 it is the Church

of Chris t t hat he hastens to ravish Accordi ng t o .

’3
Habakk uk His daint y mors els are of t he c hoicest .

’
He desires J ob s ruin and aft er devo uring J udas he
,

seeks power to put all the apo s tles through his

sieve The Saviour came not to s end peac e upon th e
.

earth but a sword L uc ifer fell Lucifer who us ed

.
,

to rise with the da w n ; and he who was nur t ur ed in a

p aradi s e o f deli ght heard the well e arned sentence :—

Th ough t hou exalt t hyself as the eagle thence will ,

’
I bring thee down saith th e Lo rd
, For he had said
.

in hi s heart I will exalt my throne above t he sta rs

’
of G o d and I will be hke the M ost High Where .

fore God every day s ays to the angels as they go

do w n the stairway which J acob saw in hi s dream :
I have s aid ye are Go ds and all of you are c hildren
of the M ost High But y e shall die like men and fall
.

’5
like o ne of th e princes The devil fe ll first and
.
,

s in ce God stands in t he congregation o f t he G ods

and j udge s th em in the mi dst t he apostle writes to
,

thos e w ho are ceas ing to be Gods : Whereas there is

among you envying and s tri fe are ye not carnal and
,

walk as men ? 5
The apo s tle Paul who w as a chosen vessel set
,

apart for the go s pel o f Chris t becau s e of th e spur of

,

61
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

v i t io r u
p m
m i t corp us
re suum et ri
s erv i t ut i s ub i c it ,

ne ali is pr ae di c ans i ps e r e pr ob us i nv eniat ur , et

tamen videt ali am le gem in membris suis repugnan
tem legi mentis s uae et c apt iv ant e m se in lege
peccati si post nudi t at e m i e iuni a fam em c ar c er em
, , , , ,

flagella supplicia in semet vers us e x cl am at :

, I uft
ego homo qui s me lib er ab it de corpore mortis huius
,

tu te putas s e c ur am esse debere ? Cave q uae so ne , ,

quando de te di c at De us : Virgo Isr ahe l oc c idi t :

’
non e s t qui sus cit e t e am
, A ud e nt e r lo quo r : cum .

omni a De us p ossit suscitare virgine m non potes t

'

po s t r uinam Valet qui dem hb e r ar e de po e ma sed

.
,

non valet coronare c o r r uptam Tim e am us illam .

pr ophe ti am ne i n nob is etiam c o npl e at ur

, et
’
v i r gi ne s bonae d e fic i e n t Observa quid di c at : et .
,

g es bonae d e fici e nt
v i r in quia sunt et vi r gines
’
Q ui vi de ri t inq ui t m uli e r e m ad co n
‘ ‘
malae .
, ,
’
c u isc e n d um iam m o e chat us est earn in corde s uo
p .

Perit ergo et mente virginitas Is t a e sunt vir gines .

malae vir gines carne non S pir itu vir gi nes s t ultae
, , , ,

quae oleum non hab e nt es e x clud unt ur ab spo nso .

6 Si autem et illae v ir gine s vi r gi ne s sunt ob alias

.
,

tamen culpas virginitate corporum non s alv ant ur ,

quid fiet illi s quae pr ost it ue r unt membra Christi et

,

m ut av e r unt templa Sancti Spiritus in I… ? Il ico

audient : D escende sede in terra vir go filia , ,

Bab y lo nis sede in terra : non e s t t hro nus fili ae

,

1 R o mans, v n 24 Am os v , . 2 .

M
. .

A mos viii , . 13 . St . a tthew v , . 28 .

 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST . JEROME
C hald aeor um ; no nv oc ab e r is ultra mollis et deli cata .

A c c ip e m ol am , mole f ari nam , d is c 0p er i velamentum ,

denuda crura tua tra ns i flum ina et r ev elab it ur ,
’
ignomi nia tua et app ar eb unt opprobria tua et ,

hoc post Dei Filii t halam o s post oscula frat rueli s et ,

s on
p s i illa de qua quondam sermo p r o phe t icus con
,

c in e b at : A ds t itit regina a d e x tr is tuis in v e stit u

’
d e aur at o c i r c um d at a
, v ar ie t at e Nud ab it ur et .

posteriora eius pone nt ur in facie ipsius s e d eb it ad

aquas soli t udi ni s et posito vase di v ar icab it p edes
suos omni transeunti et usque ad v er t ic e m po llue t ur .

Re c t ius f ue r at homini subisse c o n i ugium ambulass e ,

per plana quam ad altior a t e nd e nt e m in profundum

,

inferi cadere .

Non fiat ob s ec r o civitas meretri x fid e lis Sion

, , ,

ne po s t trinitatis hospitium ibi daemones s alt e nt

et s ir e nae ni dific e nt et hir ic ii Non solv at ur .

fa s cia pec toralis sed statim ut libido ti t illav er i t

,

s ensum ut blandum v ol upt atis incendi um dulci nos

,

calore p e r fud er it e rum p am us in v oc e m : Do m inus

,
’
auxiliator meu s non t im e b o quid fac iat mi hi caro
, , .

Cum p aul ulum interior homo inter vitia et v irt ut e s

c o e e r it fluc t uar e
p di cit o : Quare ,
tri s ti s es anima ,

mea et quare conturbas me ? Spera in domino

, ,

quoniam c o nfit e b o r illi salutare v ult us mei et Deus ,

’
meus .Nolo sinas c ogit at ione m crescere ; ni hil in
1 I i
sa ah , xl v
I n P salm xliv . 10
. Vulg ate .

J Psalm c x viii
. .

Ez ek el, x v i 2 5 of
i . . . e e r xi ii 2 6
m i ah , . . . 6 .

5 P s alm xlii I l . .

64
 LE TTE R XX I I

is no thr one for the daughter of the Chaldaeans ;

no more shalt thou be call ed tender and delicate ,
.

Take the inillst one and grind meal ; uncover t hy

l o oks make bare thy leg s pa s s over t he river s ; thy
, ,

nakedne s s shal l be uncovered yea thy s hame s hall

'

, ,

be And this after t he bride chamber of

,
—

God the Son after the kisses of her kinsman and her
,

bri degroom ; she of whom once t he word o f the

proph et sang : U pon t hy right hand stood t h e
queen in a ve s tment of gold wr ought about wi th
’2
divers colours . But now she s hall be made naked
and her skirts shall be placed upon he r face : she shall
sit by the waters o f lonel ines s and lay down her
pitcher ; and s hall open her feet to every o ne t hat
pass eth by and s hall be polluted to t he crown of her
3
head . Better had it been for her to have submitted
to marriage with a man and to have walked on t he
pl ai n rather t han to strain for t he height s and f all
,

into the depths o f h ell .

L et not t he faithful city of Sion become a harlot ,

I pray y o u; let not demons dance and sirens and satyrs

nest in the place t hat once s heltered t he Tri nity .

Loose not th e belt that c o nfines th e bosom As s oon .

as lus t begins to tickle t he sens es and t h e soft fires

o f pleasure envelop us with t h eir de lightful warmth ,

let us bre ak forth and cry : The Lord is o nmy s ide

’4
I will not fear what t he flesh can do unto me .

Wh en for a moment the inner man s hows signs o f

wavering between vice and virtue say : Why art ,

thou cast down 0 my soul and w hy ar t thou dis

, ,

qui eted withi n me ? Hope thou in God for I s hall ,

yet praise Him who is the h ealth of my co untenance

’5
and my G od . I would not have you allow any
such t houghts to rise L et nothing di sorderly
.
,

65
 SE LE C T L ETTERS O F ST . J ERO ME

te Bab y lo ni um nihil conf usio ni s adol e sc at Dum

, .

parvus est hostis int e r fic e ; ne q ui tia elidat ur in

,

se m ine . Audi psalmistam lo q uent em : Fili a

Bab y lo n i s misera beatus qui r e t ri b ue t tibi retri
, ,

b ut io ne m tuam ; beatu s qui t e neb it et adli d e t

’
p ar v ulo s t uos ad p e tr am Quia ergo i mpossibile es t
.

i n sens um hominis non i nr uer e notum m e d ullar um

c alo r e m ille laud at ur ille pr ae dic at ur beatus qui ‘

, , , ,

sta t im ut c o e p eri t cogitare i nt e r fec it c o gi tat us et ,

e l i di t e o s ad p e t r am : p etra autem est Christus .

7 O quotiens in heremo c o nst it ut us et in illa v a sta

'

solitudine quae e x us t a solis ar dor ib us horridum

,
'

monachis pr ae s t at hab it ac ulum p utavi me R omanis ,

interesse d eli c iis ! S e d eb am solus quia amaritudine ,

r e l e t us eram Hor r e b am sacco membr a d e for fnis

‘

p .
,

squalida cutis s it um A e thiopic ae carni s a dd ux e r at .

C o t idi e lacrimae cotidi e ge m it us et s i q uand o

'

, ,

re u n an e m somnus imminens o
p g t ppr ess iss e t nuda ,

humo v i x o s s a hae r e nt ia c o nlid e b am De cibis vero .

et po tu t ac eo cum etiam langue nt es aqua frigida

,

ut ant ur et c o c t um aliquid ac c e piss e l ux ur i ae s it .

Ille igitur ego qui o b ge he nnae metum tali me

,

carcere ip s e d am nav e r am sc or pio num tantum socius ,

et fe r ar um saepe chor is i nt e r er am p ue llar um

, .

Palleb ant ora i e i uni i s et me ns d esid e r ns ae st uab at

1
P sal m cx x x v n9
. .

66
 LE TT ER XXI I

nothing that is of Babylon find shelter in yo ur brea s t .

Slay the en emy while he is small : nip evil in the bud ,

and then you wi ll not h ave a crop of tares Hearken .

to the words of the Psalmi s t : Hapless daughter o f

Babylon happy shall b e be that rewardeth th ee as
,

t hou has t served us Happy sh all h e be that taketh

.

’1
and dash eth t hy littl e ones against the stones It .

’
is impossible that the body s natural heat should not
sometim es assail a man and kindle sensual desire ;
but he is praised and accounted blessed w ho when , ,

thoughts begin to rise gives them no quarter but , ,

dashes them s traightway against the rock : And

’2
t he R oc k is C hrist .

Oh how often when I was living in th e desert in

, , ,

that lonely wa s te scorched by t he burning s un

, ,

which aflo r ds to hermits a savage dwe lling place

'
—
,

how often di d I fancy myself s urrounded by the

plea s ures of R ome ! I used to sit alone ; for I was
filled with bitterness M y unkempt limbs were .

covered in s hapeless sackcloth ; my skin thr ough

long neglect had become as rough and black as an
’
Ethiopian s Tears and groans were every day my
.

portion ; and if sleep ever overcame my resistance

and f ell upon my eyes I bruised my restles s bones
,

aga ins t t he naked earth Of food and dri nk I will .

not speak Hermits have nothing but cold water

.

even when they are s ick and for th em it is sinful ,

luxury to partake of cooked di s h es But though .

in my fear of hell I had condemned myself t o t his

pri s on house where my only compani ons were
-
,

scorpions and wild beas ts I o ften found myself ,

surrounded by bands of dancing girls M y f ace was .

pale with fasting ; but though my limbs were cold

1 Co rinthi ans x 4 , . .
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST J ERO ME .

in frigido corpore et ante hominem suum iam cam e

p r ae m o r t ua sola li b idi num incendi a b ulli eb ant .

Ita omni auxilio d e stit ut us ad Iesu i ac eb am pedes ,

r i ab am l ac r im is
g crine t e rgeb am et r e pugnant em
,

c ar n em e b d o m ad ar um inedi a s ub iugab am Non .

eru b esc o i nf e li c it atis m e a e quin p o t i us p iango non

,

esse qu o d f ue r im M e m ini me c l am ant e m di em

, .

crebro i unx isse cum noc te nec prius a pectoris cessa sse
v e r b e r ib us quam do mino r e dir e t i ncr ep ante tran
,

u il li t as I am quoque c e llulam meam qua s i cogi

q .
p s

t at io num c on sc i um
p e r t im e sc e b am et m i hi m e t
ir at us et rigidus solus deserta p e ne t r ab am S ic ub i .

concava v allium a s pera m onti um r upi um pr aer up ta

, ,

c ern e b am ibi m e ae o r atio ni locus illud m ise rr im ae

, ,

carnis erg astulum et ut mi hi ipse te s tis est dominus

, ,

po s t multas lac rim as post caelo oculos i nhae r e nt es

,

no nnunq uam v id e b ar mi hi interesse agm i ni b us

an e lo r um e t la e t us aud e n s ue c an t ab am : Post
g g q
’
te in odorem ungue nt or um t uo r um c urr im us .

8 Si autem haec s u s tinent il li qui e x e so corpore

.
,

solis c ogit at io nib us oppugnant ur quid patitur puella , ,

quae d e li c iis fr ui t ur ? Nempe illud apostoli : Viv e ns

’
mortua e s t Si quid i t aq ue in me pote s t es s e
.

consilii si experto c r e di t ur ho c p r imum moneo ho c

, , ,

o b t e s t o r ut sponsa C hri s ti vinum f ugi at pro veneno

,
.

Haec adversus ad ul esc e nt iam prima arma s unt

d ae m o num Non sic avaritia q uat it i nflat superbia
.
, ,

1
So ng o f S ol o m o n, i . 3 .
2
Ti mothy , v . 6 .

68
 LETT E R XXI I

as ice my mi nd was burning w ith desire and the ,

fires of l ust kept bubbling up before me when my

flesh w as as good as dead
,
.

And so when all other help failed me I us ed to

, ,
’
flin g myself at J es us feet ; I watered them w ith my

te ars I wiped th em with my hair ; and if my fl es h

,

still rebelled I subdued it by weeks o f fas ting I do .

not blush to confess my misery ; nay rather I lament , ,

that I am no t no w what once I was I remember .

that often I j o in ed night to day with my wai li ngs and

ceas ed not fi om beating my breast ti ll tranquillity
’
returned to me at t he Lo rd s behest I us ed to dre ad
.

my po or cell as th ough it knew my secret thoughts

’
.

Fi lled with s tifl anger agai ns t my s e lf I would make ,

my way alone into t he des ert ; and wh en I cam e upon

some holl ow valley or rough mountain or precipito us
cliff there I would set up my ora tory and make that
, ,

spot a place of torture for m y unhappy fl es h Th ere .

someti me s als o the Lord Hims elf is my wi tne ss

—

after many a tear and str ai ning of my eyes to heaven ,

I felt myself inthe presence of t h e angelic hosts and

in j oy and gladn ess would s ing : Becaus e of the
’1
s avour o f thy good ointments we wil l run after thee .

If s uch are th e tempta tions o f men w hose bodies

are emaciated with fas ting s o that they have only
e vil though t s to wit hstand ho w m ust i t fare with a
,

gi rl who cli ngs to the enj oym ent o f luxuries Sur ely ,

as the apostle says : She is dead while yet she

’2
liveth .Therefore if I may advis e you and if
,

experience gives my advice weight I would begin ,

’
with an urgent e xhorta tion As Chris t s s pous e
.

avoid vume as you would avoid poison Wine is th e

'

firs t weapo n that devils us e in atta cking the young .

The restless ness o f greed the windiness o f p ride th e

, ,

69
 SELE CT LE TT E RS OF ST J ERO ME .

d e l e c t at a m b it io .
Facile al i i s c ar e m us vi t iis : hic
ho s tis intus inclu s us e s t Q uoc um q ue p e rgim us
.
,

nobiscum po r t am us i nim ic um Vinum et adule s .

centia duplex incendium v olup t at is Quid oleum .

flam m ae ad ic im us Quid ardenti c o rp usc ulo fomenta

i gni um m i nis t r am us ?
’
Paul us ad Tim othe um : l am noli i nq ui t aquam , ,

bibere sed vin um modicum ut e r e propter sto m ac hum

,
’
e t fi e q ue nt es tuas infirmi t at e s Vide q ui bus causi s
.
,

vini potio c o nc e d at ur : vix ho c stomachi dolor e t

fr e q ue n s m e r e t ur i n fir m it as Et ne nobis fo rs it ande
.

a e r o t at io ni b us b l and i r e m ur mod i cum r ae c e it

g p , p
esse s um e nd um medici pot i us consilio quam apo s toli
,

—
licet et apostolus s it medicu s s pirit ali s e t n e —
,

Timotheu s i nb e c illit at e s up e r at us e v angelii p r ae d i

candi non posset habere discur s us A lio q uin s e .

’
di x isse m e m ine r at et : vinum in quo e s t luxuria , ,

e t : bonum est homini v inum non bibere et c ar nem

’
non m anducare Noe vinum bibit et ine b r iat us
.

est rudi adhuc s ae c ulo ; et t une primum plant avi t

vincam : inebriare vinum fo r sit an nes c i eb at Et ut .

i nt e lle gas sc ri p t ur ae in omnibus sacramentum

inar gar it a quippe est s ermo Dei et e x omni parte
forari potest po s t e b ri e t at e m nudatio f e m o r um
—

s ub s e c ut a est libido i unc t a l ux ur iae

, Prius venter .

et s tatim cetera ; m and uc avi t enim popul us et bibit ,

’
et s urr e x e r unt l ud e r e Lo th amicus Dei in m e nt e
.
, ,

1 1 T m o hy ,
i t v
2 3. .
2
E phesians v 1 8 , . .

R o m ans , x iv 2 1 . . Ex od us xx xii 6,
. .

70
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST J ERO ME .

s al v at us et de to t m illib us p op ulis solus i ust us inventus

i ne b ri at ur a filiab us sui s ; et licet p ut ar e nt genus
hominum d e fe c is s e et hoc fac e r e nt lib e r or um magis
desiderio quam lib i dinis tamen virum i ust um s c ie b ant
,

hoc nisi e b r i um non esse fac t ur um ; d eniq ue quid ,

f e c e r i t ignor avi t ; e t q uam ciuam voluntas non sit

—

in crimine error in culpa e st inde nasc unt ur

,
—

M o ab it ae et A m m anit ae inimici Isr ahe l qui usque

,

ad q uar t am et d ec im am pr oge nie m et usque in

aeternum non i ngre di unt ur ec c le si am Dei .

9 Heli as cum Ie z ab e l fugeret e t sub quer ou

.
,

fessus i ac er e t veni ente ad s e angelo s usc i t at ur et

,
”
di c it ur ei : Surge et manduca Et r e sp e x it et .
,
’
ecce ad caput eius panis oly r ae et v as aquae Be v e r a .

non po t e r at Deus c ondi t um ei merum mittere et e x

oleo c ib o s et carnes contu s ione m ut at as ? He li s e us
filio s p r ophe t ar um i nvi t at ad pr èndi um et he r b is
a r e s t ib us eos al e n s con so n u m p r and en t i um audi t
g
’
c lam or e m : M ors in olla homo Dei N
, o n i r at us .

est coeis lauti oris eni m mensae c o ns ue t udi nem non

—

hab eb at sed farina d e s up e r { i ac t a am ar it udi ne m

—

d ulc o r avi t eadem spiritu s virtute qua M oy s es ,

m ut av e r at M erra Ne c non et illos qui ad s e con

.
,

r e h en d end um venerant o c ulis pariter ac mente

p ,

c a ec at o s cum S am ar i am n
, e se ios i nd ux iss e t q ualib us ,

epulis r e fici im p e r arit ausculta : Pone e i s panem et

,

1
Ge nesi s x i x
, . 1 6, 3 5 .
2 D e uteronom y xxi ii , . 3 .

Ki ng s xix , . 4— 7 . 2 King s iv 40
, . .

72
 LETTER XXI I

he had been saved upon th e moun tai n as the o ne man

found righteous among all those t housands was ,

intoxicated by his daughters 1

They may have . ,

thought that the hum an race had ended and have ’

acted rath er from a desire for o flspring than from love
o f sinful pleasur e ; but they knew full well that the

r igh t eous man would not abet t h em un less he were

drunken In fact he di d not know what he was
.

doing : but although t here be no wilfulness in hi s

sin the e rror o f his fault remai ns As t he result he .

’
became the father of M oab and Ammon I srael s ,

enemi es w ho even to the fourteenth genera tion

,

shall not enter in t o the congregation o f the Lord for

’2
ever.

When Elij ah in his fli ght fi om J e z eb e l was lying

weary and alone beneat h the o ak tre e an angel ,

came and raised him up and said A r is e and e at , .

And he looked and behold there was a cake and a

,
’3
crus e o f water at his head Could not G od have
.

sent him spiced wine and dainty condim ents and

tenderly basted meats if H e had willed ? Elisha
,

invited the sons o f the prophets to dinner and when ,

he gave th em field herbs to eat h e heard hi s guests

cry o ut w ith o ne accord There is death in the po t 0
, ,
’4
man of G od He however was not an gry with t he
.
, ,

cooks for he was not used to very sumptuous fare

—

but threw some meal upon the herbs and thus sweet
ened t heir bitterness by the s ame sp i ritual virtue
wherewith M oses once sweetened the waters o f ,

M arah Again when the men sent to seiz e the

.
,

prophet had been blinded alike in eyes and under

standi ng that he mi ght bring them unaware s to
,

Samaria notice t he food wit h which Elisha ordered

,

them to be refreshed Set bread and water be fore

.

73
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F S T JERO ME .

aquam ; et m and uc e nt et b ib ant et remi tt ant ur ad

’
dominum suum Po t uit et Dan . i he lo de regis
f e r c uli s o p ul e ntio r men s a tr ans ferr i sed A m b ac um ,

m e s s or um p r andi um portat ar b itr or rusticanum , , .

Id eo q ue et d e sid e r ior um v i r app e llat us est quia ,

panem desiderii no n m anduc av it et vinum con

c up isc e n ti ae non bibit .

1 0 Innum e r ab ili a sunt sc r ip t uri s r esp e r s a divinis

.
,

quae gulam damnent et simplices c ib o s pr aeb e ant ;

verum qui a nunc non est p r aep osit um de i e iuniis
disputare et universa e x se q ui s ui est tituli et volu
m inis haec s uflì c iant pauca de plurimis A li o q ui n
, .

ad exemplum horum potes tibi ipsa c olli ger e ,

quomodo et pri mus de paradi so homo ventri magis

o b o e di e ns quam Deo in hanc lac r im ar um d e ic t us e s t

v alle m et ipsum dominum fame Satanas t e m t av e r it

p
in deserto et ap os tolus c lami t e t : Esca ventri et
’
venter e sc ae Deus autem et hunc et illa d estr ue t
, ,
’
et de lux ur iosis : Quorum deus venter est Id .

enim c olit unus q ui sq ue quod dili git Ex quo, .

solli cite pr o v id e nd um est ut quos s at uri t as de , ,

p aradiso e x puli t r e d uc at e s ur ie s
, .

I l Q uo ds i v ol ue r is respondere te nobili stirp e

.

en er at am s emper in d eli c iis semper in plumis n on

g , , ,

posse a vino et e sc ule nti orib us cibis ab st iner e nec

his legibus vivere d is t r ic t ius r espo nd e b 0
‘
Vive ,
°

’
ergo lege tua quae Dei non potes , Non quo Deus .
,

univer sitatis crea t or et dominu s i nt estinor um ,

2 K ings , vi 1 8 11 . Dan i el , i 8
. . .

A poc Be l and t he Drag on, 33

. .

’
C f Dan x 1 1 , a ma n g reatly be lo v ed ( A and R
‘
. .

J
. . .

’
t he S eptuagi nt has dvì;p e m flv di v ; b ut erom e h ere r end ers
t he V ulg ate d es ider i or um mr a t er hi s o w nf ashion
'

C P
.

orin thi ans v i 1 3 , hi lip p ians , iii 1 9

. . . .

74
 LETTER XXII
’
them he said ; let t hem eat and drink and go
,
’1
back to their master Dani el too might have had
.

’
rich di s hes served him from the king s table 2 but ,
’
it w as a mower s breakfas t that Habakkuk brought 3
,

which mus t methinks have been but coun try fare

, , .

’4
Therefore he was called t he m an of desires be ,

caus e he refused to eat the bread of desire or drink

t he wine of lustfulne s s .

From the Scriptures we may collect countless di vine

answe rs condemning gluttony and approving simple
f ood
. But as it is not my present purpos e to di scuss
t he question o f fasting and an ex h austi ve inquiry
,

would need a volume to itself thes e f e w remarks ,

from th e many I could make must s uffic e In .

any cas e the examples I have given will enable y o u

to understand w hy th e first man obeying his belly ,

rather than God was c ast down from Paradi se into

,

this vale o f tears You will se e also why Satan

.

tempted O ur Lord H ims elf with hunger in th e

W ildernes s and why t h e apostle cries :
, M e ats fo r
the belly and the belly for meats but God shall ,
’5
d es troy both it and them and why he says of t he
,
’
wanton : Whos e od is t heir belly Every .

m an worships what e love s Wherefore we must

.

take all care that abstinence may bring back to

Para d is e those whom repletion once drove out .

Yo u may c hoose perhaps to answer that a girl of

good fa mily like yourself accu s tomed to luxur y and
,

down pillows cannot do without wine and ta sty food

,

and would find a stricter rule of life im possible To .

that I can only say : Live then by your o wn rule ,

’ ’
s ince you cannot live by God s Not that God t he.
,

Lo rd and Creator of the universe takes any deligh t ,

in the rumbling o f our intestines o r t h e empt in ess o f

75
 SELE CT LE TT E RS OF ST J ERO ME .

nost ior um ru
gi t u et i nan
ven tris pulm onum q ue
i t at e

d e le c t e t ur ardore sed quo aliter pudicitia tuta esse

,

non possit Iob Deo carus et testimo nio ipsius

.

i nm ac ul at us et simplex audi quid de diabolo , ,

s us ic e t ur : Virtus eius in lumbis et potestas eius

p
’
in umbilico Hone s t e viri m uli e r isq ue genitali a
.

in m ut atis sunt appellata nom inib us U nde et de .

l umbis David super sedem eius pr om ittit ur esse

s e ss ur us ; et sep t uaginta et quinqu e an i m ae i ntr o i
crunt A egy pt um quae e x ier unt de femore Iacob et
, ,

ost uam c on l u c t an t Deo l t i t ud o femoris eius

p q e a

e m arc u i t a lib e r or um opere cessavit

, et qui p ascha
f ac t ur us e st ac c inc t is m o r t ific at is q ue lumbis facere
,

r ae c i i t ur ; et ad Io b dicit Deus : Accingere sicut

p p
v ir l um b os t uo s et Iohanne s zona p elli c i a c ingi t ur
et apostoli i ub e nt ur ac c inc t is lumbis habere in
m anib us e v ange lii lucernas Ad Hie r us alem vero .
,

quae r e sp e r s a sanguine in campo i nv eni t ur e rr oris in ,

’
Ezechiel di ci t ur : Non est pr aec is us umbilicus tuus .

Om n i s igitur adversus viro s diaboli virt us in lumbis

est omnis in umbi lico contra f emi nas fortitudo
, .

1 2 V is scire ita esse ut di c im us

.
, A c c ip e exempla .

Samp s on leone fortior saxo d urior et qui unus et ,

nudu s mille est p e rs ec ut us arm atos in Dalilae ,

m olle s c it am p le x ib us David s ecundum cor domini

e l ec t us et ui v en t ur um C hr is t um s an c to saep e o r e
q
c an t av e r at o s t uam d e am b ul an s super tectum
p , q
domus s uae Bersabe e captus est nudit at e adulterio ,

i unx it ho m icidium U bi et illud b r e vit e r adt e nd e

.
,

1
J ob , xl . 16 .
2
J ob , xxx viii . 3 .
3 Ez e ki e l x vi
, . 4 .

76
 LE TT E R XXI I

o ur sto mach or the i nflamm ati o n of our l ungs ; but

becaus e this is the only way o f preservi ng c h astity .

J ob was dear to God his purity and fi an

, kne ss
’
witne ss ed by God s own te s timony ; yet hear what
he thinks o f t he devil : His s tren t h is in t he lo ins
g
’1
an d hi s force is in th e navel Th e words are us ed
.

’
for decency s sake but the male and female genera
,

tive organs are meant So t he descendant of David

.
,

destined accordi ng to t he promis e to s it upon his

throne is said to come fi o m hi s lo i ns The s eventy
, .

fiv e souls w ho entered into E gypt are said in t he same

’
way to have come from J ac o b s t hig h And when .

after wrestling with the Lo rd t he stou t nes s o f his

t high shrank away J acob begat no more children .

Thos e who celebrate t he Pas sover als o are bidden to

do so wi th the ir loins girded and m o r t ifie d God .

’2
says to J ob : Gird up t hy loins li ke a man J o hn
.

wears a leather gir dl e ; and the apostles ar e bidden

to gird their lo i ns before th ey t ake t he lamps o f t he
Gospel Ez eki el tells us how J erus alem is found in
.

th e plain of wandering all bespatt ered wit h blood

, ,
’3
and he says : Thy navel has no t been cut In .

’
his assaults on men t herefore all the devil s s trengt h
is in the lo ins agains t women hi s force is i nt he navel .

Would you like to be sure that it is as I say ? Here

are some exam ple s Sams on was stronger than a
.

lion and harder than rock ; alone and unprotected he

’
chas ed a thous and armed men ; but in D ali lah s soft
arms his vigour melted away Davi d was c ho s en as
.

’
a man after God s h eart and his lip s had often s ung
,

of t he future coming o f C hrist th e Holy One but as

he walked upon his ho us etop h e w as fascinated by
’
Bathsheba s nakedness and added m urder to adulte r y .

’
Notice for a moment that even in one s own hous e the
77
 SE LE CT LETTERS OF ST JEROME .

quod nullus sit etiam in domo tutus aspect us

, , .

Q uapropt e r ad Deum p ae nit e ns loquitur : Tibi soli

’
peccavi et malum coram te feci R ex enim alium .

non t im eb at Salomon per quem s e c e c init ipsa

.
,

sapientia qui d isp ut avi t a ce dr o Libani usque ad

,
’
hy s o p um quae exit per p ar i e t e m r e c essit a domi no
, , ,

quia am ator m ulie r um fuit Et ne aliq uis etiam de .

sanguinis sibi pr opinq uit at e c onfid er et in i nli c it um ,

'
Thamar s o r o ris Amnon frater e x ar sit incendi um .

1 3 Pige t dicere
. quot cotidi e virgi ne s ruant
, ,

quant as de s uo gremi o mater p er d at e c c lesia s upr a

'

quot sidera superbus i nimi c us p o nat t hronum suum ,

quot petras e x c av e t et hab it e t coluber in for ami nib us

e ar um V id e as ple r asq ue viduas ante quam nupt as
.

i nfe lic e m c o n sc i e nti am mentita tantum veste pro

tegere qu as nisi tumor uteri et infantum pr odid eri t
,

vagitus erecta cervice et lude ntib us pedi bus inc e d unt

,
.

Ali a e vero s t e r ilit at e m p r ae b e b unt et nec dum sati

homini s homicidium fac i unt No nnullae cum s e .
,

s en se r i nt concepisse de sc el e r e aborti vene ma ,

m e d it ant ur et frequenter etiam ip s ae c o m m or t uae

t ri um c ri m inum r e ae ad inferos p e r d uc unt ur homi ,

c id a e s ui C hri s ti adult e r ae ne c d um nati fil ii parri

, ,

c id a e . Ist ae sunt quae solent dicere :

, Omni a
munda m undis S ufli c it mi hi c o nsc ie nt ia mea Cor
. .

mundum desiderat Deus C nr me ab st ine am a .

cibis quos Deus c r e avit ad ut e nd um ? Et s i quando

,

1
P sal m li 4
. . I K ing s iv
, . 33 .

3
I . e. unm arri e d wome nwho pretend t o be wi d ows .

78
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JEROM E .

l ep i dae et fes t iv ae vol u nt v id e r i et se mero ingur

gitav e ri nt , e b ri at i s ac r ile
gium co
p ul ant es ai u nt
’
Absit ut ego me a Christi sanguine ab st ineam
‘

, .

Et quam vi d e rint tri s tem atque pallent em mi s eram ,

et m o nac ham et M anic he am v oc ant et c ons e q ue nt er ,

tali eni m proposito i e iuni um her esis est Hae sunt .

,

quae per publicum no t ab ili t e r inc e d unt e t fur tivi s

oc ulo r um nut ib us ad ul es c e nt i um gr ege m post s e
t r ahun t quae semper audiunt per pr ophe t am
,
’
Facies m e r e tric is facta e s t tibi im p ud or at a es tu , .

Purp ura tantum in veste sit tenuis et la xi us ut ,

‘

c ri mes d e c i d an t li gat um c aput socc us vi li or et p er

, ,

humeros m afo r t e voli t ans str ic t ae m ani c ae b r ac c hus

,

a dhae r e n t e s et s o lut is ge n ib us fractus i n c e ss us ,

haec est apud illas t ota virgini tas Hab e ant is ti us .

modi laud at o r e s suos et sub virginali nomine lucro s

ius p e r e ant : li b e nt er t ali b us non plac e m us .

1 4 P ud e t dicere pro nefas ! Triste s ed verum

.
, ,
"
est : unde in ecclesias agap e tar um p estis i ntroii t ?
U nde sine nup tii s aliud nomen ux or um I mmo unde
novum c o nc ub inar um genus ? Plus i nf e r am : unde
mere trices uni vi r ae ? Eadem domo uno c ubiculo , ,

saepe uno t e ne nt ur et l e c t ulo et s uspic io sos no s ,

v o c ant si
,
aliquid aes tim e m us Frater so r or e m .

g e m d e s e ri t c a eli b e m sp e r n
vi r in ,
i t v irgo ge rm anum ,

et cum i n e od em proposi t o esse se simulent quae

, ,

runt ali e no r um spiritale s olac ium ut domi hab e ant ,

1
J r
e e mi ah, iii . 3 .
 LE TTE R XXI I

merry they dr ench thems elves with wine and then

, ,

j oini ng profani ty to drunkenness th ey cry : Heaven

’
d t hat I should abstain from the blood o f Christ .

W h en they s e e a woman with a p ale sad face they ,

call her a miserable M anichaean and q uite

logically to o for o nthe ir principles fasti ng is heresy
, .

As they walk the streets they try to attract attention

and wit h stealthy nod s and wi nks draw after them
’
troops of yo ung men Of th em th e prophet s words
.

’
are true : Thou has t a whore s forehead : t hou
’1
r e fus e s t to be as h amed L e t them ha ve only a
.

little purple in t heir dr e ss and loo s e bandeau on ,

th eir head to leave t he hai r fre e ; cheap slippe rs ,

an d a M afo rt e 2 flutt e ri ng fi om their shoulders

sleev es fit ti ng clos e to t heir arms and a loos e ,

kneed walk : th ere y o u have all th eir m arks of

virgini ty Such women may have the ir admirers
.
,

and it may cost more t o ruin them becaus e t h ey are

call ed virgins But to such virgi ns as thes e I prefer
.

to be displeasing .

There i s another scandal o f which I blus h to speak ;

yet though sad it is true From what source has
, , .

this plague of clearly beloved sisters found i ts way

into the Ch urch ? Wh ence come th ese unwedd e d
wives thes e new typ es of concub ines nay I W i ll go
, , ,

further thes e one m an h arlots ? They live in th e

,
-

same hous e wi t h the ir male friend ; they oc cupy th e

-

same room and often even the s am e bed ; and yet

they call us susp icious if we thi nk t hat anyt hi ng is
wrong A brother leaves his virgin sister ; a virgin
.
,

s cornin
g her unm arried brother s eeks a str anger t o
,

take hi s place Both ali ke pretend to have but one

.

obj ect : they are seeking spiritu al cons olation among

Th e Maf orte w as a sort of c apa us uall y o f a lilac c olour
, .

8I
 SELE CT LETT E RS OF ST J E R O M E .

c arnale commercium Is tiusm o di homines in Prover

.

hiis S alom onis arguit Deus d ic e ns : A lligab i t q uis

igne m in sinu et vestimenta eius non c onb ur e nt ur ?
a ut am b ulab it supra carbonis ignis et pedes illi us non
ar d eb u nt ?
1 5 E x plos is igitur
. et e x t e rm inat is his quae ,

nolunt esse v ir gi ne s , sed vid e r i nunc ad te mihi ,

omni s di r igit ur oratio quae quanto prim a Rom anae

,

urbis virgo nobilis esse c o epist i tanto tibi am plius ,

lab or andum est ne et pr aes e ntib us bonis careas et

,

futuris Et quidem molestias nupt iar um et incerta

con i ugn de domesti c o exemplo didi c is t i cum soror ,

tua Bles illa a etate mai or s ed proposito minor post

, ,

a c c e t um m ar it u m s eptimo mens e v i d uat a est O

p .

in f eli x humana condicio et futuri nescia ! Et

vir i n i ta t is c o r o nam et n upti ar um p er didi t vol up
g
tatem Et quamquam secundum pudi c iti ae gradum
.

ten e at tamen quas illam per momenta s us tine r e

,

a e s t im as cruces s e c t an t e m cotidi e in sorore quod

p ,

ipsa p e r di d e ri t et cum di fli c ili us experta c ar e at

, ,

vol up t at e minorem c o n
, t ine nt iae habere m e r c e d e m ?
Sit tamen et illa s ecura si t gaudens : ce nt esi m us et
,

s e x a e s im us fi uc t us de uno s unt s emine c as t it at is

g .

1 6 Nolo habeas consortia m at r o nar um nolo ad

.
,

no b ili um acce das domos nolo te frequenter V idere

, ,

quod c ont e m ne ns Virgo es s e v o lui s t i Si sibi solent .

1 P ro v e rb s , vi. 27 .
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST J E R O M E .

adplaud e r e m uli e rc ulae

de i udic ib us v iris et in aliq ua
p o si tis dignitate si ad ,imperatoris uxorem con
c urri t am b itio s al ut an ti um c ur tu facias i n i ur iam viro
tuo ? Ad homi nis c oni ugem Dei sponsa quid pro .

peras ? Disc e in hac parte s up erb i am s anc t am ,

s oito te illi s ess e m elior em Neque vero e ar um te

.

tantum cupio declinare c o ngr e ssus quae m ar it or um ,

inflant ur hono ri b us quas e unucho r um greges s aep iun

, t

et in q uar um v es tib us adt e nuat a in filum metalla

te x unt ur sed etiam eas fuge quas viduas necessitas
, ,

fecit non quo mortem optare d e b ue ri nt m ari t o r um

, ,

s ed quo datam oc c asione m pudiciti ae li b ent er

ar r i e r e
p Nunc
. vero tantum veste mutata pristina
non m ut at ur am b itio Pr ae c e di t c av e as b as t ernar um
.

ordo s e m ivir et r ub e ntib us b uc c is cutis farsa dis

t e nd it ur ut eas putes m arit os non ami sisse sed
, ,

quaerere Plena adulat orib us domus plena c onvi vis

.
, .

Clerici ipsi quos et magisterio esse oport ue r at et

,

timori osc ulant ur capita pat r onar um et e x t e nt a

,

manu ut benedicere eos p utes velle si ne sc ias

, , ,

pretium ac c 1p1 unt salutandi Illae interim quae .

,

sacerdotes suo vident i ndige r e pr ae si dio e r igunt ur ,

in sup erb i am et quia m ar it or um e x p ert ae domi nat um

,

v i d ui t at is p r ae fer unt libertatem c as t ae v oc an , t ur et

no mnae et post c enam d ub iam apostolos so mni ànt

1 7 Sint tibi s o c iae quas v id e r is quod i ei unia
.
,

84
 LE TT ER XXI I

of the world you know plume themselves if th eir

, ,

husband is a j udge or holds some hi gh positi on .

Even if an e ager crowd o f visitors floc ks to greet th e

’
Emperor s wife why sho uld y o ui ns ult your H usband ?
,
’
W hy s hould you w ho are God s bride hasten t o
, ,

visi t th e wi fe o f a mortal man ? In th is regar d you

must learn a holy pride ; know tha t you are better
than they And not only do I desire y o u t o avoid the
.

’ ’
company o f those who ar e p ufle d up by the ir husbands
honours who surro und th ems elves with tr oops of
,

eunuchs and we ar rob es inwrought with fine thread s

,

o f go ld : you must als o s hun suc h women as are

wi dows fi o m compulsion not choice Not that
, .

’
they ought to have desired their husbands death ;
but they have been unwilli ng to acc ept their oppo r
t un i ty for chas tity As it is they only change the ir
.
,

dress : their old love o f show remai ns unchanged .

Lo ok at them as they ri de in their roo my li tters

wi th a row of e unuchs wa lking i n fi o nt : se e th eir
r ed lips an d their plump sleek s kins : you would not
think they had los t a hus band y ou would fancy they ,

w ere looki ng for o ne Their hous es are full o f

.

flatt e rers full o f guests

, The very clergy whose
.
,

teachi ng and authority ought to ins p ire resp ect ,

kiss th es e ladies on t he fore head and th en stretc h ,

out th eir hand you woul d thi nk if you di d not

—
,

know th at t h ey were giving a benedicti on to

,
—

receive the fee for their visit The women meanwhi le .

,

see ing that pri ests need th eir help are li fted up with ,
’
pride They know by exp eri ence what a husband s
.

rule is like and they pre f er their liberty as widows

, .

They call th ems elves c haste nuns and after a ,

di v ers i fie d di nner th ey dream apostles .

Let your companions be those who are pale of face

85
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST J E R O M E .

tenuant , quibus pallor in facie e s t quas et aetas ,

p r o b a vi t et vita quae cotidie in c or di b us c anunt

,
? ’
U bi pascis ubi cubas in meridi e ? Quae e x
’
a flec t u di c un
'

t : Cupio di ssol ui et esse cum Christo .

Esto s ub i e c t a p ar e ntib us imitare spo nsum tuum , .

Barus sit e gr e ss us in publi cum : martyres tibi q uaer

antur in cubiculo tuo Nunquam caus a d e er it .

pr oc e d e ndi si semper quando necesse est pro

, , ,

c e ss ur a sis M oderatus c ib us et nunquam venter

.

r e l e t us
p . P lu r im ae quipp e sunt quae cum vino , ,

sunt s ob ri ae c ib o r um lar gi tat e s unt e b r iae Ad

, .

o r a t io n e m tibi nocte s ur e n t i non i ndi ge stio r uc tum

g
f ac i at s e d ina nit as
, C r e b ri us lege et d isc e quam
.

plurima . Tenenti c o dic e m somnus o b r e p at et

c ad e n t e m f ac i e m pagina sancta s us c ipi at Sint t ibi .

coti diana i eiuni a et r e fec tio s atie t ate m f ugi e ns .

Nihi l p r od est biduo t ri d uo q ue t r ansmisso vacuum

portare ventrem si pariter o b r ui t ur s i c om pe ns at ur
, ,

s at u r it at e i e i un i um I lico mens repleta torpes

.

cit e t i nr igat a hum us spinas lib idi num germi nat Si .

quando s e ns eri s e x t er ior e m hominem flor em adules

c en ti ae s us pir ar e et acc e pt o cibo c um te in lec t ulo
c o n o s i t am dulcis lib i di num pompa c on cus s e ri t
p ,

arr ip e scutum fid e i in q uo igni t ae di aboli e x tin

,

u u n t u r sagittae Omnes ad ult er an t es quasi

g .
,

c lib an us corda eorum

At tu Christi c om itat a v estigus et s erm o nib us ei us
intenta di c : Nonne cor nostrum erat ardens in vi a ,

1
S ong of S olomon i . 7 .

Phi li ppi
,
2
n
a s, i . 23 .

’
A v i s it t o a m art y r s sh ri ne w as of et nm ad e a nexcuse
f o r g o ing abro ad .

H osc a , v ii . 4 .

86
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST . JERO ME

c um p a nobis I esus scri pt ur as ? et illud

e r ir e t
’
Ignit um e lo q ui um tuum et servus t uus di le x it illud , .

Difficile est hum anam animam no namare e t necesse

’
est ut in q uosc um q ue mens nostra t r ahatur afle c t us
, .

Carnis amor sp ir itus amore sup er at ur ; desiderium

desiderio r e stingui tur Q ui d q uid inde mi nui tur hinc .
,

c r es c i t Quin p o ti us s emper ingemi na : Super lec

.

tum meum in noc tib us q uaesiv i quem di le xi t anima ,

’ ’
M or ti fic at e ait apostolus
‘
mea . membra ves tra
, ,
’
super t e r ram U nde et ipse c o nfid ent er ai eb at
.

’
Vivo autem iam nonego vi vi t autem in me Christus , .

Q ui m orti fic avi t membra sua et in imagine per am

b ulab at non timet dicere :
, Fac t us s um t anquam
uter in pruina q ui d q ui d enim i nme fui t um o ri s
‘
,
’
e x c oc t u m es t e t : Infirm at a s un t in i e i un
, i o genua
’
mea et : O b li t us sum manducare panem m eum ;
,
’
a voce gemi t us mei adh aesit os meum carni m e ae .

1 8 Esto cicada noc ti um

. L ava per si ngulas noc t e s .

lec t um tuum in lacrimi s s tr atum tuum riga

, Vigi la .

e t fiere sicu t passer in soli tudi ne Ps alle spiritu .

,

p s alle et mente : Bene d i c anima mea dominum , ,

et ne ob li visc ari s omnes r e trib uti ones eius qui pr o ,

i t i at ur c un c t is i ni ui t ati b us tui s qui sanat omnes

p q ,

i nfir m it at e s tuas et r e dimit ex co rr uptione vitam

’
tuam Quis nostrum e x corde dicere potest :
.

Q uia c iner em qu asi panem manducavi et po tionem

meam cum fle t u mi sc eb am An non flendum est ,

1
S t Luke x xiv 32
. , .
2
P s al m cx ix . 1 40 ( c vi ii .

S o ng o f S o lo mo n 1 1 1 , . l . C oloss i an
s , ii i 5
. .

G alat ians , ii 2 0 . .

Psal m c xix 8 3 A . . . V has s mo k

. e f or f r os t . Jrm e o e
q uotes
t he V ulg ate ( c x vi ii . P
s alm c ix 2 4 . . P lmsa 5 c ii . .

I e Be as activ e at
. . nig ht as t he grass hopper is inthe d ay .

88
 LETT ER XX I I :

J es us opened to us the Scriptures and aga i n ? ’1

Thy word is tried to the u ttermost and thy se r vant ,

’2
loveth it I t is hard for t he human soul not to love
.

something and o ur mi nd o f necessity must be dr awn

,

to some sort of a ffection Carnal love is overcome .

by sp ri tual love : des ire is quenched by desire :

i
what is taken fi om the one is added to th e other .

Nay rather as you li e upon your couch say these

, ,
‘
words and repeat them conti nually : By nigh t

"
’3
have I s ought Hi m w hom my soul loveth .

M ortify your members o n earth 1 say s th e ,

apostle ; and becaus e he di d s o hi ms elf h e coul d ,

afterwards boldly say : I h v e yet not I but Chri s t ,

’5
li veth in me He who m o r ti fies hi s members and
.
,

as he walks t hrough this world knows it to be vanity ,

i s not afraid to say : I am become like a leather

”5
bo tt le in t he fi o st For wh atever there was i nme of
.

’
the moistur e o f lus t has dried away And again .

’7
M y kne es are weak with fas ti ng I forget to eat .

my bread By reason o f the voice of my groani ng

.

’8
my bones cleave to my skin .

Be thou the grasshopper o f the ni ght 9 Wash .

your bed and water your couch nightly wi th

tears K eep vigil and be like the sp arrow alone
.

upo n the hous etop Let your spirit be your h arp .

,

and let your mind j oin in th e p s alm :

’

Bles s the
Lo rd 0 my s oul and forget not all his benefits ;
, ,

who forgiveth all thine ini qui ti e s ; who healeth all

thy di s eas e s ; who redeemeth thy li f e fi o m de
st ruction ”0 Who of us can s ay fi om o ur heart :
.
—

‘
I have ea t en as hes hke bread and mingled my
dri nk with we eping 1 1 And yet ought I not to

time whenhe is al w ay s hea rd . Cf . Virg . Eo . II . 1 3, s ole s ub

a rde n
t i r es on
ant a rbus to cicad ia
1°
P sal m c iii . 2 .
11
P sal m on 9 . .
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST J E R O M E .

non ge m e nd um , cum me rur s us serp ens i nvit at ad

i nli c it os cum de para di so virgi ni t at is e i e c t um
c ib o s ?
t un i c is vult vestire p e llic us quas Helias ad para ,

disum r e di e ns pr oi e c it in t e r ram ? Quid mi hi et

v o l u ta t i quae in brevi perit ? Quid cum hoc dulci
p ,

et mortifero carmine sir enar um ? Nolo illi s ub i ac er e

sententiae quae in hominem e st lata dam nat um
,

in d olorib us et anx ie t atib us pari es mulier lex ista ,

—

’
non mea est E t ad virum c o nv e r sio tua Sit .

con v e r s io i lli us ad m ar i t um quae virum non habet ,

C hr is t um et ad extremum
, morte m or ie ri s finis
iste co ni ugii M e um propositum s ine s e x u est
. .

Hab e ant nupt iae s uum tempus e t t i t ulum : mihi

virginitas in M aria d edi c at ur et Christo .

1 9 Dic at ali q uis :

. Et audes nuptii s d e tr ahe r e ,

quae a domino b e ne di c t ae sun t ? Non est d e tr aher e

nuptii s cum illis virginitas ant e fert ur Nemo malum
, .

bono c o np ar at G lori e nt ur et nupt ae cum a vi rgini

.
,
’
bus sunt s ec undae Crescite ait . et multipli , ,
’
camini et replete t e rr am C r e sc at et m ult iplic e t ur
.

ille qui inple t ur us e st t e rr am : tuum agmen in caelis

,
’
est . Crescite e t m ultipli c ami ni Hoc e x pl et ur .

edictum post p ar adis um et nudi tat em et ficus foli a

au s ic an t i a r uri inem n u ti ar u m Nubat e t nuba
p p g p .

tur ille q ui in sudore faciei c om e di t panem suum cui

, ,

terra tr ib ulo s ge ne r at et spin as cuius h erba se ntib us ,

1
Ge nesi s iii 1 6 2
Ge nesis
G
, . . ,

e ne sis , i . 28 .
 SE LE CT LE TTERS OF ST J E ROM E .

f e c und um
'

s uflo c at ur : meum s emen centena fruge

est.

Non omnes c ap i unt verbum Dei sed hi quibus ,

’
da t um est Ali um e unuc hum necessitas fac iat me
.
,

voluntas Tempus e t am ple x andi et tempus

.

ab s t in en di manus a c o nple x u; tempus m itt e ndi

’
lapides et tempus c olli ge ndi Po s t q uam de d ur iti a .

nat io num generati sunt filii Abraham c o e p e r unt ,

sancti lapides volvi super t e r r am Pe r t r ans e unt

. .

quippe mun di i sti us t urbines et in c ur r u Dei r o t ar um

c e l e ri t at e v ol v un t ur C o ns uant tu n icas qui incon
.
,

sutam d e s urs um t unic am p e r did er unt quo s vagitus ,

d e le c t at infantum in ipso lucis exor di o fletu l uge nt e ,

quod na ti sunt Eva in paradi s o virgo fuit : post .

p e lli c i as tun i c as i ni t i um nu p t i ar um Tua regio .

ar adi s us Serva quod nata es et d i c : R e v e rt er e

p .

’
, ,

anima mea in requiem tuam ,

.

Et ut scias vi rgini t at em esse naturae nuptias post ,

delictum : virgo nasc it ur caro de nuptns in fi uct u

redden s quod in radice p er di d er at
, E x i e t virga de .

ra di ce I e s s e et flos de radice asc e nd e t Virga mater

est domi ni simplex pura sinc e ris nullo e x trins ec us
, , ,

germine c ohaer ent e et ad simili t udi ne m Dei unione

fecunda Virgae flos Christus est di c e ns
. Ego flos
’
campi et lilium c o nv allium Qui et in alio loco lapis .

r ae di c at ur de mon t e sine m an i b u s significante

p
r o h e t a v ir gi n em n as c it ur um de v ir i n
g e M anus
p p .

1 St M att w xi x he . 11 .
2
E C C ÌBS Î
&S ÈG S , iii 5
P I
. , .

s alm c x vi 7 s ai ah, x i
( Vulgata
a . . .
)
5 A p un onvi rga vi rga , . S o ng of Solomon, 1 1 l . .

7
Dani e l, 11. 45 .

92
 LETTE R XX I I
and thistles and whos e crops are choked with ,

brambles M y seed prod uces fi ui t a hundredfold

. .

’
Not all men can receive God s saying but only ,
’1
thos e to whom it is given Some men may be .

eunuchs of necessi ty : I am one by c ha ce The re .

is a t im6 1 6 an tm
—
i e t o f é fi ain from
—

dì
7 7 ‘
'
‘
*

embraci ng There is a ti me to cas t away stones and

.
,
’2
a tim e to gather s tones together Now that o ut .

of the hardness o f t he Gentil es s ons have been born

to Abraham they begin to b e holy stones rolling ,

upon the eart h So t hey pass t hrough t he storms of .

’
this world and roll o n with rapid w heels in God s
chariot Let those stitch thems elves coats who have
.

lost that rai ment whi ch was woven fi om th e top in

one piece and de light in the cries of inf ants lamenti ng
,

that they are born as soon as th ey s ee the light of day .

Eve in Paradis e was a virgin : it was only a ft er she

put on a ga r ment o f skins t hat her married life began .

Paradise is your home K eep there fore as y o u were .

’3
born and say : R eturn unto thy re s t 0 my soul
, , .

That l ou may understa nd that vi r gini is natural

and th a t marri age came after the Fa reÎnéî i b eî
’ _ _
’

thî t w
_

hat is born o f wedloc k is v irgin fle s h and that

'

b î iE fimt it renders what in its parent roo t it had

' _

"
los t There shall come fort h a rod out of the stem
'

’4
of J es s e and a flow e r 5h all grow ou t of hi s roo ts
, _
__
.

Th at virgin5 rod is the mother of O ur Lo rd s imple

pure uns ullied ; drawi ng no ger mÉ lif e f r o rì î wi th
_
, ,
' ”

t but like God Hi ms elf fruitf ul i nÉ

,

ou ingl e ne s s The
‘

, .

fl ower o f th e rod is Christ I am the

’
ros e of Sharon and the lily of t he valleys In .

another pas sage He is foretold to be a stone cut

’7
out o f th e mountain with out hands the proph et ,

signi fying t hereby t hat H e will be born a virgi n of a

93
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST J E R O M E .

quipp e ac c ipiunt ur pro opere nuptiar um ut ib i ,

Sinis tra eius sub capite meo et d e x t er a eius amplex

’
abitur me In huius s ensus c ongr ui t v olunt at em
.

etiam illud quod an imalia quae a No e bina in arcam

, ,

i nd uc unt ur imm und a sunt i mpar numerus est

,
—

mundus quod M oy s e s et I esus Nave nudis in

—

s an c t am t e rr am pe dibus i ub ent ur incedere et ,

d is c ip uli sine c alc iam e nt or um onere et vinculis

p e lli um ad pr ae di c atio nem e v ange lii d es t inant ur ;

quod mili tes v e stim e ntis Iesu sorte di vi sis c ali gas non
hab ue r e quas t olle r e nt
, Nec enim p o t ue r at habere .

do m inus quod pr ohib ue r at in s ervis

, .

2 0 L ando nup t i as l aud a c o m ugxum sed quia mi hi

.
, ,

vi r i n es generant : lego de s in
g p i s rosas de terra ,

aurum de conc ha m argar itum Num q ui d qui

, .
,

arat tota di e arabit ? Nonne et lab oris sui fruge

,

l ae t ab it ur ? Plus ho nor ant ur nup ti ae quando quo d , ,

’
de illis nasc i tur plus amatur Quid invi d es mater
, .
, ,

filiae ? Tuo lacte nu trita e st tui s educa t a visceribus ,

in tuo ad ole vit sinu tu illam s edula pietate servasti

,

i nd ignar is quod noluit mi li t is uxor esse sed regis ?

, ,

Grande tibi b e ne fici um pr ae stiti t : soc r us Dei esse

coe
p is t i .

’
D e v irginib us i nqui t apos t olus pr aec ep t um
, ,

domini non hab eo cur ? Qui a et ipse ut esset ,

virgo non fuit imperm sed propriae v oluntatis

, , .

Neque enim audi e ndi s unt qui eum uxorem hab uis se ,

1
S o ng of S olo m on 1 1
, . 6 .
2
1 Corinthi ans , v n2 5
. .

94
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST J E RO M E .

co nfigunt cum de con t inen t ia di sser e ns et s uade ns

,

p erp etuam c astitat em i ntule ri t : Volo autem omnes

’
esse sicut me ipsum et infra : Dico autem in ,

nup tis e t vi d ui s : bonum est illis si sic p e rm ane ant , ,

’
sicut et ego et in alio loco : N um q uid non hab e m us
,

potestatem ux or e s c ir c um duc endi sicut et c e t e ri

apostoli ? Quare non habet domini de virginitate
p r aec ept um ? Qui a m aior is es t mercis quod non ,
’
c o it u r et o fle rt u r quia si f ui s s e t virginitas imperata
g , , ,

nupt iae v id eb ant ur ab lat ae et d ur issim um erat contra

naturam c oger e angelo r um que vitam ho mi nib us
e x t or q ue r e et id q uo dam more d am nar e quod ,

c on dit um est .

2 1 A lia fuit in v e t e r i lege felicitas

. Beatus qui .
,
’
habet s emen in Sion et dom e stic os in Hi erus al em ,

et m ale di c t a sterilis quae non p ar i eb at et : Filii

, ,
’
tui sicut novella oliv ar um in c ir c uit u mensae tuae ,

e t r ep r omi ssio di vi tiar um et : Non erit i nfirm us in ,

’
t r ib ub us tuis Nunc di ci tur :
. Ne te lignum
ar b i t r er i s ar i d um ; habes locum pro filiis et filiab us
’ 6
in c ae le st ib us sempiternum ; nunc b e ne di c unt ur
au e r e s et L azarus di v it i p r ae f e r t ur in purpura ;
p p
nunc qui i nfirm us est fortior e st V ac uus erat
, , .

orbis e t ut de t y pis t ac e am sola erat b e nedi c tio

, ,

lib e r o r um .Prop t e r e a et Abraham iam senex

C e tt ur ae c opul at ur et Iacob m andr ago ri s r e di mi t ur

1
1 C rinthi ans v ii 7 8
o
2
1 C
rinthians
o , ix 5 . .

I sai ah xxxi 9 L XX v ers io n Psalm c xxvii i

. .
, ,
2
, . . . . . 3 .

96
 LE TTE R XX II

continence and recommendi ng perp etual chas ti ty ,

he says : I wish that all men were even as I

’1
myse lf .And later : I say therefore t o t he
unmarried and widows it is good for them if th ey ,
’
abide even as I And in another place :
. Have
we not power to lead about women even as t he
other apostles 2
Why then has he no command
ment fi o m the Lord concerning virginity ? Because
that which is freely o ff ered is worth more t han what
is exto rted by force and to co m mand virgi ni ty would
,

have been to abrogate wedlock It wo uld have been .

a stern task to force men ag ainst their nature and to

extort fi o m them the li fe that ang els enj oy : more
over it would have meant condem ning in a way what
has been ordained .

The old law had a di fferent ideal o f felicity There .

it is said : Ble s sed is he who ha th seed in Z ion and

a family in J erusalem and curs ed is t he barren
woman who beareth not children And again : .

Thy chi ldr en s hall be as olive plants around thy

’4
table. To such men riches are p romised and we ,

are told that t here was not o ne feeble man among t he

’5
tribes . But to day the word is : Thi nk not that
-

you are a dry tree fo r ins tead of sons and daughters

’5
you have a place for ever in heaven Now the poor .

are blessed and L azarus is s e t before Dives in his

,

purple Now he who is weak has thereby the greater

.

strength But in t he old days the world w as emp ty of

.

p eo ple and omitting t hose whos e c hildlessness was

, ,

but a t yp e for t he future t he only benedi ction ,

pos sible was t he gift o f c hildren It w as for this .

reason that Abrah am in his old age married K etur ah ;

tha t J acob w as h ired with mandrakes ; and that
5
P m
sal cv . 37 . C f Isa iah , Iv i 3
. . .

97
 SE LE CT LETTER S O F ST . JERO M E

et c onclus am v ulv am in ecclesiae figur am R achel

'

pulchra c onquerit ur .

Paul at im vero increscente sege t e messor i n miss us

est Virgo H eli as Helis ae us virgo vir gines multi
.
, ,

filii pr ophe t ar um Hi er emi ae di ci t ur : Et tu ne

.

’
a c c i i as uxorem
p S anc ti fic at us in utero c ap tiv itat e
.

r o i n uan t e uxorem r ohib e tur ac c i er e A lii s

p p q p p .

verb is id ipsud apost olus loquitur : Existimo ergo .

hoc bonum esse propter i ns t ant em ne c essit at em ,

’
quoniam bonum est ho mini sic esse Quae es t ista .

necessitas quae aufe rt gaudi a nup ti ar um

, Tempu s
b r e vi at um est ; r e li q uum es t ut et q ui habent ux or e s ,
’
sic sint quasi non hab ent e s
, I n proximo est .

Nabuchodonosor Prom ovi t s e leo de c ub ili suo

.
_
.

Quo mihi superbissimo regi s er vi t ur a c oni ugi a Q uo

arv ulo s quos p r o he t a c o n l or e t di c e n s A dhae sit
p , p p
lingua l ac t antis ad fauc em ipsius in si ti Parvuli .

o st ula v e r un t p anem et qui fr an er e t eis non erat

p g
i e b at ur ergo ut di xim us i n
, , ,

Inv e n , viris tant u m hoc ,

c on tin en t i ae bonum et in dolor ib us i ugi t ér E v a

ar i eb at P o st uam vero virgo c o n c e it in utero e t
p q.
p
e e ri t nobis u e r um cuius ri nc i at us in umero
p p p p p ,
’ ‘
eius Deum fortem p atr e m fu t uri s aec uli solut 5
, , , .

m al e di c t io est M ors per E v am vita p e r M ariam

.
, .

Id e o q ue et di t ius v ir gin i t at is donum flux i t in f e mi nas ,

qui a c o epit a femina Statim ut Fi lius Dei i ngr essus .

- 1 1 C o rinthi ans v ii 26 2
1 Cori nthi ans v u29
. .

L
. .
, ,

ame ntati ons , iv . 4 .

9 8
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST J E R O M E .

est super t e rr am nov am sibi famili am ins ti t ui t ut

, , ,

qui ab angelis ad or ab at ur in caelo haberet angelos in ,

terris Tune Olo fer nae caput Iudi th c ontinens

.

am p ut av it ; tunc Aman quod i nt e rpr e t atur i ni ,

‘

’
qui ta s suo igne c o nb ust us e st ; t une Iacob us et
,

Io hannes r e li c t o patre rete navicula s ec ut i sunt , , ,

’
s alv at o r e m a flec t um sanguini s et vincula s aec uli et

curam domu s pariter r e li nq ue nt es ; t une primum

a ud it um est : Qui vult venire post me nege t s e ,
’
ipsum sibi et t ollat c r uc e m suam et s e q uat ur me .

Nemo enim miles cum uxo r e p er git ad p r o eli um .

Disc ip ulo ad s e p ult ur am patri s ire c upi e nt i non

p e r mi t t i t ur Vulpes foveas habent et v ol uc r es
.

caeli nidos ; fi lius autem hominum non habet ubi ,

caput r e c li ne t n e for sit an c o ntr ist eris si anguste ,

m an s e r is Qui s ine ux o r e es t sollic it us e s t ea quae

.
, ,

domi ni sunt quomodo plac e at Deo qui autem cum

, ,

ux o r e e s t so llic it us est quae s unt huins mundi

, , ,

quomodo plac e at uxori Divi s a est muli er et virgo .

quae non est nupt a c ogit at quae s unt domini ut , , ,

sit sancta corpore et S piritu ; nam quae nupt a e s t ,

’
c o it at quae sunt mundi quomodo
g , p l ac e at viro, .

2 2 Quantas mole s tias hab e ant nup t iae et quot

.

s o llic i t udi ni b us v i nc i ant ur in eo libro quem adversus , ,

Hel vi di um de beatae M ariae perpetua virginitate

e di dim us puto b r e v it e r e x pr e ss um Nunc eadem
“
.
,

replicare p e rlo ngum est et s i c ui placet de il lo , ,

potest haurir e fo ntic ulo Verum ne p e ni t us vi d e ar .

,

1
St . M rk viii 34
a , . .
2
St . M tthew vi ii
a , . 20 .

1 Co ri nthi ans vii , . 3 2 — 34 . C f A pp

. .
, p 4 89
. .

1 00
 LE TTE R XXI I

So no f G od set foo t o near th , He formed for H ims elf

a new hous ehold , that as H e was adored by angels in
h ea ven He might have angels als q o n earth Then .

chas t e J udi th once more cut o ff th e he ad of '

Holo fe es . Then Haman whos e name m eans —

iniquity — was once more burned i n his own fire .

Then J m es and J ohn fors ook father and net and

shi p , and followed the Saviour : they put be hi nd
them the love o f their kin, the ti es o f thi s world , and
the care o f their home Then first th e words were
.

heard : Whosoever will come after me , let him

’1
deny hi ms elf and take up his cross and follow me .

For no soldier takes a wi fe with him w hen h e is

marching i nto battle Even when a di sciple was fai n
.

to go and bury his father t he Lord forbade him and

,

said : Foxes have holes and the bir ds o f the air

h ave nests : but t he Son o f M an hath not wh ere t o
’2
lay his h ea d S o y o u must not complain if you
.

are sca ntily lodged He that is unmarried careth

.

for the thi ngs that b elong to th e Lord how he may ,

plea s e t he Lo rd : but he that is married careth for

t he things of t he world how he may pl eas e hi s wife
, .

There is a di ff erence also between a wife and a

of t he Lord t hat s he … he ho ly b ot h i nho d

, m
sp i rit ; but she thar i s m m i e d e ar es f or th e î hm : s
—
g
of the world how she may pleas e her husband 3
, .

Ho w grea t are the inconvenienc es involved in

w edlock and how many anxi eti es encompass it I
, ,

thi nk I have bri efly desc ribed i nmy tr eatis e agai nst
Helvidi us on the perpetua ! vi rgini ty o f the bles s ed
M ary I t woul d be tedious to go over the sam e
…

ground again and anyone w ho wishe s to can draw

,

fi om my little sp ring But le s t I s hould be th oug ht

.

IC I
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

o mi sis se , nunc di c am quod cum ap ostolus sine ,

intermissione c r ar e nos i ub e at et qui in coni ugi o ,

debitum s olvi t orare non possit aut or am us semper , ,

e t v ir gi ne s s um us aut orare d e sini m us ut coniugio , ,

’
s e r vi am us Et si nup se r it i nq uit
. Virgo no n , , ,

p e c c at’; tr ib ul at io ne m tamen carnis hab eb unt huins

m odi Et in principio libelli pr ae fat us sum me de
.

an us t n
g s n up t i ar um aut ni hil o m n i no aut pauca
di c t ur um et nunc eadem adm o neo At si tibi .
,

placet scire quot m ol estiis Virgo libera quot u xor

, ,

ads tri c t a sit lege Te rt ulli an i ad am ic um philo sophum

,

et de virginitat e ali os hb ello s et beati C ypri ani

vol umen e gr e gi um et p ap ae Dam asi s uper hac re
v er s u
p r o s aq ue c o npo si t a et A mb r o s ii nostri quae
nup e r ad s o r o r e m scripsit opuscula In quibus tanto .

s e fudi t eloquio ut q uidq ui d ad laud em v irginum , ,

p e r ti ne t n q uis i e r it ,
arit , e x p r e s s e r it
, ex o r di .

2 3 Nobis diver s o tramite i nc e d it ur : v irgin

. i t at e m
non e ffe r im us sed s er v am us Nec s uffic it scire quod
, .
,

bonum est nisi c us to di at ur adt e nti us quod el e c t um

, ,

est quia illud i udi c ii est hoc lab ori s et illud com
, , ,

mune cum pluribus ho c cum paucis Qui persevera , .

’ ’
v e ri t i nq ui t
, usqu e ad finem hi c s alv us eri t et
, , ,
’
M ulti vocati pauci autem el ec t i Itaque ob t estor
, .

t e coram Deo et Chris to Iesu et e le c t is angelis eius ,

ne va s a templi quae soli s s ac e r do tib us Videre con ,

c ess um est facile i n publicum r o fe r as ne sacrarium

p , ,

1
1 C orinthi ans
, 2 8 2
No t e x te ntv ii . . .

The De ha b itu vi rgi num of Cyp r an, B shop of Car hag e i i t

(fl . is s ll e x an , a s ar e t he hr ee b o o ks De Virgi nibus
ti t t t
of A m b o se , B sh op of M ilan
r , w
hi c h w e e w
i e nf or M a c ell ina r ritt r
( pp 1 87 and t he ea ise of Damas us i s n o w lo s tr t t
M
. .

S M a hew, xx i 1 3
t . tt St a he w, xx 1 6
v . . . tt . .

1 02
 SE LE CT LE TT ERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

Dei quisquam pr ofanus i ns pic iat Ozi as arcam .

,

quam non lic eb at ad tinge ns subita morte pros t ratus

,

est Neque enim aureum v as et argenteum tam

.

carum Deo fuit quam templum corpori s virginalis

'
, .

Pr a e c e ssit umbra nunc veritas est , Tu quidem .

simpliciter lo q ue r is et ignotos quoque blanda non

d e spic is sed ali t er i np udi c i vident ocu li Non
, .

norunt anim ae pulc hrit udi ne m considerare sed ,

corpo rum Ezechi as t he s aur um Dei m o nstr at

.

A ssyr ns sed A ssyr i i Videre quod c up e r e nt

, De ni que , .

fr e q ue nti b us bellis Iud ae a convuls a vasa primum

domi n i capta atque tran s lata sunt et inter e ulas et
p
con c ub i nar um greges quia palma v itior um est ,

honesta p ollue r e Baltas ar potat in fialis

, .

2 4 Ne declines aurem tuam in verba mala

. .

S aep e i nd e c e ns aliquid lo q ue nt e s t e m p t ant mentis

arbitrium Si li b e nt e r audias virgo quod di c it ur
.
, , ,

si ad ri di c ul a q uae q ue sol varis q ui d q ui d di x e r is , ,

laud ant ; q ui d q uid ne gav e r is , negant . Fac e t am

v oc a nt et sa nc tam e t in qua nullus sit dolus , Ecce
’
vera Chri s ti ancilla dicentes ecce tota s implic it as
, , ,

non ut illa horrida turpi s ru s ticana t err ib ili s et , , ,

’
quae ideo forsit an m ar it um invenire non p o t uit .

Natur ali d ucim ur malo : ad ulator ib us no stri s lib e nt er

f av e mus et quamquam no s r e sp o nd e am us indignos e t
,

c ali d us rubor o r a p e r f un d at tamen ad l aud e m su am ,

i ntri n s e c us ani ma l ae t at ur .

Spons a Christi arca e s t testamenti e x tr inse c us et

1
2 S amuel , v i. 6, 7 .
2
2 K ings xx , . 15
. D aniel v, . 2 .

1 04
 LE TT E R XX II

sa nctuary When U zzi ah laid hands upon the ark 1

. ,

which it was no t lawful to touch he was struck down ,

by sudden death And no ves s el o f gold o r silver

.

’
was ev er so dear to God as th e temple of a vi rgin s
body What was shadowed i nthe past presaged the
.

reali ty o f to day Yo u indeed may spea k fi ankly

—
.

to strangers and look at them with kindly eyes : but

the unch aste se e di fle r ently They cannot appreciate .

th e beauty o f the soul they onl y regard the beauty

,
’
of th e bod y Hezekiah showed G od s treasure to
.

the Assyrians b ut the Assyri ans only saw in i t

,
2
something to cove t And so it was tha t J udae a
.

was rent as under by continual wars and that th e ,

’
first things taken and carried away were the Lord s
vess els From th em as drinking cups Belshazzar
’
.

u afle d his wine for t h e crown o f vi ce is to pollute

q
—

what is noble surrounded by his concubines at the

—

feas t 3
.

Never incline your ear to words o f mi s chi ef M en .

oft en make an improper remark that th ey may test ,

’
a virgin s real purpos e If you hear i t with pleasure
.

and are ready to unbend at a j oke they approve of ,

all you say and anyt hi ng you deny th ey deny also

, .

Th ey call you bo th merry and good o ne in whom ,

’
t here is no guile B ehold they cry a tr ue hand
.
, ,

maid of Christ : be hold complete fi ankne ss She is .

not hke that rough ugly country fright w ho probably

,
’
co uld not find a h usband j ust for t hat reaso n A .

nat ural weakn ess easily begui les us We wi llingly .

s mile on such flatt er ers and although we may blus h ,

and s ay we are unworthy o f th eir praise t he soul ,

withi n us rej oices to hear their wo r ds .

’
Like th e ark of the covenant Christ s bride should
be overlaid with gold withi n and wi thout ; s he s hould
1 05
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

i ntr inse c us d e aur ata , custos legis domini Sieut in .

illa ni hil aliud fuit nisi t abulae testamenti ita e t in te ,

nullus sit e x tri ns ec us c ogi t at us S uper hoc pr opi .

t iat ori o quasi super cherubim sedere vult dominus .

M i t ti t disc ip ulo s suos ut in pullo asinae curis te

,

s ae c ul arib us solvant u t paleas et lat er e s Aegypti

,

d er eli nq ue ns M oy s e ns e q uar is in heremo e t t e rr am

r e p r omi s sioni s i ntr o e as Nemo sit qui pr ohi b e at
.
, ,

non ma t er non soror cognata germ anus ; dominus

, , ,

te nec ess ari am habet Quod si v olue rint impedi re

.
,

t im e an t flagella Phar ao n i s qui popul um Dei ad ,

c ol e n dum eum nolens dimi tt e r e passus es t illa quae ,

scripta sunt I esus ingr ess us t emplum omni a quae

.
,

t empli non e r ant proiec it Deus eni m zelotes est

, .

et non vult dom um pa tris fieri sp elunc am latr onum .

A lio q uin ubi aera num e r ant ur ubi sunt caveae

, ,

c olum b ar u m et sim pli c i t as e ne c at ur ubi in pectore ,

vir ginali s aec ular ium n egotiorum cura ae st uat ,

statim velum templi scindi t ur ; spo ns us c o nsurgit

i r at us e t di cit : Re linq ue t ur vobis domus vestra
’
deserta .

L ege evangelium e t vide quomodo M aria ad pedes ,

domini s e de ns M art hae studio pr aefer at ur e t certe —

M artha sedulo hospi t ali t atis o fficio domino atque

’
di sc ip ulis convivium pr aep ar ab at : M artha inq uit , ,

M artha solli cita es et t urb ar is circa plurima ; p anc a

,

autem necess ari a s un t aut unum M aria bonam .

’
p artem elegit quae nonaufer e t ur ab ea
, Es to et t u .

M aria cibis pr ae fe rt o d oc tr i nam S oror e s tuae

,
.

1
St . M atthew , xxiii . 38 .
2
S t Luke x
.
, . 41 .

1 06
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

nt
c urs it e et q uaer ant quomodo C hri st um hospit em
,

hab e ant ; tu inse m e l s ae c uli onere p r oi ec to sede ad

pedes domini et di c : Inv e ni e um quem q uaer e b at ,

ani ma mea ; tenebo eum et non dimi ttam eum et

ille respondeat : U na est columba me a perfecta ,
’
mea ; una est matri s uae electa ge ne t r ic i s uae , ,

c ae lest i videlice t Hi e r us al e m .

2 5 Semper te cubiculi tui secreta c us t odi ant

.
,

s emper tec um spo ns us lud at i ntr ins ec us Oras .

lo q uer is ad sp o n sum ; legis : ille tibi loquitur et , ,

cum te somnus oppr e ss e ri t v e ni e t post p ari et e m et

,

mittet manum suam per foramen et tanget ventrem

tuum et t r e m e fac t a c o nsurge s et dices :
, Vulnerata
’
c ar i t at i s ego sum , et r urs us ab eo audi es : Hortus
con c l us u s soror mea spon s a ; ho r t us c o n c lus us fons ,
’
si n Cave ne d om um e x e as ne velis v id er e
g at us .
,

fili as r egio nis ali e nae q uam v is fratres habeas patri

,

ar c has e t I s t abel parente lae t e r is : Dina egressa

c o r r um p i t ur . Nolo t e spo ns um quaerere per plateas ,

nolo c irc um ir e angul os civitatis Dicas licet : Sur .

gam et c irc um ib o in civitate in foro et in plat eis et ,

’
u ae r am quem di l e x it anima mea et interroges
q ,

Numq uid quem d ile x it anima mea v i di st is

, nemo ,

tibi respondere dignab i tur S p o ns us in plat e is non

.

potest i nv e niri Arta et angusta via est quae d uc it ,

ad vitam d e ni q ue se quitur : Q uaes iv i e um et non

—

’
i nv e ni eum voc avi eum e t non r e sp o ndi t mi hi
,
.

So ng of Solo mo n iii
, . 4 . S o ng of S olom on vi , . 9 .

2
L e to
. ul] t he latc h o pe n . S o ng of Sol om on v , . 8.

S ong o S olom on, i v 1 2

. . Genes is xxx iv , .

7
S ong o f So lomo n, ii i 2
. .
2
S t M atthew v ii 1 4
.
, . .
 LETTE R XX I I

t e achi ng to fo od L et your sisters run to and fi o

.
,

and seek how th ey may entertai n Chris t as a gu es t .

Do you once for all cas t away the burden of this

’
world and si t at the Lord s feet and s ay : I have ,

found him whom my soul s ought ; I will hold him I ,

’1
will not let hi m go And H e will answer : M y dove
. ,

my und e fil e d is but one ; sh e is t he only one of her

’2
mother s he is t he c hoice one of h e r that bare her
, .

And that mother is the J erus alem that is inhe aven .

L et t he seclusion of your own ch am ber ever guard

you ; ever let the Bridegroom spo rt w ith you within .

If you pray you are sp eaki ng to your Spo us e i f you

,

read H e is speaking to you When sleep falls on you

, .
,

H e will come behi nd t h e wall and will put His hand

through t h e hole in the door and wi ll touch your
3

I am sick with love "

fl esh And you will awake and ris e up and cry
.

1
And you wi ll hear Him
.

answer : A garden inclo s ed is my si s ter my s po us e ,

’5
a spri ng shut up a fo untain sealed
, Go not fi o m
.

home nor visit the daughters of a strange land ,

thoug h you have patriarchs for brothers and rej oice

in I srael as your father Dinah went out and was
.

seduced 5 I would not have you s eek the Bridegroom

in the public s quares I would not h ave you go about
the corners o f the city You may s ay : I will ri s e
.

now and go ab out t he city : in t he s treets and int he

’7
broad ways I will se ek Him whom my soul loveth .

But t hough you as k the watchmen : Saw y e Hi m

whom my s oul loveth ? no one will deign to an s w er
you The Bridegroom cannot be found in the ci ty
.

s quares . Strait and narrow is th e way t hat leadet h

’5
un to life . And t he Song goe s on : I sought him
but I c oul d not find him : I call ed hi m but he gave
’
me no ans wer .
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST . J ER O M E

A t que u tinam non i nve niss e suflic i at f Vulnera .

beris nud ab eri s e t gem eb unda narr ab is : Inv ene

,

run t me custodes q ui c irc um e unt ci vit at em ; ,

e rc uss e r un t me u l n r av e r unt me t ul er unt

p v e , ,
’
t he r istr um meum a me Si autem hoc e x i ens .

patitur illa quae di x e r at : Ego d ormi o et cor meum

,
’ ‘
vi gil at et Fasciculus stac ta e fr at r ueli s meus
*

,
’
mihi in medi o ub er um m eor um c ommor ab it ur quid
, ,

de nobis fie t quae adhuc ad ule sc e nt ulae s um us

, ,

quae sponsa i ntr ant e cum spons o r e m anem us ex

tr i n s ec us ? Z e lo typ us est Iesus non vul t ab alii s ,

v id e r i fac i e m tuam Ex cus es licet atque c ause ris :

.

A dd uc to v e lam i ne or a c o nt e x i te q uaesivi tibi di x 1 , ,

A d nunt ia mihi quem di le x it ani m a mea ubi pascis

, , ,

ubi cubas in meri di e ne q uando fiam sicut c oo p e rt a ,

”
sup er greges sodalium t uor um indignab it ur tu , ,

m eb it e t di c e t : Si non c ognov e r is temet ips am o

, ,

pulchra in m uli erib us egr e d er e tu in v est igiis gre ,

’
gum e t p asce hae dos t uos in t ab er nac ulis p as to r um .

’
Sis inq uit pulchra et inter omnes m uli er e s sp ecies
, ,

tua di ligat ur ab spons o ni si te c ognov eris et omni ,

c ustodi a ser v ave r is cor tuum nisi oc ulos i uv enum ,

f uge ris e gr e di e ri s de thalamo meo et pasees hae do s

, ,
’
qui s t at ur i sunt a sinis tris .

2 6 Itaque mi Eus t ochi a filia domina conserva

.
, , , , ,

germana ali ud enim ae t at is aliud meriti illud

—
, ,

r e li io n i s hoc c ari t at is est nomen audi E s ai am —

g ,

1
S ong of S ol o m o n v , . 7 .
2 So ng of S o l o m on i, . 13 .

S ong o f S ol o m o n i , . 7 . So ng of Solomon i , . 8 .

I I°
 SE LE CT LE TTERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

lo q ue nt em Populus meus intra in cubicul a tua

: , ,

claude os tium tuum ab sce nd er e pus illum qu antulum ,

’
d e nec p e rtr an s e at ira domi ni Fe ris v age nt ur .

v ir gi n e s st u lt ae tu i nt rinse c us esto cum sp e n

, s e quia , ,

s i o s tium c l use ris et secundum e v an e lii

g p r ae c e pt um
in occulto o r av e r is p at r e m tuum v eni e t et puls ab it et ,

di c e t : Ecce ego s te ante i anuam et puls e Si qui s .

mihi ap e r ue r it i nt r ab o et c e nab e cum e e et ip s e

,
’
mecum et tu stati m sol licita r espo nd eb is : Vo x
,
‘

fr at r ue lis mei p uls antis : aperi mihi soror mea , ,

’
proxim a mea columba mea perfecta mea , Nec , .

est q uod dicas :

, Disp oli av i me t uni c am meam ,

quomodo i nd uar eam ? L avi pedes meos quomodo ,

i nq uinab e eos ? Ilic o surge et aperi ne te

'

r e m e r an t e p e r t r an s e at et postea co n ue r ari s dic e n s :

q ’
A p er ui fi at r ue li meo fr at r ue lis meus p e rtr an , s ii t .

Quid eni m necess e est ut cordi s tui os ti a claus a sint ,

spe ns e ? A p e riant ur Christo c laudant ur diabolo ,

s ec undum illud : Si sp iritus po testatem hab e nti s

‘

’
as c e n d e r i t super t e locum ne d e d e r is ei , Danihe l .

in c e nac ulo suo neque enim manere pe t e r at in—

hum ili fenestr as ad Hi e r us al e m apertas habuit : te

—

tu hab e to fenestras apertas s e d unde lumen intre ,

eat unde v id e as c ivi t at e m Dei Ne ap e ri as i llas

,
.

fenestras de quibus dic it ur :,

M ors i ntr avit per
’
fenestra s v es tr as .

2 7 Illud quoque tibi v it and um est cantins ne

. ,
’
v an ae
g l o ri ae ardore c a i ari s
p Qu omodo i nq ui t . ,

I es us o t es t i s credere gloriam ab h o m in i b u s
p ’,

ac c ip i e n t es ? Vide quale malum sit q uod qui , ,

1
I sa ah, xx vi 20
i . .
2
R v l ti n iii 20
e e a o , . .

S o ng o f So lomo n v . 2, 3 . S ng f S l m n v
o o o o o . 6 .

J r mi h i x 2 1
, ,

5
E cc lesi as te s x 4 , . . e e a , . .
 LE TT ER xx n
my p eople enter tho u i nto thy chambers and shut
, ,

thy doors about thee : hide thyse lf as it were for a

li ttle moment until t he i ndignation of the Lo rd b e
,
’1
e ver pa s t
—
. L et foolis h virgi ns roam abroad ; do
you for your part stay wi thi n with t he B r idegroom .

If y o u s hut your door and according t o th e Gosp el

,

precept pray to your Father in s ecret H e wil l come ,

and kn ock and He wi ll say : B ehold I stand at th e

,

d oo r and knock : if any man open I will come in to ,

’2
him and will sup wit h him and b e wit h me , And .

you forthwith wil l e agerly m ake reply : It is t he

voice o f my beloved that kno cketh sayi ng Open to ,
”
me my s ister my neare s t my dove my und e fil e d
, , , , .

’
You must no t s ay : I have put o fl my co at ; ho w
s hall I put it o n? I h ave was h ed my feet ho w s hall
h
I de file t em ? 3
A r i s e straigh tway and op e n: le s t ,

if y o u ling er He pass on and leave you mournfully

,

to cry : I opened to my cousin but my cous in ,

’4
was g e ne Why need t he d oo r of your h eart b e
.

closed to th e Bridegroo m Le t it b e op e n to Chr is t

.

but closed to t he devil according to t he sayi ng

,

If the s pirit o f him w ho hath power ris e up agai nst

’5
thee l eave not t hy place
, Dani el when h e could
no longer remain below withdr ew to an upper r oo m ,

but he kept its windows open towards J er us alem .

Do y o u to o keep yo ur wi ndows op en on t he side

where li ght may enter and y o u may se e the ey e of
t he Lord Op en not t h os e oth er wi ndo w s of which
.

’5
it is said : By our wi ndows death came i n .

You must als o avoid with especial c are the trap s

t hat are set for you by a de sir e f e r vain lo r y J es us
g
.

‘
sa y s How c an y e beli eve whic h rece i ve glory one
.
,
’
fi om anot h er ? 7
Consider th en ho w e v il that thing
S t J o hn v 44
7
. , . .

1 1 3
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

hab ue r it , non potest credere No s . vero dic am us

’
Quoniam glori atie mea es tu , et : Qui gle ri at nr,
’
in domino gle r ie t ur , et : Si adhuc homi ni b us
’
pl ac er e m , C hristi servus non e ss e m , et : M i hi
absit glori ari nisi in cruce d omi ni mei I esu Christi
, ,
’
per quem mihi mundus c r uc ifix us est et ego munde ,
‘ ’
et illud : In te laud ab imur t ot a di e et : In ,
‘

’
d o mi no laud ab it ur ani ma mea .

Cum fac is e lem osynam Deus s e lus vi d e at Cum , .

i e i unas l ae ta sit facies tua

, Vestis nec satis munda.

nec sordi da et nulla di v e r sit at e not ab ilis ne ad te ,

obvi a pr aet e r e unti um turba c onsist at et digit o

d e m on s t r e r is. Frater est mortuus sor o ri s est ,
“
corpusculum d e d uce nd um : cave ne dum ho c ,

s ae i us fac is ipsa m ori ari s Ne s at is re l igiosa veli

p , . s

vi d e r i nec pl us humi lis quam necess e e s t ne gloriam

, ,

f ugi e nd e q uae r as Plur e s en im p aup e rt atis miseri

.
,

c o r di ae atque i ei un ii arbitr e s declinantes in hoc ipso

placere c upi unt q uod placere c o nt emnunt ; et
,

m ir um in m od um laus dum v it at ur adp e t it ur , , .

Ceteris p ert urb ati e ni b us quibus mens homi nis ,

gaudet aegr esci t sper at e t m e t ui t plur es i nv e nie

, , ,

e x tr an e os ; hoc v i t io p auci adme d um sunt qui

c ar ue r i n t et ille est O ptimus qui quasi in p ulc hr o
, ,

corpore rara nae v e r um sorde r e sp ergi t ur .

Neque vero moneo ne de divi tiis gle ri e r is ne de

, ,

generis nobili tate t e i ac t e s ne te ceteris pr aefer as ,

’
scio humi lit at em tuam sci e te ex afle c t u dicere ,

Domine non est e x alt atum c o r meum neque elati

,

1
1 C or i nt hi ans i 31 G alatians i 10 . .

Psalm xliv 8
, . . ,

Galati ans vi 1 4, . . . .

1 14
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

sunt oculi m e i N e vi et apud te et apud m atr em

.

tuam s up erb i am per quam diabolus oc ci di t locum

, ,

pen i t us non habere U nde et super e a s c r ib er e

.

s u e r s e di
p S t ult issim um q ui pp e est docere quod
.
,

nov e r it ille quem d oc e as

, Sed ne hoc ips ud tibi .

i ac t ant i am ge ne r e t quod s a ec uli i ac t ant iam contemp

,

sisti ne c ogi t at ie t acita s ub re p at ut quia in aur at is

, ,

v e s t ib us placere desi s ti placere c o ne ris in s e r di b us

,

et q uando in c o nv e nt u fratrum veneris vel se r or um

, ,

humili s e d e as s c ab e lle te c aus e r is in di gnam v oc e m

, ,

e x indus tri a quasi c o nf e c t a i ei um i s tenues et de

fic ie nt is imitata gr e s sum um e ri s innit ar is alterius .

Sunt quippe ne nnullae exterminantes facies suas ,

ut p ar e ant ho minib us i eiunar e ; quae statim ut ,

ah ue m v i d e r int in e m es c unt d e m itt unt super

q g , ,

cilium et o p e rt a facie v i x unum e c ulum lib e r ant ad

videndum ; vestis pulla cingul um s acc e um e t sor ,

didi s m anib us p e di b usq ue ; venter s e lus quia v id e r i ,

no n pote s t ae s t uat c ib o ; his coti die p s alm us ille

,

c an t at ur : Deus di s s ip av it e ss a hominum sibi

’
pl ac e nti um A li ae virili habitu veste mutata '
.
, ,

e r ub e s c un t f e mi nae esse q uo d natae sunt c ri n em , ,

amputant et i np ud e nt e r e r igunt facies e unuc hinas .

Sunt quae c ili c iis v e st iunt ur et c uc ullis fab r e fac t is

, ,

ut ad infanti am r e d e ant im it ant ur noctuas et b ub o nes , .

2 8 Sed ne tantum v id e ar di s putare de f e m inis

.
,

1
P s alm c xxxi . l .
2
P sal m liii 5
. .
( R o man P s alter ) .

1 1 6
 LE TT E R XXI I
’1
lo fiy . I kno w that wi th y o u as wi th your mother ;
,

t h e pride th rough w hi ch the de vil fell finds no lodging .

Therefore it w o uld be s up e rfluo us to write to you on

this subj ect : for indeed it is t he height of folly to
te ach a pupil w hat he already kno w s But beware .

’
lest your contempt for t he world s bo as tfulne ss breed
in you a boas tfulness of ano ther kind Harbour not .

the s ecret thought that as you have ceas e d to ple as e

in cloth of gold you may now try to pleas e inhome
spun Wh en you come into a gathering of brethr en
.

and s isters do not s it i ntoo lo w ly a place or pretend

,

t hat you ar e unwort hy of a foo ts tool Do not lo w er .

your voice on purpo s e as t hough you w ere w o r n out

,
’
by fas ting ; nor yet lean upo n a fri end s s h oulder
imi ta ti ng t he gait of oue w ho i s completely e xh austed .

Some w omen i ndeed actually di s figur e th ems elves ,

s e as to mak e it ob v ious that t h ey have been fas ting .

As soon as they catc h sight of anyon e t h ey dro p th eir

ey es and be gin sobb i ng covering up the face all but
, ,

a glimps e of o ne eye which t h ey j ust keep fi e e to

,

w atc h th e e ffect th ey make They wear a black dre s s

.

and a gir dl e of s ackcloth ; th e ir feet and h ands are

unwas h ed : the ir st omach alone becaus e i t ca nnot
—

be s een is bus y ch urni ng food Of thes e t he p s al m

—
.

is s ung every day : The Lord will scatter t he bones

’2
of t hem that pleas e themselves Other women
.

’
cha nge th ei r garb and p ut on men s dr ess ; t hey cut
the ir h air s hort and li ft up the ir chi ns in s ham ele ss
fas hi on ; th ey bl us h to be what they w ere born to
b e women and pre f er to look like eunuchs
—
, Others .

’
again dress th ems elves i n goat s hair and returni ng ,
’ ’
t o the i r childh ood s fas hions put o n a baby s hood
and make thems elves loo k li ke so many owls .

Women are not the only pers ons of whom I mus t

1 1 7
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST J E R O M E .

viros quoque fuge quos v id e ris catenat e s quibus

, ,

f e mi ne i contra ap ost ol um c ri me s hir c or um barba , ,

nigrum pal lium et nudi in p ati e nti am frigoris pedes .

Haec omnia argumenta sunt diaboli Talem ohm .

A nt im um talem nup er S o fr o n
, i um R oma c o n gem u i t .

Qui p ost q uam ne b ilium intr oi e r int d e mos et d ec ep er

int m uli er c ulas o ner at as p ec c atis semper discentes ,
’
e t numquam ad scienti s m v e r it atis p erv eni ent es ,

t ri s ti ti am simulant et quasi longa i ei un i a fur t iv i s

nec ti um cibis pro t r ahunt ; p ud e t r eliq ua dicere ne ,

v id e ar i n v e hi
p o ti us quam m o ne r e .

Sunt ahi d e mei or dinis hom inib us loqu e r qui

— —

i d e e ad pre sbyterium et di ac o nat um am b iunt ut ,

m uli e r e s lic e nti us v id e ant Om nis his cura de vesti

.

b us si bene o l e ant si pes laxa p elle non folle at

, , .

Crines cala m istri vestigio r e t ant ur digiti de anulis ,

radiant et ne plantas um idi or vi a sp ar gat vi x

, ,

i m p r im unt su m ma vestigia Tales cum vid e ri s .

,

sp e ns e s magis ae st im at o quam c le ri c os Quidam in .

hoc omne studium v it am q ue p osuerunt ut matro ,

narum nomina d e m os moresque c ogno sc ant

, .

E quibus unum qui huius artis e s t princeps bre

, ,

v i t e r s t r ic t im ue d e s c ri b am quo f acili us m a i s t r o
q g
,

co gnito di sc ipulos r e c ognos c as Cum sole f e stinus .

e x s ur gi t ; s al ut an di ei or de di spo n i t ur ; vi ar um

1
2 C orinthi ans , xi . 14 .

5
2 Ti mothy , iii . 6 .

1 1 8
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

co np e ndi a r e q uir unt ur , et pae me us que ad c ub ili a

d o r mi e nti um senex i npo r t unus i ngr e di t ur Si pul .

v ill u m v i d e ri t ,
si mantele elegans s i a liquid domes ,

ti c ae s up elle c t ilis laudat m ir at ur adtr e c t at et s e

, , , ,

his i ndi ge r e c o nq ue r e ns no n tam i np e t r at quam

e x t o r ue t quia s in ul ae m e t uunt v er e d ar ium urbis
q , g
o ff endere H uic inimi ca c astit as mi mi ca i e i uni a ;
.
,

r an dium nido ri b us probat et al til em qua e v ul go

‘
Î ’
lo r11r v j wv no mi nat ur Os barbarum et pr oc ax .

et in c onv i c ia semper armatum Q uoc um q ue .

te v er te r is primus in facie est Q uid q uid novum

, .

i nse nue ri t aut auc t or aut exaggerator est fam ae

, .

Equi per hor ar um momenta m ut ant ur tam nitidi ,

tam feroces ut illum Thr ac ii regi s pute s ess e ger

,

manum .

2 9 Varns callidus hostis p ugnat i ns idi is

. Sapien .

tior erat coluber omnibus b e s tiis quas f e c e r at domi nus

’
Deus super t e rr am U nde et ap ost olus : Non
.
‘

,
’
i nq uit ignoramus eius astut i as
,
Nec aflec t at ae .

sordes nec e x q uisita e m undi tiae c onv eni unt Chris

t iani s . Si quid i gnoras si quid de sc rip t uris d ub i t as, ,

i nterroga eum quem vita c o m m e nd at e xcusat

, ,

aetas fama non r ep r ob at , qui p e ss it di cere

, De ‘

s on s a vi enim v o s uni vir e vi r in e m c as t am e x hib e re

p g ,
’
Christ e Aut si non e s t qui p e s sit e x p o ne r e
.
, ,

meli us e s t aliquid nesc ir e se c ur am quam cum ,

periculo disc e r e M emento quoni am in me di o .

,

1
Cf Virgil , A en
. e id , 752 I . . Di omed e w as a gre at horseman .

2
G e nes is , iii I .

2 Co ri nthi an s , 11 II . .

2 C ori n t hian s , xi 2 . .

1 20
 LE TTER XXI I

is duly arranged ; he takes short cuts and importun ,

ately thrus ts his old head almost into th e bedchambers

o f ladies sti l l asleep If he s e c s a c us hion or an
.
,

elegant ta ble cover or indee d any arti cle of furniture

,

that he fancies he begins prais ing and a dmi ring it

,

and takes it in hi s hand and so lamenting t hat h e

, ,

has nothing li ke thi s he begs o r rather extorts it

,

fio m th e owner as all th e women are afrai d to o fle nd

'

th e town gossip He hate s chasti ty and h e hates

.

fas ting : what he hkes i s a savo ur y lunch say a —

plump y o ung bird such as is commonly called a

cheeper H e has a rough and saucy tongue always
.

well equipped with ab usi v e w or ds Wh erever y o u ‘

.

betake yourse lf he is the first man you see Wha t

, .

ever news is noised abroad he eit her originates the ,

s t ory or els e e xaggerates it He changes hors es .

every hour ; and hi s nags are so sleek and spirited "

t hat you m ight take him t o be o wn b r o t her to
Diom e de o f Thrac e 1
.

Our c unning enemy fights agai ns t us wi th many

varie d stratagems . Th e se ent was more subtile
than any be as t of the field which t h e Lord G od h ad
’2
made . S e the a p ostle says : W e are not
’3
i gnorant of his devices Neither an a ff ected
.

s habbiness ne r an elaborate elegance of a ttir e

becomes a C hristi an If y o u feel ignorant or have
.

any doubt abo ut s ome p as sage in Scripture as k ,

advice fi o m s om e man whos e lif e comm ends hi m ,

w hos e age puts him above suspicion and wh os e ,

reputation stands hi gh wi th all ; one w ho can say

I have espo us ed y o u to one hus band a c h aste
virgi n to prese n
,
’4
t t o Chr is t If there is no one at
.

h and able to resolve yo ur difficulty remember th at

p e aceful ignora n
,

ce i s better th an dangerous ins tr u o

1 2 1
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST . J E RO M E

laq ue or um ambulas et m ultae v e t e r anae v ir gi nes

c as tit ati s ind ub i t at am in ipso mortis limine c or o nan i
p er di d er e de m anib us .

Si quae ancillae sunt comite s propositi t ui ne ,

e ri ar i s advers u s e as ne i nfleri s ut domina U num

g , .

s po n sum habere c o e p ist is simul psalliti s C hrist o , ,

simul corpus acc ipitis cur mensa divers a sit ? Pro,

v oc e n t ur et alia c Honor virginum sit i nv i tati o

. .

c e t e r ar um Q uo dsi ali q uam s ens e ri s i nfir mi or e m in

.

fide s usc ip e consolare blandire et p udi c iti am illi us

, , ,

fac lucrum tuum Si qu a sim ul at fugi ens s e r vi t ut e m

.
,

h uie aperte apo stolum lege : M elius es t nub ere

quam un .

Eas autem v ir gine s v i d uasq ue quae o tios ae e t ,

c uri o s ae domus c ir c um e un t m atr onar um quae r ub or e ,

fron tis ad trito parasite s vicere rnim or um quasi .

u as d am pestes ab i c e C orr ump un t m or e s b o n es

q .

’
c on fab ulat ione s p essim ae Nulla illis nisi ven tris
.

cura est et quae ventri prox ima Isti usm odi hdr tari .

’ ‘
solent et dicere M i catella rebus tuis ut er e ét ,
’
vive dum vivis et : Num quid filii s tuis servas ?
, ,

Vinos ae atque lasc i v ae q uid vis mali ins inuaint ac ,

ferreas quoque mentes ad delicias m olli unt et cum ,

l ux uri at ae f ue r int in C hristo nub er e v olunt ha ,

b e nt e s d am nat ioh e m qui a primam fid e m i n

, ri t am
’
f ec er unt .

1
l Co rinthi ans vu , . 9 .
2
1 Co rinthi ans, xv . 33 .

1 Timothy , v . 11 .
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST . J ERO M E

Nec tibi di s ert a multum velis vid e ri aut ly ric is

fe s tiva c arm ini b us metro l ud er e Non d elum b em .

m at r onar um sa livam delicata s e c t e ri s q u ae nunc ,

s tr i c ti s d e n t ib us nunc l ab ii s di s sol uti s b alb ut i e nt e m

, ,

l inguam in di mi diata verba m o d e r ant ur rusticum ,

u t a n t es omne quod n a s c it ur Adeo illis a d ul t e r i um

p , .

etiam linguae placet Quae eni m c omm uni c atio

.

luci ad t e ne b r as qui consens us Christo et Belial ?

,

Qui d facit cum psalterio Horatius ? b um e v aUgeliis

'

M aro ? cum apos tolo Cicero Nonne sc and ali i at ur

.

frater si te vid eri t i nide li o r éc umb ent e m

, Et lice t .

‘
omni a munda m uti dis et nihil r e ic i e nd um sit quod ,
’
cum gr atiam m ac t io ne p erc ip it ur tamen simul ,

bibere non d e b e m us c alic em Chri s ti et c alic e m

d a e m o nio r um .Re fer am tibi m e ae i nf e li c it at is
historiam .

30 Cum ante anno s p l ur im os domo p ar e ntib us

.
, ,

sorore c ognat i s et quod hi s difficili us est consuetudine

, , ,

l a ut io r is cibi propter cae lo r um me regna castrass em

et Hi e ros oly m am m ili t at ur us p er ger em b yb li o thec a , ,

qu am mihi R omae summo st udi ò ac lab o r e c o nfe

ceram carere no n p e t er ain Itaque miser ego
, .

lectur ns Tulli um i e i unab am ; post no c t ium c r eb r as

vigili as po s t lac r im as quas mihi p r ae teri tb r um
, ,

r e c o r d at i o p eccatorum e x imis visceribus e r ue b at ,

Plautus s um eb at ur in m ani b us Si quando in m eih e t .

r e v e rs us r o he t am legere c o e is se m serm e horr eb at

p p p ,

in cu lt us et q uia lumen c ae c is oc uli s non vi d eb am

, ,

non o c ule r um p ut ab am culpam e s se sed solis Dum . .

1
2 C orinthi ans, vi . 14 .

124
 LETTE R XXI I
Do no t seek to appear over eloquent o r compose -

tr i fli ng songs in vers e Do not i n

. fals e r e fine m e nt
follow the s ickly tas te o f t he s e married ladie s who
habituall y sp eak wi th a li s p and clip all th e ir words ,

no w pressing th eir teeth togeth er and now openi ng ,

their lips wide fancying t hat anyth i ng produced

,

naturall y is c o unt ri fie d So muc h d e t hey like

.

adultery even of the tongue W hat communion .

hath li g ht with darkne ss ? What concord hath Chris t

’1
with Be hal ? What has Horace to do W ith the
Ps alt e r Vir gil with t he Gospels and Cicero wit h Paul ?
,

Is not a brother made to stumble if he sees you sitt ing

’
at ta ble in an idol s temple Although unto the p ur e
all thi ngs are pure and n othing is to b e refus ed if it
be received with thanks giving sti ll we ough t no t to ,

drink th e cup of Chr is t and the cup of devi ls at t h e

same ti me I will tell you th e story of my own
.

unhappy experience .

M any years ago for the sake of the kingdom of

heaven I cut myself o ff fi o m home p arents s is ter , , ,

relations and w hat was harder fi o m t he da inty fe e d

, , ,

t o whic h I had been u s ed But even wh en I was o n

.

my way to J eru s alem to fight t he goo d fight there I ,

could not bring my s el f to forgo t he library whic h w ith

great care and labo ur I had got together at R ome .

And s o miserable man t hat I w as I would fas t only

to read Cicero a fterwards I w ould s pe n
, , ,

. d long
nigh ts in Vigil I would shed bitter tears called fi o m
,

my inmo s t heart by the remembrance of my pa s t

sins ; and then I would take up Plautus aga in .

Whenever I returned to my right sens es and began

to read the prop h e ts t heir language s eemed hars h
,

and barbarous With my blind eye s I could not s e e

.

the light : but I a ttributed th e fault not to my eyes

1 2
5
 SELE CT LE TT E RS OF ST . J E RO M E

ita me antiq uus s erpens i nlud er e t in me dia ferme ,

quadragesima m ed ulli s infusa febris corpus inv as it

e x haus t um et sine ulla requie qu e d di ctu quoque —

incredibile sit sic i nfe lic i a membra d ep ast a est ut

—
,

ossi b us v i x hae r e r em .

Interim p ar ab a nt ur et Vitalis ani m ae

e x se
q uiae
calor toto frige nt e iam corpore i n solo t am tepente
e c t usc ulo
p p alpit ab at cum subit e raptus in spiritu
,

ad tribunal i udi c is p er tr ahor ubi tantum luminis et ,

tantum erat e x c ir c um st ant ium c larit at e fulg e ris ,

ut pr e i e c t us in terra i n s ursum aspic er e non aud er e m .

Int e rr o gat us condicionem C hri st i anum me esse

’
respondi : et ille qui r esid e b at , M e ntir is ait , , ,

C ic er o ni anus es non Christianus ubi thesaurus ‘

tuus ibi et cor tuum

, Ili c o ob m ut ui et inter
.

verbera nam c ae di me i usser at f c ofis c i enti ae magis

— —

igne t o r q ue b ar illum mecum v e r sicul um r ep ut ans

I n inferno au tem quis c o nfit e b it r tibi ? C lam :î r e
q
tamen c o epi et he i ulî ns dicere : M iserere mei ,

’
do mine mi serere mei
, Haec v ox inter flagella
.

r e so n ab at Tandem ad pr éesid enti b us genua pro

.

“
voluti qui adst it e r ant pr e c ab ant ur ut veni am
, , ,

t r ib ue re t ad ules c e n tiae ut e r r e r i lo c um p ati e ntiae

,
‘

c o m mo d ar e t e x ac t ur us deinde cr uc i at u m si ge nti li um ,

1 St . M atthew , v i. 21 .

1 2 6
 SE LECT LE TT E RS OF ST J E RO M E
.

litterarum libros aliq uando le gi ss em Ego qui .

,

tant e c o nstr ic t us articulo v e lle m etiam mai e ra pr o

mittere d e iur ar e c o ep i et nomen eius ob t e stans
,

dicere : Domine si umquam hab uero codices ,

’
s aec ul ar e s s i leger e te negavi , , .

In haec sacramenti verba di m iss us revert e r ad

’

supere s et m ir antib us omnibus oc ulo s ap e rio tanto

l ac r im ar um im b r e perfus e s ut etiam i nc r e d ulis fid e m
f ac e re nt e x dolore
‘

Nec vero s e por ille f uemr at aut

.

vana s o m ni a quibus s aep e d e ludi m ur Teste est

, .

tribunal ante quod i ac ui i udi cium test e est quod

, , ,

timui i t a mihi nu m quam contingat talem incidere

—

q uae s t ionem li v e nt e s hab uisse n

—
ie scapulas plagas ,

sen sis se post s o m n um et tanto d ehinc studio divina

l e gisse quanto m ort alia ante non le ger am
, .

3 1 A v ar it iae quoque tibi v i t and um est malum

.
,

non quo aliena non adpe tas hoc e nim et leges —

publica e p uni unt sed quo tua quae sunt aliena ,

—
, ,

’
non serve s Si in alieno i nq uit fid eles non f uis tis
.
, , ,

quod vestr um est quis d ab it vobis ? Ali ena nobis ,

auri argentique sunt pondera nostra possessio ,

spi ri t ali s est de qua alibi d ic i t ur :

, Re d e mp t io viri
’
propriae d i vi tiae Nemo potest d uob us dominis
.

servire aut eni m unum e diet et alterum am ab it aut ,

unum pat ie t ur et alterum c o nt e m ne t Non po t e st is .

1
S t L uke xvi
.
, . 12 .
2
Pr o verbs xiii, . 8 .

1 2 8
 LE TTER XXI I

Genti le authors In the s tre s s of that dre ad ho ur

.

I s hould have be en wi l ling to make even larger

promi s es and ta king oat h I called upon Hi s name
,

O Lord if ever again I possess worldly books o r

,
’
read th em I have denied thee
, .

After swearing this oath I w as di smis s ed and ,

returned to t he upper world There to t he surpris e

.

of all I opened my eyes again and they were s e ,

drench ed wit h tears that my di s tress convinced even

,

the incred ulous That t his exp eri ence was no sleep
nor idle drea m such as o ften moc ks us I call to wit
.

, ,

ness the j udgment seat be fore which I fell and t h e

terrible verdict which I feared M ay it never be my.

lot again to come before suc h a court as that ! I

profe s s that my sh oulders were black and blue and ,

that I felt th e bruis es long a fter I awoke fi om my

sleep And I acknowledge t hat henceforth I read
.

the bo oks of G od wit h a greater z eal than I h ad ever

given before to the books o f men .

You must als o avoid t he s in o f lo v e o f m one y .

Not merely must you refus e to cla i m what belong s

’
to anoth er for t h at i s an o fle nc e puni shed by t he
,

laws of the State ; you must al s o give up cli nging

t o your o wn property whi ch h as now become no
,

lo nger yours Th e Lord says :

. I f y e have not
’
been faith ful in t hat whic h is anoth er man s ,
’1
who shall give you t hat which is your o wn?
‘ ’
That whic h is anoth er man s is a mass of gold
and silver ; t hat which is your o wn is the
s piritual heritage of whic h it is said els ewhere
’ ’2
The rans om of a man s li fe is hi s riche s No .

man can serve two masters for eith er b e will hate

,

the o ne and love t he other ; or el s e h e will hold to

t h e o ne and despise the other Ye cannot s erv e .

1 2 9
 SE LECT LETT ERS OF ST J E R O M E
.

’
Deo s ervi re et m am m onae id est di v it i i s Nam , .

gentili S y r o r um lingua mammona divi ti ae nunc u

p ant ur C o git at io victu s spinae s unt fid ei radix ,

av ari t i ae cura ge ntili um

, .

At di ces : Pue lla s um delicata et quae meis

m ani b us lab o r ar e non po s sum Si ad s enectam .

ven er e s i a e r o t ar e co e i o quis mei m i b i t u ?

g
, p s e r e r ,

Audi ad apostolos lo q ue nt em Ie sum : Ne c o git e tis

in corde vestre quid m and uc e t is neque c o rp or i , ,

ve s tr e quid i nd uam ini Nonne anima plus e st quam

, .

esca et corpus plus e s t quam v e s tim e nt um ? Respic

ite v o lat ilia cae li quoniam non s er unt neque m e t unt
,

neque congregant in he rrea et pater vester c ael es tis

’
p asc i t illa Si vestis d e fuer it lilia p r opo ne nt ur ;
.
,

s i e s uri e r is beatos au dies p aup er e s et e s uri e nt e s ;

,

s i ali uis adfli x e r i t d o lor l e i t o : Propter h o c con

q g ,
’
l ac e o mi hi in i n fi r m i t at i b us mei s et : D at us est
p ,

mihi stimulu s carni s m e ae angelus S at anae q ui me , ,

’
c o la fiz e t ne e x t ollar L aetare in omnibus i udi éiis
, .

’
D ei E x ult av e r unt enim fili ae Iud ae in omni bus
, ,
’
i ud ic iis tui s domine Illa tibi semper in ore v o x
, .

r e son et : Nudus e x iv i de utero matri s m e ae nudus ,

’
et r e d e am e t : Nihil i nt uli m us in hunc mundum ne c
,
’
a uf e r r e quid possumus .

3 2 At nunc pl e r asq ue vi d e as armaria s tipare

.

v e s t ib us tuni cas mutare cotidie et tamen tineas non

,

pos s e superare Quae r e ligiosio r fuerit unum e x t e ri t

.
,

v e s t im e n t um et p l e n is arcis p an no s tra hit Infic it ur .

M
-

1
S t M atthe w, vi 2 4 2
tthew vi 2 5
St a . .

M 2 Cori n
. . . .
,
2
S t atthew, v i 2 8 . . thi ans xii 7 . 10.

P
.
, ,
5
sal m x c vii 8 . . J ob , i 21.
7
1 Ti mothy
.
, v
i 7
. .

1 30
 SE LECT LETT ERS OF ST J E R O M E .

membrana colore purpureo aurum li q uesc it i n ,

li t t e r m m1 3 codices v e s t i unt ur et nudus ante

g
%
fo r e s î î m% r ist us e m o r i t ur h
Cum manum por .

r e x e r in t b uc i nant ; cum ad agap e n v o c av e ri nt

, ,

p r aec o c o nd uc it ur Vidi nup er nomina t ac e e ne —

.
,

saturam putes nob ili ssim am m uli er um Ro m anarum

—

i n basilica beati Petri se mi vi r is ant e c e d e nt ib us

propria manu quo r e ligiosior p ut ar e t ur s ingulo s
, ,

numm os di sp e r tir e p aup e r ib us Int e r e a ut usu no s s e .

-

p e r f ac il e est anus quaedam

—
anni s
p an n i s ue o b si ta
q
r a e c urr i t ut alterum n um m um ac c ip e r e t ; ad quam
p ,

c um ordi ne p erv e niss e t p ugnus po r rigit ur pr o ,

de mari o et tanti criminis reus sanguis e flundi t ur

‘

’
R adi x m alor um omnium est avaritia id e e que et ,

ab apostolo i d olor um s e r vi t us app e llat ur Quaere .

primum regnum Dei et haec omni a adponent ur

tibi .Non o ccid e t dominus fame animam insti
Iuv e nio r fui et se nui et nonvidi i us t um d e r e li c t um _
’
nec semen eius q uaer e ns panem Heli as corvis
‘

m ini s t r anti b us p as ci t ur ; vidua S ar e pt e na ipsa cum

filiis n o cte m oritura pr op he tam p asc i t e s uri e ns et
m ir um in modum c aps ac e c o nple t o q ui al e nd us ,
’
ven e r at ali t , Petrus apos t olus : A r ge nt um i nq ui t
.
, ,

et aur um non hab e o ; quod autem babe e hoc tibi ,

’
do In nomini d om ini Iesu Christi s urge et ambula
. .

At nunc multi licet sermone t ac e ant re le q uunt ur

, ,

Fidem et rni s eri c or di am non babe e ; quod autem

1
In t he
rly Church the E ucharist w as pmcede d by a n
ea
’
ag ap e or le ve fe as t
,
All c ont ri bute d all sa t d ownto g ethe r
— .
, ,

and the meal ende d w ith a p s alm .

1 T i m othy vi 1 0 . .

S t M atthew vi 33
,
2
. . .
,

P salm xxxvii 2 5 . .

5
Ac ts iii 6 , . .

1 32
 LE TTER XX I I

pur ple gold is melted for lettering manus cri pts are
, ,

decked wi th j ewels : and Chris t li es at t heir d oor

n aked and dyi ng Wh en they hold a hand out to
.

’
th e needy they sound the trum p et W h en they
, .

invite to a love feast 1 they hi re a cri er J ust lately

—
, .

I saw the greatest lady in R ome I wi ll not give her —

name for this is not a satire stan

, in th e church —

of the blessed Peter wi t h her band o f eunuchs in

fi o nt S he was givi ng money to t h e p oo r wi th her
.

o w n hand to increas e her reputation for san c tit

y ;
and she gave them each a penny ! At that moment
—
as you mi gh t e asil y know by e xpe rience— an
old w oman fu ll of years and rags ran in fi o nt o f
, ,

the lin e t o get a second coin ; but wh en her turn

’
came s he got not a penny but the lady s fis t in h e r
, ,
’
fac e and for her dreadful o fle nc e sh e ha d to pay wi th
,

her blood .

’2
The love o f money is the root o f all evil an d ,

th erefore t h e apostle ca lls it s lavery to idols Se ek .

ye first the kingdom of God and all t h ese t hings shall

’3
be added unto you Th e Lord will n ever let a
.

righteous soul di e of hunger The psalmis t says : .

I have b een young and no w am old y e t have I ne t ,

seen the righteou s forsaken ne r hi s s eed be gging

’
bread Elij ah was fed by mi nis tering ravens
. .

Th e widow o f Z arephath hers elf and her sons wi thin ,

an ace of death t hat night went hungry that she ,

might feed t he prophet by a mi racle t he fl e ur barre ]

was filled and he w ho had come to be fed s u ppli ed
food . The apostle Peter s ay s : Silver and gold
have I none b ut s uch as I have give I thee In t he
, .

’5
name of J es us Chris t ris e up and walk To day
, .
-

many people tho ugh they do not say it in words

, ,

b y t heir de eds d e clare : Faith and pity have I

1
33
 SE LECT LETT ERS OF ST J E R O M E .

babe e aurum et argentum non d o tib i

, Hab e nt e s .

i gi tur v ic t um et v e st im e ntum hi s contenti s um us .

Audi Iacob in s ua o r at io ne quid post ul e t : Si fuerit

,

dominu s Deus mecum et s e r v av e r it me in vi a hac ,

per quam ego iter f acio e t d e d er i t mi hi panem ad

,
’
m and uc and um et ve s tem ad i nd ue nd um Tantum .

necessari a d e pr ec at us e s t et po s t anno s vi ginti dives

dominu s et dit io r pater ad terra i n r e v e r tit ur Chanaan .

Infinita de sc r ipt ur is exempla s ub p e dit ant quae et ,

av ar i t i am d oc e a n t esse f ugi e nd am .

33 Verum quia nunc ex latere de e a di c i t ur et

.

s uo r i C hristus a d n
, ue r i t v o l um ini r es er v at ur quid
, ,

ante non pl ur es anno s Nit ri ae ges t um sit r e fe r am , .

Quidam e fr at rib us p ar c io r magi s quam avari e r et

ne sc i e ns t r igint a ar ge nt e is dominum v e ndi t um
c entum solidos quo s lina t e x e ndo q uae si e r at moriens
, ,

d e r e li q ui t In i t um inter m o nac ho s con s ilium

. nam —

in e o d e m loco circiter quinque mili a di visis c e llulis

h abitant quid facto opus e s t
—
A hi p aup e r ib us .

d is t ri b ue nd os esse d ic e b ant alii d andos ecclesiae , ,

nonnulli p ar e ntib us r e mi t t e nd o s M ac ar i us vero et .

Pambos e t Isidorus et c e t e ri quo s patre s vo c ant , ,

s anct e in eis l o q ue nt e spiritu d ec r ev e r unt i nfo di e nd os

es s e cum domino suo di centes : Pecunia tua tecum
’
in p e r di tio ne m Nec hoc c r ud e lit e r quisquam
.

factum putet : tantus per t o t am A e gyp t um c unc t o s

terror i nv asit ut unum s olidum di mi s iss e s it
,

criminis .

3 4 Et quoni am monachor um fe c im us m e ntio ne m

.

et te scio lib e nt er audire qua e sancta sunt aurem , ,

auli s e r a d c o mm o d a Tria s unt in A e t o genera

p p .
gyp

1
G nes i s x x viii 2 0
e
I
. .
,
2
Cf nd e x and A ppe nd i x , p
. . 4 84 . A c ts viii , . 20
.

1 34
 SE LECT LETTE RS OF ST J E R O M E .

monachorum : coenobium quod illi s auhes gentili ,

li ngua v o c ant nos in commune viventes possumus

,

app ellare ; anc hor et ae qui soli habitant p er deserta ,

et ab eo quod p r o c ul ab ho m inib us r e c e sse ri nt

, ,

nunc up ant ur ; tertium genu s e st quod di c unt ,

’
r e mn uot h d e t e r r im um atque neglectum et quod
,

in nostra provincia aut solum aut primum est Hi .

bini v el terni nec multo plur e s simul habitant suo

ar b it r at u ac di c i o n e viventes et de eo quod labora , ,

v e r in t in medi um p artes c o n
, f e r unt ut hab e ant ,

m m n i Habitant autem quam l ur im um

î
a
&p ,qq
in ur is eg as t e llis et quasi ars sit sancta non vita
.
p
, , , ,

u i d u i d ven d i d e r int m aior is est r e t ii I nter b os

q q ,
p, .

s aepe sunt i ur gia qui a suo viventes c ib o non p atiunt ur

,

se alic ui esse s ub i ec t os R e vera solent c e r t ar e

.

i e i un iis et rem secreti v ic t o r i ae fac i unt Apud hos .

afle c ta t a s unt omnia : l ax a e m an

‘

i c ae c ali gae folli ,

cante s vestis gr o ss ior crebra s uspiri a v isi tati o

, , ,

vi r i n u m d e t r ac t at io c l e r i c o r um et s i quando festi e r
g , ,

dies v e ne r it s at ur ant ur ad v o mi t um
, .

35 His igitur quasi q uib us d am p e s t ib us exter

.

m inatis v e ni am us ad e os qui p lur e s in commune ,

habitant id est quos v oc ar i coenobium di x im us

, , .

Prima apud e os con foederatio est ob o e dir e m aiori b us

et q uid q uid i uss e rint facere Divisi sunt per
, , .

decurias atque centurias ita ut nav e m hom inib us ,

decimus p r ae sit et r ur s us decem p r aep osit e s s ub s e

cen t e s im us h ab e at M anent separati s e d i unc tis
.
,

1
Fr om x ow òg B io s, li v ing lif e in c o mm o n .

AnEgy pti anwor d not els ewhere f o un d .

’
From ava w p eî v, t o withdr e w
. .

M onks w 0 li v e d in g roups under no fix ed rule . Cf .

C ass ian C olla t x v i ii 7 . .

P
. .

5
I e . an. noni a .

1
36
 LE TT ER XXI I
1
monks First t here are
.
, cenobites called in th e ,

their Gentile tongue S auhe s 2 o r as we should s ay , , ,

men living in a communi t y Secondly there are .

,
3
the anchorites who live in the desert as solita ries
, ,

s e called becaus e they have wi t hdrawn from t he

society of men Thi rdly there is t he class ca lled

.
,

Re m nuot h 4 a very inferior and despi s ed kind though

, ,

inmy o wnprovince 5 they are t he chi ef if not th e onl y

sort of monks Thes e men live together i ntwos and
.

threes s eldom in larger numbers and live according

, ,

to their o wn wi ll and ruling A portion o f what .

they make they contribute to a common fund which

provi des fee d for all In most cas es t h ey live i n
.

citi es or in fo rt ified place s and anythi ng they sell ,

is very dear the idea being that their workmanshi p

, ,

not t heir li f e is sanc ti fie d Quarrels are frequent

, .

among them ; for while they supply t heir own food , ,

t hey will not broo k subordi nation It is tru e that .

they compe te with o ne another in f as ting making ,

what should be a private matter an occasion for a

tr iumph Eve rythi ng with th em is done for e ffect :
.

loos e sleeves big boots cl umsy dress constant

, , ,

sighi ng vi s iting virgins di sparaging t he clergy and

, , ,

when a feast day comes they eat so much t hat they ,

make the ms elves ill .

Avoidi ng the s e t hen as t hough they were the

plagu e let us come to the more numerous class who
,

live together and are called as we h ave said ceno , ,

bi t es Among them t he firs t principle o f the i r

.

as s ociation is to obey superiors and do whatever

they comm and They are di vided into s ections o f
.

ten and a hundr ed ; each tenth man is over nine

others while th e hundredth has ten such o ffic ers
,

under hi m The y live apa rt fio m each other but

. ,

1
37
 SE LECT LE TT ERS O F ST J E R O M E .

c e ll uli s . U sque ad horam no nam quasi i ust it i um

est : nemo p er git ad alium e x c ept is his quos decanos ,

di x im us ut si c o git at io nib us f orte quis fluc t uat

, , ,

illi us c o nsol e t ur allo q uii s Post horam nonam in.

co m une c o nc urri tur p s alm i resonant sc ri p t ur ae ex

, ,

more r e c it ant ur et c o npl e t is or at io nib us c unc t is q ue

r e si d e nt ib us medius quem p at r e m v o c ant incipit
, ,

di sputare Quo lo q ue nt e tantum silentium fit ut

.
,

nemo ad alium r e spic e r e nemo aud e at e x cr e ar e , .

Dic e nt is lau s in fletu est audi e nt um Tacite v ol .

v un t ur per o r a lacr imae et n e in singultus quidem

eru m p it dolor Cum vero de regno Chri s ti de futura
.
,

beatitu di ne de gloria c o e p e r i t ad nunt iar e ventura

, ,

v i d e as c un c t o s moderato s us i r i o e t o c uli s ad caelum

p
l e v at is intra s e dicere Quis d ab it mi hi pinna s sicut
columbae et v ol ab o et r e q ui e s c am ?
,

Po s t hoc concilium s ol v it ur et unaq uae q ue decuri a

.

cum suo parente p e r git ad mensa s quibu s per singu ,

las e b d o m ad as v ic is sim m inistrant Nullus in cibo .

strepitu s nemo c o m e d e ns loquitur Viv unt ur pane

,
.
,

l e gum inib us et ol e r e quae sale et e l e c c o ndi unt ur

, .

Vinum tantum s ene s ac c ip iunt quibus et p ar v ulis ,

saepe fit p r andi um ut ali orum fes s a s us t e nt e t ur

,

aetas aliorum non fr angat ur incipiens Debino

,
.

c on s ur un t pariter et h ymn e di e te ad p r ae s e i a
p
g
r e d e un t Ibi usque ad v e sp e r am cum suis unus
.

quisqu e loquitur e t dicit : Vidi s ti s illum et illum ,

1
P s al m l v . 6 .

1 38
 SE LECT L ETTE RS OF ST . J ERO ME

quanta in ipso sit grati a quantum silentium quam

, ,

moderatus i nc e ssus ? Si infirm um v i d e ri nt conso ,

l ant ur ; s i in Deo amore f e r v e nt e m c oho r t ant ur ad ,

studi um Et quia nocte extra o r at io ne s publicas ni

.

suo c ub ih unus q ui s q ue vi gilat c irc um e unt c ellulas ,

s in u l or um et aure ad os i t a quid f aciant di li e n

g p , g t er ,

explorant Quem t ar di o r e m d e pr ehend er i nt non

.
,

i ncr e p ant sed di s simulato quod nor unt eum s aep ius
, , ,

vi sitant et prius incipientes provocant magis c r ar e ,

quam c o gunt Opus diei statutum est quod decano

.
,

r e d di t u m fertur ad o e c o no m i c um qui et ipse per ,

s in u l os menses patri omnium cum magno reddi t

g
trem e re rationem A quo etiam cibi cum facti
.
,

f ue ri nt d e gusta nt ur et quia non licet dicere cui

, ,

quam : Tuni c am et sagum t e x t aaue i unc is strata

’
non babe e ille ita univers a m od e r at ur ut nemo qui d
, ,

o s t ul e t nemo d e h ab e at Si vero qui c o e e ri t

p , . s
p
a e r o t ar e t r a n s f er t ur ad e x e d r am l at i or e m et tanto
g .

s en um ministerio c o nfov e t ur ut nec delicias ur b ium ,

’
nec matris q uae r at afle c t um Dominicis diebus .

o r at i o n e tantum et l ec t io n i b us vacant ; quod quidem

et omni tempore c o npl e tis o p usc ulis fac iunt C o t i di e .

de sc ript ur is aliqui d di sc it ur Ie iuni um t o tius anni.

aequale est excepta quadragesima in qua sola ,

c on c e d i t ur r es t r i c t i us vivere Pentecoste cenae.

m ut ant ur in p r andi a quo et t r ad it io ni ec cl e s i ast ic a e

,

s at is fia t et ventrem cibo non e ncrent duplicato .

Tales P hilo Platonici s e r mo nis imitator tale s l os e

, ,

1 40
 LETT ER XXI I

se ? What grace he has and what powers o f silence !

Ho w soberly he walks ! If they s ee that any o ne
is weak they comfort him : if he is fervent in love
,

for G od they encourage hi s zeal At night be sides

, .
,

th e co mmon prayers each man keeps vigi l inhis own

,

chamber ; and so th e deans go round to eac h cell ,

and pu t ti ng their ears to the doors carefully asce r tain

what the inmates are doing l f they catch a monk .

in slo th fulness th ey do not upbraid hi m but hi d ing

, ,

what they know they vi s it him more fi e q ue ntly

, ,

and by beginning thems elve s to pray exh ort rather

than drive him to his devoti ons Every day has its .

allott ed task : the work done is handed to a dean

and by him brought t o th e bur sar who once a ,

month with fea r and trembling gives an acc ount t o

the Co mmuni ty Father The burs ar also t as t e s t he
. .

dishes when t hey are cooked and as no one is ,

all owed to say : I am without a tunic or a cloak or

’
a rus h mattr ess he s e arrange s their entire s to r e
,

that none ne ed ask and none go without If any one .

is taken ill he is moved to a larger room and is

, ,

t here se sedulou s ly tended by th e older monks that ,

’
he mis s es neither t he luxuries of citi es nor a mother s
’
lovi ng care Every Lo rd s day t hey give t he ir w hole
.

time to prayer and reading : which indeed are th eir

usual oc cupations on ordi nary days when work is
over Eve r y day they learn by hear t a passage of
.

Scr ipture Fas ting is regular throughout th e y ear but

.
,

in Lent alone an increas e o f s trictne s s i s permi tted .

After Whits untide a mi dday meal takes the place

o f t h e eve ning repast and t hus the tradition o f t he
,

Church is satis fied and they avoid overloading th eir

stomachs wi th a double quantity of food The .

Ess enes also follow thes e rules as we learn fi o m ,

1 41
 SE LECT LE TT E RS O F S T J E R O M E .

p hus , Graecus L ivius in secunda Iud aic ae captivi ,

tatis hi s tori a Ess en e s r efe r t .

3 6 Verum quia nunc de v ir gi n

. i b us sc r ib e ns pae me
sup erflue de monac hi s disputavi ad tertium genus ,

veniam quos anc ho r e t as v e c ant et qui de c o e nob iis

,

e x e un t es excepto pane et sale am pli us ad de s ert a ni l

p e r f e r un t Hu i n s vitae
. auctor Paulus i nl us t r at or ,

Antoniu s et ut ad s uperiora c o nsc e nd am princeps

, ,

Io hannes bapti s ta fuit Talem virum Hi e r e m i as .

quoque p r o phe t a d esc ri psit di c e ns Bonum e s t viro ,

cum po r t av e ri t i ugum ab ad ul esc e nt ia s ua S e d eb it .

solus et t ac e b it quoniam s ust ulit super s e i ugum

, ,

d ab i t p e r c ut i e nt i
m ax illam , s at ur ab it ur i npro p e rii s ,
se
’
quia non in sempiternum ab ic i e t dominus H e rum .

laborem et c e nv e r s at io ne m in carne , no n carnis , ali o

tempore , s i v ol ue ris , e xpli c ab o N uno ad propositum .

r e d e am , quia de avaritia d iss e r ens ad m o nac ho s

verteram Quorum tibi e xempla p r opo ne ns non
.
,

di c am aurum et argentum et c e t e r as ope s se d ips am ,

t e rr am c ae l um q ue d e s pic i e s e t C hristo copulata

’
c an t a b is : Pars me a dominu s .

3 7 Post haec quamquam ap ost o lus semper orare

.
,

no s i ub e at et sancti s etiam ip s e somnu s oratio s it ,

tamen divisas orandi horas habere d e b em us ut si ,

fo r te aliqu e f ue r im us e pere d e t e nt i ipsum nos ad ,

o fli c i um tempus a d m o n e at : horam t e r t i am s e x t am , ,

no nam di luc ulum quoque e t v e sp e r am nemo qui

,

ne sc i at Nec c ib us a te s um at ur nisi o r at io ne
.

r a e m is s a nec r e c e d at ur a men sa nisi r e f e r ant ur

p ,

1
Cf J ose p hus, J ewis h W a r , II . 8 .

J
.

b
b
P aul th e her mit, whos e l if e e o r me wr ote .
ì-
G
Cf i ndex
. .

fi
Lam e ntations iii . 27 .

Psalm lxxi ii 2 6
,
I

O
. .
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST . JERO ME

gratiae creatori Noc tib us bis terque surge nd um

.
,

r e v o lv e nd a de sc rip t ur is quae memoriter t e ne m us

, .

E gr e di e nt e s hospitium armet oratio r e gr e d ie ntib us ,

de platea orati o o c c urr at ante quam s e ssio nec , ,

prius co rpu s culum requiescat quam anima p as c at ur , .

A d om ne m actnm ad o m ne m inc e ssum manus pingat

,

c r uc e m . Nulli d e t r ahas nec adversus fili um matris

tuae ponas scandalum Tu quae es ut ali e num
.
,

se rv um j udices ? Suo domino stat aut cadit .

S t ab it autem ; po t e n s est e nim De us st at ue r e

’
illum . Nec si biduo i e iunav e r is putes t e non
, ,

i e i unant e m elio r e m Tu i e i unas et i r as c e r i s ille

.
,

c o m e di t et forte b lan di t ur ; tu vexationem mentis

et ventris e s uri em rixando digeris ille m od er ati us ,

ali t ur et Deo gratias r e f e rt U n cle cotidie c lam at

.

’
Esaias : Non tale i e i uni um elegi dicit dominus , ,

et iterum : In diebus eni m i e iunior um inv e ni e nt ur

v ol un t at e s v est r ae et omne s qui s ub pot e state vestra
,

e un ,t s tim ul atis .
( Si ) in i udi c ns et li tib us i e i unatis
e t p e rc ut itis pugnis humi le m ut quid mi hi i eiunatis ,

Quale illud pote s t e s se i e iunium cui us iram non , ,

di c am nox o c c up a t sed luna integra d er eli nq ui t ?

,

Te ips am c o ns id e r ans noli in alterius ruina sed in ,

tuo op ere gloriari .

38 Nec illar um tibi exempla pr opo nas

. quae ,

carni s curam f ac i e nt e s p o s s e ss ionum re di tus et

coti di anas domus impensa s s ub p ut ant Nequ e enim .

und e c im a postoli Iud ae p r o d it io ne sunt fracti nec

R omans, x iv . 4 . I saiah, lviii 5

. .

I i
sa ah, l viii 3 . .
 LETTER XXI I

should b e rendered to o ur Creator W e should ris e.

fro m our bed two or three times in the night an d ,

o over thos e passages of Scripture whi ch we know

g
by heart Let prayer arm us wh en we leave our
.

lodging : when we return fr om the streets let us

pray before we sit down nor give o ur mis erable body
,

res t until o ur soul is fed I n everyt hing we do in

.
,

every step we take let our hand trac e th e sign o f

’
the Lord s cross Spe ak ag ainst no one and slander
.
,
’
not thy mother s son . W ho art thou that j udges t
the servant of ano ther ? To his o wnlord he sta ndeth
or falleth ; yea he shall b e made to stand for the
, ,
’1
Lo rd hath po wer to make hi m sta nd If y o u have
.

fasted for th e space of tw o or three days do not ,

thi nk that you are better than thos e w ho have not

fasted You fast and are angry ; another ea ts and
.

wears a smiling face You work o ff yo ur irritation

.

and h unger by quarrelli ng with others ; your neigh

bour feeds in moderation and gives th anks to God .

Therefore Isaiah proclai ms to us every day : Is it

’2
such a fast that I have cho s en saith the Lo rd
, ,
?

And again : In the day of your fas t ye find your

o wn pleasure and oppress all your labourers If .

ye fast for st rife and contention and to s mite with

’3
th e fis t of wickedn ess ho w fast ye unto me
,
?

What sort o f fast can that be when not only do es

’
th e nigh t fall upon a man s wrath but even th e f ull
,

moon leaves it unc h ed ?

Lo ok to yours elf and
glory not in th e fall of others but only in your own
,

works .

Neither take pattern by thos e women who have

thought for the fl esh and are alwa y s reckoning up
,

t heir i ncome and the ir daily household exp endi ture .

’
For the eleven apos tles di d not weaken by J udas
1 45
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST J ERO M E .

Phyge lo et Alexandro faci e nt e naufr agi um

a c e t e ri

cursu fid e i s ub s t i t er unt Nec dicas : Illa et illa .

suis rebus fr ui t ur ; ho nor at ur ab omnibus ; fratres

ad eam c o nv e ni unt et s or or e s : num q ui d i d eo V irgo
ess e d e siv it > Primum dubium an vi rgo sit talis , .

Non enim quomodo videt homo vi d e b it Deus

, , .

’
Homo videt in facie Deus videt in corde , De b in o .
,

etiam s i corpore V irgo est an spiritu virgo s it nescio , , .

A p osto lus autem ita vi r gine m d e fin i vi t : U t s it

’
s ancta et corpore et spiritu Ad extremum hab è at .

sibi gloriam suam ; v inc at Pauli se nt e nt iam d eli c ii s ,

fr uat ur et vivat Nos meliora exemp la s ec t em ur .

Propone tibi b e at am M ariam quae t ant ae e x t iti t ,

p ur i t at is ut mater esse domini m er e r e t ur

, Ad .

quam cum angelus Gabriel in viri specie d e sc e ndi ss e t

’
di c e n s : Ave gratia plena dominus tecum con
, , ,

s t e m at a re s pondere non
po t uit nunquam enim a viro
fuit salutata D eniq ue nunt ium dis c it et loqui tur
.

et quae hominem fo rm id ar at cum angelo fab ulat ur

, ,

intrepida Potes et tu esse mater domini

. A c c ip e .

tibi t o m um magnum novum et scribe in eo stilo ,

’
homi ni s v e lo ci t e r spoli a d e t r ahe nt is et cum acces , ,

s eris ad p r 0 phet iss am et c o nc ep e r is in utero e t

e e r e r i s fili um dic : A timore tuo domine con
p p , , ,

c e pi m us et d ol u i m us et p ep e r i m us ; s pi ri t um s alva
’
t io nis tuae f e c im us super t err am Tune et fili us tuus .

1 2 Ti m thy i 1 5
o ,
2
1 T i m othy i 1 9 2 0
. .
, .
, .

3
1S am uel x vi 7 , 1 C ori nthi an
. . s v i i 34 , . .

5
I s ai a h v i i i
I sai ah viii 3 and I w’ent unto t he prophetes s and she
.
,
‘

Jerome however ’puts hi s own

.
, ,

c on c e i v e d an d b are a s o n .
, ,

i nterpre tation ont he He brew and prop hete s s shoul d here’ ,

‘

’
b e pr ophe t .A s it st ands t he q uo tati on i s m e aningl ess
‘

( Fre mantle ) I saiah xxvi 1 8 ( Vulgat a ) 7

. .
.
,

1 46
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST . J ERO ME
tibi r espo nd e b it et dic e t Ecce mater mea et fratres
’
mei Et mir um in modum ille quem in latitudine
.
,

p ec toris tui p aulo ante d e sc rips er as quem in no vi t at e ,

co rdis stilo volante s ignav e r as po st q uam spoli a ex ,

hosti b us pos t q uam d e nud av e r it pri nc ip at us

c e p er i t ,

et p ot e s tat es et ’ad fix eri t eas cruci , conceptus ad o

l e sc i t et maior e fle c t us sp o ns am te incipit habere de
matre Grandi s labor , sed grande pr ae mi um esse ,
.

quod m ar tyr as ess e quod apostolos e ss e qu od

, , , ,

Christus est .

Quae quidem uni versa t une pr osunt cum in ,

ecclesia fiunt cum in una domo p asc h a c ele b r am us si

, ,

arcam i ngr e dim ur c um Noe si pereunte Hi e ri co ,

R aab i us ti fic at a nos c o ntine t Ceterum v irgine s .

,

q u al e s apud divers as he r e s e s et
q ua l es apud i np ur is

simum M anich e um e s s e di c untur scorta sunt aesti ,

manda non v irgine s Si e nim corporis c arum auctor

, .

es t diabolus quomodo p o ssunt honorare pl as tic am

,

hostis sui ? Sed qui a s è iunt virginale v oc ab ulum

l o r io s um sub ovium e lli b us l u o s t e un t C hris
g ,p p g .

tum m e nt it ur ant ic hri st us et t ur pi t udi nem vitae

falso nomi nis honore c onv e st iunt Gaude soror .
, ,

gaude fili a gaude m i virgo : quod aliac simulant

, , , ,

tu vere ess e c o epist i .

3 9 Haec omnia quae di ge s s im us dura v i d e b unt ur

.
, ,

ei qui non amat C hrist um Qui autem o m nem

, .

s a e c uli o m am pro p urgamento hab ue r i t et vana

p p
d ux e r i t univers a s ub s ole ut C hr ist um luc ri fac i at , ,

qui c o nm ort uus est do m ino s uo et c om e s urr e x it et

c r uc i fix i t c ar ne m cum v i t ii s et c o nc up isc e ntiis libere ,

1
St . M
tthe w s u 4 9
a .

F ounder of the sec t o f the Mani che ans

.
,

, w ho b eli e ved that

matte r as s uc h is esse ntiall y evil .

1 48
 LETTER XXI I

Then shall your s o n reply : Behold my mother and

’1
my brethren And He whose name j ust before
.

o u had ins cribed upon th e ta blet o f your heart and

y ,

had written wi th a p en upon its new s urface after ,

He has recovered t he spoils from th e enemi es and

has stripp ed principaliti es and po wers nailing them ,

t o His cross He havi ng been conceived grows to

,

manhood and as H e become s older regards you

,

not as His mother but as His bride To be as the.

m artyrs or as the apostles or as Chris t is a great

, , ,

struggle but for that struggle there is a great reward

, .

A ll such e ff orts are onl y o f avail when th ey are

m ade w ithi n the Church ; when we celebrate th e
p assover in one hous e ; if we enter th e ark with
Noah ; if while J ericho is falling we s helter beneath
, ,

the roof of the j us ti fie d harlot R ahab Such virgins

.

as there a r e sai d to be am ong the di ff erent ki nds o f

, h
hereti cs o r with the follo wers o f t e filthy M anes 2
,

mus t b e cons idered no t v ir gins but pros ti tute s If

, , .

t he devil is th e author o f their body how can they

,

honour a thi ng fashioned by their foe ? I t is becaus e

they know that the name o f virgin brings glory with
’
it that th ey go abo ut as wolves in sheep s clothi ng .

Anti christ p retends to b e Christ : and even so they

fal s ely cloak their s hameful lives under an honour
able title R ej oice my sister ; rej oice my daughter ;
.
, ,

rej oice my virgin ; you have begun to be in trut h

,

that whi ch thes e others only feign to be .

All the thi ng s that I have set out in thi s letter

wi ll seem h ard t o her w ho loves not Christ But .

on e who regards all the pomp o f this world as dr os s ,

and holds eve r yt hing under th e sun as vai n if only ,

he may win Christ ; o ne who has di ed with his Lord

and ris en again and cr ucifie d the flesh wi th i ts weak
1 49
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JEROME .

p r oc lam ab it : Qui s nos s ep ar ab it a c ari t at e Christi ?

t r i b ul at io ? an angustia ? an p e r s e c ut io ? an f am is ?
an nudi t as ? an p ericulum ? an gladiu s ? Et
i terum : C e r t us autem s um quia ne que mors neque ,

vit a neque angel us neque p r inc ip at us neque inst ant ia

n eque futura neque fortitudo neque e x c e ls um neque
profundum neque alia creatura p ot e rit nos separare a
’
c ar i t at e Dei quae est in C hristo Iesu domino nostro
, .

Dei fi liu s pro nostra salute hominis factu s est fi lius ,

decem m e nsib us in utero ut nasc at ur e x p ec t at , , ,

fastidi a s usti ne t cruentus e ge ri t ur inv olv it ur p annis

, , ,

blanditii s d e ri d et ur e t ille cuius p ugillo mundus ,

i nc l ud it ur p r ae se p is c o nt ine t ur angus t iis

, Tacco .
,

quod u s que ad t ric e s im um annum i gnob ili s p ar e nt um

a u e r t at e c o n t en t us est : v e r b e r ab at ur et tacet ;
p p
’
c r uc i fi it u r et pro c r uc i fi e n Quid
g g t i b us d e pr ec at ur .
,

igitur retribuam domi no pro omnibus quae r e t r ib ui t

, ,

mi hi ? C ali c e m salutaris ac c ipi am et nomen domini

i nv oc ab o . Pr e t ios a in c o nsp e c t u domin i mors sanc
’
torum eiu s . Haec e s t sola digna r e trib utio cum ,

sanguis s anguine c o mp e ns at ur et r e d e mpt i cruore

C hristi pro r e d e m pt or e lib ent e r o b c um b im us Quis .

s anctorum s ine certamine c oro nat us est Abel i ust us

o c c i di t ur ; Abraham uxorem
p e r icli t at ur amittere et ,

ne in i nm e ns um volumen extenda m quaere et i n ,

v en ie s s ingulos diversa p erp e ssos Sol us in d eli c ns

.

Salomon fuit et fo r sit anideo c o rr uit

, Quem enim .

di li git dominus c o rr ipit ; c astigat autem o mnem

,

R o mans, viii . 35 38
—
. P salm c xvi . 12 .

1 50
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

’
fili um quem r e c ip it Nonne melius est brevi tempore
.

di m i c ar e , f erre vallum , arma , cibaria , l as sesc e r e sub

lorica e t postea gaudere vi c to r em , quam inpati e ntia
unius horae servi re perp etuo ?
40 Ni hil am ant ib us durum est nullus diflic ili s
.
,

c up i e n t i labor R espice quanta Iacob pr o Rach el

.
,
’
pacta ux o r e s ust ine at Et s er vi vi t i nq ui t scr iptur a
.
, ,

I acob pro R achel annis s eptem Et e r ant in con .

’
s p e c t u eius quasi pauci di es qui a am ab at illam , .

U nde et ip s e postea m e m o r at : In die ur eb ar aest u

’
et gelu nocte A m e m us et nos C hri st um semper
.
,

eius q uaer am us amplexus et facile vi d e b it ur omne ,

di fficile Brevi a put ab im us universa quae longa

.
,

s unt ,et i aculo illi us vulnerati p er hor ar um momenta

di c im us : Heu me quia p er e gr inatio mea pro ,
’ ’
lo ngat a est Non s unt enim c ondi gnae p as sio ne s
.
, ,

hui us mundi ad futuram gloriam quae r e v e lab i t ur in ,

nobis quia t rib ul at io p at ienti am op e r at ur patientia ,

r o b a t io nem probatio autem s em spes vero non

p ’
, p ,

c on f undi t Quando tibi grave videtur esse quod

.
,

s us t i n es Pauli s ecundam ad C o r int hios lege : In

,

l ab o ri b us plurimi s in c ar c er ib us ab und ant ius in

, ,

p gl a is supra modum in m or t ib us fr equenter

, a —

Iud a e is quinqui es q uad r age nas una minus ac c e pi ter ,

v ir i s c ae s us s u
g m semel l a i d at u
p s sum
, ter nau ,

fr agi um feci nocte et di e in profundo maris fui in

—
,

i t i ne r ib us s a ep i us , p e ri c uli s flumi num , p e r i c uli s

l at r o num , p e ri c uli s e x genere , p e ri c uli s ex

gentibus ,

e r i c uli s in civitate , p e ri c uli s in deserto per ic uli s in

p ,

1 H e b re ws , x n6 . .

R om an sol d e ca e d a s
A
’
ir rri take whi ch he fix ed in the
,

g o nd at th e end of the day s ma

r u rc h as p art of the rampar t
round t he c amp .

Ge nes is , xx x 2 0 i . .

1 52
 L ETTER XXI I
’1
r ecei veth Is it not better to fig ht for a short
space to carry a camp s take to put on arms to faint
,
2 -
, ,

ben ea th a br e astplate and then to know th e j oy o f

,

victory rather than to become slaves for ever beca us e

,

w e could not hold o ut for a single hour ?

Lo ve finds nothi ng ha r d : no task is di fficult if y o u
wish to do it Co nsider all that J acob bore to wi n
.

Ra chel hi s promis ed bride The Scripture tells us :

, .

J a cob served seven years for Ra chel And they .

seemed to hi m but a f e w days for the love he had

’3
t o her . So he hi ms elf afterwards s ays : In t h e
day t he drought cons um ed me and t he frost by
’
ni ght. Let us also love Chr ist and ever seek His
embraces Th en everything diffic ul t wil l seem e as y ;
.

all things long we s hall t hink to b e short ; and

smitt en with His j ave li n we sh all say as each hour
p ass es : W oe i s me that I have prolonged my
’5 ’
pilgrim age For t he s uflerings of this pres ent
.

ti m e are not worth y to be compar ed with the glory

’6
that s hall be revealed in us Tribulation worket h
.

pati ence and pa ti ence exp erience and e xp e r ience

, ,
’7
hope ; and hop e m aketh not ashamed Wh en .

’
ever your lot seems hard read Paul s se cond epistle
,

to the Co r inthi ans : In labours more abundant ;

i nstripes abo ve meas ure ; i nprisons more frequent ;
in deaths oft Of th e J ews five ti mes received I
.

forty stripes save o ne ; thrice was I b eaten with

’
r eds ; once was I stoned ; thrice I s ufler e d shi p
wreck ; a ni ght and a day have I be en in the deep ;
in j ourneyings often in perils o f robbers in pe rils
, ,

by mine own countrym en in perils by the heathen , ,

in pe r ils in th e city in p erils in the W ilderness in

, ,

5
Psalm cxi x 5 ( Vul g ata ) . .

Ro mans viii 1 8 , . Ro mans v 3

.
, . .

1 53
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST . JERO ME
mare p , e r ic ulis in inf als is fr at r ib us ,
l ab o ri b us in ,

mi s e ri is in v igiliis multi s in fame et s iti in i e i unns

, , ,

plurimis in f r igor e et nudi t at e

,
’
Quis nostru m .

s al t i m m i n im am p o r t io ne m de catalogo harum s ibi

p otest V indicare v ir t ut um ? U tique ille postea c o n

fid e nt e r ai e b at Curs um c o ns umm av i fid e m servavi , .

S up e r e st mihi corona i us t it i ae quam r e t r ib ue t mihi ,

’
dominus .

Si c ib us i ns uls io r fuerit c o ntrist am ur et p utam us ,

nos Deo pr ae st ar e b e ne fic ium cum aq uati us b ib im us ,

cali x fr angi t ur mens a sub v e r t it ur verbera sonant et

, ,

aqua t epidi or san guine vi ndi c at ur R egnum cae .

’
lorum v im patitur e t violenti d iripi unt illud Nisi .

v im feceris c a e l o r um regna non c a i es Nisi pul

, p .

s av e r i s i mportune p anem non ac c ip i e s sacramenti

, .

An non tibi videtur es s e violenti cum caro cupit esse , ,

quod Deus est et ill uc unde angeli c or rue r unt

, , ,

angelos i udi c atur a c o nsc e nd e r e ?

4 1 E gr e d e r e u ae s o aulis e r e corpore et
.
q , p p ,

r ae se n t i s l ab or is ante oculos tu c a p inge m e r c e d e m

p ,

quam nec oculus v idit nec auris audi v i t n ec in cor

’
homi nis as c e ndi t Qualis erit illa dies cum tibi
.
,

M aria mater domini c ho r is o c c ur r e t c om it at a v ir

, ,

g ineis cum ,
post R ubrum M are et su b m e r s um cum

suo e x erc it u Phar ao ne m tympanum tenens p r ae c inet

1
2 C
rinthi ans xi 2 3
o . . 2 Ti m thy iv 7
o . .

C rinthian vi
, ,

3
S t M atthew x i 1 2
.
, . . 1 o s, . 3 .

5
1 C orinthi ans ii 9 , . .

1 54
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST J ERO ME .

res
p o ns uri s : C ant e m us domino ; glorios e en
m agni fic at us est E q uum et as c e n sor e m
pr o i e c i t in
.

’
mare Tune Thecla in t uo s lacta v olab it amplexus
. .

Tunc et ipse sp onsus o c c urr e t et dic e t : Surge , veni ,

proxima mea sp eciosa mea columba mea quia ecce
, , ,
’
hi e m p s t r ansiit pluvi a ab iit sibi Tunc angeli mira
, .

b unt ur e t di c e nt : Quae est ista pr ospic i e ns quasi

d iluc ulum sp ec i os a ut luna electa ut sol ?
, Vi d e b unt ,

t e fili ae et laudab unt te reginae et c onc ub inae te

pr ae di c ab unt Tune et alius c ast i t atis chorus occur
.

ret : Sarra cum nupt is v e ni e t fi li a Phanuelis Anna ,

cum vi d uis E r unt ut in diversis gr e gib us carnis et

.
,

spiritus matres tuae La et ab it ur illa quod ge nui t ;

, .
,

e x ulta b it ista quod d oc ui t Tune vere super asinam

, .

dominus as c end e t et c aelest e m i ngr e di et ur Hieru

salem Tune parvuli de quibus i n Esaia salvator
.
,
‘ ’
e flat ur Ecce ego et pue r i quos mihi de dit dominus , ,

palmas v ic t o r iae sub le v ant es consono ore c antab unt

Osanna in excelsis benedictus qui venit in nomine ,
’
domini o s anna in excel s is
, Tune centum quadra .

ginta q uatt uor milia in c o ns p e c tu t hr oni et s eni or um

t e ne b unt citharas et c ant ab unt canticum novum et
nemo po t e ri t scire canticum illud nisi num erus ,

d e finit us : Hi sunt qui s e cum m uli e rib us non ,

c o in ui n ave r unt v i r in
g es enim p e rm an s er un
— t ; hi
q ’
sunt qui se c unt ur agnum q uoc um q ue v adit
, Quo , .

t i e ns c um q ue te vana sacculi d el e c t ari t am b it io quo ,

1 Ex od us x v 2 1 . .

A v irgin of I c o ni um P
,
1
s ai d t o ha ve b eenc onverte d by aul.
S ong of Solo mon ii , . 10 .

S ong of S olomon v i , . 9 ( sl ightly alt ered ) ,

10 .

5
Cf S t Lu ke i i 36
. .
, . .

I .Paul a and M ar ce ll a
s . . Cf . A pp endi x , p 487
. .

I saiah, viii 1 8 . .

S t atthew, xxi 9
. M . . Re velati on xiv , . 4 .

1 56
 LE TTER XXI I

c hoir : L e t us sing unto th e Lord for he hath ,

tri umphed glorio u sly ; the hors e and his rider h e

’1 2
hath thrown into t he sea Then shall Thecla
.

fly rej oicing to your arms Then s hall your Spous e

.

Hi ms elf come to meet you and s ay : R is e up my ,

love my fair one and come away for 10 the wi nter

, , , ,
’3
is p ast the ra in is over and gone
, Then shall .

the angels gaze in wonder and cry W ho is she

that l ooketh forth as t h e morni ng fair as the moon , ,

cle ar as the sun ? 4 The da ughters s hall s ee you and

bless you ; yea the queens shall proclai m and the
,

concubines shall prais e you .

And then another c haste band wi ll be there to

greet you S arah will come with t he wedded ;
.

Anna 5 the daughter o f Phanuel w ith the widows

, , .

In the one company you wi ll see your natural and ,

in the other your sp ritual mot er

i h 6
The o ne will .

rej oice in having borne you t he oth er will e xult i n

,

having taught you Then truly will th e Lord ride

.

upon His as s and enter the heavenly J erusalem .

Then the li t tle ones o f whom in Isaiah the Sa vi our

—

s ays : Behold I and the chil dr en whom the Lord

hath given me 7 shall lif t up palms of victory and
—

with one acc ord s hall sing : Hosanna in t he hi ghest ,

blessed is he that cometh in the name o f the Lord ,

’
hosa nna in t he highest 8 Then s hall t he hundred
.

and forty and four thous and hold t heir harps before
t he throne and before the elders and sing the new
s ong .And no man s hall be able to sing that song
save the appointed company : These are t hey
whi ch were not d e file d with w omen fo r t hey are —

virgins ; these are they whi ch follow th e L amb

’9 ’
whithersoever he goeth As o ft en as this world s
.

vain di splay delig hts you ; as o ften as you se e in

I S7
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST JERO ME .

tiens in mundo aliqui d v i d eris glor iosum ad para ,

disum mente t r ansgr e d er e ; esse i nc ip e quod futura ,

es et audies ab sponso t uo : Pone me sicut signa

,
’
c ulum in corde tuo sicut signac ulum in brachio tuo
, ,

et opere pariter ac mente munita c l am ab is : Aqu a

multa non po t er it e x tinguer e c arit at em et flumm a
’
non c oop er ie nt eam .

XXXVI II
AD M A R C E L LA M

A B R A H A M t em p tat ur in filio et fid elio r i nv e nit ur ;

Io s ep h in A e gyp t o v e ndi t ur ut p at r e m p asc at e t ,

fratres ; Ezechias vicina morte t e r r e t ur ut fu s us in ,

l ac rim is quindecim annorum spatio pr o t e l e t ur ad

vitam ; Petrus ap osto lus domini pa ssion e c o nc ut it ur ,

ut amare fle ns audiat : Pasce ove s meas Paulus ,

lup us r ap ax et Beniamin ad ule sc e ntio r in e x t asi ,

c a e c at ur ut v id e a t et repentino t e n
, , e b r ar um ho r r or e

c ir c um d at us dominu m vocat quem d ud um ut homi ,

nem p e r se q ueb at ur .

2 Ita et nunc mi M arcella Ble sillam mostram

.
, ,

vidimus ardore f eb r i um per t rigi nt a ferme die s i ugit e r

1
S o ng o f S olo m on viii 6 . . S o ng of S olomon viii . 7 .

M r ll
, ,

Fo r a ce a and Ble silla, cf . I ntroduc tion p vi ii . a nd

App ndi x I
, ,

P ul b l ng
.

a e o e tri b e of Be nj ami n and Benj ami nis

d t o t he
d esc ri b e d a s a rav eni ng wo lf cf G e ne sis xl ix 2 7 P aul a
: .
, . .
,

Benjamit e ac te d l i ke a w o lf i np e rs e c uti ng t he C hurc h : of

,
.

p 2 79
. .
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST J ERO ME .

aestuasse ,
_ ut sc ir e t r eic i e ndas deli cias corpori s quod ,

p aulo post v er mi b us e x ar andum sit Venit et ad .

hanc dominus I esus t etigit q ue manum eius et s urge ns

m inis t r at ei Re dol e b at aliquid ne gl ege nt i ae et
.

di v i ti ar um fa
c hr o
, .

@
s c on li gat a i n s aec uli i ac eb at s ep ul

sed c onfr e m ui t I esus et c o nt ur b atus in spiritu

,

’
c lam av i t di c e ns : Blesilla e xi foras , Quae vocata
.

s urr e x i t et egressa cum domino v e s c i t ur Iud ae i .

m ine nt ur e t t um e ant q uae r ant occidere s usc it at am

, ,

soli apostoli glarie nt ur ; sei t s e vitam suam ei debere ,

cui c r e di di t ; se it s e eius am pl e x ar e pedes cuiu s ,

paulo ante indicium p e r tim esc e b at Corpus pae ne .

i ac e b at e x ani m e et anh elos artus mors vicina qua

t i e b at U bi tunc e r ant auxi lia

. ubi
verba omni i nanio r a fumo ? Nihil tibi debet o i n ,

grata cognati c quae mundo p er iit et Christo r ev ix i t

, .

Qui C hri s tianu s e s t gaud e at ; qui ir asc i t ur non ess e

, ,

s e i nd ic at C hr is t ianum .

3 Vidua quae s o luta est vinculo maritali ni hil

.
, ,

nece s s e habet ni s i perseverare At sgan . daliza t

u m i am vesti s f usc i or : s c an d aliz e t Io han n uo
q e p es
q ,

inter natos m ulie r um maior nullu s fuit qui angelus ,

di c t us ipsum quoque dominum b ap tiz avi t q ui came ,

lorum v e stit us t e gum ine zona p ellic i a c ingeb at ur .

1 60
 LETTE R XXXVII I

thereby she might learn to cas t away all thos e

a m e ri n s of t hat bo d y into whi c h wo rm s will soo n
p p g
burrow t he ir way To he r als o the Lord J e s us ca me
.
,

and He touched her hand and behold she rise s and

,

mini s ters unto Him Once t here w as some suspicion

.

o f indi fle r e nc e in her conduct : s he w as bound fast

'

in t he clos e wrappings of riches and lay inactive ,

in this world tomb But J esus w as troubled in sp irit

.

and rais ed His voice and cried aloud s aying ,

’
Bles ill a come forth
, At His bidding s he arose
.

and came o ut and now she feasts with the Lo rd

, .

The J ews ma y swell wit h threats and se ek to slay ,

her who has been rous ed to life while the apostles ,

alone give glory : Rles ill a knows that she ow es

her life to Him to whom she entrus ted it : she knows
that she now embraces the feet of Him before whose
j udgment j ust lately she trembled Life had almost .

f orsaken her prostrate body and the near approach

,

o f deat h shook her panting frame Of w hat avail.

at tha t hour w as the help t hat relati v es could give ,

or their words of comfort emp ti er t an smoke h

,
?

She owes nothing to yo u th ankless kins men : she

,

is dead to the world and live s again to C hrist L et .

thos e who are Chri s ti ans rej oice : those w ho feel

res entment show thereby t hat they are no t Christians .

A widow who is freed from t he marita l bond ha s

but o ne duty laid upon her and that is to continue
,

as a wi dow . It may be th at some people are o ff ended

by her sombre garb : they w ould be o fle nd e d als o
'

by J ohn the Bap tist and yet among t hose bo rn of

,

women there has not been a greater t han he H e .

’
w as ca lled God s messenger and baptiz ed the Lo rd
’
Himself but he w as clothed in c amel s hai r raiment
,
—

and girded w ith a girdle o f skins It may be that .

1 61
M
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST J ERO ME .

Cibi di spli c e nt v ili o r e s ; ni hil v ili us est loc us ti s .

Illae C hri s tianos oculo s p o tius s c and ali z e nt quae ,

p urp ur is s o et q uib us d am f uc is ora oc ulos q ue depin

gunt q uar um f acie s gy p3 eae et nimio candore de
, _

formes idola m e nt iunt ur quibus si forte i np r ovi d e ns ,

l ac r im ar um stilla e r up e r i t sulco d e fluit qua s nec , ,

numeru s anno r um potest docere quod v e t ul ae sunt , ,

quae c apilli s alie ni s v e r t ic e m i ns t r uunt et pr ae t e r it am

i uv e nt ut e m in rugis anilib us p o li unt quae d e ni q ue ,

ante nepo t um gr e ge m trementes v i rgunc ulae con

p on u n t ur E r ub esc at mulier C hri s tiana
. s i naturae ,

cogit decorem s i carnis curam facit ad,

c en ti am in qua qui sunt

, secundum apost olum ,

C hri s to placere no np oss unt .

4 Vidua nostra ante m o nili b us o r nab at ur et di e

.

tota quid sibi d e esse t q uae r e b at ad speculum ; nunc

, ,

loquitur c o nfid e nt e r : Nos autem omnes revelata

facie gloriam domini sp e c ulant e s in e and e m imagi
nem t r ans fo rm am ur a gloria in gloriam quasi a ,
’
domini spiritu Tune c r ime s M e di s o n e b an t
.
p
et mi t ellis c risp anti b us verte x art ab at ur i nno x i us ;
nunc neglectum cap ut s oit sibi tantum sufli c e r e ,

quod v e lat ur Illo tempo re plum ar um quoque dura

.

mol lities v id eb at ur et in e x t r uc tis toris i ac e r e v i x

p o t e r at ; nunc ad o r and um festi na co n s ur it et modu
g
lata voce ceteris alleluia pr aec ipi ens prior incipit

1 Ro mans, viii . 8 . 2 Cori nthi ans , iii 1 8 . .

1 62
 SELE CT LETT ERS or sr . JERO ME
laudare dominum suum Fle c t unt ur genua super
.

nudam hum um et c r eb ri s lac rim is facies psimi thio

ante s o rdid at a purgat ur Post o r at io ne m ps alm i
.

con c re p an t et lassa cervi x p o pli t e s vac illantes in

,

s om n um q ue v e rge nt es oculi nimio mentis ardore vix

i mp e t r ant ut q ui e s c an
, t. Pulla est tunica : minus ,

cum humi i ac ue rit s or di dat ur Socc us vilior : aura

, .

t orum pretium c alc e or um e gènti b us largie t ur Cin .

gulum non auro gem mi s q ue dis tinc t um est s ed

'

l a ne um et tota simpli c itat e p ur is sim um et quod

ossi t ads t r i n e r e magis vestimenta quam scindere
p g .

Si huie proposito i nvi d e t scorpius et sermone blando

de indebita r urs um arbore c om e d er e p er suade t ,

in suo m or i enti
pulvere d ic at nr quod inter
r e ta t ur ad verse ad v e r s ar i us quippe C hristi es t
p
an t ic hri s t us cui pr aec e pt a displic e nt Christi
, .

5 Oro te quid tale umquam quale apostoli

.
, , ,

f e ci m us ut merito sc and alize nt ur ; p atr e m se mem

,

cum navicula et rete dimitt unt ; p ub li c anus a teloneo

surgit et sequitur s alvato r em ; volens dis cipulus
rever ti d om um et s uis ante r e nunt iar e m agistri voce
r o hi b e t ur ; sepultura non d at ur patri et i e t atis
p p
genus est i npi um esse pro domino Nos quia serica.
,

veste no n utim ur monachi i udic amur quia e b m

, ,

non s a mus nec cachinno ora dissolvim us contine nt es ,

v oc am ur et tristes Si tunica non c and ue rit statim

.
,
’
illud e tri vio : Inp os tor et Graecus est Cavi
.

1 64
 LE TTER . xx xv n
r

Lord . kneels upon the ground and with fi eq ue nt

S he ,

tears cleans es th e fac e t hat was once d e file d wi th whi te

l e ad Aft er prayer comes the s i nging o f ps a lms ;
.

her neck gro ws wea ry her kne e s totter her ey es

’
, ,

d rop o fl to sleep ; but her ardent sp iri t will hardly

g i ve th em leave to rest Her dress
. is of dark st uff ;
t herefore it is sca rcely soiled by lying on th e ground .

Her slippers are of a c heap sort ; t he price of gilded

boo ts will be given as aims to th e ne edy Her .

girdle is not adorned wi th j ewels or gold ; it is made

o f w o ol pe rfectly sim ple and clean and it is intended
, ,

to keep he r dres s clos e rather than to cut her figur e

into two halves If the s corpion j ealous of her
.
,

res olute purpose wi th so fi: w ords pe rsu ades her t o

,

eat ag ain o f t he forbidden tree let a curse crush,

hi m ins tead o f a boot and let h e r sa y as h e li es

, ,

dying in th e dust that is his due : Get the e be hind

’ ’
me Sa tan
, The word Sata n means ad versa ry
.
,
’
since Christ s advers ary is the Anti christ who finds ,
’
Chris t s precepts displeas ing .

Pray have we ever done anything such as th e

,

apostles di d that men should have r e aso nto b e ofle nd e d

wi th us ? The apo s tles left the ir boat and the i r net
and their aged father The publica n got up from t he
.

receipt of cus tom and foll owed t he Savi our Wh en a .

dis ciple wished to go back home and give a mess age

’
first to his people the M aster s voice forbade him
, .

A father even was refus ed burial ; for it is a form o f

'

’
duty to b e undu tiful for the Lord s s ake W e o n .

th e other hand are ca lled monks merely bec aus e we

’
do not dress in silk W e are dubbe d s our purita ns
.
,

beca us e we do not get dr unk or burs t i nto loud

guflaw s If o ur tuni c is not spotless ly w hite th e
.
,

cry goes up fr om the s treet : G r e e k charlatan

i
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF S T JERO ME .

le nt ur v afr ior a li cet et pig i cir

c um f e r ant homines : Ble silla nostra ri de b it nec
di gnab i t ur lo q uac i um r anar um au di re c onvic ia ,
cum
dominus eius di c t us sit Beelzebub .

An M A R C E LL A M DE O NA SO

M s n1 c r,
quos v o c ant c hir ur gic o s c r ud e le s p u ,

t an t ur et mi seri sunt An non est miseria ali e ni s

.

dolere v ulne r ib us et mortnas carnes c lgmenti secare .

ferro Non ho rr e r e c ur ant e m quod horret ipse qui , ,

patitur et inim ic um putari ? Ita se natura habet

, ,

ut amara sit veritas blanda vitia aes tim e nt ur , .

Es aias m ex em pln rn c apt ivi t at is f ut ur ae nudus n

… on

e r ub e s c it incedere ; He r e mi as de medi a Hi e r u s al e m

ad E ufrat e n, fluv ium M eso pot am i ae mi tt it ur ut , ,

inter i nim ic as gentes ubi e s t A ssy rius et castra sunt

,

m n m
''
C hald aeo r um po mat e t w a c o rr u
p é y , p e d
7ru : Hie
zechi el s t e r c or e primum humano de in bulmlo panem ,

de omni semente c onsp ers um e dere i ub e t ur et uxoris

i nt e ri t um sic c is oc uli s videt ; Amos de Samaria
e lli t ur : cur q uae so ? Nempe ideo quia chirurgici
p ,

s ir i tale s secantes vitia peccatorum ad p a e n i t en t i am

p

1 M atthew
25 x
T M
. .
,

h s le e i is s upe s cri be d
tt r To a ce ll a c on
r ce n ing r r
’
Onas us , b m os of the fierce nv e c e i s addr esse d pe s onally
ut t i tiv r
to On as us hi mself , o f whom n o hin g else 1 s known t
'

I
sa ah , x i
2 . e em ah , x ii
. 7 J r i i . .

Ez ekel , iv 9 5 and xx 1 5 ff
i . A mo s , v ii 1 2
. iv . . . .

'

1 66
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

’
co hort ab ant ur Paulus apo sto lus : .Ini mi c us in ,
’
quit vobis factus sum vera d ic e ns
, Et quia s alva .

toris dura v id e b ant ur elo q ui a plurimi di scipulorum ,

r e t ror s u m ab i e r u nt .

2 . U nde non mi r um est et nos vitu s d etr ahe ntes , si

_
’
o fle n d im us plur im os Dispo s ui nasum secare feten
.
_ _

tem : t im e at qui strumosus est Volo c or nic ulae

’ , .

de tfahe r e gar r ie nt i : ranci dnlam se i nt e lle gat cornix

‘

Num quid unus in orbe R omano e s t qui hab e at ,

truncas i nhonest o vulnere nares Num quid solus

O nas us S e ge s t anus cava verba et in v e si c ar um modum
tumentia b uc c is t r utinat ur inflatis ? Dico q uos d am
sc e le r e e r i ur i o f als it at e ad di n i t at e m n e se i o quam
p , g
,

pervenis s e : quid ad te qui te i nt e llegis inno c e n ,

tem ? R ideo ad v oc at um qui patrono ege at : quad ,

rante dignam e lo q ue ntiam nare subsanno : quid ad

te qui di s ert us es ? Volo in numm ari o s i nv e hi
,

s acerdotes : t u
q ui di v e s es
q,uid i r as c e ri s ? Cla udum ,

cupio suis ignib us ardere V ulc anum : num q uid

ho sp e s eius es aut v ici nus quod a d e lub r is idoli ,

nit e ris incendi um s ub m o v e r e Placet mihi de lu is ,

de noctua de bubone de Niliacis ri d ere p ort e ntis

, ,

quicquid dictum fuerit in te di ctum putas In , .

q uo dc um q ue vitium stili mei mucro c o nto r q ue t ur ,

te c lam it as d e signari conserta manu in ius voc as et ,

s atir ic um s c r ip t o r e m in pro s a s t ult e arguis An ideo .

bellus vi d e r is quia fausto v o c aris nomine ? Quasi

,

1
G tians
ala , 16
iv . .

Vir gil A ene id , VI . 4 9 7 , o f De pho b us i . Nasus = nose .

O n i mu
,
’
Onas us es s t he he lpf ul .

1 68
 LETTER X L
men to repenta nce The apo stle Paul says : I ha ve
.

’1
be come your enemy becaus e I te ll you t he truth .

’
And becaus e the Sa vi our s words seemed hard very ,

many o f His disciples went away .

’
S o it is not s urprisi ng if we to o o fle nd v ery many
when we try to strip away the i r vices I am prepared .

’
to cut a foul smelling nose : thos e who s ufler fi o m a
-

wen may well shake in the ir shoes I intend to .

rebuke a chatteri ng crow : the fello w bird may we ll -

s ee t hat he t oo is o ffensive But is there only o ne

man i nthe w hole Roman world who has a no s e
.

lopped short with s hameful wound 2

Is O nas us
o f Segesta the only person who pu ff s hi s cheeks and

weighs out words wi t h nothi ng in t hem like a bladder

full of wind ? I say t hat certai n people have reached
a certai n position by crime perj ury and fals e pre
, ,

t en c es . What is that to you w ho know yourse lf to

,

be innocent ? I laugh at the advocate w ho hi mself

needs a defender ; I sneer s co r nful ly at his eloquence
which would be dear at a farthi ng What is t hat t o .

you who are a good speaker ? It i s my pleas ure to

,

atta ck tho s e priests who think only of money Why .

do you who are a rich man become angry ? I

, ,

would fain burn limping Vulcan in his own f urnace .

Are you a friend o r a neighbour o f his t hat you ,

’
s t rive to save t he idol s shrine fi o m th e flam es ? I
l ike to laugh at ghosts night b irds hoo ting owls
,
—
, ,

and all the po rtents of Egypt : anything I s ay you

think is ai med at yours e lf Against whatever vice
.

’
my pen s s word point tur ns you cry out loudly that
—
,

you are its ma rk you j oin i ssue and call me into

,

court and fool is t try to prove that I am a writer

,

o f sati re in pros e Do y o u s eem to yourself a fine

.

fellow because you bear the lucky name of Onas us

, ,

1 69
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J EROME .

non et lucus ideo di c at nr quod minim e luceat et , ,

Parcae ab eo quod ne q uaq uam p ar e ant et Eume

, ,

ni des Furiae et vulgo A e thiop es v oc e nt ur argentei

, .

Q uo dsi in d e s cript io ne fae… m semper ir asc e r is ,

iam t e cum Persio c ant ab o for m osum

Te opten t gener um rex et regina puellae ,
’
Te r apiant : qui cq ui d c alc av er is tu rosa fiat , .

3 Dabo ta men consilium quibu s ab sc o ndi t is p oss is

.
,

p ulc hr io r app ar e r e : nas us non videatur in facie ,

sermo non sonet ad lo q ue nd um atque ita et formos u s ,

v id e r i potes et d is e rt us .

X L III
A D M A R C E LL A M

I . A mano s rus quo chartas , p t us , nota rios numis

s um

tr ant etam i nnum e r ab ile s libros vere A d am anti us

q uad am
'
et noster X a À x cw epo ; e x p lic avi t in , e pist ula ,

1
P r ius
e s S al ina, II . 37 , rd
al te e .

M
,
2
Not t he gre at B ishop of ilanw ho l ived a c entury after
O ri gen b ut a fri end’ o f rig e n
, O .

’
C halkente ro s t he m an wi th e ntrails o f b rass
,
an ,

epi thet u s ually ap pli e d to t he Al e x andri ansc holar Didym us ,

be cause of hi s unwearied indus try is here transf erre d to ,

1 70
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST JEROME .

quam ad eundem de A the ni s sc ripser at r e fe rt ,

numquam s e c ib os O rigene p r ae se nt e s ine le ct io ne

su m psiss e nunquam veni s se s o m ni um nisi e fr at ri
, ,

bus aliq uis s ac ri s litteris p er sonar e t hoc di ebus egiss e ,

vel n oc t ib us ut et lectio or ati o nem sus cip e r e t et

,

ora tio lec t io ne m .

2 Quid nos ventris animalia tale umquam feci

.
, ,

m us ? Quos si secunda hora le ge nt e s i nv e ne ri t ,

os c it am us ,manu fac i em d efric ant e s c o ntine m us

s t o m ac hu m et quasi post multum laborem m undi ali
b us r urs u m nego tiis o c c up am ur . Pr ae t e rmi t to
p ra ndi a, quibus onerata mens p r e mi t ur P ud et .

dicere de fr e q ue ntia s alut andi qua aut ipsi co tidi e ,

ad alios pe rgim us aut ad nos v e ni ent es c et e ros

e x p e c t am us De inc eps i tur in verba sermo
. tur , @ ,

lac e r ant ur a b sentes vita a liena d esc rib it ur et mor

,

dentes i nv ic em consumim ur ab i nvi c e m Tali s nos .

c ib us et o cc up at et di mi ttit Cum vero amici .

r e c e ss e rint r at io c inia s ub put am us

, Nunc ira per .

sonam nobis leonis inpo ni t nunc cura superflua in ,

annos m ultos duratura pr aec ogit at nec r ec o rd am ur ,

e v an e lii d ic e n S t ult e hac nocte r e e t un t an

i m um
g s p ,

tuam a te ; quae autem pr aep ar as ti cuius crun t ? ,

Vestes non ad usum ta ntum sed ad QQlÌQÌ BS c o nq ui ,

runtur Ub ic um q ue c onp e ndium est v elocior pes

. , ,

c i tu s sermo auris adt e nt io r ; si damnum et saepe

, ,

in re familiari accid e r e solet fuerit nuntiat um v ult us , ,

m ae r or e d e prim itur L aet am ur ad numm um obolo

. ,

1 St L uke
.
, x 11. 20 .

1 72
 LE TTE R X L I I I

books in a le tter writt en t o hi s fri end fi o m Athens

, ,
’
decl ares that h e never took a meal in Origen s co m
pany wi thout some thing being read and that he ,
’
never fell asleep save to t he so und of some brother s
voice reciting t he Script ures aloud Day and ni ght .

it was the ir habit to make readi ng follow u po n

prayer and prayer upon readi ng without a break
, , .

Do we poor creatures of t he belly ever be have

, ,

like this ? If we spend more than an hour in re adi ng ,

you wil l find us yawni ng and tryi ng to r e st r ai n our

boredom by rubb ing o ur ey es ; then as t hough we ,

had been hard at work we plunge once more into,

worldly a ff airs I say nothing o f the h eavy mea ls

.

which crush such menta l faculti es as we poss ess I .

am ash am ed to speak o f o ur n umerous ca lls going ,

’
ourselves every day to other p eople s hous es or ,

waiti ng for others to come to us The gu ests arrive .

and talk begins : a brisk conversati on is engaged :

we tear to pieces those who are not t here : other
’
people s live s are d escribe d in deta il : we bite and
are ourselve s bitten in turn With this fare the .

company is kept bus y and so at last it di spers e s

, .

When our fi i e nds have left us we reckon up o ur ,

accounts now frowni ng over them like angry lions

, ,

now with us ele ss care pla nni ng sch em es f or the

distant future We remember not the words of th e
.

‘
Gospel : Thou fool thi s night thy soul shall b e
,

requ ired of th ee : then whos e shall t ho s e things be

whi ch thou h ast provided ? 1 W e buy cloth es not ,

solely for us e but for display When we see a

, .

chance of making money we quicken our steps we , ,

talk fas t we strain our ears If w e are told t hat

, .

we have l ost as oft en mus t happen in busines s o ur

, ,

face is clouded with sorro w A pe nny makes us .

 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST . JERO ME
co ntr ist am ur . U nde cum in uno homine ani mor um
,

tam diversa sit facies pr ophet a dominum d epr ec at ur ,

di c e n s : Domine in civitate tua ima ginem eorum ,

Cum eni m ad imaginem et s im ili tudi nem

D ti sum us ex viti c no stro et personas nobis
,

l urim as s u e r i n d uc im us et quomodo in t he at r alib us

p p ,

s c ae n i s unus atque idem histrio nun c Her c ul e m

robus tus o st entat nunc mollis in Venerem fr angit ur
, ,

nunc t r e m ul us in C y b e le n ita et nos qui si mun di , , ,

non e sse m us o d ir e m ur a mundo tot hab e m us

, ,

personarum sim ilit udi ne s quot peccata , .

3 Q uap r opt er quia vitae multum iam S patium

.
,

t r an s ivi m us fluc t uan d o et navi s nostra nunc pro

c e llar um concussa turbine nunc scopulorum inli ,

sio n ib us perforata est quam primum licet quasi , ,

q ue m dam p or t um secreta ruris i ntr e m us Ibi cib a .

rius pa n is et bolus nostr is m anib us inrigat um lac , ,

de 1 c iae r usticanae viles quidem sed innocentes , ,

c ib o s
pr ae b e ant Ita viventes non ab or atione
.

somnus non s at uri t as a lec tione r e v o cab it Si aest as

, .

est s ecretum ar b oris umbra pr ae b eb it ; si autum nus

, ,

ip s a aeris t emp er ies et strata s ub t er folia locum

…
_

q ui e tis os t e ndi t Vere ager flor ib us d ep ingit ur et

.

inter q uerulas ave s psalm i dulcins d e cantab unt ur .

Si fri gus fuerit et b r um ales nive s ligna non c o e m am ,

c ali di us vi ilab o vel dormiam certe quod sciam

g , , ,

v ili us non algebo Hab e at sibi R oma suo s tumultos

.
,

harena s ae vi at circu s i nsani at t he at r a luxurient et

, , ,

P salm l x xi ii 20 A V has w he n thou awakes t b ut

1
. . . .
‘
,
’

’
R V g i v es
. in t he c ity
‘
in mar gi n= i n c i vi tate tua of
V ulgate ( P salm l xx ii
. .

. .

1 74
 SELE CT LETTE R S O F ST . JERO ME
quia de nostr is di c e nd um est m at ro nar um cotidie ,

v i sit e t ur senatus : nobis ad hae r e r e Deo bonum est ,

ponere in domi no sp e m no st ram ut cum p a up e rt a , ,

tem istam c ae lo r um regna m utav erint er um p am us ,

in voc em : Quid enim mi hi r es tat in caelo et a te

quid volui super t e rr am ? Quo scilicet cum t anta ,

r e p er e r im us in caelo parva et caduca u i s e nos

p , q aes s

d o le am us in terra .

X LIV
A D M A R CE LLA M

UT ab se nt iam corporum spiritus co nfab ulat ione

s ol e m ur , f aci at un usq uisq ue , quod pr ae v ale t Vos .

dona t r ansmi ttit is , nos e p istulas r em itt im us grati

arum ita tamen , ut , quia v elat ar um vir ginum munus
,

est , ali q ua in ipsis m unusc ulis e ss e m y st e ri a demon

s tr e m us . Saccu s o r at ioni s signum atque i e i uni i est ;
s ellae ut foras pedes virgo non m o v e at ; c e r c i , ut

acÉ É
,
—
DS O lumine spo nsi e x p e ct e t ur ad v e ntus ; calices
m ort i fic ati o ne m carnis o s t e nd unt et semper anim um
ad martyrium p r aep ar at um Calix quippe do
mini inebrian e r uam optimus qu o d autem et
p q
—
s
’
m at r o nis o fle r t is mu s caria parvi s anim alib us venti
landa proc ul ab il lis abesse debere luxurias quae
, ,

cito cum isto i nt e rit ur ae mundo oleum vitae s uav iori s

1 P salm l x xiii 2 5
P G
. .

salm x xi ii 5 . . allic anpsalte r .

1 76
 LETT ER X L II I AND LE TT ER X L IV
’
friends the daily meeti ngs of the matrons senate
—
.

For us it is good to cleave to G o d and to put our

\
,

hop es in the Lo rd so that when we have exchanged

, ,

thi s poor li fe for t he kingdom of h eaven w e may ,

c ry aloud : Vho m have I in heaven but thee ?

’1
There is none upon earth tha t I des ire be s ide t hee .

Assuredly when we have found such wealth in

,

heaven we may well grieve to have s ought after poor

,

passing pleas ures here on earth .

LETTER X L IV
To M A R CE LL A
A le tte r o
f thanrs /
W ritten A . D . 38 5

L E T us comfort ourselves f or bodily absence by

sp iritual conversa ti on , each and every one o f us doi ng
w hat we can do be s t You s end us gifts , we send you
.

back lett ers o f thanks ; wi th this addi tion , as it is an

o ff e ring to virgins w ho have taken t he veil , t hat w e
point out to you t hat t h ere are certain mysteries
hidden i n thos e dear pres ents of yours Sackcloth .

is a s i gn of prayer and fasti ng ; c hai rs wa r n us that

a virgin does not go abroad ; tapers are a reminder !

to have our lights burning as w e a w ait t he Bride

’
groom s comi ng cups signify m o rti fica ti o nof t he flesh
and readi ne s s for mart r do m ’
How excellent is
’
the Lo rd s cup t hat m aketh dr unk thos e w ho part ake ’
t hereof 2 Furthermore wh en you o fle r matrons
,

f ans to keep o ff flies you s h ow them that t hey mu s t

,

drive away all those wanto n plea sure s which with ,

this world so quickly perish and corrupt the oil of our

1 77
 SELE CT LETT E RS OE ST JERO ME . .

e xt erm inagt Hic typus v irginum haec figura s it

.
,

m at r o nar um Nobis autem i…

. licet , ,

munera ve s tra c o nv e ni unt : sedere ap t um e st o tio s is ,

in sacco i ac e r e p ae ni te nti b us cali ce s habere po tanti ,

bus li cet et propter nocturno s metu s et animo

,

s emper malo cons cientiae fo rmi d ant e c c r e os quoque

ac c e nd iss e sit gr at um .

X LV
A D A S E LLA M

Sr tibi ut em
a me gratias r e fe rr i po ss e non
p ,

s a i am
p Po t e ns es t Deus super personam meam
.

sancta e anim ae tuae r es tit ue r e quod m e r e t ur Ego , .

e nim i ndi gnus nec ae stim ar e umquam po t ui nec

optare ut mihi tant um in C hristo lar gir e ris adfe c t um
, .

Et licet me sc ele r at um quidam p ut e nt et omnibu s

flagit iis o b r ut um et pro p ec c at is meis etiam haec
parva sint tamen tu bene fac is quod ex tua mente
, ,

eti am malo s bono s putas Pe ric ulos um quippe e s t .

de servo alteriu s iudi care et non fac ili s ve nia pr av a,

d i x iss e de r e c t is V e ni e t v e ni e t illa di es et mecum

.
, ,

d o le b is ardere non p auc o s .

2 Ego p ro l u
.

i s us ego ye i elli
,
s e t l ub r ic us ego .
,

1
Thi le te w as wri e n at
s t r s ia i nA ug us
tt Ot
3 85, j us t tA . D
J
.

b e fo e e o me in c om any w h his b o he P aulinan and

r r it rt r i
t he p ies Vi nc e n us
r t ai ti fi t
R o me f or t he E as t P aula and .

E us to c h ium followe d him s oona f e wa d s , an d hey al l h e e

tr r t t r
se tt led at B e hle he m f o r t he
t es t o f hei li v e s Fo r A s ella,
r t r .

cf A.
p pe nd i x , p 4 8 5 . .

1 78
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST . JE R O ME
m e nd ax et S at anae arte decipiens ! Quid es t as tu
tius haec vel c r e didi ss e vel finx is se de i nso ntib us
, ,

an etiam de no x iis credere noluiss e ? O sc ulab ant ur

mihi quidam manus et o r e vipereo d e t raheb ant ; dole
bant lab iis corde gaud eb ant : vi d eb at dominus et
,

s ub s an nab at eos et m is e r um s e r v um suum futuro

,

cum eis iudi cio r ese r vab at Alius i nc essum meum .

c al um n iab at ur et ri s um ille v ult ui d e tr ah eb at haec

, ,

in sim plic it at e aliud suspic e tur Pae ne certe t r ie nno

_ _
.

cum eis vix i ; multa me v ir ginum crebro turba c ir

cu m d e di t ; divinos libros ut potni no nnulli s s aepe
, ,

d is se r ui ; lectio ads id uit at e m ads id uit as fa mi liari ,

tatem fami liar itas fid uc iam fec e r at Dic ant quid

, .
,

umquam in me aliter s e nse r int quam C hr is tianum ,

d e c e b at ? Pe c uniam cuius acc epi ? M unera vel

parva v el magna non spr e vi ? In manu mea aes
ali c u i us i n so nuit ? Q qpu @
s s ermo ocul
_
u s p etul ans ,

fuit ? Nihil mihi aliud o b ic it ur nisi sexus meus et ,

ho c numquam o b ic it ur ni s i cum Hi e r o so ly m a Paula

,

r o fic is c it ur Esto : c r e d id e r unt m ent i e nt i ; cur non

p .

c r e d un t neganti ? Idem est homo ipse qui fuer s t ,

fat e t ur i n s on te m qui d ud um no x ium lo q ue b at ur ;

,

et certe v eritat e m magis e xp rim unt tormenta quam

risus ni s i quod fac ilius c r e di t ur quod aut fic t um
, ,

lib e nt e r audi t ur aut non fic t um u t fingat gr i gp e llit ur

, , .

1
Cf . A ppe ndi x , p 4 92
. .

1 80
 LE TTE R X LV
’
Satan s art to deceive ! Whi ch s hows the greater
subtlety I wonder t o beli eve these charges (p erhap s
, ,

even to invent them about an innocent man) o r to ,

say : I do not wish to beli eve t hem e v en though he 15

’?
guilty There were s ome w ho kissed my hands
and maligned me with snaki sh tongue : th eir lips
lamented the ir hearts rej oiced The Lord s aw
, .

them and held t hem in derision reserving them and ,

His poor servant f or comm on j udgment in the future .

One man cavilled at my manner o f walki ng and

laughi ng ; another found i nmy expres sion something
to di sli ke a t hi rd lady would su spect somethi ng els e
in my simplicity With such p eople I have been
.

living for almost three years : fi e q ue ntly I w as

s urrounded by a throng of virgins : to some o f them
I often di s coursed o nt he Scriptures to the best o f my
ability : study brought about fami liarity familiarity ,

friends hi p friendship confidence L et them say if

, .

t hey have ever noticed in my conduct anything unbe

’
fitti ng a Christian Have I taken anyone s money ?
.

Have I not di s dained all gifts great or small ? H as

’
the chi nk of anyone s coin ever been heard in my
hand ? Has my conversation ever been ambiguou s ,

o r m y ey e wanton
? Nothing i s laid to my charge
except my sex and that only when Paula is likel y to
,

s e t out for J erusalem W ell then ; t hey beli eved him

.
,

when he lied ; why do th ey not beli eve him w hen he

retract s ? He i s t he very same man as before : h e
confes s e s I am innocent t hough in the past he said I
,

w as guilty ; and surely torture i s more e ffective

t han laughter in forcing out t he trut h except indeed ,

t hat people are more ready to beli eve a tale w hich ,

t hough f als e they hear wit h pleas ure and urge ot hers
, ,

to invent it if they have no t done so already 1

.

1 81
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

3 . A nt e q uam s anctae Paulae mossem

d o m um ,

t o ti us in me urbis studia c o nso nab ant Omnium .

ae n e iu di cio di n
p g us summo s ac e r d o tio d e c e r ne b ar ;
beatae memori ae Damasi os meus sermo erat ;
d ic e b ar sanctus dic e b ar humilis et di se rt us
, Num .

quid dom um ali c uius lasc i viori s i ngr e ssus s um ?

Num q ui d me vestes s e r ic ae ni t e nt e s gemmae picta , ,

facies auri r ap uit am b itio ? Nulla fuit R omae ali a

,

m at r o nar um quae meam po s set domare mentem

, ,

nis i lugen s atque i e iunans s q uale ns so r dib us fle t ib us , ,

pae me c ae c at a quam c o nt inuis noc tib us domini

,

misericordiam d ep r ec ant e m sol saep e d epr e he ndit ,

cuius canticum ps almi sunt sermo evangelium , ,

deliciae continentia vita i e iunium , Nulla me ali a .

o t uit d e le c t ar e nisi illa quam m an d uc ant e m num

p , ,

quam vidi ; p ost q uam eam pro s uae merito sancti

tatis v e ne r ar i colere s uspic e r e c o e p i omnes me ilic o
, , ,

d es e r ue r e v i rt ut e s .

4 O invidia primum m or d ax tui ! O S at anae

.

c alli d it as semper s an cte

pe r s e q ue ns Nullae ali ae
. .

Ro m anae urbi f ab ulam p r aeb ue r unt ni s i Paula et ,

M e lani um quae c o nt e m p tis fac ultat ib us pignori

,

busque d e s e r tis c r uc e m domini qu asi q uo d d am pieta

tis le v av e r e vexillum Baias p e t e r e nt unguenta .
,

e li e r e n t di vi t ias et v id ui tat e m hab e r e n t mate rias

g , ,

l ux ur iae et libertatis do m nae v o c ar e nt ur et sanctae

,

nunc in sacco et cinere form ons ae volunt v id e r i et in

e he n n ae igni s cum i e iun n s et
p e d o r e d e sc e nd e re
g .

1
Cf . A ppendi x , pp 4 9 3, 4 9 4
. .

1 82
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST J ERO ME .

Videli cet non licet eis adplaud e nt e populo perire

cum t ur b is Si gen tiles hanc vitam c arp e r e nt s i
.
,

Iud ae i hab e r e m s ol ac i um non pl ac e ndi e is q uibus

, ,

di sp lic e t Christus ; nunc vero pro nefas i nomine — —

C hri st ianae p r ae t e r m is s a d o m um s uar um cura et

p r opr n ocu li trabe neglecta in ali eno f es t uc am quae

runt Lacerant sanctum propositum et reme di um
.

po e nae s uae ar b i t r a nt ur si nemo s it s anctus s i

, ,

omnib us d e tr ahat ur si t urba sit p e r e unti um multi

, ,

tudo p e c c ant i um .

5 Tibi placet lavare cotidie alius has m undi t i as

.
,

sordes putat ; tu … m r uc t uas et de c o m e so

aci e ns e r e gloriar is ego faba ventrem i nple o ; t e
,

d e le c t ant c ac hinnant ium greges Paulam M elani ,

um q ue p lange nt ium ; tu aliena d e s id e r as illac c o n ,

t e m nun t sua ; te d e lib ut a melle vina d e le c t ant illac ,

o t an t aquam f r i ida m s uavi o r e m ; tu te perdere

p g
a e s t im as q uid u i d in praesenti non haus e ri s come
q , ,

deri s d e v o r ar is e t illa c f utura desiderant et c r e d unt

, ,

vera es s e quae scripta s unt Esto : inepte et ani

, .

liter quibu s r es ur r e c tio p e r s uasit corporum ; quid ad

,

te ? Nobis e contrario tua vita displic e t Bono tuo .

cra ss u s s is me macies d e le c t at et pallor ; tu tales

,

m is e r os a rb i tr aris nos te m is e ri o r e m put am us

,

invi c e m nobis v id e m ur insa ni .

1 84
 LETTER X LV

and fil th Oh plai nly they are no t allowed to peri s h

.
,
’
ami d t he mob s appla us e along with the multitude !
If it w ere Gentiles or J ews w ho attacked thi s mode
of life I s hould have t he co ns olation o f not pleas ing
,

those to whom C hris t H i ms e lf is dis tas teful But as .

,

it i s s ham e upo n them women nomi nally Christian

, , , ,

neglecting their own hous eholds and di sregardi ng

t he beam in their own eye look for a mote in their
’
neighbo ur s They tear reli gion to shr eds and
.
,

think they have found a palli ative for their o w n fat e ,

if t hey can s how that no o ne is a s aint and that

everyone has weaknesses that great is the multitude
,

of t he sinners and mi ghty the host o f thos e t hat

,

p eris h .

It is your pleas ure to take a bath every day ; anot her

man t hinks such r e fine m e nt rubbi s h You belch after .

a meal o f wild duck and bo ast of the sturgeon you

devour ; I fill my belly with beans You take .

de light i n tr oops o f j esters ; Paula and M elani um

’
prefer those who weep You want oth er p eople s
.

g o ods they desp is e their own You like wine .

flav o ur e d with honey ; t hey have a sweeter drink ,

cold water You cons ider that you are losing all
.

that you have not at once drained dry gobbled up , ,

and devoured ; t hey beli eve that the Sc riptures are

true and fix the ir desire s on what is to come W ell .
,

they ar e foolis h o ld w omen to be p ersuaded o f the

resurrection o f t he body ! But wha t is t hat to you ?
W e for our part are not satisfied with your mode o f
’
life Fatten yourself to your heart s content : I
.

prefer a lean body and a p ale face You think .

people like us miserable : we regard you as more

mi serable s till O ur opinion o f you is like your
.

opinion of us and each in turn thinks th e o ther insane

, .

1 85
 SELE CT LETT E RS OF ST JERO ME .

6 Haec mi domina Asella cum iam nave m con

.
, ,

sc e n d e r e m r ap t im fle ns d ole ns q ue co n s c ri s i et
, p ,

gratias ago Deo meo quod dignus s um quem mundus , ,

od e ri t Ora autem ut de Bab ylo ne Hi er o so ly m a

.
,

r e r e d i ar nec mihi d o m i n t u Nabuc h odonosor sed

g e r ,

I esus fili u s Ios e d ech ; v e ni at H es dr as qui interpre

, ,
’
tatur adi ut or et r e d uc at me in p at ri am meam
, .

S t ult us ego qui v o le b am canticum domini in terra

,

aliena et deser t o monte Sion Aegypti auxilium Hagi

tabam Non r e c o rd ab ar e v ange lii quod qui Hieru
.
, ,

salem e gr e di t ur s tatim incidi t in lat ro nes sp oli at ur

, , ,

v uln e r at ur o c c i di t ur Sed licet sacerdos d e&iÈ t

, .
_

atque levite s S am ar it anus ille mise r ic o rs e s t cui

, ,
’
cum di c e r e t ur : S am arit e s e s et d ae m o ni um habes ,

d ae m one m r e nnue ns S am ar it e n non se ne gav i t

’
quia quem no s c usto d e m Heb r ae i s am ar ite n
,
‘

v o c an t M al\
e fic m me quidam
.
g garr i unt : t i t u l um
“
fid e i servus agno sc o ; magum v oc ab ant et Iud ae i
domi num meum seductor et apo st o lus d ic t us est , .

’ ’
‘
Te m pt at io me non adpr e he ndi t ni si humana ‘
.

Quatarn partem angus ti ar um p e rp e ss us s um qui

_
,

cruci m ilite ? Infam iam fals i criminis i npo rt arunt ,

s e d s cio per bonam et malam f am am p e rv e n i ri ad

regna c a e lo r um .

7 Saluta Paul am et E us to chium

. v e l it no lit —

mundus in Chri s to m e ae s unt s aluta m at r e m

,
—

A lb inam s or o r es q ue M arcella s M ar c e llinam quoqu e ,

et s anc t am Fe lic it at em et dic e is : Ante tribunal ,

1
C f H agg ai , i l e t c I t m e ans that ho we ver i ll t he J e ws
J
. . .
,

had tre at e d hi m he wo ul d p re fer t he rul e o f er u

,
sale m to that
o f B a by lo n .

1
P s alm c x x x v n 4 .

J
.

S t L uke , x 30 H C f S t o hn , viii
3
. . 48 . . . . .
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F ST J EROME .

Chri sti s ta b im us
ibi qua mente qui s
p ar eb i t ,
’
v i x e r it . M emento mei ,e xemplum p udic it iae et
vi r
gi ni tat is i n
sgi _
e, fluc tus q ue maris tuis pr e c ib us
mitiga .

A D NE P OT IA NU M PR ES BYTE R U M

PE T1 S , Ne po t iane carissime litt e ris tr ansm ari nis et ,

crebro petis ut tibi brevi v o lum ine di ge ram prae

,

c e pt a Vi vendi et qua ratione is qui sacculi militia

, ,

derelicta v e l m o nac hus c oe p e r it e s se v el c le r ic us ,

t ectum Christi t ramitem t e n e at n e ad di versa v i ,

t io r um dixe rtic n lar apiat ur Dum e ss e m ad ule sc e ns

.
,

immo pae me puer et primos impetus lasc ivi e ntis ,

a e t ati s b ere m i d ur i t i a r e fr e nar e m sc r1 5 1 ad a v un

p cu ,

lum tuum sanctum He lio d o r um e xho r t atoriam

, ,

e is t ulam pl e n
p am l ac r imis
q ue r im o niis q ue et quae
deserti s o d ali s m ons tr ar e t afle c t um Se d in illo
’
.

opere p ro aetate t une l usimus et c alentib us adhuc

_

r he t or um studi is atqu e doc tr i n is q uae d

flore d epinx im us Nunc i am cano capite .

in s tar boum p e nd e ntib us a mento p ale ari b us

Frigidus o b s is t it circum praecordia sangui s
1
R o ma ns x iv … 10
ddr esse d to Nepo t ianand writteninA D 39 4
.
,
1
T his let te r , a . .
,

i s reall y a treatis e o nt he d uti e s of t he c l erg y Ne pot ia nw as

g f ri end o f J ero m e ( c f
.

t he n e p he w of H eli od o r us a li f e l on -

Letter XI V ) w ho had become Bis hop of A ltinum B oth

, .

.
,

1 88
 LETT ER X LV A N D LETTER L I I
’
before Christ j udgment s eat
s and th ere t he
’ ’
t houghts o f each man s lif e shall be revealed Re .

member me my glorio us pattern of c hastity and

,

virginity and by your prayers appeas e t he s e a w ave s

,
.

LETT E R L I I 2
To NEP OT 1A N
’
A c le rgyman s duties

YO U me my dearest Nepo tian in your lett ers

as k , ,

fi o m across the sea and you as k me o ft en to s e t out

, ,

for you in a brief digest some rul es o f life s howing ,

’
how o ne w ho has renounced service in t he world s
army to become a monk or a clergyman may keep to
the straight path o f Chris t and no t be led as tray i nto
the haunts of vi ce When I was a young man .
,

scarcely more t han a b o y and was trying to curb t he,

first tides of youthf ul w anto nne s s by the hards hips of

t he de s ert I wrote a letter o f ex hortation to your
,

reverend uncle Heli o d or us to show hi m t he fee lings ,

o f the friend h e had deserted by t he tears and

remons trances wi t h which it w as filled In that .

producti on I indulged my youthful fancy and be i ng ,

s ti ll fired wit h ent h usias m for t h e teac hi n g of t he

rhetoricians I decked out some parts of it with t he
,

flowery language o f the schools To day however .

-
, ,

my hair is grey my forehead furrowed and dewlaps

, ,

like those of an ox ha ng from my c hin

, As t he poet .

says
3
h
The cold blood ro und my he art now inders me ;
Nepo t ianand Heliod orus had bee ns oldi e rs b e fore j oini ng t he
Ch urc h.

Virgil G eorgi os 1 1 4 34
, , . .

1 89
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST . JERO ME
unde et in alio loco idem poeta ca uit
Omnia fert aetas ani m um quoque ,

et post modi cum

N une oblita mihi tot carmina , vo x quoque M o erim
’
l am fugit .

2 Quod ne de gentili tantum litt er at ur a pr o fe r r e

.

v id e am ur , di v in o r um v o lumi num sacramenta cog

nosee Davi d annos natus septuaginta , b e llicosus
.

quondam v ir , s e ne c t ut e frige nt e non p ot e r at cale

fie r i . Quaeritur i ta q ue puella de uni v er sis finibus
Is r ahel Abisag S o m an i tis , quae cum rege d or mir e t et
senile corp us c alefac e r e t Nonne tibi videtur , si
.

o c c id e nt e m s e q uar i s litteram , v el figm e nt um esse de

mimo v el A t ellanar um ludl cra ? Frigidus senex _

o b v ol vi t ur v es t im e n t is et nisi c o n p l e x u ad ulesc e nt u
lae non t e p e sc it Viv eb at adh uc Bersabee , super
.

erat A b ige a et reliquae ux or es eius et c o ncub inae ,

quas scr ipt ur a c omm e m o r at : omnes quasi frigi dae
r e udi an t ur , in unius tantum gr and ae v us c al e sc it
p
am p le x ib us .Abraham multo David senior fuit e t
tamen vivente Sarra aliam non q uae sivi t uxorem ;
Isaac duplic e s David annos hab uit et cum R ebecca
i am v e tula numquam r e fri x it ; t ac eo de priorib us
ante diluvium viri s qui post annos nonge nt o s non
,

di co seni li b us s e d p e ene iam c ar iosis ar t ub us ne q ua

,

quam pue llar es q uaesier e c o nple x us ; certe M o y ses ,

dux Isr ahelit ic i populi centum v iginti annos hab eb at

,

et S e phor am non m ut av it .

1V irgi l Bucolica IX 51
, , Virg il Buco li cs IX 53
. . , , . .

1
The At e llan play s were broad f arc es po pul ar on t he
R o mans tag e .

1 90
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST JERO ME .

3 .Quae e s t igitur ista S o m ani tis uxor et virgo tam

f e r v e ns ut f rigid um c ale fac e r e t tam sancta ut
, , ,

c al e n t e m ad li b idi ne m non p r o v o c ar e t ? Exponat

sa ie n ti ssim us Salomon patri s s ui d e lici s et ac i fic us
p g p
— .

b e llat or is viri nar r e t amplexu s Po ssid e s ap i e nt iam ,

p ossid e i nt e llige nt iam Ne o b livisc ar is et ne dccli

.
,

nav e r is a verbis oris mei et ne d eli q ue r is eam et , ,

a… te ; ama illam et s e r v ab it te Princi .

pi um sapientiae : p o ssid e s apie nt iam et in omni

poss e ssione tua po ssid e i nt e lli ge ntiam ; c irc um da
i llam et e x alt ab it te ; honora illam et am ple x ab it ur
te ut det capi ti tuo c o ronam gr ati ar um corona
, ,
’
quoque d elic iar um pr ot egat te .

Omnes p ae ne v ir t ut es corpori s m ut ant ur in s e ni b us

et increscente sola sapientia d e c r e sc unt c et e r ae
i e i un i a e… , e huc illuc q ue discursus pere
, ,

rin or um s usc e t io d e fe nsio p a up e r um standi in

g p , ,

or at io n e p e rs e v e r ant i a v is i t at io lan u en ti um labor

g , ,

m anuum unde pr ae b e ant ur e le m os y nae et ne ser

, , ,

monem lo ngi us t r aham cuneta quae per corpus , ,

e x e rc e n t ur fracto corpore minora fiunt

, Nec hoc .

di co quod in i uv e nib us et ad huc s olidi o r is a e tat is

, ,

his d um t ax at qui labore et ardentis simo studio

, ,

vitae quoque s anc tim o ni a et o r atio nis ad Deum

fr e q ue nt ia sc ie nt iam s e c ut i s unt ,— fr ige at sapientia ,

quae in ple r isq ue s e nib us aetate m … t sed quod ,

ad ule sc e n tia multa corporis bella s us t i ne at et inter

incentiva v itio r um et carni s t itillat io ne s quasi ignis
in ligni s v iri di o rib us S… e t suum non
poss it
e x lic ar e f u l or e m S en e c t us vero r ur s us ad m o n eo
p g
-
.

—
corum qui ad ulesc e nt iam suam honest is ar tib us
,

1 Jrm tk e o e a es t he s to ry of the S hunam i te (I King s i ) , as

a n ll g ry
a e o .

2
Pr v rb iv o e s, . 5 .
 LETTE R L I I
Who t hen is t his S hunami t e t hi s wi fe and vi rgin , ,

so fervid as to give h eat to the cold so holy as not to ,

excite to l t the man s e

u s h h ad warmed 1
L et
’
Solomon wis est of men tell us of his father s darli ng
, , ,

and let the man o f p eace recount the embraces o f

t he man of war Get wis dom get understan di ng ,

forget it not ; neither decline fi o m t he words o f my

mouth Forsake her not and she shall preserv e thee
.

love her and she s hall keep thee Wisdom is the .

principal thing therefore get wisdom and with all

, ,

t hy getti ng get understanding Exalt her and she .

s hall promote thee S he s hall bring t h ee t o honour

.

when thou dost embrace her S he shall give to thi n e .

head an ornament of grace : a crown of glo r y shall

’2
s he deliver to thee .

In t he ca s e of old men almost all bodi ly e xce llences

,

are changed and whi le wisdom alone increases they

,

decreas e Fasting sleeping o n the ground moving

.
, ,

to and fi o hospitality to strangers the defence of

, ,

t h e poor pers everance in standing at prayer visiti ng

, ,

t he sick manual labo ur to supply money for alrn

, s

giving in fact not to be te di ous all actions that

, , ,
’
depend o nt he body s agency become less as t he body
decays I do not s ay t hat young men or even thos e
.

o f riper vigour provided t hat by labour and ardent

—

study by a holy lif e and fi e q ue nt prayer to God they

,

have attained knowledg e lack t he w armth o f —

wisdom whi ch in many old men is withered by age ;

but I do say that youth has to endur e many c onfli c ts
w ith the bo dy and ami d incen tives to vice and
,

titill a tions of the flesh it is s tifl e d as a fir e is when it

, ,

is fed with gr een wood and cannot di splay its proper

brightness Old age however I repeat my warni ng
.
,
—

—
if men have trained their yout h in honourable

1 93
 SELE CT LE TTE RS OF ST JERO ME .

instr ux e r unt et in lege domi n i meditati sunt di e a c

nocte aetate fit d oc t ior usu t r itior pr oc ess u temporis
, , ,

sa ie nt io r et v e t e r um studiorum d ulc issim os fructos

p
m e t it .

U nde et sapiens ille G r ae c i ae , cum ex

pl e t is centum
et septem annis se mori c e rner e t , di x is s e fertur
dolere quod t une egr e d er e t ur e vita quando sapere
, ,

c o e is s e t ;
p Plato o c t ogesim o et uno anno sc rib e ns
e s t mortuus ; Isoc rates nonagint a et novem annos
i n d oc e ndi s c r ib e ndi q ue labore c onple vit ; tacco
c èt e ro s h i lo s o ho s P tha or am De m o cr it um Xeno
p p y g ,

c r at e m Z e no ne m C le ant he m qui iam aetate lon

, , ,

ae v a in sapientiae s tudiis flo r ue r un t : ad poetas

g
ve ni o Ho m e r um He s io dum S im onide m S t esichorum
, , , , ,

q ui grandes natu c
y gn e um nescio quid et solito

dulci ns vicina morte c e ci ne r unt Sophocles cum .

,

propter ni m iam s e ne c t ut e m et rei famili aris negle

e nt i am a filiis acc us ar e t ur am e nt i ae O e di pi fabu
g ,

lam quam nupe r sc rips e r at r ec it avi t i udic ib us et

, ,

tantum sapientiae in aetate iam fi ac t a s pe c imen

dedit ut s ev e rit at em t rib unali um in the atri fav or em
,

v e rt e r e t Nec mi r um c um etiam Cato R omani

.
, ,

generis di s er tissim us c e nsori us iam et senex G r aec as , ,

li tt e r as nec e r ub ue r it nec d e sp e r av e r it d isce r e .

Cert e Homeru s r e fe r t quod de lingua Nestoris iam ,

v e t uli et pacue decrepiti d ulc io r melle ora tio flux eri t .

Sed et ipsius Ab isag nomi nis sacram entum ‘

s api e n ti am s euum indic at am p li o r e m Int erp r e tat ur .

1 T heophrastus C f ic ero Tus a Disp . 69. C , . . III . .

H orn I l i 24 8 : 1j$ve nrjs

.

'
. .7 0 5 ! a i ti mi y À u
î a m;s .
'

p eÀ rr o s
'

y À vm w v ;ie e v (1 581 7
.

1 94
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST J EROME .

‘
enim pater meus sup erfluus v e l pa tris mei ‘

’
rugitus Verbum s up er fluum ambiguum est et
.

in praesenti loco v irt ut em somat quod am plior sit in ,

s en i b us et r e dund an s ac larga s apientia in alio ,

‘
autem loco s up erfluus quasi non necessariu s ‘

’
p on i t ur .Sag autem id e st rugit us proprie , ,

nunc up at ur cum maris fluc t us resonant et u

, t i ta , …

digam de p elago v e ni ens fremitus audi t ur Ex quo

, .

os t e n di t ur ab undant issim um et ultra hum anam

v oc e m divini serm o n is in s e nib us t o ni t r uum c om
morari Porro S om anit is in lingua nostra coc
.
‘

c in ea di c it ur ut signi fic e t calere s ap i e nt iam et

,

divina lec tio ne fervere ; quod licet do mi nici san ,

gui n i s i ndi c e t sacramentum tamen et fe r v or em ,

os t e n di t sapientiae U nde et ob s tetrix illa in Gene s i

.

c o c ci n um li gat in manu Phares q u1 ab eo quod , ,

ari e t e m di vis e r at duos ante populos s e ar an t em

p ’ ’
p ,

di viso r is id e s t Phares s o r tit us est nomen Et

, ,
.

R aab meretri x in typo ecclesiae r es tic ulam m y st e ri a

s ang uinis c o n t ine nt e m ut Hi er ic ho pereunte salvare
,

tur adp e ndi t Et in alio loco de viris sanctis scrip

, .

tura c om m em or at : Hi sunt C i nae i qui v ener unt ,

’
de calor e domus R echab Et dominus noster in
.

’
evangelio : Igne m i nq ui t ve ni mittere in t err am
, ,

et quam volo ut ar d e at ! , Qui in dis cipulo r

corde s uc c e ns us c oge b at eos dicere : Nonne cor
no s trum erat ardens in nobis dum lo q uer et ur in vi a ,

et ap e rir e t nobi s scr ipt ur as ?

4 Q uor s um haec tam longo r ep e tit a principio ?
.

Ne a me q uaer as pueriles d eclam atione s s ent e nti ,

arum flosc ulos v e rb or um lenocini a et per fines

,

1
Cf .en G
es is , xxx v iii 2 7 .

1
l Chroni cles , ii 55— inVulg ate
. .

1 96
 LETT ER L TI

’ ’ ’
fath er s s up e rflui ty o r my fath er roaring The s .

word s up erflui ty is ambiguous and i n the present ,

’
cas e m eans excellence inasmuch as i n old m en ,

wis dom is more copious redundant and plentif ul , , .

I n other cas es however s up erfluo us means unnec e s

, ,
’ ’
s ary . A s fo r s hag t hat i s roaring t he w o rd is
, , ,

p roperly us ed of t he sound of s e a w ave s when so , ,

t o sp eak we hear t h e oc ean murmur i ng

, Thereby .

’
we se e that the thunder of God s speech l ingers in t he
ears of old men and is more excellent than hum an
’
voice Furthermore S hunamit e in o ur language
.
,

means sca rlet signi fying the warmth of wisdom when

,
’
it is fir e d by reading in God s Boo k : it conta ins a
’
my s tica l re f erence to O ur Lo rd s blood but it a lso ,
1
i ndicates the fervour o f wis dom So the mi d wi fe .

’
in Genesis ti es a scarlet thread to P hares hand ,
’
P hares t he divider beca us e h e divided t he wall ,

which till then kept t he two p eoples apart The .

harlot R ahab als o who ty pi fies t he Churc h fas t ened

, ,

a scarlet cord to her window in my s tical reference to

His blood shedding so that sh e mi ght be saved fi om
,
’
J ericho s downf all In another p as s ag e aga in the
.

Scripture s ay s of holy men : Th ese are t he K enites

’2
who came fi om the warmth of t he hous e of R echab .

Finally Our Lord s ays in t he Gospel

,
I am com e
to cas t fir e upon t h e ea rth and fain am I to s ee it ,
’3 ’
kindled That fir e w hen ki ndled in the disciples
.
,

h earts forced t hem to s ay

, Did not our heart
burn withi n us whi le H e talked with us by the way ,

? 4
and while He opened to us the Scriptures
Why all thes e far fetched re f erences you may ask
—
, .

I want you not to expect fi o m me any boyish

declamati on or flow e sen ent e t here will
ryù
1
St Luke x11 4 9 ( slig htly al red )
.
, . e xxiv 32 .
, . .

1 97
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST J EROME .

ca
p it um si ngulor um
acuta quaed am b r e vi t er q ue
conclusa quae p laus us et clamores excitent audi en
,

tum A m pl e x etur me modo sapientia , et Abi s ag

.

nostra quae numquam s enesc it in meo requi escat

, ,

sinu Inpollut a est vir gini t atisque p erp e t uae et in

.

s im i li t udi ne m M ariae cum cotidi e e ne r e t s e m e r ue

g , p q
ar t uri at incorrupta est Hi me r e or di x iss e et apos
p , .

t olum spiritu f eryj ntes et in evangelio domin um

pr ae di c ass e quod in fine mundi quando i ux t a pr 0
, ,

h e t am Z achar iam s t u lt u pastor esse c oe eri t

p s
p ’
,

sapientia decrescente r e fr igesc et caritas multorum .

Audi igitur ut beatus C ypri anus ait non di s erta

, , ,
’
s e d fortia Audi frat r em collegio p atr em senio
qui te ab inc unab ulis fid e i usque ad p e r f e c t am diiÉ
.
, ,

at

a e tat e m e t per s i n gulos gradus viven di p r ae c e p t a

c on st it ue n s in te c e t e r o s e r udi at Scio quidem ab .

a v un c ulo tuo beato Heli odoro qui nunc pont ifex

, ,

Chri s ti e st t e et di dic iss e quae sancta sunt et c c

, , ,

t idi e d isc e r e normam q ue vitae eius exempl um habere

vir t ut u m ; sed et nostra q uali acum q ue s unt suscip e , ,

et lib e llum hunc libello illins c opulato ut cum ille , ,

te m onac hum e rud ieri t hi c clericum d o c e at esse ,

p f
e r e c tu m .

5 Igitur c l e r ic us ,
qui Christi servi t ecclesiae
'

.
,

i nt e rp r e t e t ur primum v o c ab ul um suum et nomini s

d e finit io ne pr ae lat a nit at ur esse quod dici tur Si , .

enim x À fip s G r aec e sors

o L atine app e llat ur ,

r o t e r e a v o c an t ur clerici v e l quia de s orte sunt

p p ,

domini v el quia dominus ips e sors id est pars , ,

c l eri c or um e st Qui autem vel ipse pars domi ni

.

est v el dominum partem habet talem se e xhib e r e ,

1
R mn o a s, x ii Il
2
Z ach . x i .
16 3
S t Matthe w , xx v 1 2
. . i .

Or l b C
. . .

e se a use t
ec hey ad minis e t he KÀfip0 5, t he
tr hu c h ‘
r
ates
e st . Cf . Fathers f r
o the C hu ch, p 1 2 . .

I 93
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST JERO ME .

debet ut et possid e at dominum et ipse p ossid e at ur

,

a domino Qui dominum possid e t et cum pr 0phe t a

.

’
di cit : Pars mea dominus ni hil extra dominum ,

habere potest quod si q uippiam aliud hab ue ri t

, ,

praeter dominum pars eiu s non erit domi nu s Verbi , .

gratia si aurum S argentum si po ssessione s si

,
l ,

variam sup ellec tilem îiiîum his partibus dominus pars

’
, ,

eius fieri non di gnat ur Si autem ego pars domini .

su m et fimicul us he r e di t atis eiu s nec ac cipio partem

.
,

inter c e t er as tribus s e d quasi levita et s acerdos vivo ,

de d e c imi s et altari servien s alt ar is ob lati o ne sust e n

tor h aben s vi c tum et v e st it um his c ont entus ero et
,

nudam c r uc em nudus s e q uar O b s e c r o it aq ue te .

,
’
et r e p e t e ns iterum it er um q ue monebo ne o flic ium ,

c l e r ic at us genu s an ti q uae mi litiae putes id est ne , ,

lucra s aec uli in Christi q uae r as mili tia ne plus ,

habeas quam quando c le r ic us esse c oepist i et dica

, ,
’
tur tibi : Cleri eorum non pr o d e r unt eis M e nsu .

lam tuam p aup er e s et peregrini et cum illis Christus

conviva nov e rit ; ne got iat or e m clericum et ex inope
d ivi t e m et ex ignobili glor ios um quasi q uand e m
e s t e m fuge C o r r um un t mores bonos confabula
p ’
.
p
t i one s p ess im ae Tu aurum c ont e m nis alius di ligit ;
.
,

tu calcas opes ille s e c t at ur ; tibi cordi est s ilentium

, ,

m ansue t ud o s ecretum illi v e r b os it as ad t r it a frons

, , , ,

fora placent et plat e ae ac m e d ic or um tabernae : in

tanta morum di s cordia quae potest esse concordi a ?

Th e
P lm l x iii 2 6
sa
J r mi h ii 1 3
e e a
L X X whi h J r
x

, x
c
.

.
.

04 K/
‘
—
7 \
A eneid , I I I 4 36
2
Virgil
7 p0 1 aòr dì v o òx cò
f <fie À v
j
,

o o v o w
e o m e q uot e s d ifl e r s f rom t he Vulg at e a n
a lii 0 1
.

5"
5
d
.

A V
. . T he r e i s a p lay o n t he t w o m e ani n g s o f x Àfipoz
p o rt i o ns and c l ergy .

l Co rin thi ans x v 33 , . .

2 00
 LE TT ER L I I

his portion mus t so be ar himself as t o possess the

,

Lo rd and b e possessed by Him He w ho possesses .

t he Lord and says with the prophet 1 The Lo rd is

’
m y portion can have not hi ng outside t he L ord ;
,

fo r if he has anyt hing except t he Lord t h e Lord will ,

not be his portion Fo r example if he has gold and

.
,

silver land and inlai d furni ture wi th portions such

, ,

as th es e the Lo rd W ill not deign to be his po rtion .

’
If I am the Lord s portion and in the line of His
inheritance I receive no po rtion among t he other
,

t r ibes but lik e the Priest and t he L evite I live o n

,

tithe s and s erving the alta r am supported by the

,

alt ar o ff erings Having food and rai ment Tshall be

.

satisfied wit h t hem and naked shall follow the naked

,
‘
cross So I beseech you and again and yet again
.

my words repeat 2
do not thi nk t hat clerical orders
,

are but a variety of your o ld mili tary s ervice ; that

is do not loo k for worl dl y gain when you are fighting
,
’
in Chris t s army lest h aving mo re than when you
, ,

first became a clergyman you h ear it said of you : ,

’3
Their portions ( À î77 0 1) shall not profit them
x L et .

poor m en and strangers be acquainted wi th your

modest ta ble and with them C hrist sh all b e your
,

guest Avoid as you would t he plague a clergyman

.
, ,

w ho is also a man o f business o ne who has risen ,

fi o m povert y to wealth from obscurity to a high posi

tion . Evil commu nications corrupt good manners 1
‘
,

.
"
You despise gold ; the other loves it You trample .

money underf oot ; he purs ues it Yo u delight i n .

silence peace f ulness soli tude ; he prefers talki ng

,
’
,

and e flr o nt e ry t he markets and the s treets and t he

,
’
apothecarie s s hops When your ways are s o .

di vers e what unity o f h eart can there be betwe en

,

you ?
2 01
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F ST JERO ME .

Ho spit i olum tuum aut raro aut numquam m uli er um

pedes t e r ant Omn es p ue llas et vir gines Christi aut
.

ae
q uali t er ignora aut ae
q ualit er di lige . Ne s ub

eo d e m tecto m an s e r is ; ne in p r a e t e r i ta c as ti t at e

co nfid as . Nec David sanetior nec Salomone potes

e sse s api entior ; memento semper quod paradisi ,

c ol o n um de possessione s ua muli er e ie c eri t A egr o .

tanti tibi sanctus q uilib e t frater adsist at et germana

v e l mater aut p r ob at ae q uae li b e t apud omnes fid e i .

Quod si huiusc e modi non f ue r int c ons angui ni ta t is

c s ti mon i ae q ue personae multas anus nutr i t eccle sia
_ a _ , ,

quae c t o fli c ium pr aeb e ant et b e ne fic ium ac cipiant

minis trando ut infirm it as quoque tua fi uc t urnhab e at
e l em o s n ae Scio uo s d am c o nv aluis s e corpore et
y .
q
animo ae gr o t are c o episs e Pe r ic ulos e tibi m inistr at
.
,

cuius v ult um fi e q ue nt e r ad t endis Si propter o ffi __

.

c ium c l e ri c at us aut vidua tibi vi sit a t ur aut virgo ,

numquam d o m um solus i nt r0e as t ales q ue hab e t o

s ocios quo rum contubernio non i nfam e r is Si lector
, .
,

si ac oly thus si p s altes te sequitur non o r nent ur

, ,

v e s t ib us sed m o r ib us nec cala m istro crispent coma s

, , ,

sed p ud ic it iam habitu p ollic e ant ur Solus cum sola .

secreto et absque arbitro non s e d e as Si fami liar ius .

e s t aliquid lo q ue n d um h abet nut ri c e m m aio r e m

, ,

domus vir gine m v id uam m ar it at am ; non est tam

, ,

inhumana ut nullum praeter te hab e at cui s e

, ,

a ud e at credere Caveto omne s s uspic io nes e t quid

.
,

2 02
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST JERO ME .

quid pr ob ab ilit e r fingi potest ne fingat ur ante , ,

devita Crebra m unusc ula et or ar iola et fas ciolas

. .

et vestes o ri adplic at as et d egust atos c ib os b landas q ue

,

et dulce s li t ter ulas s anctus amor non h abet M el .

meum lumen meum m e um q ue de s iderium et

,

c e t e r as i ne p t ias am at or um omne s delicias et l or e s

ep
et risu dignas urb ani t at es in c om o e diis er ub esc im
,

us ,

in sacculi hom ini b us d et est am ur : quanto magis in

c l e r ic is et in c l e r i c i s monac hi s quorum et s ac er do
,

tium p gopg sito et propositum o rnat ur s ac er d ot io !

_

Nec hoc dico quod aut in te aut in sanctis viris ista

,

for m i d e m sed quod in omni proposi to in omni gradu

, ,

et se x u et boni et mali r epp e r iant ur m alo r um que

c on d e m nat io laus bonorum s it .

6 Pud e t dicere : sacerdotes i dolor um mimi et

.
,

aurigae et scorta heredi tates c api unt ; solis c le ri c is

e t monachis ho c lege p r ohib et ur et pr ohib et ur non
a p ers ec ut ori b us s e d a pr inc ipib us C hr istianis Nec
, .

d e lege conqueror sed doleo cur m er ue r im us hanc

, ,

legem C aut er ium bonum e st sed q_go mi hi vulnus

.
, ,

ut i ndige am cauterio ? Provida s e v er aq ue legis

cautio et tamen nec sic r efr enat ur avaritia Per
, .

fid e i commissa legibus i nlud im us et quasi m ai or a ,

sint i mp e r at orum scita quam Christi leges t im em us , ,

evangeli a c ont e m ni m us Sit here s sed mater fili

.
,

orum id est gr egis s ui eccle s ia quae illos genui t

, , , ,

nut rivi t et pavit Qui d nos ins e r im us inter m at r e m

.

1
By V ale nt inian A , . D . 368 .

2 04
 LE TT ER L TI

t ho ughts and if a ta le can be invented with some

,

probabili ty avoid givi ng the scanda lmonger hi s

opportuni t y Frequent gi fts of handkerchi efs and
.

’
tie s pres si ng a w oman s dres s to your lips tasting
, ,

her f ood be forehand wri ting he r fond and flatt e ri ng

,

billets do ur o f all t hi s a holy love kno w s not hi ng

—
,
.

’
M y honey my light my dar ling, lover s nons ens e
,
—

thi s and all such wanton playfuln es s and r i di c u

,

lous courtesy mak e s us blus h when we h e ar it on the

,

stage and seems detestable even o n the lips of

,

w orldlings How much more loaths ome is it th en

.

in t he cas e of monks and clergymen who ad orn t he

r i e s tt with their vow s and their vo w s wit h the
p
pri esth ood ! I say t his not be ca u e I fe ar such errors s

inyou or in any h oly man but becaus e in every order , ,

in every rank and s e x both good and bad p eople are ,

to be found and to condemn t he bad is to praise the

,

c od .
g
I am ashamed to say it but priest s w ho serve ,

idols acto rs charioteers and harlots can all inh erit

, , ,

property : clergymen and monks alone are by law

debarred a law p as sed not by p ers ec utors b ut b y
,
‘

Christian emperors 1 I do not complain o f t he .

enactment but it gri eves me to thi nk that we

,

deserved it A caute r y is a g ood thi ng but how is

.
,
’
it I h ave a wound that needs a cautery The law s ?

precaution is s tern and prudent ; yet even so greed

is not ch ecked By a fiction o f trus te eship we elude
.

i ts provisions and as thoug h imperial enactment s

, ,
’
were of more i mportance t han Chris t s comm ands ,

we fear the la w s and de spis e the Gosp els If there .

must be an heir let t he Churc h inheri t fi om the

,

chi ldr en w ho are her floc k the Ch urc h w ho bore ,

re ared and fed them W hy do we t hrust ours elves .

2 05
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST . JEROME

et libero s ? Glo r ia episcopi es t paup e r um opib us

pr o vid e r e ignominia omnium s ac e r do t um est pro
,

prus s t ud e r e di vi ti is Natus in p aup e r e domo et in

.

tug urio rus ticano qui vi x mi lio et cibario pane

,

r u ie n t e m saturare ventrem p o t e r am nunc s im ilam

g ,

et mella fastidi o novi et genera et nomi na pis c ium

, ,

in quo litore conca lecta sit calleo s ap or ib us avium _ ,

discerno provinci as et c ib o r um me r arit as ac no vis

sime damna ipsa d ele c t ant .

Audio pr ae t er e a in senes et anus absque lib e ris

u or un d am turp e servitium Ipsi a onunt mattu
q pp .

lam o b s id e nt le c t um et p ur ule nti as stomachi et

, ,

h l e m at a pu l moni s manu propria s us c i i un t Pa

p g p .

vent ad i nt r o it um medici t r e m e nt ib usque labus an ,

c o m m o d i us h ab e ant s c is c ita nt ur et s i p aul ul um

, ,

senex v ege tior fuerit p e r icli tant ur ac simulata laeti

,

ti a mens intr ins ec us avara t or q ue t ur Tim e nt enim . ,

ne perdant ministerium et vi v ac em se mem M athu ,

s ala e annis c o np ar ant O quanta apud dominum .

me rces si in prae s enti pretium non spe r ar e t !

'

Q uantis s udor ib us hereditas cas sa e x p e tit ur ! M inori

labore m ar gari t um C hristi emi po t er at .

7 Di vinas s c rip t ur as s ae pius lege immo numquam

.
,

de m anib us tuis sacra lectio d epo nat ur Disc e quod .

,

d o c e as ; ob t ine e um qui secundum d o c tr inam e s t

, ,

1
Cf . Juv . iv .1 40 .

2
The or bi an d or bae co ns tantly ref e rre d to i n L atin
l iterature ; c f . i y
e sp ec all H orac e S a t TI, . . v. a nd J uv vi 39 ,
. .

x ii . 99 .

2 06
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JEROME .

fide l e m m one m , ut p ossis e x hor t ari in doctrina

s er

s ana et c o nt r adi c ent es r e vinc er e Permane in his , .

quae di di c is ti et er e d it a sunt tibi , sciens , a quo

’
di di c e r is , paratus semper ad s atisfac tio ne m omni
’
p o sc e nt i te rationem de ea quae in te est S pe , , .

Non c onfund ant opera s e rm onem tuum ne cum in , ,

ecclesia lo q ue r is tacitus q uilib e t respondeat : , Cur

ergo haec ips e non fac is ? De licat a magister est ,

qui pleno ventre de i eiunns di sput at ; accusare avari

tiam et latro potest ; s ac e r do tis Christi mens osque
concordent .

Esto s ub i ec tus pontifici tuo et quasi m ig g g

pare n tem s us pic e : amare
— _
filio r um timere s er vo r um ,
’
est : Et si pater sum inq uit ubi est honor meus ? , ,

et si dominus ego sum ubi est timor meus ? Plur a ,

tibi in eo de m viro observanda sunt no mina : mona

chus pontifex av unc ulus Sed et episcopi s acer
, , .

dotes se sciant esse non dominos : honorent c le r ic os ,

quasi c le ri c o s ut et ipsis a c le r ic is quasi e pis c opis

,

d e fe r at ur S c it um illud e s t o r at or is Do mi t ii :
. Ego
’
t e inq ui t hab e am ut pr inc ip e m cum tu me non
, , ,

habeas ut s e nat or e m ? Quod Aaron et fili o s eius ,

hoc episc opum et p r esb y t er o s no v e r im us : unus

domi nus unum templum unum sit etiam minis
, ,

t e r ium Re c or d em ur semper quid ap o s t ol us e t r us

.
,

p î i at s ac e r d o t ib us : P ci t e eum qui in vobis

‘

r à e c p as ,

est gr ege m domini pr o v id e nt es non c o ac to s e d

, ,

T itus i 9 ; 2 Timothy iii 1 4

1
,
.
2
1 eter iii 1 5 , . . P , . .

M alachi i 6 .

III I
.
,

Cf Ci cero De Orator e
. : cum s i bi i llum con
, sulem , .

es s e negar et cui s enator i ps e n

, ones s et .

2 08
 LE TTER L TI

accordi ng to sound doc t rine so that you may be able

,

t hereby to e xhort and refute the gai ns ayers Con .

tinne t hou in t he thi ngs that thou has t le arned and

hast been ass ured of knowi ng o f whom thou hast
,

learned them and Be ready always to give an

answer to every man t hat asketh you a reason of the
’2
hope and faith that are in y ou Your deeds must
.

not belie yo ur words lest when you are speaking

, ,

in church some o ne may say to hi ms elf : W hy do

,

you not practise what you preach ? A teac h er

fond of good li ving may fill his own stomach and
then discours e o n the benefit s of fas ti ng ; even a
robber can possibly accuse others of greed ; but
in a priest of Chr i s t mind and mouth should be in
harmony .

Be obedi ent to your bis hop and resp ect him as

,

your sp iritual fath er Sons love slaves fear

. If I
, .

’
be a father say s t h e Scripture
, w here is mine ,

honour ? and if I am a master where is my fear ? 3

,

In your cas e one and the same man has many titles
to your respect : he is monk bis hop uncle But , , .

even bi s hop s should reali z e t hey are prie s ts not ,

lords ; t hey s hould give to clergymen the honour

that is t heir due s o t hat the clergy may o ffer t h em
,

t he re s pect proper to bis hops The orator Domi tius

.

s poke to t h e po i nt when he said : Why s hould I

treat y o u as leader of t h e Senate when y o u do no t ,

treat me as a senator ? 4 W e s hould recogniz e that

a bis hop and his presbyters are li ke A aron and his

sho ul d be also but o né …

.

“
sons There i s but one L o rf d and one Temple ; th ere x

yî L et us al w ays
remember the charge which the apostle Peter gives
to priests : Feed t he floc k of God which is among
you taking the oversight thereof not by con s traint
,

2 09
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J EROM E .

spontanee secundum Deum neque t ur p iluc r i gratia , ,

s e d v olun t ari e neque ut dominantes in c l e r is s e d

, ,

forma facti gr e gi et e x ani mo ut cum app ar ue r it , ,

princeps pas t or um p ercipiatis inm ar c es cib ilem glori ae

,
’
c or on am . Pessim ae c onsue t udin i s est in q ui sb us
d am e c c lesii s tacere p r e sb y t e r o s et pr ae s e nti b us
e isc o is non lo ui
p p q quasi aut i n vi d e an
, t a ut non
’
di gne nt ur audi re Et si alii i nquit Paulus aposto
.
,

l us, fuerit r e v elat um sedenti prior tacet Pot estis , .

e nim er singulos pr o phe t ar e ut omnes discant et ,

omnes conso e nt ur Et spiritus prophet ar um pro .

h e t is su b i e c t us est : non eni m est di sse n s ion i s Deus

p ,
’
s e d pacis Gloria patri s est filius sapiens ; gaud e at
.

e pis c op us iudicio s uo cum tales Chr isto eleger it

,

sacerdote s .

8 Dicente te in eccle sia non clamor p op uh s e d

.
,

ge mi t us s us c it e t ur ; lacrimae audi t o r um laudes t uae

s int ; sermo
pr esb yt e r i s c rip t ur ar um le c tione co ndi t us
sit Nolo te d ec lam at o r e m esse et rgb glam garru
.

l um q ue sed m y s t e rii p er i t um et s ac r am e ntor um Dei

,

tui e r udi t issim um Verba volvere et c e l er i t at e

.

di c e nd i apud i np e r it um vulgus admi r atio ne m s ui

facere ind o c tor um hominum est A dtri ta frons inter .

È
%
t n r s aepe quod mescit et cum aliis s ua it
p j , , , ,

S i 1 quoque us urp a t s c i e n t i am Pr ae c e p t o r q uo nd arn .

meus Gregorius Nazianz enus r ogatus a me ut expo ,

neret quid sibi vellet in Luca s ab b at um Sev r cp o pm o v

,
‘
7r ,
’
id est s ec undopr im um e legante ; l usit : Docebo ,

1
1 P e te r v 2 2
I Co rinthi ans xiv 30 . .

The great Cap pad oc ianp reac her b ornA D 3 30

, . .
,

. . .

S t Luke vi
,

. of L e v iti cus x xiii 1 5

,
. .
,
. .

2 10
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST J ERO ME .

’
te i nq ui e ns spp e r hac re in ecclesia in qua omni
, ,
_
,

mihi populo acclamante c oge r is inv it us scire quod ,

nesei s aut certe si solus t ac ue ris solus ab om nibus

, , ,
’
s t ul t i t i a e c o n d e m nab e ri s Nihil tam facile quam .
,

v i le m
p l e b i c ulam et i n d o c t am c ont ione m linguae

v ol u b ili t at e d e c ip e r e quae q uid q uid non i nt e lle git

, , ,

plus m ir at ur M arcus Tullius ad quem p ulche rri

.
,

mum illud elogium est : Demosthenes tibi pr aeri

’
puit ne e ss es primus orator tu illi ne solus in
, , , ,

o r at io n e pro Quinto Gallio quid de favore vulgi et de

i np e r i t is co nt io nato r ib us lo q uat ur , ad t e nd e : His

autem lndis lo q uor enim quae s unt ipse nup e r
—
,

e x e r t us unus quidam poeta d om inat ur homo per

p
—
,
’
lit t e r at us cuius sunt illa convivia p o e t ar um ac p hilo
,

m cum facit E ur ipi de n et M e nandr um inter

‘

s o ho r u
p ,

s e et alio loco S ocr at e n atque E pic ur um d isse r ent es ,

quorum ae t at es non annis s e d s ae c ulis sc im us fui sse ,

di s iunc t as Atque his quanto s p laus us et clamores

.

m ov e t ! M ult os enim c o nd is c ip ulos habet in t he at fo ,

’
qui s imul li tt er as non d idi c e r unt .

9 Vestes pullas aeque vita ut candidas ; ornatus

.

et sard es pari modo f ugi e nd ae qu i a alterum delicia s

. , ,

alterum gloriam r e dole t Non absque am ic t u lineo .

incedere sed pretium v es tium line ar um non habere

,

laudabile e s t ; ali o q uinr i di c ul um et plenum d e d ecoris

referto m ars uppio quod sudarium o r ar i um q ue non ,

habea s glori a ri Sunt qui p aup e r ib us parum tri

, .
,

1
T his S pe ec h is not e x te nt .

2 12
 LE TTE R L TI

evaded my request I wi ll tell you about that

.

’
in ch urch he said and there when all the peopl e
, , ,

applaud me you wi ll be compelled against your wis h

,

to kno w what you do no t know or els e if you alone , ,

remain silent you will undoubtedly be put down by

,
’
every one as a fool There is nothi ng so ea s y as to
.

deceive a cheap mob or an ignorant congregation by

voluble talk ; anythi ng such people do not under
stand they admire all t he more Listen to Cicero .
,

the man to whom that glorious eulogy was addressed

Demo s thenes s natched fi om you t he glory of being
the first of orators ; you h ave prevented him from
’
being t he onl y o ne In his speech fo r Quintus
.

G alli us 1 thi s i s what Cicero says abo ut v ulgar

,

enthusiasm and ignorant mob orators ; At t h e s e

games I am telling you o f something wi thin my
—

own recent experience o ne gentleman a poet has—

, ,

been cock o f t he walk He is a very literary fellow

.

and h e h as wri tten a book C onver s ations of Poets and

Philo wp her s In it he makes Euripides and M enande r
.

talk together and in anoth er passage Socrates and

,

Epic urus men whose lives we know to be s eparated

,

not by years but by centurie s And yet what .

applaus e and cheers thi s stu ff evokes ! He has many

fellow pupils in t he th eatr e schoolfellows who went ,
’
to t he s ame school and learnt n ot hi ng .

Avoid sombre garments as much as bright one s .

S howine s s and slovenline ss are alike to be s hunned

t h e one savours o f vanity the oth er of bo ast fulne ss
, .

To walk abroad wi thout a linen ve s t is not prai s e

wort hy : t he good thing is not to h ave money to buy
on .e In any case it is absurd and s ca ndalous to
bo ast of having neith er nap kin nor handkerchi ef ,

while all the time your pur s e i s w ell filled There .

2 1 3
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST JEROME .

b uunt , ut am p li us ac c ip i ant , et sub p r ae t e x t u ele

m o sy na e q uae r unt d ivi ti as ; quae magis m at io
app e ll an d a est quam el e m osy na Sic bestiac , s ic .

aves , sic c apiunt ur et pisces : modica in hamo esca

p o ni t ur , ut m at r o n arum in c o sacculi p r o tr ahant ur .

S eit episc op us , cui commissa e s t ecclesia , quem dis

en on u r um c ur a e ue M elius
p s a t i i a
p p e
q pr ae fic i at .

est non habere , quod t r ib uam , quam im pud ent er

p etere Sed et genus adr oganti ae est cl em ent ior e m
.

te v i d er i velle , quam pontifex Christi est Non .

’
om nia po s sumus omne s A lius in ecclesia oculus
.

est alius lingua alius manus alius pes ali us auri s

, , , , ,

venter et cetera L ege Pauli ad C or inthi os : diversa

.

membra unum corpus e ffic iunt Nec rus ticus et .

tantum simplex fi at er ideo s e sanctum putet si nihil ,

nov e ri t nec p eritus et e lo q ue ns in lingua ae stim e t

,

s an c t i t at em M ult o q ue melius est e d uob us i np e r

.

f e c t is r usti c i t at em s anc t am habere quam elo q ue nt i am

e c c atr i c em
p .

1 0 M ulti ae di fic ant parietes et colum na s ecclesiae

.

s ub s t e rnun t 1 marmora nitent , auro splendent lacu

naria , ge m m is altare di stin tj
g i
_
u r et mi n i s tr or um

C hri s ti nulla e le c t io est Neque vero m ihi ali quis

.

o on a t di ves in Iu d a e a templum , m e n s am , luce r nas ,

pp
t ur ib ul a , patellas , sc yphos , m or t ar i ol a et cetera ex
auro fabre facta Tune h aec pr o b ab ant ur a domino ,
.

quando sacerdotes hostia s imm olab ant et sangui s

p e c ud um erat r e d e m pt io p eccatorum quamquam
—

h aec omnia p r aec ess er int in figura Scripta sunt .

1 s ub t r ahu nt : E ilberg .

1
Virgi l
Buc oli cs , VIII 63 . .

J
,
2
If t he t e x t i s ri g ht erom e appare nt ly m eans that a
c hu rch shoul d consi st o f one lainro om , wi t h no p art y walls
f o r se par ate shr ine s an d no c o um ns .

2 14
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

autem propter no s m quos fines s aec ulor um

,

d e c urr e r unt nunc vero c um p aup e r t at e m domu s

—
,

s uae pauper dominu s d e d ic ar it c o i t e m us c r uc e m

g ,

et di vi tias lutum p utab im us Quid m ir am ur quod .

,

C hristus vocat iniguum m am m o nam ? Quid susp ic i

m us et am am us quod Petru s s e non h abere t e s t at ur ?
,

A li o q uin s i tantum litteram s e q ui m ur et in auro

,

atque div it iis simple x nos d el e c t at Materia cum auro ,

o b se r v e m us et cetera : d uc ant p o nti fic es C hristi

ux or e s v ir gi ne s ; q uam v i s bonae mentis s it qui ,

c i c at r ic e m hab ue r i t et d e forrni s e st pr i v e t ur sacer ,

d o t io ; lepra corporis anim ae vi tiis p r aefer at ur ;

c r e sc am us et m ul t i lic em ur et r e l e am us t e rr am ;
p p
nec i mm o l em us agnum nec m y stic um p as cha cele
b r e m us quia haec ab s que templo fieri lege pro
,

hib e nt ur ; figam us septimo mense t ab er nac ulum et

s oll e m n e i e iuni um bucina c o nc r ep e m us Q uo d si .

haec omnia spir it alib us spirit alia c o np ar ant es sc i e nt e s

qu e cum Paulo quod lex spirit alis est et David
, ,

verba cantantes : R evela oculo s meas et c ons id er ab o

mirabilia de lege tua sic int elle gam us ut dominus ,

quoque noster int elle x it et iptg pgetai n s est sabba _

tum aut aurum r epudi e m us cum ceteris s up er sti

,

t io nib us Iud ae o r um aut si aurum placet plac e ant , ,

et Iud aei quos cum auro aut probare nobis necesse

,

est aut dam mare .

1 1 Convivia tibi vitanda sunt s aec ular i um

. et ,

maxime eorum qui ho norib us t um e nt Turp e est

, .

ante fores s ac e r do ti s domini c r uc i fix i et pauperis et

1
l Co ri nthi ans , x Il 2
St Luk
xvi e, . 9.

Leviticus xxi
. . .

2
A c ts iii 6 . 17 .

P
, . . ,

s al m c xi x . 18 .

2 1 6
 LETTE R L TI

o ur admoniti on upon whom the ends o f the w orld

’1
are come . But to d ay when Our Lord by his
—
,

poverty has cons ecrated t he poverty of hi s hous e ,

w e s hould think rath er of his cross and count rich es

to be but di r t W hy do w e admi re t hat whi ch C hrist
.

calls t he M amm on of unrighteousnes s ? 2

W hy do we
r esp ect and love that whic h Pete r proclaims he does
not pos ess
s
3
M oreover if we follow only the lett er
,

and find pleas ure in the bare li sts of rich es and gold ,

let us keep to everything els e together with th e gold

’
let Christ s pri es ts take vi rgins as wi ves ; let a man
he depriv e d o f his priest ho od h owever hones t h e he
, ,

if he is s carred o r d is figur e d in any way ; let bodily

leprosy be co unted w ors e than spiritual fa ults ; let
us increas e and multiply and repleni sh the ea rt h
let us slay no lamb and celebrate no mysti c passover ,

for th e law forbids t h es e thi ngs where there is no

temple ; let us pitch a tent in the seventh month
and with a trumpet nois e abroad the solemn fast .

But if all th ese things are spiritual and we compare ,

them wi th things s piritual and know with Paul that

,
’
t he L aw is spiritual , and chant David s words
Open thou mi ne eyes that I may behold wondrous
’5
thi ngs out of thy law understan di ng th em as Our
,

Lord unders tood th em wh en H e th us explained th e

Sabbath ; then we should rej ec t th e gold together
wi th the r es t of J ewis h superstition or if we approve
, ,

of the gold we should approve of t he J ews as we ll

, .

The J ews must go wi th t he gold whether we approve

or co ndemn .

Avoid entert aini ng t h e worldly at your table ,

esp ecially thos e who are swoll en with o ffice You .

are the pri es t o f a c ruc ifie d Lo rd one who li ved in

,

p overty and on t h e bread of strang ers and it is a ,

2 1 7
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST J ERO ME .

qui cibo quoque v e sc eb at ur ali eno li c t or es c ons ulum

et milites e x c ub ar e i udi c e m q ue pr o vi nc i ae meli us
apud te prandere quam in p alatio Q uo dsi ob t e n .

deris facere te haec ut roge s pro m ise ris atque ,

s ub i ec ti s iudex s aec uli plus d e f e r t clerico continenti

,

quam di vi ti et mag is s anct it at e m tuam v e ne r at ur

quam op es ; a t si talis est q ui non audi at cl e ric o s
q) enter c ar eb o hui usc e modi beneficio
,
g
ni s i inter
et C hris t um r ogab o pro iudice qui magi s s ub v e nir e ,

potest ; melius est enim c o nfid e r e in domino quam

c on fid e r e in homine melius est sp erare in domino ,

quam sperare in pr inc ipib us .

Num q uam vinum r e dole as ne andias illud phi lo ,

sophi : Hoc non es t oscul um p orr iger e s ed “ pro , —

’
Vinolentos sacerdotes et a os to l us damnat
pi gg re .
p
et vetus lex p r ohib e t Qui altari s e r vì unt vi num et .
,
‘

s i c e r am n o nb ib ant Sicera He b r ae o sermone omnis .

potio nunc up at ur quae inebriare potest sive illa , ,

fermento c o nfici t ur sive p o m or um su co aut favi

ur in d ulc e m et barbaram p o tio nem aut
fructus e x pr im ant ur in li q uor e m c o c tisq ue
fr ugi b us aqua p ingui o r c olat ur Q uid q uid ineb r iat .

e t statum mentis e v e rt it fuge sim iliter ut vinum , .

Nec hoc di co quod Dei a nobis creatura d amne t ur

, ,

s i uid e m et dominus vini potator a e llat ur et

q pp
Timotheo dolenti s tom achum modi ca vini sorb it io
r e l ax at a est sed et ae t atis et v ale t udi ni s et
,

corporum q ualit at es e x igim us in potando Q uo ds i .

abs que vino ar d e o et arde c adul esc e nti a et inflamm o r

1
P s al m c xv iii . 9 .

2
Cf Le viti c us
. , x . 9 a nd S t Luke i
.
, . 15 l
o vo v K a i f
o x e pa 0 5
71 1} 77 1
77
M
.

at thew , T i mothy v 23
3
St . 11 1 . 19 ; 1 , . .

2 18
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST JERO ME .

calore sanguinis et suculento v ali doq ue sum corpore ,

li b e nt er c ar e b o poculo in quo s usp ic io v e ne ni e s t, .

Pulchr e di c it ur apud G r aec o s se d nescio utrum apud ,

no s aeque r e sone t : Pinguis venter non gignit

’
sensum t enue m .

antum tibi i e iunio r um i npo ne quantum ,

ferre potes Sint pura casta simp licia moderata

.
, , , ,

non s up e r stitiosa i e iunia Quid pr o d e st oleo non .

v e sc i et molestias uasd am di flì c ult at e s ue c i b o r um

q q
quaerere ? Carigae pip er nuc es palmarum fructus, , , ,

simila mel pist at ia tota hor tor um cultura

, , ,

ut cibario non v esc am ur p ane Audio pr ae t er e a .

q uo s d am contra rerum hom inum q ue naturam aquam

non bibere nec v esc i pane s e d s or b itiunc ulas d eli c atas
‘

et contrita holera b e t ar um q ue sucum non calice

s or b e r e s e d conca
, Pro pudor non e r ub e scim us
.
,

is tiusm o di i nep tiis nec t ae d e t s up er s tit io nis Insuper

etiam fam am ab s tinent iae in d elic iis q uae ri m us .

Fo r t issim um i e i uni um est aqua et panis ; sed quia

gloriam non habet et omnes pane et aqua v ivi m us ,

quasi public um et commune i e iuni um non p ut at ur .

1 3 Cave ne hominum …
.
, O S auc up e r is n e ,
’
o fle n s am Dei populorum laude comm utes Si .

’
a dh uc , inq uit po s t ol us ,
a ho mi nib us pl ac er e m ,
Christi serv us non e ss em d esivi t placere ho m i nib us
et servus factus e s t C hri s ti Per bonam et malam .

f am am a d e x t r is et a s ini s t r is Christi miles gr adi t ur ,

nec laude e x t olli t ur nec v it up er at io ne fr angit ur non

, ,

d i vi t iis t um e t non c untrahitur p aup e rt at e et lacta

, ,

c on t em n i t et tristia Per di em sol non ur e t eum

.

n
'
p À errr o v
1
5T i x r a
A

waxa a. y ao r
*
01
'
va c y .
2
G ala tians i , . 10 .

2 20
 LETTER L TI

i nflam e d by hot blood if I am o f a strong and lusty

,

h abit o f body then I wil l readil y forgo the wine cup

, ,

in which I may well susp ect that poison lurks The .

Greeks have a pre t ty proverb 1 whi ch p erh aps in

our language loses some o f its force : A fat p aunch
’
never breeds fine thoughts .

Impo se upo n yours elf such fas ting as you are able
to he ar L et your fa s ts be pure chas te s imple
.
, , ,

mod erate and fi e e fio m supe rs titi on Wh at good

, .

i s it to absta in fi om o il and then t o seek a ft er food

that is tr oublesome to prepare and difficul t to get ,

dried figs pepper nuts date s wh eaten flo ur honey

, , , , , ,

pis tac hi o s ? All t he resource s o f t h e garden are laid

under contribution to avoid ea ting ordi nary bread .

I have h ear d t hat some people outrage nature and ,

neither drink water nor eat bread but imbibe fancy ,

decoc tions o f po unded h erb s and beet j uice usi ng a ,

shell to drink fi o m i nplace o f a cup S hame on us

, .

W e do not blus h at such silli ness and we fe el no dis

gust at such supers ti tion M oreover by such f anc i
.
,

f ul ness we s eek a reputation for abst i nence The .

s tri ctest fast is bread and water : but as t h at brin gs

no glory with it and bread and water are o ur us ual
food it is reckoned not a fast but an ordinary and
,

comm on matter .

Beware of angling for complim ents lest you los e ,

’ ’
God s favour in exchange for t he p eople s pr ais e .

’
If I yet pleas ed men says t he apostle
, I sho ul d ,
’2
not be the servant of Christ He ceas ed t o ple as e
.

’
men and be cam e Chr ist s servant Thro ugh good .

’
and bad report on ri ght hand and on left Chr ist s
soldier marches he is not elated by prais e nor crush ed
’
by abuse he is not p ufle d up by riches nor depre ssed
by poverty ; he despis es j oy and sorrow a like Th e .

2 2 1
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

neque luna p er no c t em Nolo te c r ar e in angulis .

p l at e ar um n e rectum
, iter p recu m t u ar um f r an gat
aura popularis ; nolo te dilatare fimhr ias et o s t e nt ui
/
habere c> v À a xnip ca et c onsc i e nti a repugnante p hari
s a e ic a am b it i o n e c ir c um dar i M elius es t h ae c i n .

corde portare quam in corpore D eum h abere ,

f auto r e m non asp ec t us hominum

, V is scire q ual e s .
,

dominus q uaer at orn atus ? Hab e t o p r ud entiam ,

i us t it i am t em p er ant iam fo r t it udine m

, His pl agis
, .

caeli includere haec te quadriga velut aur igam Chri s ti

,

ad metam cgnc it um f er at Nihil ho c monili pre .

t io sius nihil hac ge mm ar um v ar i e t at e di s t i n

, c t i us .

Ex omni parte d e c o r ar is c inger is atque pr o t e ger is ; ,

et ornamento tibi sunt et t ut am i ni : gemma e

v e r t un t ur in s e nt a .

1 4 Cav e quoque ne aut lingnam aut aures habea s

.
,

pxu
_ _rj en t es id e s t ne aut ip s e aliis d e tr ahas aut alios
, ,
’
andias d e tr ahe nt es S eden s i nq ui t . advers u s , ,

fr atr e m tuum lo q ue b ar is et adversus fili um mat ris

tuae ponc h as scandalum ; haec fe c is ti et taeui .

E x ist im as t i i niq ui t at e m quod ero tibi similis ; ,

’
arguam te et s t at uam contra fac ie m tuam Subau
…
.

ditur : S em o de aliis es
lo c ut us ut tua s ententia i ud ic e r is in his ipse depre
,
’
he nsus quae in alii s ar gue b as
, Nequ e vero illa .

i nsta e s t e x c us atio : Re fe r e nt ib us a lii s ini ur iam

’
facere non possum Nemo invito auditori li b ent e r
.

r e f e rt . Sagitta in lapide numquam figi t ur int er dum ,

1
P s al m c xx i . 6 . M at t v i 5 and
2
xx iii 5
P
. . . .

salm l 2 0
3
. .

2 22
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST J ERO ME .

r e s ili e
p ns e r c ut it detrac t or di r ige nt e m . Disc at ,

dum te v i d e r it non li b e nt er audi re non facile detra ,

’
here Cum d et r ac tor ib us
. ait Salomon ne , ,

m i sc e £ , quoni am repente v e ni e t p er dit io eorum

g ,

et r uinam utriusque quis novit ? Tam videlicet

eius q ui d e tr ahit quam illins qui aurem accommo d at
, ,

d e tr ahe nt i .

1 5 O ffic ii
. tui es t visitare langue nt es nosse domos , ,

matronas ac liberos e arum et nob ili um viror um non

ignorare secreta O fli c nergo tui sit non solum oculos
.

cas tos servare s e d et linguam Num q uam de formis

, .

m uli e r um di sputes nec alia domus quid agat ur in , ,

alia per te nov e ri t Hippocrates adi ur at di sc ip ulos

, .
,

an t e q uam d oc e at , et in verba s ua i ur ar e c o n p elli t

e x t or ue t ue sacramento silentium ; s er m onem
q q ,

i nc e ss um hab it um moresque d e sc r ib i t :
, quanto
magis nos quibus anim ar um m edici n\
, a commissa est _ ,

omni um C hris t ianor um domos d eb em us amare quasi

p rop ri as C o nso lat o r e s potins nos in m a e r ori b us
.

suis quam conviva s in p1 0 5p er is noverint Facile .

c on t e mni t ur c l e ric us qui saep e v o c at us ad pr andi um

,

non r ec usat .

1 6 Num q uam p e t e nt es raro ac c ip i am us rogati

. .

Nescio q uo enim modo etiam ipse qui d epr e c atur , ,

ut t rib uat cum ac c ep er is v ili or e m te i ndi c at et

, ,

m ir um in modum si ro gant e m c o ntemp5g ris plus

, , _ ,

1
Pr o verbs x xiv , . 21 . Vulg at e .

S e e H i ppocr ates
2 i 291 H) To hol d my te ac her i n . .

thi s ar t eq ual t o my o w npare nts I will kee p p ur e and

ho ly b oth my li fe an d my ar t W hats oe ver s hal l s e e I
2 2 4
 LE TT ER L TI

lod ges in a sto ne bu t it some times recoils and w o rm ds

,

th e shooter Let detr actors s eeing your reluctance

. ,

to lis t en learn not to be so ready to detract Solomon

, .

says : M eddle not with them t hat are given to

detr ac tion : for their calamity shall ris e suddenly ;
and who knowe th the destr uction of th em bo th ? 1
the destr uction that is bo th o f the detrac tor and of
, ,

the person who lends e ar to him .

It is part o f your duty to vi sit th e sick to b e ,

’
acquai nted with p eo ple s households with matrons , ,

and wi th their chi ldren and to be entruste d wi th the

,

s ecrets o f the great L et it therefore be your duty

.

t o keep your to ngu e chaste as well as your ey es .

’
Never di scuss a woman s loo ks nor let one hous e ,

know what is goi ng o n in another Hipp ocrates 2 .

,

be fore he will instru c t his pupils makes them take ,

an oath and compels them to s wear obedience t o

him . Tha t oath exacts fi om th em silence and ,

prescribes fo r t hem t h e i r language gait dre ss and , , ,

manners How much greater an obli gation is lai d

.

o n us w ho have been entrusted with t he healin o f

g
so uls ! W e ought to love every Christi an household
as though it were o ur own Let them know us as .

c omforters in their sorrows ra t her th an as guests in

their days of prosperity A clergym an soo n be c omes

.

an ob j e ct o f contempt if however o ft en he is in v ited

t o din
, ,

ner he does not refus e

, .

We should never ask for gifts and s eldom accept ,

them even when begged to do so So mehow o r .

other t he very man w ho entreats leave to o ffer you a

present holds you the cheaper for accepti ng it ; if
you refus e i t is strang e how much more a dmi ra tion
,

an d hear i n t he c o urse of my pr of essi on

d ivul g e ( p .

2 2 5
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST J ERO ME .

mir at ur Pr ae di c at o r c o nti ne nt i ae , nup t ias ne con

.

c ili e t Qui ap o sto l um legit :

. S up e r e s t , ut et qui
’
habent ux or es , sic sint , quas i non hab e nt es , cur
vi r gi n em cogit , ut nubat ? Qui de monogamia
s acerdos est , quare vi d uam hor t at ur , ut 81y ap os sit ? '
.

Pr oc ura to r es et dispe ns at or e s d om or um ali enar um

atqu e villar um quomodo ess e p ossunt , qui pr opr ias
i ub e nt ur c o nt e m ne r e fac ult at e s ? Amico q ui ppi am
rapere furtum es t , e c cl esi am fi audar e s ac rile gi um
e st . A c c ep i ss e p aup e r ib us er o gand urn et e suri e nt i
bus plurimi s vel c aut um esse v e l t imi dum aut quod —

a er t i s sim i s c e l e ri s es t ali quid inde s ub tr aher e

p
—

omnium pr ae do num c r ud e lit at em sup er at Ego .

fame t or q ue o r et tu indi c as , quantum ventri meo

satis sit ? Aut divide statim quod ac c ep eris aut si , , ,

t im i d us disp ensator es di mi tt e l ar gi to r em ut s ua
, ,

ips e di str ib uat Nolo sub occasio ne mea sacculus

.

tuus pl e nus sit Nemo me melius mea servare

.

potest Optimu s di spensator e s t q ui sibi nihil

.
,

reservat .

1 7 C o e gist i me Ne p o ti ane carissime lapidato iam

.
, ,

v ir gi n i t at i s libello quem sanctae E us to c hiae R omae

,

s c r i se r am post annos decem r ur s us Bethleem ora

p ,

r e se r ar e et c on fo di e nd um me li nguis omnium pr o d e r e .

Aut enim ni hil sc ri b e nd um fuit ne homi num indicium ,

s ub ir e m us quod tu facere p r ohi b uis t i aut s c r ib e n

, t es ,

nos s e c unc t or um adversum nos m ale di c or uni tela

t or q ue nd a Quos o b s e c r o q uiesc ant et d esinant
.
,

m al e di c e r e ; non enim ut ad v e r s ar ii s e d ut a m ici ,

1
I Co rinthi ans vn 2 9 , . .

2 A big ami st i nt he early Churc h w as o ne who remarri ed .

3
Cf Le tter XXI I
. .
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST JEROME .

sc r ip sim us , nec inv ec ti

in eos qui peccant su m us , ,

s e d ne p e c c e n
, t mon uimus Neque in illos tantum
, .
,

s e d e t in n o s ipsos s everi i ndic és fuì m us v ole nt es q ue

'

f e s t uc am de oculo alterius tollere mostram prius

tr ab e m e i ecim us Nullum laesi nullus s altim
.
,

d e s c r ip ti one s ignatus e s t nemi nem sp e c i ali t er meus ,

sermo p uls avi t : generalis de v i tii s dis put ati o est . .

Qui mihi ir as c i v o luerit prius ips e de se quod talis , ,

s it , c o .
nfit e tnr .

L IV
A D FU R IA M D E V1 DU 1 TA TE S E RVAN D A
l . O BS E C R A S litteris et s upplic it e r d epr ec aris ut ,

tibi s c ri b am , immo r es cr ib am 1 quomodo vivere

,

d e b e as et v id uitat is c or o nam i nlaeso pudi c it iae

nomine cons ervare Gaudet animus exultant viscera
'
.
,

e s t it afle c t us hoc t e c u e r e esse post virum quod

p
îÈ fae memori ae mater tua Titiana multo fuit
,

tempore sub marito E x audi t ae sunt preces et .

o r at io n es eius Inp e tr avit in unica fi lia quod v i v e ns

.
,

ipsa p oss e d e r at Habes pr ae t er e a generis tui grande

.

privilegium quod e xi nd e a Camillo vel nulla v e l rara

,

v es t r a e famili ae s c r ib i t ur s e c undos noss e concubitus ,

ut non tam laudand a sis si vidua p ers everes quam , ,

1
r escri b a m , i mmo s crib a m : E ilb erg .

Furi a w as one o f t he m any ri ch and no bl e ladi es w ho

1

ather e d ro u J
nd er ome whil e he w as l i v i ng inR o me Afte r
g
.

’
er fi rs t hus b an d s d eath she had thought of a se cond
m arri ag e , b ut a b and oned t he i d ea and d evote d hers elf t o t he
c are o f he r y o u ng chil dre n and ag e d father Inthis l ette r, .

written AD. . J
394 , er om e l ay s d own r ule s f or h er c o nduct in
wi d owho od , and c om mends her t o t he c ar e o f t he pres byt er
E x up er ius , w ho af t e rwar ds b ec ame Bis hop of T oul ous e Cf . .

p 4 3 6,
. note 3 .

22 8
 LE TTER L TT A ND LETTE R L

but as a fri end I have not inveighed agai nst sir

. .

I have only couns elled men not to sin I ha .

j udg ed myself as s tr ictly as I j udge t hem and h&V t , ..

cas t o ut the b eam fi om my ow neye be fore I tried to

’
remove a mote fi om my neighbo ur s I have hurt .

no o ne ; at least no one has been marked o ut for

sp eci al mention and my disc ourse has not attacked
,

individuals but has be en a general criticism o f weak

nesses If any o ne insists on being angry with me
.
,

b e confess es th ereby that in his cas e the cap fits .

LETTE R L I V
To FU R1 A 1
ON TH E D UT Y or R E M A I N I N G A w rno w
Written A . D . 394

IN your letter you beg and bese ech me to write

or rather to write by return and tell y o u ho w y o u
—

ought to live keep ing t he crown o f widowhoo d in

,

unsullied chastity M y heart rej oices my bowe ls

.
,

exult my every fibre thrills to know that you des ire

,

t o be after marriag e what your mo ther Titiana o f

saintly memory was for many a year i n marriage .

Her prayers and entreati es have been heard In her .

onl y daughter she has been granted tha t whic h she

hers elf poss ess ed in her lifetime M oreover it is .
,

t he peculiar glo r y o f your family that fi om th e days

o f C ami llus f e w o r none of your women are recorde d
2
’
as having known a second h usband s bed Therefore .

you will not be so much des er ving o f pra is e if y o u

pers ist in widowhood as you wo uld be worthy o f
,

2
Furi us C amillus , fl 4 00 .

22 9
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JEROM E .

e x ec r a nd aid Christiana non serves quod per

, si ,

tanta saecula gentiles fe m inae c ust o di e r unt .

2 Tacco de Paula et E us toc hio stirpis v e s t r a e

.
,

flo r ib us ne per oc c as io ne m e x ho r t at io nis tuae illa s

,

laudare v i d e ar Blesillam q ue p r ae t e r eo quae m e ritum

, ,

suum tuum secuta ge r m anum in brevi vitae spatio

, ,

t p
em or a v ir t ut um multa c o m l e vi t
p Atque u t ip m
a .

r ae c o ni a f e mi nar um im i t ar e nt ur viri et rugo a

p s ’
s en ec t us r e dd e r e t quod sponte c fle rt ad ules c entia ! ,

Sciens et videns in flamm am mi tto manum : addu

centur supercilia e x t e nd et ur brachium ir at us que ,
’
C hr e m e s t umi do d es ae vi e t o r e Cons ur un
g t pro .

ceres et adversum ep ist olam meam turba patricia

d e t o nab it me magum me s e d uc t o r e m c larriit ans ,
*

in terra s ultimas asp or t and um A dd ant s i v olunt .

, ,

et S am ar it e n ut domini mei titul a m r ecognosc am

, .

Certe filiam a parente non di vido nec di co illud de

’
evangelio : Sine m or t ui s ep eliant m o r tuos suos .

V i v i t enim qui cre d it in C hristo et qui in illum

, , ,

credit debet utique quomodo ille am b ulavi t et

, , ,
’
ipse ambulare .

3 Fac e ss at in v i di a
. quam nomine Christiano ,

m alid ic o r um semper gm uig u s infigit ut dum pr ob r a _ , ,

m e t uunt ad vi r t ut e s non pr o voc ent E x c ep ti s

, .

e is t ulis ignoramus alt e r ut r u

p m solaque causa p i e t at is ,

e st ,
ubi carni s nulla notitia e s t Honora pat r e m .

’
tuum sed si te a vero patre non separat Tam diu
, , .

1
Cf t ab le 0 11 p
. . 4 82 .

2
H orace A rs P oetica, 94
, t he C hr e m es o f T ere nc e ,
Hea nton Ti mor ow nenos , A c t 5, is a ngry with his son b ec ause
o f a d e g radi n g l ov e aff air
J
.

St ohn ii i 4 8
3
, v

M
. . .

S t atthew viii 2 2 .

J
. .
,

5
1 ohn, ii 6 . .

E x od us , xx 1 2 . .

2 30
 SELE CT LE TTE RS or sr . J ERO M E
s oito sanguinis quam di u ille suum nov er it
pÀ "
co g am ,

c r e at o r e m : al io ui n
David tibi pro ti nus canet
q
‘

Audi fili a et vide et inclin a aurem tuam et ob li v is

, ,

cere popul m tuum et d om um p atris tui ; et con

c upis c e t r decorem tuum qui a ipse est dominus ,
’
D eus tuus Grande pr aemi um paren tis obliti
.

’
C o nc upisc e t rex decorem tuum Q ui a audi s t i .
,

quia v idi st i q uia inclinasti a urem tuam et populi tui

,

d om usq ue patr is oblita es i d c ir c o c onc upi s c e t

,

rex decorem tuum et di c e t tibi : Tota pulchra es ,

’
proxima mea et macula non est in te , Quid .

p ulchr ius anima quae Dei fili a nunc up at ur et nullos

,

e x t ri ns ec u s
q uae r i t ornatus ? Credit in C hri st um et
hac amb itione dil ata p ergit ad spo ns um , e und em
habens dominum quem et virum , .

4 Q uid angust iar um hab e ant nup ti ae di di c is ti in

.
,

ipsis nup ti is et qu asi c ot urni c um c ar nib us usque ad

nausi am saturata es … mam c hol er am tuae
.

sen s er e fauces e gessisti acescentes et m orb id os

,

cib o s r el e v as t i ae s t uan
, t em s t om ac hum : quid vis
r ur s us i
… quod tibi noxi u
, m fuit ? Canis
r e v ert e n s ad v o m i t um suum et sus ad
‘
luti . Bruta qu oque ani mali a et v agae a ves in
e n n n n n
'

e as d e m e di c as r e ti a u o i i d u t A v e r e r is ,
p q c .

n e proles Furi ana d e fic iat et ex te arens tuus n on

hab e at
… qui m,
r e p t e t in pectore et ce r vices

eius st e rc or e linat ? Q uippini ? Omnes habent

filios qua e hab ue r e matrim onia et quibus nati sunt
, , ,

liberi suo generi r espo nd erunt ! E x hib ui t C ic eroni s

,

filius p at r e m in eloquentia ? Corneli a vestra pudici ,

1
Psalm xlv 1 0 2
S ong of S olomon iv 7 .

2 Pe ter ii 2 2
. .
, .

Num be rs xi 3 l fi
'

. . . .
, ,

Fr emantle thinks t hi s refe rs to t he c o nn ecti o n b e twe e n

5

Furi a and Pa ula s f amil y w ho trac ed the ir d es c ent fr o m th e

’

G rac chi cf’sec tion1 3 p 25 3 where E usto chium is referre d

,

.
, , ,

t o as Furi a s sis ter .

2 32
 LETTER L IV

but o nly so long as he recogni zes hi s Crea tor O ther .

wi s e David at once wi ll s i ng to you : Hearken O ,

daugh t er and co nsider and incline thi ne ear ; forget

, ,
’
als o thi ne own p eople and t hy fath er s hous e So .

s hall the king greatly des ire t hy beauty for he is thy

’1
Lord . Great is the reward for forgetti ng a p arent :
’
the ki ng shall desire thy b eau ty B ec aus e y o u
.

have heard cons idered inclined your ear and for

, , ,
’
gotten your people and your father s hous e the king ,

will desire your beauty and W il l say to you : Thou

’2
art all fair my love ; there is no spot i n thee
, .

What can be fairer than a soul whi ch is called

daughter of God and seeks no ou t ward adorni ng ?
Sh e believes in Christ and enriched by this ambition
sh e goes to her Spous e havi ng her Lo rd for Bride
,

oe m .

The trials o f marriage you have learned in the

married state : you have been surfeited to naus e a
as though with the fl esh of quai ls 3 Your mouth
.

has tas ted th e bitterest o f gal] you have voided

,

t he sour unwholesome food you have reli eved

,

a heaving stomach Why wo ul d y ou put into it

.

ag ain something which has already proved harmful

to you ? The dog is turned to his own vomi t again
and the sow tha t was washed to her wallowing in t he
’4
mire . Even brute b eas ts and roving b irds do not
fall into the same snares or me ts twice Are y o u .

afraid that the line o f Cami llus will ceas e to e xis t and
that your fat her wi ll not have a brat of yo urs to
crawl upon his breas t and s oil his neck with mas ti
ne s s ? Well do all those w ho m arry have children
, ,

and when chil dren are born do t hey always answer to

’ ’
their family s fame ? Did Cicero s son show his
'
h
fat er s eloquence Had your own Co rnelia pattern
? 5
,

2 33
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST . JERO ME

tia c simul et fecunditatis exemplar G r ac c ho s suos s e ,

en u i ss e la e t at a est ? R i di cul um sperare pro certo

g ,

quod m ulto s et non h abere v i d e as et cum hab uerint , ,

er di di s se Cui dimittis tantas di v i t i as ? C hri s to

p .
,

qui mori non potest Quem hab eb is her e d em ? .

Ipsum quem et dominum C o ntrist ab it ur pater

, .
,

s ed laet ab it ur Christus ; lugeb it familia sed angeli ,

at u l ab un u F ac i at p ater quod v ul t d e s tan a

'

g r t r .
, ,

sua : non es eius cui nata es sed cui renata et qui , , ,

te grandi pr e tio r e de mi t sanguine suo , .

5 Cave nut ri c e s et ger ul as e t i st i us modi vinosa

.

animalia quae de corio t uo s at ur ar e ventre m suum

,
‘

c u i un t Non s uad ent quod tibi sed quod sibi

p .
, , ,

pros it et saep e illud ob…

, t

Solan e perp etua m ae r e ns c arp e r e i uv e nt a

Nec dulce s natos Veneris nec p r ae m ia noris ?
U bi pudicitia et sanctitas ibi est ; ubi , fr ugali t as
fr ugali t as ibi damna s er v o r um Q uid qui d non
, .

tn Leri nt sibi ab lat um put ant nec c o nsid er ant de

, , ,

quanto sed quantum ac c ipi ant ; ub ic um q ue vid er int

,
’
C hr ist ianum statim ili ud e trivio : , Ppa u 6s em 9 é < ,

r i ss im os s e r un
m Hi rumores u et quod ab i s is
‘

t t
‘

g .
p p ,

e r ess um est ab ali i s aùdis s e s e simulant idem

g , ,

auctores et e x agger at or es Exin fama de me ndacio .

,

quae cum ad matron es p e rv e ne r it et e ar um linguis

,

1
Virgil , A ene id , IV . 32 .

2 34
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

fuerit ventilata provincias p enet r at Vid e as pl er as

, .

qu e rabido o r e s ae v ir e et t inc t a facie vip e rinis ,

o r b ib us d e nt ib us p um ic at is c arp e r e Christianos
, .

Hic ali q ua ,

Cui circa humeros hyacinthina l ae na est ,

Ranc id ul um q ui d d am b alb a d e nare lo c ut a

’
Pe rs tr ep it ac tenero s uppl ant at verba palato .

Om nis co nso nat chor us et latrant univers a subs elli a .

Iungunt ur nostri ordi nis qui et r o duntur e t r o d unt

,

advers um nos loquaces pro s e muti ; quasi et ips i ,

aliud sint quam monachi et non q uid q uid in mona , ,

chos di c it ur rgdgg det in cler icos qui patres sunt

, _ ,

monachorum De tr im ent um p e c or is pastoris igno

.

mi nia est sicut e xggmne illins monachi vi ta laud at ur

, _ ,

qui v e ner atio ni h abet sacerdotes Christi et no n

d e t r ahit gradui p er quem factus est Christianus
, .

6 Haec lo c ut us sum in C hristo filia no n d ub it ans

'

.
, ,

de propo s ito t uo num quam eni m e x hor t ato r i as

—

li t t er as pos t ulares si amb ige r e s de bono mono

,

g am i ae sed
—
ut ne qui ti am s e r v ulor um qui te v e nal e m ,

po rtant et insidias ad finium ac pium parentis e rr or em

,

in t ell eger e s cui gt am or em in te t r ib uam am o r is

, , ,

sc i e n ti am non concedo di c e n s aliquid cum apostolo

C o nfit e o r ze l um Dei habent sed no n secundum

, ,

1
P r iu I
e s s, . 32 .

2 36
t hrough every provi nce You may s e e
.
_
such
—
ted faces th eir eyes like tho s e of
È
la di es with ,

rs and e i r teeth rubbe d with pumi ce St one

wff
,

o wh é n t hey ar e g i rding
‘ ”

fo am at the mouth with mad rage One of them .

,

A violet mantle round her shoulders thrown ,

Drawls o ut some mawkis h stu ff sp eaks t hrough,

her nose ,

And minces half her words wi th tripp ing to ngue .

At that th e rest of the band chi me in and the ,

whole c ompany falls a snarli ng Th ey are backed

—
.

up by men o f my o wn order w ho being thems elves

,

a mark for scandal spread scandal about others ;

t hey are fluent enough in attacking me but in their ,

o w n defence they are dumb A s though fors oo th

.
, ,

they were no t monks t hems elves and as though ,

all th at is said agains t monks doe s not reflect ont he

clergy who are t heir sp i ritual fathers ! To h urt the
floc k is to shame t he s hep herd On t he other hand
.
,
’
we mus t pra is e the li fe o f a monk who holds Christ s
p ri ests in veneration and does not carp at the order
,

by who s e o ffices he becam e a Chris tian .

I have said all thi s my daughter in C hris t not

, ,

beca us e I doubt your stea df as tness in your vows ,

for you would never have requested a letter o f

advice if you had been uncert ain that monogamy
was a good thi ng but that you may understand the
,

rascality o f servants who hold y o u as somethi ng to

be sold the snares laid for y o u by relativ es and
, ,
’
your father s mistaken kindn ess I allow that your
.

fath er loves you but I do not admi t t hat hi s love

,

is accordi ng to knowledg e and I say with the apost le

,

I co nfess that they have a z ea l o f God but not ,

2 37
 SELE CT LETT E RS OF ST J ERO ME .

’
sci e nt iam Imitare po tius crebro enim id r ep e t am
.
—

—
s anc t am m atr e m tuam , cuius ego quotiens record e r ,

venit in mentem ardor eius in C hrist um pallor ex ,

i ei un iis, ele m o s n
y a in au e r e s
p p obsequium in ,

servos Dei hum ilit as et cordis et v es tium atque in

,

c un c t i s sermo moderatus Pater tuus quem ego .

,

honoris causa nomino non qui a c o nsularis et —

p a t r ic i u s, s e d quia Chr stianus est in pl e at nomen

—

suum et la et e t ur fili am Christo se ge nui ss e non ,

i
sacculo ; quin po tius dol e at quod et v ir gi nt at em
_ ,

frustra ami s eri s et fructu s p er did er is nup ti ar um .

U bi est m ar it us quem tibi d edit ? E ti am si amabilis

,
‘

e ti am si bonus f uis s e t mors fin i sse t omni a et copulam

,

carnis s olvi sse t int e ritus A r rip e q uaeso occ as io nem

.
,

et fac de necessitate v irt ut e m Non q uae r unt ur in .

C hr is ti ani s initia sed finis : Paulus male c oepit, sed

,

bene finivit ; Iud ae laud ant ur exordi a sed finis ,

r o d i t io n e damnatur L ege Ezechiel : Iustitia

p .

insti non lib er ab it eum in q uac um q ue di e p e cc av er it

, ,

et inpie t as i npii non noc eb it ei in q uac um q ue di e ,

’
conversus fuerit ab i np i e t at e sua Ista est scala .

I acob per quam angeli c onsc e ndunt et d esc e ndunt

, ,

cuius do minus innit it ur lapsis po rr igens manum e t

1

f e ss o s asc e nd e nt i um gr e ss us sui o…
s us t e n t ans Sed sicut non vult mortem p ec c ator is
.
, ,

1
l as sis Hilb erg
'

1 R omans, x . 2 . E z eki el, xxxiii . 12 .

2 38
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST J ERO ME .

tantum ut r e v ert at ur et vivat ita t epid os o di t et cito ,

ei naus i am fac iunt C ui plus di mi t ti tur plus di li gi t

.
, .

7 M eretr ix ill a in evangelio b apt iz at a l ac r im is suis

.

et crine qui m ultos ante d ecep er at pedes dom ini

, ,

tergen t e serva ta est Non habuit crispantes mi tr as

.

n ec stridentes c alc e olos nec orbes stibio fu natos

'

quanto fo edior tanto p ulchr ior LQ ui d facit

, .

C hr is ti anae p urp ur iss us et cerussa Quorum alte rum .

r ub o r e m
g en ar um l ab i or um q ue m e nt i t ur alterum ,

c an d o r e m oris et colli : ignes i uv e num {a l l en ta ,

lib idi num i np udi c ae mentis indi cia

, Quomodo fiere .

potest pro p ec c atis sui s quae lac rim is cutem nuda t e t

,

sulcos duc i t in facie ? Ornatus iste non domi ni est ,

J
velamen i st ud anti chr isti e st_ Qua fiducia e rigit ad
caelum v ul t us quos c ondi tor non agnosc at ? Frustra
.

ob t e n di t ur a dul esc e nti a et aetas p uel lar is ads e ri t ur

vidua quae m arito placere d e s ivi t et i ux ta ap ost olum
,

vere vidua est nihil habet necessarium nisi perse

,

v e r an ti am M em init pr is tinae v olupt at is s eit quid

.
, ,

am i s e ri t quo d el e c t at a sit : arden t es di abo li sagittae

,

i ei un i or um et v igili ar um fr igor e r es tin g u en dae sunt .

Aut lo q ue ndum nobis e s t ut ve s ti ti s um us aut , ,

v es t i e n d um ut l o q uim ur
, Qui d aliud polli c em ur et
.

aliud ost e ndi m ns ? Lingua p er s onat c astitat em et

totum corpu s p r ae f er t i npudi c i tiam .

8 Hoc q u
. an tum ad hab it um p er tine t et ornatum .

Ceterum vidua quae ind elic ii s est , non est meum —

,

’
s e d apostoli v i v en s mortua est Quid sibi vult .

1
1 Ti mothy, v . 5 . l Timothy, v. 6 .

2 40
 LE TTER L IV

live so He hates the lukewarm and they inspire

,

loa thi ng To whom more is forgiven th e same

.
,

loveth more .

The harlot in th e Gosp el found salvati on bap ti z ed ,

’
in her own tears and wiping the Lo rd s fe et wi th
th e hair whi c h had b ef ore lured many a lover She .

wore no wavi ng head dress no cre aking —

,

did sh e darken her ey es with anti mony : the more

s u i hd ì he was t he more lovely she s eemed What
q , .

an d o o u a glèiî ti an
fl

have d whi te lea d _ _ _

wo m an W T he o ne si mul ates th e nat ur aÎred

aw l iiBS th e pt hîgr the o f the

face and eÈk They are fir es to inflam e youn

_ _
” —

g
f

men s timul ants of lustful des ire plain eviden

, ce of ,

an unchas te mind How can a woman weep for

her sin
.

s when te ars lay her s kin bare and make

furrows o n her fac e ? Such ad orni ng is not of the
'

"
Lor d it is the ma sk o f Antichrist With what
‘ ‘ ’

.
,

confidenc e can a woman lift to heaven features

which her Creator c annot reco gni ze ‘? It is in vai n -

to make youth an e xcus e for all thi s o r to put i nthe ,

plea o f girlish folly A wi dow w ho has no husband

.

’
to please and i n th e apostle s words is a widow in
,

deed needs nothing but pers everance

,
1
She still .

remembe rs t he pleas ures o f the p as t she knows the ,

delights that she has lost and sh e mus t quench the ,

’
fir e o f th e devil s shafts with the cold streams o f
f as t and vigil Eith er we must sp eak as we dres s
.
,

or dress as we spe ak Why do we profess one thing

.

and di spl ay another ? The tongu e talks of c h as ti ty ,

but the whole body reve als i nconti nence .

So much for dress and adornment But a widow .

that live th in
ad while she livet h 2
What
2 41
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST J ERO ME .

hoc quod ait vi v e n mortua e st Vivere

°

, s

quidem vi detur i gnor ant ib us et non esse p eccato

mortua sed Christo quem secreta non fallunt
, , ,
’
mortua est Anima enim quae p e c c av eri t ipsa
.
, , ,
’
m or i e t ur Quor undam hominum peccata manifesta
.

sunt pr ae c e d entia ad indicium q uo sd am aut e m e t , ,

s ub s e uun t ur î Similiter et facta bona manifesta

q ’
sunt et quae aliter s e habent ab sc ond i non pos sunt
, , .

Quod di cit i stius modi est : quidam tam libere et

,

palam p eccant ut p ost q uam eos v i d er is s tatim

, , ,

in t e lle gas p e c c at o r es ; a lios autem q ui callide ,

occultant vi ti a sua ex s e q ue nt i c o nv ers atione

,

co n
g osc im us Similiter et bona apud alios in pro
.

patulo sunt in alii s longo usu disci m us Quid ergo

, .

n ecess e e st nos i ac t ar e p udi c it iam quae sine c o m iti ,

bus et ad e ndic ulis suis continentia et par c it at e , ,

fid e m sui facere non potest ? A po s to l us m ac er at

corpus suum et ani m ae s ub icit imperio ne quod ali is , ,

.
.
p r ae c ipi t ip s e non servet : et ad ule sc e nt ul a fervente
,
u

cibis corpore de c as ti t at e secura e st ?

9 Neque vero haec di c e ns c o nd e m no c ib os
. quos ,

Deus c r e avi t ad ut end um

s ed i uv enib us et p ue llis incentiva esse ads e r o v olup
tatum Non A e t nae i ignes non Vulcania tellus
.
, ,

non V e s e v us et Olympus tantis ar dorib us aest uant ,

ut i uv e ni le s medullae vino ple nae d ap ib us infiam ,

matae … Avaritia c alc at ur a pl e ri sq ue et cum mar

su p p i o d ep o n i t ur ; m ale di c am li ngnam i nd ic t um
em en d at silentium ; cultus corporis et habitus

1
Ez ekiel xv iii 2 0 . .

l Tim othy v 2 4
,
2
. .
,
3
1 Tim othy iv 4 , . .

2 42
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST . J EROME
v es ti u m unius horae spatio c omm ut atur omnia alia
p eccata e x trins ec us sunt et quod a foris est facile, , ,

ab ic i t ur : sola libido insita a Deo ob lib er or um

c r e ati o ne m si fines suos eg ressa fuerit r e d un
, d at in ,

vitium et q uad am lege naturae in c o it um ge st it

er u mp e r e Grandis ergo virtutis est et s ollicitae
.

di lige nt iae sup erare quod natus sis in carne no n

, ,

c ar n ali t e r vivere t ecum pugnare c o t t idi e et i n

, cl us um

hos t e m Argi ut fab ul ae fer unt centum o c uli s

, ,

o b se r v ar e Hoc est quod ap ostol us verbis aliis

.
,

lo q ueb at ur : Omn e p ec c at um quod fe c e rit homo , ,

extra corpus est ; qui autem for ni c at ur in corpus ,

’
suum p ecc at A iunt me di ci e t qui de hum an
. or um
corporum scrip s er e nat uri s p r ae c ipue q ue Galenus in
libris quorum titulus est 7r pì òy m vòìv puer or um
, e
,

et iuv e num ac p e rf e c t ae ae tatis vir or um m uli er um q ue

corpora insito calore fervere et nox i o s esse his
a e t ati b us c ib o s , q ui c alor e m au e a
g nt , sa nit at ique
conducere esu et po t u sum ere
frigida q uae que in ,

sicut e contrario s enib us qui pi tui ta lab or ent et fri

m
,

gore c ali d os cib o s et v e t er a

, p r wess e U nde .

’
et salvator : A dt e ndi t e i nq ui t
‘
vobis ne forte , ,
‘
,

ad r av e n ur c or d a v est r a in cra ula et e b r i e t at e

'

g t p
’
e t curis hui us vitae Et apos to lus : Vino in q uo
.
,
’
es t luxuria Nec mi r um hoc figul um sens iss e de
.

vasc ulo quod ipse fab ri c at us est cum etiam c omi c us

, ,

1
C r t
o i n hians, v i. 18 .
2
S t Luke xxi
.
, . 34 .

E phesians v , . 18 .

2 44
 LE TTER L I V
’
single hour c an change a man s fashion o f dress and
outward appearance A ll other sins are outside .

ourselve s and what is e xternal can easily be cas t

,

away Carnal desire alone i mp lante d in men by

.
,

God for t he proc reation o f chi ldr en if it overs teps ,

i ts due li mits becomes a sin and by a law of nature

, ,

b urns t o force its way to ca rnal intercours e I t is .

a task for pre eminent vir tu e and th e most watchful

—

care seeing that you were born in t he fles h not

, ,

to live t he lif e of t he fl esh You mus t fig ht ag ains t

.

yourself every day and keep guard ag ai ns t the

enemy within you with the hundred eyes o f t he
fabled Argus This is what the apostle said i n
.

oth er words : Every sin t hat a man doeth is wi t h

out the body ; but he that committe th fornica tion
’1
sinneth agai nst his o w n body Phy s icians and
.

t hos e w ho have written on the nature of the human

frame esp ecially Galen in his treati s e On Health
, ,

s ay that the bodi es of young men and of full grown -

men and women glow with an i nnate warmt h and ,

that for pe rsons o f thes e ages all f ood is harmful

which tends to increas e that heat while it is con ,

d uci v e to health for them to eat and dri nk an yt hi ng

tha t is cold O n the other h and they say that for
.

o ld p e ople who s uffer from humours and from chilli

n ess w arm foo d and old wi ne are b e ne fic ial Hence

, .

t he Savio ur s ays : Take heed to yours elves lest at

any t ime your hearts be overch arged wi t h surfeiting
’2
and drunkenn ess and cares o f thi s lif e, So too .

the apo s tle : Be not dr unk with win e where i n is ,

’3
excess . No wonder t hat the po tter felt thus
about the frail vessel which He had made 1 seeing ,
‘

Ro m an s ix 2 1 , B ath no t t he po tte r p owe r ove r the c la y

. .
,

of t he sa me la m p to make o ne v ess el unt o h on our an d anot her ,

unto di shonour
2 45
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST JEROME .

cuius fi nis est hum anos mores nosse atque d e scr ib er e ,

’
dixit : Sine Cerere et Libero frige t Venus .

1 0 Primum igitur s i tamen stomachi fir mi t as

.
,

patitur donec p uellar es anno s t r ans e as aquam in

, ,

o t um sume quae natura fr igidiss im a e s t aut si

p , , ,

hoc i nb e c illit as p r ohi b e t audi cum Timoth eo : Vino ,

modico ut e r e propter s t o m achum et frequentes tuas

’
i nfir m it at e s D e ind e in ip sis cibis cali da q uae q ue
.

devita ; non solum de c ar nib us lo q uor super quibus ,

Yas el ec t imi i s profert s e nt e nt iam :

_ Bonum est vinum
’
non bibere et carmem non manducare sed etiam in ,

ip s is l e gumi nib us i n fla ntia q uae q ue et gravia de

c li n an d a s unt n i hilq ue ita scia s conducere C hr is t i ani s
—

ad u l e sc e nt ib us ut esum bolerum unde e t in alio ,

’
loco Qui i nfir m us e s t ait holera m and uc e t , ,

ar d o r ue corporum f r i i di o r ib us epuli s t e m p er an d us
q g
e st . Si autem tres p ue ri et Daniel le gumi ni b us
v e sc e b an r an n m s ar t i i n
t ur p ue ri e t ,
ec d u ad g em ,

venerant in qua rex Bab y loni us senes indices fr ixi t .

Nobis non corporum cy lt u s qui in illis excepto _ ,

—

privilegio gratiae Dei ex huiusc e modi cibis —

en it ue r at sed an , im ae vigor quaeritur quae carnis ,

i nfirm it at e fit fortior Inde est quod nonnulli vitam .

,

p udic am adp e t ent i um in medio itinere c orr uunt ,

dum solam ab stinent iam c ar nium p ut ant et legu

minibus oner ant st om ac hum quae moderate p ar c e q ue ,

s um t a innoxi a sunt Et ut quod s ent i l o uar

p o
q .
, , ,

1
Tere nce E unuchus 7 32 .

Ti
, ,
2
1 mo hy , 23 t v . .

3
R o mans, x 21 iv . .

R om ans , xi v 2 . .

5
Danel , i 8 i . .

Th e e is a r ad on ha tr iti t t el d ers tempt e d

Su sa nnah we e hus b u ne d r t r .

2 46
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST . JE R O ME

nihil sic inflamm at corpora et titi llat membra genitali a

nisi i ndi gest us c ib us r uc t us q ue c onv uls us M alo
, .

apud te filia verecundia p ar um p e r quam cau s a

, ,

v o lu t at um est
p er i cli t ar i Q uid q ui d
. min p ,

venenum puto Parc us c ib us et semp er venter

.

es ur i en s t r id uani s i e iunii s p r ae fe r at ur et multo ,

melius est c ottidi e parum quam raro satis sumere .

Pluvia illa optima est quae sensim descendit in ,

terras ; s ub it us et nimi us imber pr aec eps arva

11 . Quando comedis
cogita quod statim tibi , ,

o r an d um ili c o l egend um sit

, D e sc rip t ur is sanctis .

hab e t o fix um v e rsuum num e r um ; is t ud pensum

domino tuo redde nec ante quieti membra concedas ,

quam c al athum pectoris tui hoc s ub t egmi ne i mpl e

veris Post sc r ipt ur as s anc t as d oc t or um hominum
.

tractat us lege eorum d um t ax at quorum fides nota

, ,

est . Non necesse habes aurum in luto quaerere

multis marga riti s u nam redim e m ar gar it am Sta .

i ux t a Hi e r e mi am in vii s pluribus ut ad illam viam , ,

quae ad p at r e m d uc it p erv enias A m or e m m oni li um , .

atque gem m ar um s e r ic ar um q ue v e st ium transfer ad

sc i e nt iam Ingre d e r e t e rr am ir epr o
p t ur ar um
s c ri .

m is sio ni s lacte et melle m anant em , comed e s imi lam

'

et oleum , vest ire c um Io s eph v ar iis i nd um e nt is ,

e r f o r ent u aures tuae c um Hi er usalem sermone
p r

Dei , ut pr e t ios a ex illi s nov grana

d ep e nd e ant Habes sanctum . ob at a e

ae t at is et fid e i , qui te mgn j zj . suis frequenter _ _

i nst it uat .

1
P ensum , prope rly t he w eig ht o f w ool all otte d t o a s erv ant .

t o b e m ad e into yarn; t he day ’ s tas k

J
.

e re miah, v i 1 6
2
Cf . . .

Cf E zeki el, x vi 12
. C f p 4 36, note 3
. . . . .

2 48
 LETT ER L I V

t hink that nothi ng so inflam es the body and ti tillates

the organs of generation as undigested food and ,

con v u ls ive belching With you my daughter I

.

’
, ,

w ould rather risk o fle ndi n g your modesty than

understate my case R egard as poison any thing
.

that has wi thi n it the seeds o f s ens ual pleasure A .

frugal di et which leaves you always hungry is to be

’
pre ferred to a t hre e days fast and it is much better ,

to go short every day than occasionally t o s atisfy

your appe tite to the full That r ain i s best whic h
.

falls slowly to earth : a sudden and excessive shower

which comes tumbling down washes away the s oil .

When y o u are e ating remember tha t i mmediately

,

afterwards you will have to pray and read Take .

a fixed number of vers es f rom the Holy Scripture

1
and s how them up as your task to your Lord and do
’
not li e down to rest unti l y o uhave filled your heart s
basket with this precious yarn After the Holy .

Scriptur es read t he treatis es that h av e been written

,

by le arned men provided of cours e th at th ey are

, , ,

persons of known faith Yo u need not s eek for .

gold ami d t he mire : with many pe arls buy t he o ne

pearl of price As J er e mi ah says stand in more
.
2
,

ways t han o ne so that you may come to t he way

,

that leads to the Father Change your love o f .

necklace s and j ewels and silk dr ess es to a desire

for scriptural knowledge Enter the land of pro .

mis e that flows with milk and honey Eat wheaten .

flo ur and oil dr ess like J oseph in coats o f many

,
’ 3
colours let your ears li ke J erus al e m s b e pierce d
, , .
,

by t he word o f God so that t he precious grai ns o f

,

new corn may hang from them Yo u have in the .

saintly E x up eri us ‘ a man o f tri ed years and fai t h ,

w ho can give you cons tant suppor t with his advice .

2 49
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

12 . Fac tibi amic e s de i niq uo mammona qui te ,

r e c i i an t in ae t e r na t ab e r nac ula Illis tribue di v it ias

p .

t uas q ui no n Phasid es aves s e d cibarium panem

, _ ,

c o e m an t qui f am e m expellant qui no n auge ant

, ,

luxuriam In t ell ege s uper e ge num et p aup e r e m

. .

’
Omni p e t e nt i te da s e d max ime demesticis fid e i,

nudum vesti e suri ent e m ciba aegr o t ant e m visita

, ,

u e t ie ns c um ue m anum e x t e n di s C hr is t um co gita
q q , ,

cave ne mendicante domin e t ue ali enas divi tias

augeas .

1 3 Iuv e num fuge consortia

. C om at ulo s compt e s .
,

atque lasciv e s d om us tuae tecta no nvi d e ant C ant o r .

p e llat ur ut n e x i us ; fidi c inas et

p s alt ri as et i st ius
m e di ch e rum di aboli qu asi mortifera s ir e nar um
carmina p r e t urb a ex aedi b us tuis Noli ad publi cum .

s ub i n d e procedere et sp ade num e x e r c it u p r ae e unt e

v i duar um c ir c um f érr liberta t e P essim a e cousue
t .

t udin is e s t cum fragi li s sexus et i nb ec illa aetas suo

,

arbitrio ab ut it ur et putat licere q uo d libet Omni a , .

’
quidem lic e nt sed no n omnia e x p e di unt
‘

, Ne c .

r o curator c al ami st r at us nec formosus c on l ae t ane us

p
nec c andidulus et r ub ic und us ad se c ula adhae r e ant
lateri t ue : i nt er d um animus d e m inar um et a meil
lar um habitu i udi c at ur S anct ar um vir ginum et .
.

v i d uar um s e c i e t at e m ad e t e et si s e r m e c inan di cum

p ,

viris incumbit necessitas arbitre s ne d e vi t es t antaq ue ,

c on fab ul andi fiducia s it ut i nt r ant e ali e nec p av e as

,

nec e r ub e sc as Speculum mentis est facies et taciti

.

1
St . Luk 30, and
e, v i. Gal ati ans vi , . 10
.

2
l C orinthi ans, vi 12 . .

2 50
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST . JEROME
oculi cordis fat ent ur arcana Vidimus nup er igno .

m inios um p er t o t um orientem volitasse : et aetas et

cultus et habit us et i nc ess us indiscreta so cietas , ,

e x ui s it ae e ul ae regius apparatus Ne r e n i s et Sarda

q p ,

nap alli nupti as le q ue b ant ur A li or um vulnus nostra

.

sit cautio ; flagellat e s t ult us s ap i e nt ior

’
erit .

Sanctus amor i np ati e nt iam non habet ; f als us

rum or cito opp r imi t ur et vita posterior iudi c at de
priori Fieri quidem non potest ut ab s que e rs u
.
,

hominum vitae huius curricula quis p e r tr ans e at ,

m alo r um q ue sol aci um est b o ne s c arp e r e dum ,

p e c c ant i um multitudi ne p ut ant culpam minui pecca

torum ; sed tamen cite ignis stipulae c onq ui esc it et
e x un d ans fiamma d e fic i e nt ib us nut r im e ntis p aulat im
e m o r i t ur Si anno pr ae t er it e fama mentita est aut
.
,

si certe verum d ixit cessavit 1 vi ti um c e ss ab it et

, ,

rumor Haec dico no n quo de te si nistrum quid

.
,
’
m e t uam s ed quo p i e t at i s aflec t u etiam quae tuta
, ,

sunt p ert im esc am O si v id er e s sor or e m tuam et

, .

illud sacri or is el o q uium coram audire c ont inger e t ,

c er n er e s in ar ve corpuscul e ingentes ani m e s a udi r e s

p ,

t e t am v e t e ri s et novi testamenti su pelle ctil en : ex

illins corde fervere ! Ie i unia pro l udo habet ora ,

t io ne m pro d e lic ii s Tenet tympanum in exemplum

.

M ariae et Phar ao ne submers e vir ginum chore

r a ec in i t : C an t e m us domino : gloriose eni m magni
p ’
fic at us est e q uum et asc e n
, s or e m d e i e c i t in mare .

1 c e s se t : E i lber
g .

1 Pr v rb C f p 2 3 2 no te 5
s xi x 2 5 Vul g at e 2
o e , . . . . .
,
.

3 Ex o dus , xv . 21 .

2 52
 LETT ER L IV

speaking con fess the s ecr ets o f the heart I have .

la tely s een a s ca ndalous ob j ect flitting this way and

that t hrough th e Eas t Her age her style her .
, ,

dre s s her mi en t he indis criminate company sh e

, ,

kept and the regal pomp of h e r elaborate di nners

, ,

all proc laimed her a fitt i ng bride for Nero or Sard a

’
napallus Le t us take warning from another s
.

wound : When he tha t caus eth trouble is s courged

’1
the fool will be wiser .

A holy love is never impati ent : a false rum our

_

is quickly s tifle d and t he aft er lif e passes j udgment

,

on th at which has go ne be fore It is not possible .

,
’
i ndeed that any o ne shoul d reach th e end of life s
,

race without su ffering from the t ee th of calumny

it is a consolation for t he wicked t o gi rd at the goo d ,

and they think that a m ul ti tude o f si nners l essens t he

guilt o f sin But nevertheles s a fir e of straw soo n
.
, ,

di es down and a spreadi ng flam e gradua lly e xp i res

,
’
if it has nothing to feed on If las t year s rumour .

w as a li e or if though it was true th e sin has ne w

, , ,

ceas ed th en the scanda l wi ll ceas e also I say thi s

, .
,

not that I fe ar anythi ng wrong in your cas e but ,

bec a us e my fath erly lo v e f or y o u is so great that

even s afety makes me afrai d Oh if you co uld s e e .
,

your s ister 2 and be allo w ed to listen t o the eloquence

,

o f her holy lip s and behold the mighty spirit that

,

d w ells withi n he r small b o dy ! Oh if you coul d ,

hear th e whole contents of t he Old and New Testa

ment come bubbling fr om her heart ! Fas ting is
her sport prayer he r favourite p astim e L ike
, .

M iriam a ft er the drowning o f P h araoh she takes ,

up her timbrel and leads t he virgin cho ir : Le t us

sing t o the Le r d for He h ath tr ium phe d glo ri e us l ; the
’y
,

hors e and his rider H e hath throwninto t he s e a She .

2
53
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

Has docet p saltr ias Chr isto has fidi c i anas erudit ,

salvatori Sic dies sic ne x d uc it ur et oleo ad lampa

.
,

d as p r aep ar at o sp e nsi e x p ec t at ur adv e nt us Imi tare .

erge et tu c ons anguine am tuam hab e at R e ma quod ,

an ust i or urbe R omana

g p o ssid e t Bethleem .

1 4 Habes opes facile tibi e st indi genti b u

.
, s victus

subsidi a ministrare Quod lux uri ae p ar ab atur virtus

.
,

iw at ; nulla nup tias c ont em pt ur a t im e at ege s

tatem R edime vi r gi nes quas in cubiculum salva
.
,

toris i nd uc as susc ip e viduas quas inter virginum

, ,

lilia et m art y rum ro s as quasi q uas d am vi e las m isc e as

pro corona spinea in qua mundi Christus delict a ,

pe rt avi t tali a s erta compone

, L ae t e t ur et ad i uv e t .

v ir n ob ili ss im us pater tuus ; disc at a filia quod

, ,

di di c e r at ab ux o r e l am i nc anuit caput t r e m unt

.
,

genua dentes c ad unt et fr e nt e m o b sc e nam rugis

,

arat vicina est mors in fo rib us d esignat ur rogus

, ,

prop e : v elim us noli m us senes s um us Paret sibi , .

viaticum quos longo itinere nece s sarium est Secum

, .

portet quod invi t us dimi ss ur us est immo p r aemi t t at

, ,

in caelum quod ni c ar uer it terra sump t ur a est

, , , .

1 5 Solent ad ul es c e nt ulae vi d ua e q uar um ne n

.
,

nullae ab i e r unt retro S at anam cum lux uri at ae ,

’
f ue r int in C hristo s ub ant e s di cere : Pat ri m o niolum
,

meum c o t t idi e perit maiorum heredi tas d issip at ur , ,

s ervus contum e liose loc ut us e s t imperium ancilla ,

1
A t thi s ti me many R o ma ns were b e ing takenc aptive by
i nvading bar bari ans and held t o rans om .

2
l Ti mothy v 1 5 1 1 , .
, .

2 54
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

negl e x it .Quis p roc e d e t ad publicum ? Q

r es on d e b i t pro a r e r um t r ib uti s ? P ar v ulo s meos
p g
qui s e r udi et ? V ernul as quis e duc ab it ? Et hanc
ro n e fa s l c aus am e on u n t m a tr im on n quae vel
p pp
—
,

s e la d eb uit nupti as i mp edi re S up erduc it mater .

filii s no n v i t r i c um s e d ho st e m non p ar e nt em sed

, , ,

t y r an num Inflamm ata libidi ne o b livi s cit ur uteri

.

sui et inter p ar v ule s suas miserias nescientes lugens

,

d ud um nova n;;pt a c o npo n itur Quid e b t e nd is

.

patrim oni um quid sup erb iam se rv ulor um ? C e n

,

fit e r e t urp it udi ne m Nulla i dcir co d uci t m ari tum

.
,

ut cum marito non d o rmi at Au t si certe libido non .

s t im ul at quae tanta insania est in morem s cort o r um

,

rosti tuer e c ast it at e m ut au e an t u d i vi t i ae et

p , g r ,

propter v il e m atque p e r i t u r am pu di citia quae ,

et pr e ti os a et a e t erna est polluat ur ? Si habes ,

liberos nupt i as qui d r e q ui ris ? Si non habes quare

, ,

e x p e r t am non m e t uis s t e r ili t at e m et rem i n c e rt am

certe pr ae fer s pudori ? S c rib unt ur tibi nunc spons ales

tab glge
_ , ut post p aululum testamentum facere
c o n ellar is S im ul ab i t ur mariti i n fi rmi t as e t
q u od
p .
,

t e m orit ur am facere volet ipse v ic t ur us fac i et Aut

, .

si e v e neri t ut de secundo marito habeas filios

, ,

domes tica pu gna intestinum pr oeli um, Nonli c eb it.

ti bi amare liberos nec aequis aspic er e o c uli s qu e s ,

g en ui st i .Clam p e rr i e s
g c ib os i n vi d e b i t m e r t uo
, ,

2
56
 LETT ER L I V

pays no a tten tion to my orders Who will appear.

for me in co ur t ? W h o will be responsible for my

land ta x ? Who wil l educate my li ttle childr en and
-

bring up my h ous e slave s ? -

S hame on them !
They bring forward as a rea s on fo r marriage th e
very thing which s hould in its elf render marriage
impossible A mother sets over her children not
.

a stepfather but an enemy no t a parent but a tyrant

, .

Inflam e d by lus tful ness she forgets her o wn o ff

spring and in the mi dst o f the little o nes who know
,

nothi ng of their sad fate the lately weeping widow

arrays herself afresh as a bride Why thes e pre .

texts o f property and arrogant servants ? Co nfess

your vi leness No w om an marries wi th t he ide a
.

of n e t sleeping with a husband If y o u are no t

.

spur red o nby lust s urely it is t he height o f madness

,

to pros ti tute yours elf like a harlot merely to increas e

your wealth and for a paltry and passing gain t o
, -

pollute that precious ch astity which might endure

for ever If y o u have children w hy do you want
.
,

to marry ? I f you have n e ne why do y o u not fear

,

the barrenness you have al ready kno w n ? Why do

y o u put an uncertain gain before a certain loss o f
modesty ? A marri age settlement is made in your
favour to day but so ony ou wi ll b e induced to make
—
,

your wi ll Your husband wi ll feign illness and

.
,

will de for y o u what h e want s you to d e for him :

but he means t o go on living and you are des tined
,

for an early grave Or if it s hould happen that y o u

.

have sons by your second husband domes tic war ,

fare and intes ti ne feuds will be t he res ul t Yo u .

will not be allowed t o lo v e your own chi ldren o r ,

to l oo k kindly e n those t o whom you gave b i rth .

Yo u will hand them their food secretly ; for b e will

2 57
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST . J ERO ME

et nisi o d e r is eorum amare vi d e b eris

filie s , adhuc

atr e m Q u o d si de priori ux o r e h abens sob o l e m t e

p .

d o m um i nt r e dux e r it etiam si cle m e nt issim a f ueri s

, ,

omne s c o m o e di ae et m im ogr aphi et communes

r he t o r um loci in n o v e r c am s ae v issi m am d ec lam ab un t .

Si pr iv ignus langue r it et c e nde luer it c aput infama ,

r is ut v e n e fic a Si no n d ed e r is c ib o s c r ud elis
.
, ,

d e d e ri s malefica di c e ri s
, Oro te qui d habent .
,

tantum boni s e c undae nuptiae ut haec mala v ale ant ,

co np e ns ar e ?
1 6 V olum us
. scire q ual e s esse d eb e ant v i duae ?
,
’
L e gam us evangelium secund um Lueam : Et erat ,

i nq uit
‘
Anna pr ophe t iss a fili a P hanuel de tribu
, ,
’ ’
A s er . Anna i nt e rp r e t at ur gratia Phanuel in ,
’
lingua nostra r e so nat v ult um Dei Aser v el in ,
’ ’
b e at it ud inem
‘ ‘
v e l in di v iti as v e rti t ur Quia .

ergo ab ad ule s c e ntia usqu e ad oc togint a q uatt uor

annos vi duit at is onus s ust inue r at et non r e c e d eb at
de templo Dei di ebus ac noc tib us i ns ist e ns i eiuniis et
o b se c r at io nib us i dc irc o meruit gratiam spir i tal e m et
,

nunc up at ur fi lia v ult us Dei et atans heai i t udine .

dmi t iis q ue c e nse t ur . Re c or d e m ur v id uae S ar e pt e nae ,

quae et suae et filio r um saluti Heli ae pr aet uli t fam e m
et ipsa nocte moritura cum filio s up er stit e m hospit e m
r e lin ue b at malens vitam perdere quam e
q
et in p ugillo farris se mi nar i um sibi m e ssis de m inic ae
m
…
pr e p ar av i t Eag i a s er it ur et e lei c ap sac e s nasc i t ur
.
_
.

1
St . L uke , ii . 36 .
2
1 Kings , xv n 10E
. .

2 58
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

In Iud ae a frumenti penuria granum eni m t ritici —

ibi mortuum fuer at e t in gen tium vi d uae e lei —

flue nt a m anab ant L e gim us Iudith si cui t amen

.
—

placet volumen r ec ip e r e vid uam co nfe ct am i e iuni i s —

et habitu lugubri s o r dit at am quae non lugeb at ,

mortuum virum s e d s q uale r e corporis s pe nsi quaere

,

bat ad ve nt um Video ar m at am gladi o manum

.
,

c r ue nt am d e x t e r am recognosc e caput He lo fe r n ae ,

de medii s hostib us r ep ort at um Vincit viros femina .

et c as t it as t r unc at li b idine m hab it uq ue repe ri te

'

mutato ad victrices sordes re dit omnibus s aec uli

c ulti b us m undi or e s .

17 Quidam i np erit e e t Deb b o r am inter viduas

.
!

numer ant d uc em q ue Barac ar b it r ant ur Deb b o r ae

fili um cum aliud s c rip t ur a c o m m e m o r e t
, Nobis ad .

hoc no m inab it ur quod p r ophetis s a fuerit et in ordi ne

,

i udic um s upput e t ur Et qui a dicere pot e r at Qu am .

dulcia gut t uri m eo elo q uia tua super me l et favum ,

’
or i meo apis nomen ac c epit script ur ar um flo ri b us
,

pasta Spiritus Sancti odore perfu s a et dulces ambro

,

siae sucos p r ophe tali e r e co nwnens Noo min quae .

,

nobi s cum s e nat na pa x cxÀ q p évq quam int erpr e t ar i ,

’
possumus c o ns olatam m ar ito et lib e r is p e r egr e
‘

m e rt uis p udi c i ti am r ep e r tavi t in p atr i am e t hoc

s us t e nt at a vi atico nur um M o ab it id e m tenui t ut ,

illud E s aiae v atic ini um c onpl er ent ur : E mi tt e

a n u m domine d mi nat or e m terrae de petra
g , o , ,

1
P sal m cx ix . 1 03 .
2 R uth i , . 6, 1 6 .

2 60
 LETT ER L IV

and le ! a cruse o f e il appears In J udac a there was

,
.

a scarcity o f corn for the gra in o f wheat had died ;

,

but i nthe hous e of a heathen wi dow stre ams of oil

gushed forth W e read in the book o f J u di th if
.
,

we may accept that record of a wi dow spent wi th ,

’
fas ting and unkempt in mourner s dress w ho w as ,

not so much gri evi ng for her dead hus band but i n
squalor awaiti ng th e advent o f the Bridegroom .

I see her hand arm ed with a sword and stained with

blood I recognize th e head o f Holofern es carried
,

in triumph from the mi ds t of the enemy A woman .

conquers men chas tity behe ads lus t and then

, ,

suddenly changing her dress she returns again to

her victo rious s qualor a squalor fine r than all the,

po mp o f thi s world .

Some people ignorantly count Deborah among

t h e widows and thi nk that Barak t h e leader o f t he
, ,

army was her se n Th e Sc ript ure gives a diff erent

, .

account I will mention her now becaus e she was

.

a prophetess and is reckoned as o ne o f the j udges ,

and als o be ca us e she could say : Ho w sweet are

thy words unto my taste ! Ye s sweeter than honey ,
’1 ’
’

to my mouth R ightly was she called the be e

.
,

for she fed on the flowers o f th e Scrip tur es she was ,

steeped i n the fragrance of the Holy Spiri t and ,

with p rophe ti c lips she gathere d the sweet j uices

of the necta r Nao m i in our lang u age 7rap mce À v,rr émh
.
, x
’
she who is cons oled when her h usband and childr en
,

died in a foreign land ca r ri ed her ch as ti ty back t o

,

her nati ve co untry and suppo rted by that pro

,

vision for her j ourney kept with her the M oabite ,

’
woman w ho was h e r son s wi f e 2 that in her th e ,

p r ophecy e f Isaia h might be fulfill e d : Send o ut

t he lamb O Lo rd to rule over the land from
, ,

2 6!
 SELE CT L E TT E RS O F ST J ERO ME
.

’
de s erti Veni e ad v iduam de evangelio v id uam
.
,

au erc ulam omni Is r a e eli ti co populo di t ior e m quae

p p , ,

a cc i i e ns granum S i na pis et mittens fermentum in

p
far i nae sai i s t r ib us Patris et Filii c o nf essio ne m Spiritus
Sancti gratia t e m p er av it et d ue minuta m isit in gazo _ _

phy lagium q ui dq ui d habere p o t e r at in substanti a sua

_

univ e rs asq ue di v it i as in utroqu e fid e i s uae ob t ulit

testamento Haec sunt due seraphin ter glori
.

fic ant i a Tr in i t at e m et in th es aur o ecclesiae con di ta ,

unde et forc ipe nt … . ardens carbo

c o n r e he n s us u r at labia e c c at or i s
p p g p .

1 8 Quid vetera r e p e t am et v ir t ut es f e m i narum

.

de libris pre fe r am cum p ossis multas tibi ante oculos

,

proponere in urbe qua vivis q uar um im it ari e x e m

, ,

plum d eb e as ? Et ne v id e ar ad ul at io ne per singulas

c urr e r e s uffic i t tibi sancta M arcella quae r e s pe n
, d e ns ,

generi s uo aliquid nobis de evangelio r e t uli t Anna .

septem annis a virgini tate sua v i x e r at cum marito ,

ista s eptem m e nsib us ; illa Christi e x p e c t ab at

a dv e n t um ista tenet quem illa s usc ep er at ; illa
, ,

v a ien t e m c an e b at ; i s ta r ae di c at t ri um p han t em ;
g p
illa lo q ueb at ur de c e omnibus qui e xp e c t ab ant ,

r e d e m t ie n em H i e r us al e m haec curn r e d e m t is
‘

p , p
gentibus c lam i tat : Frater non redimit r e dim e t ,
’
homo et de alio ps almo : Hom e natus est in ea et
,
’
ipse fundaxit eam alti ss imus S c ie me ante hoc.

1
I
s a ah, i x vi l 2
I saiah vi 2 3
, . .

P
. . ,

s al m xli x . 7 . P salm l xxx vii 5 . .

2 62
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JEROME .

ferme biennium e di di ss e li b r os contra Iov ini anum ,

quibus v eni e nt e s e contrario q uae st ion es ubi ap os t olus ,

c on c e d it s ecunda matrimonia s c rip t ur ar um auc t o ,

r i t at e c ontr ivi Et non necesse est eadem ex

.

integro scr ib er e cum p ossis inde quae scripta sunt

, , ,

rn u_tuari Hoc tantum ne modum e gr e di ar epist ulae

.
, ,

adm o n i t am v e l e : cogita te c o ttidi e esse m o ri t ur am ,

et numquam de s ecundis nuptiis c ogit ab is .

An HE L IODO R UM E P ITA P H I U M NE P OTIA NI

’
I . materias ingeni a parva no n s ufle r unt
G R AN D ES
et in ipso c onat u ultra vires ans a s uc c umb unt ;
q uan t e ue maius fu e rit
q quod di c e nd um est tanto , ,

magis o b r uit ur qui m agni t udi ne m rerum verbis non

,

potest e x plic ar e Nepo ti anus meus tuus noster

.
, , ,

imm o C hr isti et quia Christi i dc irco plus noster

, , ,

r eli uit senes et desideri i s ui iaculo vulnerat e s

q
i nt o l e r ab ili d olo r e c o nfe c it Quem he r e d em puta .

vi m us fu mus t e ne m us
, C ui iam meum s ud ab it .

ingenium Cui litt er ulae placere ges ti e nt U bi est

ille €py o$ré r q g noster e t c y gne o canore vox d ulci or ?
x

S t up e t animus manu s t r em it c ali gant o culi lingua

, , ,

b alb utit Qui dq uid di x er o quia ille non audi e t

.
, ,

1
At o ne ti me a m onk l at er a n opponent of C hr i st ian
tic is m Pamm aehius ’sent a co py o f his work to J ero me
,

a s ce
B et hle he m and Jere m e s answer t o it w as writte ni n3 9 3
.

at .

2 64
 LETTE R L IV A ND LETT E R LX

I kno w tha t I published a trea ti s e against J o vi ni an1 ,

inwhi ch I refuted by th e authority o f the Sc riptures

’
the obj ec tions bas ed o n th e apostle s concession
o f second marri ag es I t is unn ecessary to repeat
.

my ar guments afresh for you can borrow them ,

from that boe k That I may not exceed t he limits

‘

o f a letter I will give o u thi s final piece of advice

, y .

Thi nk every day t hat y o u mus t di e and th en you ,

wi ll never think of a second marriage .

LETT ER LX
To HEL IO DO R US

A Lètter o
f Com olaiionf or the dea th f
o Nepo ti anus
W ritten A D . . 39 6

S MALL mi nds cannot deal ad e quately with great

s ubj ects ; if they ven t ure beyond their strengt h
they fail in the attempt ; and the greate r the theme ,

the more completely is he overwhelme d who c anno t

find words to express its grandeur Nepo ti an who .

was min e and yours and o urs may rather who was —
,
’ ’
Chris t s and becaus e Christ s ther efore the more
ours has left us in o ur old age overwhel med wi th
—

a gri ef that is past bearing our hearts all sore with

,

longing for him sti ll W e thought o f him as o ur

.

heir but no w we onl y have his dead b o dy For

, .

whom now sh al l my mind exert its elf ? Whom shall

my pe e r writings stri ve t o pleas e ? Where is h e ,

the inspirer of my labours whos e voice w as sweeter

,
’
than a s wan s song ? M y heart is numbed my ,

hand trembles my eyes are mi sty my tongue st

, ,

mers All that I s ay seem s voiceless for he n o

.
,

2 65
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

mutum videtur Stilus ipse quasi s e nt ie ns e t cera

.

s ub t ri s t ior v e l rubigine vel situ o b d uc i t ur

Q .

t i e nsc um q ue nit e r in verba pr e r um e r e et super

p
t um ul um eius e p it aphn huius flores spargere t o ti e n s ,

c o n le n t ur oculi et r e ne vat o dolore t e tu s in funere

p
s um M oris quondam fui t ut super c ad av er a de
.
,

f unc te r um in contione pro r o st ris laudes liberi

d ic e r e nt et instar lugub r i um carminum ad fle t us et
e m it us aud i e n t i um pectora c onc it ar e nt en rerum
g
in nobis o r de m ut at us e st et in c al ami t at em mo s tram
p e r di d it sua iura natura : quod e x hib e r e s enib us
i uv e nis d e b uit hoc i nv e ni e x hib e m us sene s
, .

2 Quid igitur f ac i e m ? Iungam tecum lac r im is ?

.

Sed ap o st olus pr ohib e t C hristi ano r um m or t uos

d o rmi e nt e s v o c ans et dominus in evangeli o : Non
’ ’
est , i nq uit mortua puella s e d dormit
, L azarus , .

quoque quia d orm i e r at s usc it at us e st L ae t er et

, , .

gaud e am quod , raptus sit ne malitia i nm ut ar et

‘

,
’
mentem eiu s quia plac e r e t D eo anima illi us ? Sed
,

invito et repugnanti p er genas lacrim ae fluunt et

inter pr a e c ep t a v irt ut um r e s ur r ec t io ni s q ue sp em
’
cr e d ul am mentem desider i i fr an it afle c t us O mors
g .
,

quae fratres dividis et amore sociate s c r ud e li s ac

dura dissocias ' Add ux it ur e nt e m v e nt um dominus
de deserto asc e nd e nt e m qui s ic c avi t venas tuas et ,
’
d e s ol avi t fontem tuum De v o r as t i quidem Ionam .
,

1
Cf . V i gil
r , A eneid , V . 7 9 , p urmr eos que i aè it flor es ( ont he
to m b of A nchises )
Th M
.

2
ess al o n
i ans i v , . 13 .
3
St . ark v , . 39 .

W i s do m , iv . Il .
5
H os ea xiii
, . 15 .

2 66
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

s ed et in u t ero t ue vivus fuit Port asti quasi m or . .

tuum ut t e mp e st as mundi c onq ui e sc : ret et Nineve

,

nostra illins pr ae c oni o s alv ar e t ur Ille ille te v ic it .

, ,

ille i ugulavi t fugitiv us pr 0phe ta qui r eli q uit d om um ,

suam dedit di l ec t am animam suam in manus quae

,

r en t ium eam Qui per Osee quondam tibi rigidus

.

m inab at ur : E r o mors tua o mors ; ero morsus tuus , ,

’
inferne illins morte tu mortua es illins morte nos
, ,

vi vim us B ev e rasti et d e v e r at a es d um q ue ads um p ti

.
,

corporis sollic itari s i nlec eb r a et avidi s faucib us

pr ae d am putas interiora tua adunco dente confe ssa
,

3 Gratias tibi Christe salvator t ua agim us

.
, ,

creatura quod tam potentem adv e rs ar ium nostrum

, ,

dum o c c id e r is occ idi sti Quis ante m i s er i o r homi ne

‘

.
, ,

qui aeterno mortis terrore prostratus vivendi sensum

’
ad hoc tantum ac c ep er at ut p e rir e t ? Regnavit , ,

enim mors ab Adam usque ad M oy s en etiam super

,

e os qui non p e c c av e r unt in s im ilit udinem prae

,
’
v ari c at i o nis Adam Si Abraham Isaac et Iacob in
.
,

inferno quis in c aelo r um regno ? Si ami ci tui s ub

,
’
poena o fle nde nt is Adam et qui non p ec c av er ant , ,

ali e n is p ecc at is t e neb ant ur o b no x ii quid de his ,

credendum e st qui di x er unt in c or di b us suis

, non
’
es t Deus qui c orr up t i et ab o mi nab ile s facti sunt in
,
’
v o lun t at ib us suis qui d ecli nav e r unt simul inutiles
, ,

fac t i sunt ; no nest qui fac i at bonum no n est usque , ,

ad unum Q uo ds i L azarus videtur in sinu Abrah am

lo c o q ue r e frige ri i quid simile i nf er nus et regna
,

1
H osea xiii 1 4 2
R o m ans, v . 14 .

P
. .
,

s al m x i v l . . P s alm x iv : 3.

2 68
 LE TT ER LX

lived Thou dids t ca rry Him as o ne dead that the

.
,

s torms of this world might b e appe as ed and o ur

Nineveh saved by His preachi ng He He was thy .
,

conqueror He it was w ho s lew t he e the fugiti ve

, ,

prop het who le ft Hi s home gave up His i nh eritance

, ,

and surrendered His dear life i nt o the hands o f thos e

that so ught it H e it was w ho once by t he mouth
.

of Ho s ea utt ered agains t t hee the stern threat :

O death I wi ll be t hy deat h ; O grave I will b e t hy
, ,
’1
des truction By His death thou art dead by His
.

dea th we li ve Thou has t swallowed and thou art

.

swallowed up and whil e t hou wert tempted by th e

,

lure of the body they had s eiz ed and th ought it a

prey for thy greedy j aws lo ! thy inward parts are
,
’
pierc ed wit h t he b o o ks carved teeth .

We Thy creatur e s render thanks to The e O Savio ur ,

Chris t for t hat whi ls t Thou wert s lain Thou di ds t

,

slay our se mighty advers ary Before Thy coming

'

was there anyt hi ng more mis erable t han man w ho ,

cowering i n eternal fear of death had but received

t he s ens e of li fe that h e might pe ris h ? Death
reigned from Adam to M oses even over them that
’
had not si nn e d afte r t he similitu de of Adam s trans
’2
gr es si o n If Abrah am Isaac and Jace h be in
.
, ,

th e tomb who can be in t h e kingdom o f heaven ?

,

If thy friends who had not s inned were for the sins ’
o f another held liable to the punishm ent of o fle n d ing
Adam what mus t be beli eved of thos e who sai d
,
’3
in the ir hea rts : There is no G od men corrupt ,

and abo minable in t he ir self w ill who are g e ne out of

-

th e way t hey are become unp r o fit ab l e there is none

,

t hat doe th good no not one Even if L azarus is

, ,
’
seen in Abrah am s bo so m and in a p l ac e of refres h
ment wha t likeness can there be between the lower
,
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST J EROME .

c a e lor um Ante C hr ist um Abraham apud inferos ;

?
post C hr ist um latre in p aradi so Et i dc ir c o in .

r es u r r e c t ion e eius multa d or mi e n t ium corpora sur

r e x e r un t et visa sunt in c ae l est i Hi e r usale m .

Tunc q ue c o npl e t um e s t illud e lo q ui um : Surge qui ,

’
dormis et elevare e t i nlum inab it te Chri s tu s
, .

Iohannes Bapti s ta in heremo p e r s o nat Paeni ‘

t en t i am agite ; adp ro p i nq uav i t enim regnum cae

’
lorum . A di ebus eni m Iohannis Bapti st ae regnum
c a e lor um vim
p ass um est et violenti di rip ue r unt
illud Flamm a illa r um ph ea cus tos paradisi et
.
, ,

r a e s id e n t i a fe r ib us c h erubin Christi r e sti nc t a et

p
r e s e r at a sunt s anguine Nec m ir um hoc nobi s in .

r es urr ec t io n e
p r o mi t ti cum omnes qui in carne non , ,

secundum car mem v ivim us m unic ip at um hab e am us ,

in caelo et hic adhuc p o siti s di c at nr in terra R egnum

’
Dei intra v os est
4 Adde qu o ante r es urr e c t io nem Christ i n
.

’
ot us
.

d
tantum erat i n Iud ae a Deus in Isr ahe l magnum
‘

,
’
nomen eiu s et ipsi qui no v e r ant eum tamen ad
, , ,

infero s t r ahe b ant ur U bi t une t ot ius orbi s hom ines

.

ab Indi a usque ad Br it anniam a rigida s ep t e nt rioni s ,

plaga usque ad fervores Atlantici ocea ni tam innu ,

m e r ab ile s populi et ta nt ar um gentium m ulti t udi nes

quam variac li nguis habitu tam vestis et armi s ,

Pi sc i um ritu ac luc ust ar um et velut muscae et culices

con t e r e b an t ur ; ab s que notiti a enim c r e at or i s s ui
omnis hom e p e c us est Nunc vero p assione m .

Chri s t i et r e s urr e c t io ne m eius c unc t ar um gentium

1
Ep hes a ns , v i
1 4 .
2
S M a hew, iii 2
. t . tt . .

3 S L uke , x i i 2 1
t v P salm l xx vi
III
. . . .

5
Vi g l, A eneid , V
ri 72 3 . .

2 70
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

ve c e s et li tterae sonant Tac eo de Heb r aeis G r aec is .

e t L atinis quas natie nes fidei s uae in crucis titul e

,

dominus d ed ic avi t Im m e rt ale m animam et post

.

di ssolutio ne m corporis s ub s ist e nt e m quod Py t ha ,

goras s om ni av it Democritus no nc r edi di t in consola

, ,

t ie ne m d am n ati on is s ua e S ocrates d isput avit in .

carcere Indus Persa G e thus A egyptius philoso

, , , ,
—

p h an t u r B.e ss o r um f er it as et p e lli t or um turba

populorum qui m or t uor um quondam infer iis homines
,

im m e lab ant s tri dor em suum in dulce crucis fr eger unt

,

melos et toti us mundi una vox Chris t us est .

5 Quid agim us
. anima ? Quo nos v ert im us ?
,

Quid primum ads um im us ? Q uid t ac e mus ? E x c i

d e r unt tibi pr aec e p t a rhe t or um e t occupata l uc t u ,

oppressa lacrimis pr aep ed ita si ngult ib us di ce ndi

,

o r di n e m non tenes ! U bi illud ab i nfanti a studium

°

li tterarum e t A nax agor ae ac Telam onis semp er

l aud at a sententia : S c i e b am me ge nuis s e morta
lem L e gim us C r ant or e m cui us volumen ad ,

con fe v e nd um dolorem suum s e c ut us e s t Cicero ,

Plat e nis , Dio ge nis , C li t e m achi , C ar ne adis , Poside nu

ad s e d ande s luc tus opuscula p erc ur ri m us , q ui di versis
a e t at ib us div ers o r um
lamenta vel libris v el epist uli s
m inue r e sunt conati ut e t iam si nostrum ar e r e t
, ,

ingenium de illorum posset fo ntib us inri gari : pr o

,

on un t i nnu m r ab il es vi ros et maxime Pe r i c l e n e t

p e

X e ne phe nt e m S o c r at ic um quorum alter ami ssis ,

1
A Thr aci antri be .

2 72
th e pass ion and the re surrecti on of Chris t I s ay .

nothing o f th e Hebrews the Greeks and the La ti ns

, , ,

p eo ples whom the Lo r d dedica ted t o Hi s faith by

the i ns cripti e n on His cross That immor ta lity of .

the soul and its e xistence aft er th e dissoluti on of the

,

b o dy which Pythagoras dreamed Democ ritus would

, ,

no t beli eve and Socrates discussed in prison to

,

console him s elf for his conviction that is now t h e ,

common philosophy of Indi an and Persian Egyp tian ,

and Goth The savage Bes sians and the i r b es t of

.
1

skin d ad tri bes who us ed to o ffer hum an sac ri fic e to

-
,

the dead have no w dissolved their rough discord

,

in to the sweet music o f the Cross and the whole ,

’
world wi th one voice cries o ut Chris t , .

What shall we do 0 my soul ? Whi ther shall we

,

turn ? What theme shall we ch ee s e firs t ? What

shall we e mit ? Have you forgotten the precepts
o f the rhe toricians and are y ou so preoccupied with
,

grief oppr ess ed w ith tears and h indered by sobs

, ,

that y o u cannot keep t o any ordered narrative ?

Where now is th at love o f literature whi c h y o u have
c herished from chi ldh ood ? W h ere is the saying
o f Anaxagoras and Tel amon whi ch o u always used
y
t o prais e : I knew t hat I was born a morta l I
have read Crante r whose treatis e written t o co m
,

fo rt his own grief Cicero imitated I have perus ed .

t hos e mi no r works of Pla t o Di ogenes C litom achus

, , ,

Carn eades and Posidonius i n which by book e r

, ,

letter they have tried at di fferent times to lessen

the sorrow of various persons and to co nsole the i r
grief Therefore even if my o w n wits were dr y
.
, ,

I co uld water t hem from t hes e fountains They .

set before us men wi thout number as e xamples ,

’
and par ti cul arly Pericles and Socrates pupil Xeno
2
73
 SELE CT LE TTE R S O F ST . JERO ME

d uob us filiis c or o nat us in conti e ne dis ser uit ,

alter ,

cum ns fili um in bello audis s e t occ is um ,

s acr i fic a

d e p o s uiss e c oro nam d ic it ur et candem capiti repo

suisse , p o s t q uam for tit e r in acie di m ic ant em r epp eri t
con c i di s s e Quid memorem R oman e s duces , q uor um
.

v ir t uti b us quasi q ui b usd am s t ellis L atinae m ic ant

his t ori ae ? Pulvillus Capitolium d e dic ans mortuum ,

ut nunti ab at ur subito filium s e iussit absente

,

s e e liri ; L ucius Paulus septem di ebus inter duorum

p
exequias filie r um t ri um phans urbem i ngr essus est .

Pr ae t e rmi t to M aximos C ato ne s G alle s Pisones

, , , ,

Brutos S c ae v olas M etell e s S c aur o s M arios Crassos

, , ,

M arcello s atqu e A ufidi os quorum non mi nor in l uc t u,

quam in bellis virtus fuit et quorum or b it at e s in

C o nse lat io nis libro Tulli us e x p li c avi t n e v id e ar ,

a liena p o t i us quam nostra q uae sisse ; quamquam et

haec in s uggilatio ne m nostri b r ev it er di et a sint si ,

non p r ae st e t fides quod e x hib uit i nfid elit as

, .

6 Igitur ad nostra v e ni am us
. No nplangam c um .

Iacob et David filie s in lege m or ie nt e s sed cum ,

Christo in evangelio s uscipiam resurgen t es Iudae .

orum luc t us C hristi anor um gaudi um est Ad .

v e s e r um d e m or ab it ur fl e t us et ad m at uti num
p
’
laetitia Nox pr aec e ssit di es autem adpr op in
.
‘
,
’
u av i t U nde et M o se s moriens l an i t u I esus
q .
y p g r ,

ab s que funere et l acr im is in m e nt e s ep elit ur Quid .

quid de sc rip t ur is super lam e nt at ie ne di ci potest in ,

1
P s al m xxx . 5 .
2
R o mans, x iii . 12 .

2 74
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST . JEROME
eo libro ue Panl consolati s um us b r e vit e r
am Romae
, q
e x li c avi m us Nunc nobis p er ali am s e mi t am ad
p .

eundem locum p erv e ni endum est ne vi de am ur

‘

r ae t e r it a et obsoleta quondam calcare vestigia

p .

7 S oimus quidem Nepe t ianum nostrum ess e cum

.

Chris to et sanctorum mixt um ch e ris quod nobiscum ,

e mi n us r im ab at ur in terris et ae stim atio ne q uae r eb at ,

ibi vi de nt em c om m inus di cere : Sieut audivim us ,

ita et vidimus in civitate do m ini v irt ut um in civitate ,

’
Dei nostri sed desiderium ab s enti ae eius ferre non
,

possumus n on il lins s ed nost r am vic e m dolentes

, , .

Quante ille feli c ior tanto nos am pli us in dolore quod, ,

tali c ar em us bone Fleb ant et s or or es L azar um .

,

quem r esurr ect ur um no ve r ant et ut vere s hominis , ,

’
e x ri m e r e t afle c t us ipse salvator l r avit quem
p p e , ,

s usc i t at ur us erat A p ost olus quoque eius qui .

,
’
d i x e r at : Cupio dissol v i et esse cum Christo et
’
alibi : M ihi vivere Christ us est et mori lucrum ,

grati as agit quod Epaphras de mortis sibi vicinia

,

r e d d i t us sit ne haberet t ristitiam sup er tr is titiam

, ,

non inc r e d ulit atis metu sed desiderio c ari t ati s ,

.

Quanto magis tu et av unculus et episc opus hoc est , ,

in carne et in spiritu pater aves viscera tua et qu asi ,

a te d iv uls a suspiras ! Sed ob se cr o ut modum adhi ,

beas in d olor e mem e r illins senten tiae : Ne quid

nimis o b li gat o q ue par um p e r vulnere andi as laudes
eius cuius semper v irt ute l ae t at us es nec d e le as
, , ,

1
P sa l m xl v i ii 8 2
Phi li p ians , i 23
. .

Philippi
. .

a ns , i . 2 1. The ree k p roverb 7 r1

,8èv d y a v .

2 76
 LETTE R LX

on the subj ect of lamentation I have b riefly s et o ut

in the letter o f cons olation which I wrote t o Paula
at R ome Now I must traverse another path to
.

arrive at the sam e goal for I would not have people

,

see me tr ea ding again an old and used up track -

.

W e know indeed that o ur dear Nepo ti an is with

, ,

Christ and t hat he has j oined the choirs o f the saints

, .

We know that wha t here with us on earth he groped

after at a di stance and sought by guess work there -
,

he se es face to face and ca n s ay : As we have

heard so we have s een i n th e city o f the Lo rd o f
’1
hosts in th e city o f o ur G o d
, But we cannot .

bear o ur regret at hi s absence and we grieve not ,

o n his account but for o urselves The grea t er his .

happiness the deep er o ur pai n in lacking th e blessings

,

that he enj oys The siste r s of L azarus wept for

.

their brother although they kn ew that he would

,

ris e aga in and the Saviour H ims e lf to show that

, ,

He poss essed tru e human feeli ngs mourned for the ,

man He was go i ng to rais e His apostle als o w ho

.

’2
s aid : I des ire to depart and be with Christ ,

and in another plac e : Te me t o l ive in Christ and

’3
t o die is ga in tha nks G od that Epaphr as has been
,

given bac k to him when h e was ni gh to death that ,

he mi gh t not have sorrow upon sorrow Hi s words .

were spo ke n not in unbelievi ng fear but in loving

regret and how much more keenly mus t y o u who
,

were be th un cle and bishop a fa ther bo th in the ,

flesh and the sp irit deplore a dea th that meant the

,

rendi ng asunder of your ow n b od y I beg y o u

"
.
,

however to se t a limi t to your grief and t o remember

,

the sa yi ng : Nothi ng t o o much Bind up your .

wound for a little whil e and lis ten to the praises o f

,

him in whos e v ir t u e y o u always delighted Do not .

2 77
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

quod talem am is e r is s ed gaud e as quod talem , ,

hab ue ri s et s icut hi qui in brevi tabella t e rr ar um

, ,

situs pi ngunt ita in p ar ve i s to v olum ine ce m as

,

a d um b r at a n o n express a signa v i r t ut um s usc i i as

, p ,

que a nobis non vires s e d v oluntat em , .

8 Pr a ec e p t a sunt r he to r um ut maiore s eius qui

.
, ,

l aud and us e st e t eorum altius gesta r e p e t ant ur

,

s ic ue ad ipsum p er gradus s e rn ie p er v en i at q uo
q ,

videlicet av itis p at e r ni s q ue vi r t ut ib us i nl us t ri or fiat

e t aut no n degenerasse a boni s aut mediocres ipse
ornas s e videatur Ego carnis bona quae semper et .
,

ips e c o nt e m psit in ani m ae laudi b us non r e q uir am

,

nec m e i ac t ab o de genere id est de alie nis bonis cum

‘

, ,

et Abra ham et Isa ac sancti viri Ism ahele m et Esau , ,

p e c c ator e s ge nue rint et a regione Ie pht e in catalogo

i us t e r um apostoli v e ce num e r at us de meretrice s it
’
natus Anima i nq uit quae p e cc av er it ipsa
‘

.
, , ,

m ori e t ur ergo et quae non p ec c av e r it ipsa v iv e t

, , .

Nec v ir t ut e s nec vitia p ar ent um lib eri s input ant ur ;

ab eo tempore c e ns em ur ex q uo in Christo renasci ,

mur Paulus pers ecutor ecclesiae et mane lupus

.
,

r ap ax Beniamin ad v e sp e r am dedi t esc am A nani ae

,

o vi s ub mi t t e ns caput Igitur et Nepo tianus noster .

quasi infant ul us v agi e ns et rudis puer subito nobis

de Iordane nas c at ur .

1
Ezeki el x viii , . 4 .

2
C f p 1 58 , not e 4
P
. . .

2
W h o b apti z ed aul , cf. A ct s i x
, . 105 .

2 78
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

9 Ali us for si t an sc r ib er e t quod ob salut em illi us

.
,

orientem he r e m um q ue d im is e r is et me c ar issim um ,

s e dalem tuum r e d e un d i sp e lac t av e r is ut primum

, , ,

s i fieri pos s et s or or e m cum parvul e v i d uam

, dein si , ,

consilium illa r esp uer e t saltem ne p o t em dulc issim um ,

conservares Hic es t enim ille de quo tibi quondam

.
,

v at ici nat us s um : Licet parvulus ex collo p end e at

’
nepos Re fe r r e t i nq uam alius quod in p al at ii
.
, , ,

militia s ub chlamyde et candenti lino corpus eius

cilicio t rit um sit q uo d stans ante sacculi pot e st at es
,

lurida i e iuni i s e r a p or tav e r it quod adh uc sub alterius ,

i nd um e nt is alteri m ili t ar it et ad hoc hab ue r it c ingu

lum ut v id ui s p upi lli s oppr essis m is eri s s ub v enir e t
, , , ,

mihi non placent dilationes ist ae inp er fec tae s e r vit utis
Dei et c e nt urio nem C o r nelium ut lego i ust um , ,

statim audio b apt izat um .

IO V e r um t am e n velut incunabula quaedam nas

.

centis fid e i c o npr ob em us ut qui s ub ali e ni s s ignis , ,

d e v o tus miles fuit d o nand us laurea sit po st q uam suo

, ,

regi c o ep er it mili tare Balteo po sito hab it uq ue mu .

tato q uid q uid c as tr e nsis p ec ulii fuit in p aup er es

, ,

e r e gavi t L e ge r at enim
. Qui vult perfectus esse ,

vendat omnia quae habet , et det p aup erib us et

,
’
s e uat ur me et iterum : N on o t e s t is d uob us
q , p
’
domini s servire Deo et m amm o nae Excepta vili , .

tunica et e p e rim ent o pari quod tecto tantum corpore ,

fri gus e x clud e r e t ni hil sibi am p lius r e ser v avi t

,
.

Cultus ipse p r e vrnc rae morem sequen s nec m unditii s

1
Cf L
tter X I V p 3 1
e
M
. . .
,
2
S t M atthew xi x 2 1
.
, . .
3
St . a tthew , vi . 24 .

2 80
 LETT ER L X

A nother perhaps desc ribe ho w fo r hi s

might
salvati on you le f t the Eas t and the desert and ho w ,

you f ed me your deares t co m rade wi th hop es of

, ,

your return ; desiring in t he firs t p lace if it were ,

possible to s ave yo ur widowed sis ter and her little

,

son o r if she rej ected your co uns els at leas t to

, , ,

pres erv e your dear little nephew H e is the child .

o f wh om I once us ed the prop h eti c words though ,

’1
y our li ttle nephew cli ng t o your neck Another .
,

I rep eat mi ght tell how , while he was a sol di er at

,

co urt beneath hi s mili ta ry cloak and white linen

,

tunic his skin was chafed by sackcloth ; how whi le ,

he stood before the powers o f this world his lips ,

were pale with fasting ; how while he w e re e ne ,

’
master s uni fo rm he served another ; and how he
,

onl y w e r e a sword belt that he mi ght succour the -

widow and the fa therless th e wre tched and the ,

oppressed For my o wn part I do not like an in

.

’
complete o r a deferred de dication to God s s ervice ,

and when I read o f the cen t urion Co rne lius that he

was a j ust man I immediately hear o f hi m as being
bap tized .

Still we may app ro v e o f all this as being the

,

cradlings of a new b e m faith He who has been —

.

a loyal soldi er under a foreign banner is s ure t o

des erve the laurel when he begins to se rve hi s o w n
’
ki ng When Nepo ti an laid aside hi s soldi er s belt
.

and chang ed his dr es s he gave all hi s army s avings ,

to the poo r For he had read the words :

. If tho u
wilt be perfect sell that thou hast and give to the poo r
, ,
’2
and fo llow me and ain : Ye ca nnot s erve t wo
,
’3
ma sters God and M ammon, He kept nothi ng for .

hi ms elf except a coars e tunic and cloak to protect

hi m from the cold His dress was of provincial cut
.
,

2 81
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST J EROME .

nec se r dib us no tab ilis erat C um q ue ar d e r et cotidi e .

aut ad Aegypti m o nast e r i a p e rge r e aut M e sop ot am iae

i nvi s e re c horo s vel certe i ns ular um Dalm ati a e quae ,

Altino tantum freto di s tant s o lit udine s occupare , ,

a v un c ul um on t i fic e m d e s e r e r e non aud e b at tota in

p
illo c e r ne ns exempla v ir t ut um d om iq ue habens unde ,

di sc e r e t In uno atque c e dem et i mit ab at ur mona

.

c hum et e p isc op um v ene r ab at ur Non ut in ple ris .

,

que ac cid er e solet ad sid uit as fam ili ari tat em familiari
, ,

tas c ont e m p t um illius fe c er at sed ita eum c e l eb at , ,

quasi p ar e nt em ita adrnir ab atur quasi cotidie novum

, ,

c er ne r e t .

Quid multa ? Fit c leri c us et per s olite s gradus

presbyter o r dinat ur I esu bone qui ge mit us qui .
, ,

he iulat us quae cibi int e r di c t io quae fuga oc ulo r um

, ,

omnium ! Tum primum et solum av unc ulo i r at us

est .
Q uere b at ur s e ferre non pos se et iuv e nale m ,

a e t at e m i nc o n r uam s ac e r do t io c aus ab a t u Sed

'

r
g .

quanto plus r ep ugnab at tanto magis omnium in s e ,

studi a c o nc it ab at et m er e b at ur negando quod e ss e ,

nol eb at e o q ue d igni or erat quod s e cl am ab at

, ,

i ndignum Vidimus Tim o the um nostri temporis e t

.

canos in Sapientia e l e c t um q ue a M oy si pre sb y t erum ,

quem ipse s cir e t esse p r esb yt erum Igitur cleri .

c at um non honorem in t ellege ns sed onus pri mam

curam habuit ut hum ilit at e s up er ar e t invi di am
, ,

deinde ut nullam o b sc eni in s e r um e r is fab ulam daret

, ,

1
Alt inum , inVeneti a, on t he b o rd er o f t he lag oon s an d
T
,

o p o sit e orc e ll o i s lan d , t o whi c h t he epi s copal see w as

p
transferre d in 635 AD
. . .

2
Cf p 4 1 2 , no te 1
. . .

Wisd o m , iv 9 But wi s d om is t he gre y hair unt o man,

. .

’
an d anun s p ott e d l if e is old age .
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

ut qui m e rd e b ant nr ad ae t at e m eius st up e r e nt

, ,

ad c o nt ine nt iam S ub v e nir e p aup e ri b us visitare

.
,

l angue nt es provocare hospit io lenire b landi tus

, , ,

gaudere cum gaud e ntib us fiere cum flentib us ,

c ae c o r u m baculus e sur i e nti um c ib us spes m iser or um

, , ,

so lam e n l u e n um n
g t i fuit Ita . in s i guli s v irt ut ib us
e m in e b at quasi c e t e r as non haberet
, Inter presby .

tere s et c o ae q ual e s primus in opere e x tr em us in ,

ordi ne Q uidq uid boni f e c er at ad av unc ulum

.
,

r e f e r e b at ; si qui d forte aliter e v ener at quam ,

p u t ar at , illum ne s c ir e se ,errasse d i c e b at In .

publico e pisc opum d e mi p at r e rn nov e r at Gravi

, .

tatem morum hilar it at e frontis t e m p e r ab at .

Gaudi um r is u non cachinno i nt ellege r es Viduas e t

, , .

v ir in es Christi honorare ut matres h o rt ari u t

g ,

s o r e r e s cum omni c as ti t at e l am vero , p ost q uam

.

d o m um se c e nt ul e r at et r elic t o foris clerico d ur i t i ae

s e t r adi der at monachorum creber in or ati oni b us , ,

vi ilan
g s in
p r e c an d o l ac r im as Deo non homi nib us , ,
’
e fler eb at ; i e i un i a in aurigae mod um pro lassitudine
et viri b us corporis m o d er ab at ur M ens ae avunc uli .

int e r e r at et sic adp o sit a q uaeq ue li b ab at ut et ,

s up ers t iti on e m fugeret et c o n tine nt i am r eserv ar e t .

Sermo eius et omne convivium de sc ripturis aliquid

proponere li b ent er audi re respondere v er e c und e
, , ,

recta s usc ip er e prava non acrit er conf utare di spu

, ,

1
R om . x ii . 15 .

2 84
 LE TTE R L X
and by continence to dumbfound those w ho railed
agai ns t his youth H e helped t he poo r visite d the
.
,

sick challenge d others to acts o f hospitality soothed

, ,
’
men s anger with soft words rej oiced wi th thos e ,
’1
who rej oiced and wept with thos e who wept He .

was a s ta ff t o the bli nd fee d to the hungry hope to

, ,

the wre tched a consolation to the sorrowful Each

, .

si ngle vi rtue was as conspicuous in hi m as if he

poss essed no others Among hi s fellow presb yt ers
.
-

and equals in age he was first in indus try las t in

, ,

rank A ny goo d t hat he did he ascribe d to hi s

.

uncle ; if th e result was di ff erent from what he had

expected he would say that his uncle knew nothing
,

of the matter and th at it was his o w n mi stake I n .

public he recognized him as a bishop at home he ,

treate d him as a father The gravity o f his character

.

was tempered by the cheerfulness of his looks A

’
.

smile no t a guflaw was the sign that he felt glad

, , .

’
Widows and C hrist s virgi ns he honoured as mothers ,

and exhorted as sisters with all chastity On his , .

return home he left the clergyman outs ide and ,

submi tted hims el f to the hard rule o f a monk Fr e .

quent in supplication wakeful in prayer he o ffered

, ,

hi s tears not t o men but to G o d His fasts he regu .

lated as a charioteer does his pace by the weariness

, ,

or the vigour o f hi s body He would sit at his .

’
uncle s table and j us t tas te the dishes set before
hi m, thus both avoidi ng sup ers tition and yet
keeping t o his rule o f self restraint His chief topic -
.

o f convers ation and his favourite f o rm o f entertain

ment was to bring forward some p assage from the

Scriptures for discussion ; then he would listen
modestly answer di ffid ent ly suppo rt t he right and
, , ,

m ildly re f ute the wrong ins tructing his opponent ,

2 85
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

t ant em contra se magis docere quam vincere et

ingenuo pudore qui e rnabat aet at e m quid cui us
, ,

esset sim pliciter c o nfit eri ; atque in hnno modum

,

e r udi t io nis gloriam declinando e r udi t issim us habe

’
batur . Ill ud ai e b at
, Te r t ulli ani i st ud C ypr iani
, , ,

hoc L ac t ant ii illud Hilar ii est

, Sic M inuc ius Felix
.
,
’
ita Victorinus in hunc modum e st loc ut us A r nob ius
, .

M e quoque quia pro s od ali t at e av unculi di li geb at

, ,
°

i nt e r d um pr o f e r eb at in medium L ec t io ne quoque
.

ad s id ua et m e di t at ie n e diuturn a pectus suum b iblio

t he c am f e c e r at Christi .

Il Quotiens ille t r ansm ar inis e p ist uli s d e pr e c at us

.

est ut ali quid ad s e sc r ib er e m Quotiens noc t ur num

,

de evange lio p e tit or e m et int e rp ellat ric e m d u ri

indicis mi hi v id uam e x hib uit ! C um q ue ego silentio
magis quam litteris denegarem et pudore r et ic entis
pude rem s uflund e r e m p e st ulantis av unc ulum mihi
'

o
ppo s uit pr e c ato r e n i qui et liberius pro ali o p et er e t
,

e t pro r ev er entia s ac e r dotii facili us inp e tr ar et Feci .

ergo quod v oluit et brevi libello amic it ias nostras

, ,

ae t e r n ae memoriae c o n se c r avi
q ue susc e pto Croe s i
opes et Dam di vi ti as se vic isse i act ab at Illum .

ocu lis illum simu illum m an

, ,
i b us illum o r e r e ti ne b at ;
,

cum qu e in strato frequenter e v olv e r e t super pectus ,

s o o r at i dulcis pagi na d e c id e b at Si vero e r e ri

g
p p .

1
Le tt er LI I
2 86
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST . JEROME

norum si ami c or um q ui spiam v ener at lae t ab at ur

, ,

super s e nostro testimonio e t q ui d q ui d minus in ,

opuscul e erat distinct ione moderata et pr enunti

,

at i o n i s v ar i e t at e p e ns ab at ut in recitando illo ipse 1 ,

v e l placere v el dis li c e r e cotidi e v id e r e t ur U nde

p .

his fervor nisi ex amore Dei ? U nde legis Christi

,

indefessa medi tatio nisi ex desiderio eius qui legem , ,

dedit ? Alii numm um add ant num mo et m ars up

pium su ffocantes m atr o nar um opes v enent ur ob seq uii s
sint di tior es monachi quam fuer ant s ae c ular es , ,

e s si d e ant opes sub C hr isto p aup er e quas sub

p ,

locuplete diabolo non hab uer ant et suspir e t e os ,

eccle sia di vit es qu e s tenuit mundus ante m endi c os

,

Ne p o tianus noster aurum c alc an s s c e dul as con

s ec t at u r sed sicut sui in carne c ont e m ptor es t e t
, ,

au er t at e i nc e di t rn at i ita totum ecclesiae

p p o o r ,

i nv e st igat ornatum .

1 2 Ad c o np ar at io ne m quidem superiorum modica

.

sunt quae d ict ur i s um us sed et in parvis idem animus

, ,

os t e n di t ur . U t enim c r e ator em non in caelo tantum

m ir am ur et terra sole et oceano el efantis c am eli s
, , , ,

equis bubus pardis ursis le onib us sed et in m inut is

, , , , ,

quoque anim ali b us formica c ulic e muscis vermi, , , ,

culis et isti us modi genere quorum magis corpora ,

s oimus quam no m ina e an d e m q ue in c unc tis vene

,

r am ur s olle rt iam ita mens Christo dedita aeque et

,

in m aior ib us et in mi nor ib us intenta est sciens etiam

pro oti os e verbo r e dd e nd am ess e rationem Erat .

ergo sollic it us s i nit er e t altare si parietes absque

, ,

1 i ps o E ilberg .

288
 LE TT ER LX

in he rej oiced t o show him t he e vidence o f my re

,

g ard ; and anything lacking in my poor work w as

compensated for by careful modulation and vari ed
emphas is so t hat when it was read aloud it was
, , ,

he not I w ho seemed to pleas e or to displease

, , .

Whence could t his fervour come save from love o f

God ? Whence this t ireless medi tation on t h e
law of Christ save from longing for Him who gave
that law ? Le t others add shilling to S hilling fas ten ,

ing their claws on marri ed ladies p urs e s an

’
d h unting
for death bed legacies ; let them be richer as monks
-

t han they were as men o f the world ; let th em possess

wealth in the service o f a p e e r Chris t s uc h as they
never had in th e service of a rich devil ; let t he
Church sigh over the opulence of men w ho in the
world were beggars O ur dear Ne po ti an tramples
.

gold underfoot bo oks are the only thi ngs h e des ires
, .

But while he d espises hi ms elf in the flesh and walks

abroad in splendid poverty he yet s eeks out every ,

thing that may adorn hi s c hurch .

In comparison with what I have already said t he

followi ng details are t r ivial ; but even in small things
t he same spi r it i s revealed We admi re t he Creator
.
,

not only as the framer of heaven and earth of s un ,

and ocean o f elephants camels hors es o xen

, , , , ,

leopards bears and lions but also as the maker of

, ,

tiny creat ures ants gnats fli es worms and the

, , , , ,

like t hings whose s hapes we know better than t h eir

,

names And as in all creation we reverence His

.

skill se t he m ind that is given to C hris t is equally

,

cam est in s mall t hings as in great knowi ng t hat an ,

a cco unt m ust be given even for an idle word Nep e .

tian therefore took anxious pains to keep the altar

bright to have the walls free from soot and the
,

2 89
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

f uli gi ne si pavimenta ters a si i ani tor creber in porta , ,

vela semper in o s tiis si sacrarium mundum si vasa , ,

l uc e nti a ; et in omnes c ae rim o n i as pia sollicitud e

di sp o sit a non minus non mai us ne gl e ge b at o fli c i um
, .

Ub ic um q ue eum in ecclesia q uaer er es i nv e n i r es , .

Nob ile m virum Quintum Fab i um mir at ur anti

quitas qui etiam Rom anae script e r hist ori ae est sed
, ,

magi s ex pi c t ur a quam litteris nomen invenit ; e t

Be se l ehe l n ostrum plenum sapienti a et spiritu D ei
s c r i t ur a t e s t at ur
p Hiram quoque fili um m uli e r is
, ,

Ty r i ae q uo d alter t ab e r nac uli alter temp li s up el

, ,

l e c t ile m f ab r i c at i sunt Quomodo enim lae t ae .

s e e t es et ub e r es agri i n t e r d um cu lmis ar rs t is ue
g q
luxuriant ita pr ae cl ar a ingenia et mens plena v irtuti
,

b us i nv ar iar um artium r e d und at e l e gant i am U nde .

apud G r ae c o s p hilosop hus ille laudat ur qui omne , ,

quod ut er e t ur usqu e ad pallium et anulum manu

,

sua factum glor i at us es t Hoc idem pos s umus et de .

isto dicere qui basilicas eccle siae et m ar tyr um c on

,

c ili ab ula di versi s flo r i b us et arb or um c e rnis v i t i u m q ue

am p in i s ad um b r ar e t ut ui d ui d l ac e b at in
p q q p , ,

ecclesia tam di sp o si tione quam visu laborem pre s by ,

teri et studi um t es t ar e t ur .

1 3 M ac t e virtute
. Cuius tali a principia q ualis
.
,

finis eri t ? O mi s e r ab ilis humana con di cio et sine

Christo v anum omne quod vi vim us Quid te sub , .

1
J
me here conf es se s
e o r CF
a b i us Pi e te r t he p ai nte r (fl 300)
. .

wi th his grands o n Quint us t he histori an .

2
Ex o dus xxx i , . 2, 3 ; 1 Ki ng s , v ii . 14 .

3
Hi ppi as of E lis .

2 90
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

trahi s quid t er giv e r s ar is oratio ? Qu asi enim

, ,
’
mortem illius di fle r e p e ssim us et vitam facere longi
orem sic t im e m us ad ultimum pervenire
, O m nis .

’
caro fae num et o m nis gloria eius quasi flo s fae ni .

U bi nunc decora illa facies ubi t o ti us corpori s di g ui ,

t as ,quo v elut i p ulchr o indumento pulchritude

an im ae v e s ti e b at ur ? M ar c esc eb at pro d olor flant e , ,

austro li lium et purpura v i ol ae in p allor em sensim

m igr ab at C um q ue ae st uar e t f e b r ib us et venarum
.

fontes haur ir e t calor lasso anh eli t u tristem avun ,

c ulum c o n s o lab at ur L ae t us erat v ult us et un i v er sis

.

circa plor antib us solus ipse r id eb at Pr e ic er e palli um .

manus e x t e nd e r e vi d e r e quod alii non vi d eb ant et

, , ,

quasi in e c c urs um se e r ige ns salutare v eni e nt e s

i nt e lle ge r e s illum non em e ri sed migrare et mutare , ,

amic e s non relinquere V olv unt ur per o r a lacrimae .

e t ob fir m at o anim e non queo dolorem di ssimulare ,

quem p atio r Quis c r e d er e t in tali illum temp e re

.

nost r ae ne c e ssit udinis recordari et luc t ant e anima

stu di orum scire d ulc e di nem ? A dpr ehens a av unc uli
’
Hanc i nq uit t un i c am
‘
manu : ,qua ut e b ar in , ,

ministerio C hri s ti mitte dilec tissim o mihi aetate , ,

patri fr at ri collegio et q ui dq ui d a te nepoti debe

, , ,
’
batur aflec t us in illum transfer quem mecum pariter
, ,
’
di li ge b as Atque in talia verba d efe c it av unc ulum
.

manu m e r e c or d ati one c o nt r e c t ans

, .

1 4 S c ie quod nolue r is am o r e m in te civium si c

.
,
’
probare et aflec t um patriae magis q uaesiss e in
,

1
1 P tr i
e e , . 24 .
2
Cf p 4 64 , note 3
. . .

2 92
 LETT ER LX

why d o you he s itate ? I fear to come to the end

’
,

as though I could put o fl hi s death and make his

life longer . All fle sh is as gras s and all the glory
’1
o f man a s t h e flower of grass Where no w is t hat
.

comely f ace where i s t hat d igni fie d figure whic h

, ,

clot hed hi s fa ir s e ul as with a fair garment ? O

grief t he lily withered when t h e sout h wind blew ,
’
and th e vi olet s purple slowly faded i nto paleness .

He burned with fever and all the moistur e in his

,

veins was dried up with heat but gasp i ng and weary

,
’
he s till tried to comfort his uncle s grief His face .

w as bright and while all around him wept he alone

, ,

smiled 3 Suddenly h e flung o ff hi s cloak and stretched

.

o ut hi s h ands seeing somet hing t h at was not revealed

,
’
to others eyes and rai sing himsel f up as though to
,

meet them he greeted those that were comi ng t o

hi m. Yo u would have thought that h e was start ing
o n a j ourney not dying and that he was exchangi ng
, ,

friends not leaving friends behi nd The tears roll

, .

down my face and though I steel my courage I

,

cannot hi de the p ain which I su ffer Who would .

beli eve that in suc h an hour he still remembered o ur

friendship and that while he was struggling for lif e
,

h e still recalled th e delights o f study ? Grasp ing

’
hi s uncle s h and he said : Send thi s tuni c which I
w e r e in t he service o f Chris t to my beloved fri end ,

my father in age and my broth er in o ffice and any ,

a ff ecti on due to your nephew tr ansfer to him who ,

’
is as dear to you as he i s to me W ith these words
.

’
he passed away hi s uncle s hand in hi s and thought s
, ,

of me in his heart .

I know that y ou were reluctant to prove your

’
p e opl e s love at such a cost and ’that you would
,

have preferred to win your coun t ry s a ff ection under

2 93
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JERO ME

pr osp eri s Sed huiusc e modi o ffic irim in bonis

.

iuc undi us est in malis gra tins Tota hunc civitas

, .
,

tota planx it I tali a Corpus terra susc epit anima

.
,

Christo reddi ta es t T u nep ot em q uae r e b as ecclesia

.
,

s ac e r d o t e m Pr ae c e ssit te successor tuus

. Quod tu .

eras ille post te iu di cio omnium m er e b at ur Atque

, .

ita ex una de m o duplex p ont ific at us egressa est

dignitas : dum in altere gr at ulat io est q uo d t e nuer it , ,

in altere m a er or quod raptus si t ne t e ne r e t Pla

, , .

tonis s ententia est o m ne m sapienti vitam medita

t i onem esse mortis L audant hoc philo sophi et in
.

’
caelum f e r unt sed multo fortins apo stol us
, C o ti di e ,
’
i nq uit mori e r p er v estr am glori am
‘

, A liud e s t .

c on ar i aliud agere ; ali ud vivere m or it ur um aliud

, ,

mori vic t ur um Ille m or itur us ex glori a est ; iste

.

moritur s emper ad gloriam .

D e b e m us igitur et nos animo p r ae m e di t ar i quod ,

al i uan d o futuri s um us et quod v elim us no li m us

q
—

abesse longi us non potest Nam s i nonge nto s vitae .

e x c e d e r e m us annos ut ante diluvium vi v eb at ,

humanum genus et M athusalae nobi s tempora

,

d o nar e nt ur t amen nihil esset p r ae t e r it a longitud e

, ,

quae esse d e siss e t E t e ni m inter eum qui decem

.
,

v i x i t annos et illum qui mille p os t q uam idem vitae

, , ,

fini s ad v e ne r it e t i nr ec us ab ilis mortis nece s sitas ,

1 Pl
'
t
a e, P haed o, 8 1 A , s ay s of t he p hil osophi e li fe : 73 o ri 1 0 1î7 '
'
"
d v c i1 ; e À er 6a vcir o v ;
’ ’
ori n t i ans, x v n
' ' '
3 1 m; 1 17v zip er epa v x a vx a rv 7j v èxw € v
‘
2
l . .
*

2 94
 SELE CT LE TT E RS O F ST JERO ME .

t r ans ac t umomne t ant und em est nisi quod magis ,

s enex o nust us peccatorum fasce pr o fic isc i tur .

Optim a q uae q ue di es mi se ris m o r t alib us ae v i

Prima fugit s ub e unt morbi t ri st is q ue s e ne c tus
,
’
Et labor et durae r apit i ncle m e ntia mortis .

’
Nae v i us poeta i nq uit ,
‘
Pati
necesse est multa ,
’
mortalem mala U nde et Nio b am qui multum
.
,

fle v eri t in lapidem et in diversas bestias ( conversas

alias et He c ub am in c ane m ) c o m m ut at am finx it
an t iq uit as et Hesiodus natales h ominum pl an
, ge ns
gaudet in funere pr ud e nt er q ue Ennius ,

’
Plebes ait i nho c regio 1 anti s tat loco : licet
, ,
’
L acrimare plebi regi hone st e non li cet , .

U t regi , episcopo imm o minus regi quam epis copo

s ic , .

Ille enim nol e ntib us pr ae e st hic v o le nt ib us ; ille ,

terrore s ub ic it hic s er vit ut e dom inat ur ; ille corpora

,

c ust o di t ad mortem hic ani mas servat ad vitam , In .

te omnium oculi di riguntur domus tua et ce nv ers at io ,

quasi in specula c onstituta magistra est publicae

di sc ipli nae Q uid q ui d feceris id sibi omnes fac i e n
.
,

dum put ant Cave ne c om m itt as q uod aut qui

.
, ,

r e r eh e n d e r e v o lunt di gne lacerasse v id e ant ur aut

p , ,

qui i m it ar i c ogant ur de linquere Vince quantum

, .

pote s immo plus quam potes m ollit i em animi tui

, ,

et ub er t im flue nt e s lac r im as reprime ne grandis ,

pieta s in nepo t e m apud inc r e d ulas mentes d esp er at ie

u t e t ur in Deum D e si d e r and us tibi est quasi
p .

1
The b est re ading is r egi .

1
G eorgios , I I 6 6 I . .

2
Enni us, Ip higenia fr 7 , . .

2 96
 LETTER L X

the older a m an is the hea vi er is , the load of si nhe

take s with hi m o nhi s j ourney .

O hapless men ! the brighte s t y ears are firs t

To fly : diseas e and age come o nus s o on
’1
An d trouble and t he rut hle s s ne s s of deat h .

Se the poet Nae vi us says : M orta ls perforce mus t

’
many ills endure Therefore anti qui ty feigned
.

t h at Niobe because of her lo ng weep ing was turned

, ,

into s tone and that other women were chang ed into

,

vario us kinds of ani mals Hecuba for example into , , ,

’
a d e g Hesiod t oo bewails men s b irthday s and
.

rej oice s at th eir deat h and Enni us wi s ely s ays,

Th e mob in t hi s outv i e s t he kingly state ,

’2
Fo r th ey may weep ; tears to a king are s hame .

As with a ki ng s e wit h a b is hop : or rat her a

,

bi shop has less licence than a king Th e king rules

n
.

over t he unwilli ng the bis hop over th e wi lh g The

, .

ki ng subdue s by insp iring f ear t he bis hop is master ,

because h e is servant The king guards bodi es for.

fut ure death th e bish op s av es souls for eternal li fe

, .

The eye s o f all men are t urned upon you your ,

house is set as it were upon a watch tower and your —

,

l ife gives to all a les son of public discip line Wh at .

ever you do everyone thinks that he may do als o

, .

Take care no t to commit any act which thos e who

wi s h to blame you may seem rig h t in cens uring or ,

w hich w ould force t hos e w ho wi s h to imi ta te you to

do wr ong Us e all your strength and even more
.
, ,

to overcome t he s oftne s s of your h eart and check ,

t he copious floe d of your tears lest your great love

for your nephe w be taken by unbeli evers as s howing
despair o f God You m ust regret him no t as o ne
.

2 97
 SE LE CT LETT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

ab se ns non quasi mortuus ut ill um

, , ex
p ec t ar e , non
a m is iss e vi d e ari s .

15 Verum quid ago mede us dolori quem iam re e r

.
,

e t tempore et ratione s ed at um ac non potins replico ,

tibi vi c inas regum miserias et no s tri temporis calami

tates ut non tam pl ange nd us sit qui hac luce c ar ueri t
, , ,

quam c ongr at uland um ei quod de tantis malis ,

e v ase r i t ? Constantius A r r i anae fautor her e s eos

, ,

dum contra inim ic um p ar at ur et c o nc it us f ertur ad

pugnam in M opsi vi c ulo moriens magno dolore hosti
,

r e l i ui t imperium
q Iuli anus p e r di t or anim a e s uae
.
,

et C hristiani i ugulat or e x e r c it us C hrist um s e ns it i n ,

M edi a quem primum in Gallia d e ne gar at ; d um q ue

,

R omanos propagare vult fines p e r di di t propagat e s , .

Io v i anus gus t at is tantum r e galib us bonis fetore

p r un ar um s uffo c at us i n t e r ii t o st e nd ens omnibus ,

quid s it humana potentia Vale nti ni anus vastat e .

genitali solo et inult am p at riam d er eli q ue ns ve m it u

sanguini s e x tinc tus e s t Hui us ge r m anus Valens
.

G ot lri c o bello victus in Thracia eundem loc um et

mortis habuit et s ep ulc hr i Gratianus ab exercit a .

s uo r o dit us e t ab o b v ii s ur b ib us non r e c e p t us ludi

'

p
brio hosti fui t c r ue nt ae q ue manus ve s tigia parietes
tui L ugd une t est ant ur A d ule sc e ns V ale nti ni anus
, , .

et p ae ne puer post f ugam post e x ilia post recupera

, ,

tum multo sangui ne imperium haut pr oc ul ab urbe

1
Th e E mperors he re m entio ne d f o llowe d o ne another i n
q ui ck suc c es s i on C on s t an tius di ed i n36 1 whil e m arc hing t o
J J
.

C ous t ant inop l e t o resist ul i an uli anw as kill ed fig hting t he

J
.

Pers iana i n3 63, and w as s ucc ee d ed by e vi anw ho on l y reigned

a f e w mo n ths Hi s place w as t akeni nt he W est by Valentiniau
.

( 364 an d int he E ast by V alens ( 364 while ratian, G

w ho c am e ne x t , w as m ur d ere d at Ly o ns in38 3 P rocopius ,
M
.

a x i m us an d E ug e ni us w er e us urpers o f s hort d ur at ion,

o v e rt hrownby T
heod o si us t he reat ( 37 9 G
2 98
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F ST JERO ME .

fr at e r nae mortis conscia ne c at us est et cadaver

e x an im is i nfam at um s usp endi o Quid le quar de .

Procopio M aximo Eugenio qui utique dum rerum

, , , ,

o t ir e n t u terrori gentibus e r an t ? Omnes capti

p r ,

s t e t e r un t ante e r a v ic t o r um et quod p o t e nt iss im is ,

quondam m is e rr im um e st prius ignomini a s e r v itut is ,

quam host ili mucrone confe ssi sunt .

1 6 Dic at ali q uis :

. R egum tali s condicio est ,

f e r i unt 9 ue s um m os ful g ura Ad Pr iv at as

veniam digni t at e s nec de hi s lo q uar qui e x c e d unt ,

biennium ; atque ut c e t e r o s pr aet erm itt am s ufli c it

, ,

nobi s t rium nup er c o ns ular ium di versos exitus

s c r ib e r e
. A b und ant i us egens Pit y unt e e x ulat
Rufini caput pilo C o ns t ant ine p olin ge st at um e s t et
absci s sa manus d e x t er a ad d e d e c us insat iab ilis
av ar i t i a e o s t i at im stipes m e ndic avit ; Tim asius
p r ae c ip it at us repente de altissimo di grrit at is gradu
uo d A ss ae vi vi t i n lo ri us
1
e v asi ss e s e putat Non
q, g .

c alam i t at e s m i s e r o r u m sed fragilem hum anae condi

,

c io n is narro statum horret animus temporum —

nostr or um r uinas proseq ui v igint i et ee amplius anni —

sunt quod inter C ons t ant ine p olin et Alpes Iuli as

,
’
cotidi e R omanus sanguis e flundi t ur S c y t hi am .
,

Thr ac iam , M ac e d o ni am , The s sali am , Dar d aniam ,

Dac i am , E p ir os , D alm at iam , c unc t as q ue Pannoni as
G e t hus , S ar m at a , Q uad us , A l anus Huni , Vandali , ,

M arcomanni v ast a nt , t r ahunt , r ap i u nt . Quot ma

1
in O a se : Hilberg .

1
H o race Odes I I x I l
, , . . .

2
B ani shed c 39 6 t o Pity us o nt he Black S ea by E ut r opius
.
,

who m he had h elpe d t o rai se t o power

Prime Minister of Theod osi us I assassi nated by G aines
.

3
,

i nt he re igno f Ar c adi us
A g eneral o f Theo d osius b anis he d by E nt re p ius
.

300
 LETTER LX
’
from t he city which had witnessed his brother
’
s

death and s ufle r e d t he shame of havi ng his corpse

,

hung from a gibbet Why spe ak of Pr ocopius .

,

M aximus and Eugeni us w ho while they rul ed at

, , ,

any rate were a t e rr o r to t he nations ? They all

,

s tood as prisoners in the pre s ence o f their conquerors

and fa t e most wretched for those who had once
—

been supreme felt their hearts stabbed by the

—

’
shame of slavery before they p eris hed by the enemy s
sword .

Some o ne may say Such is the lo t o f ki ngs the ,

” 1
lightni ngs strike the mountai n tops I will co me .
,

t he n to pers ons of private r an

,
k and even in their ,

case I wi ll not go back for more than two years .

O m itting any ot her s it is s uffic ie nt for me to record

,

th e di vers e ends o f t hree men recently o f cons ul ar

position A b undant i us is now a beggar and lives
.
2

in e xile at i ty us
P T h e head of . Rufi nus was carried
3

on a pike to C o us t anti no ple and t o s h am e his in ,

s atiable greed hi s s evered hand begged for pence

f rom d oo r to door Tim as i us ‘ was hurled down

.

suddenly from a post o f the highest di gni ty and ,

t hi nks it an escap e t hat he now lives in obscurity

at Assa I wi ll say no more of the calami ties o f
.

individuals ; I come now to the frail fortunes o f

human life and my soul s hudders to reco unt the
,

downf all o f our age .

For twenty years and more the blood o f R omans

has every day been s h ed between Cons tantinople
and t he J ulian Alps Scyt hia Thrace M acedonia
.
, , ,

Thessaly Darda nia Dacia Epirus Dalmatia and

, , , , ,

all the provinces of Pannonia have been sacked , ,

p illaged and plundered by Goths and Sarmatians ,

Q uadians and Alans Huns and Vandals and M ar

,

30 1
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

tr onae , quot gine s Dei e t ingenua nob ili aq ue

v ir

corpora his b el ui s f uere lu di brio ! Capti e piscopi ,

int er f e c t i p r e sb y t e r i et di v er sor um
o fficia c le ric or um ,

su b v ers ae ecclesiae ad alt ari a Christi stabulati

,

equi m ar ty r um e ffo ss a e reliquae : ubique l uc t us

, ,

’
ubiqu e ge mi tus et plurima m or tis imago R oman us .

orbis ruit et tamen cer vix nostra erecta non flec titur
Qui d putas nunc animi habere C or inthios A t he ni ,

cuses L ac e d aem oni os Arcadas c unc t am q ue Grae

, ,

ciam quibus imp erant barbari ? Et certe paucas

,

urbes nominavi in quibus oli m fuere regna non

,

mo di ca Inm unis ab his malis vi d eb at ur o r i e ns et

.

tantum nuntrrs c onst e r nat us : ecce tibi anno prae

t e r i t o ex ultimis C auc asi r upib us i n m issi in nos no n
A r ab i ae sed sep t e nt r io nis lupi tantas brevi pro
,

v in c ias e r c uc ur r e r unt Que t m onas t er i a capta

’
p .
,

u an t a e fluv io r um aquae humano cruore m ut at ae

q
sunt ! Ob s es s a Antiochi a et urbes reli quae qua s ,

Haly s Cydnus Orontes E ufr at e s q ue pr ae t e r fluunt

, , .

Tr ac ti greges c ap t iv or um ; Arabia Phoenix Palae , ,

stina Aegyptus timore c ap tiv ae

, .

Non mihi s i linguae centum sint c raqu e centum ,

Ferrea v o x ,

Omma po enar um p e r c ur r er e nonuna possrm .

1 Virgil A eneid I I 369 . .

2
A .D. 395 .

VI
, ,

3
Vir g il, A eneid , . 62 5 .

30 2
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

Neque eni m hi storiam pr op osui sc r ib e r e sed nostras ,

b r e vi t er fiere miserias A li o q uin ad haec merito

.

explicanda et Thucydides et S allustius muti sunt .

1 7 Fe lix Ne p o t ianus qui haec non videt ; feli x

.
, ,

qui ista non audit No s miseri qui aut patim ur aut

.
,

patientes fratres no str os tanta p er spic irnus et tamen

vivere v o lum us cosque qui his c ar e nt fle ndo s potin s
, ,
’
quam b e andos p ut am us Ohm o fle nsum s e ntim us .

nec plac am us Deum Nost r is p e c c atis barbari .

fortes sunt nos t r is v it iis R omanus sup e r at ur exerci

,

tus ; et quasi non ho c s ufli c er et c ladi b us plus paene

bella c ivi li a quam ho s tilis mucro c onsum p sit M iseri .

Is rah e li t ae ad quorum c o np ar at ione m Nab uc ho do £

,

nosor s ervus Dei s c r ib i tur ; infelices nos qui tantum ,

di sp li c e m us Deo ut p er r ab ie m b ar b ar or um illi us in
,

nos ira d es ae v i at Ezechi as e git p ae ni t e nt iam et

.
,

centum oc togint a quinque milia A ssy ri or um ab uno

angelo una nocte deleta sunt Iose phat laudes
domino c oncine b at et dominus pro l aud ant e ,

s u e r ab at ; M o s e s contra A m al e c h non gladi o sed

p y
o r at i o n e u
p g nav it Si erigi
. v o lum us
p r os t e r nam ur , .

Pro pudor et stolida usque ad inc r e d uli t at e m mens !

R omanus e x e r c it us vi ctor orbis et dominus ab his
, ,

v in c it u r , b o s p av e t h e rum t e rr e t ur as p e c t u qui
, ,

i ngr e di non valent qui s i t e rr am t e t ige r int se mor

, , ,

tu e s arb itr antur et non i nt ellegim us p r ophe t ar um

,

ve c e s : fugient mille uno p e r se q ue nt e nec am p u

1
J rmiah, xxv i i 6
e e . .
2
2 Kings x i x 35,
. .

3
2 C hr om xx 5 fl . Exo d us x vii Il .

Isai ah xxx 1 7
,
.
, ,

5
L e t he H uus
. . , . .

3 04
 But I did not p ro po s e to write a hi s tory : I only
wi s hed briefly to lament o ur m iserie s In any cas e
.
,

if it came to telling t his ta le adequately even ,

Thucydide s and Sallust would have no voice .

Happy is Nepot ian for he does not s e e thes e

,

sights nor h ear th e se cries W e are the unhappy

.
,

w ho either suff e r ourselv es or se e o ur brot her s

su ff er And yet we wish to go on livi ng and t hink
.
,

t hat those w ho h ave escaped from t h ese evils are

to be lamented rat h er t han counted happy For .

’
a long time now we have felt t hat G o d i s o fle nd e d
with us but we do no t try to appeas e Him I t is
, .

by rea s on o f o ur s ins that t he barbarians are strong ,

it i s our vice s t hat bring defeat to the armi e s of

Ro me ; and as if t his w ere not enough of carnage ,
’
civil wars have spilt almost more b loo d thanthe enemy s
sword Nl is e r ab l e were t he I s raelite s incomparis on
.
,

with whom Nebuc ha dnezzar is called t he servant

1
of G od : unhappy are we w ho have s e di spleased
,

God t hat His anger vents i ts fury o n us by t he bar

’
b ari aus mad attacks Hezekiah repented and
.
,

one hundr ed and eigh t y fiv e th ous and As syr ians

-

w ere destroyed by one angel in a night 2

J e hos a .

p hat sang t he prai s e s of the Lo r d and the Lord gave ,

his worsh ipper the vi cto ry 3

M o se s foug h t agains t
.

‘
Amalek not with
, t h e sword but wi th prayer , If .

we wi sh to b e li fted up let us first prostrate e ur

,

selves S hame on us w ho are t e o stupid for beli ef

.

The soldiers of R ome who once subdued and ruled

,

the world now tremble and s hr ink infear from men

,

who cannot walk on foot and think the m s elves as

good as dead if once they are uuh o r s e d 5
We do not .

’
understand t he prop het s words : One thous and
’6
s hall fle e at the reb uke of one We do not cut away
.
 SELE CT LE TT E RS O F ST J ERO ME .

t amus causas morbi ut morbus pariter , auf e r at ur ,

m q ue
s t at i c er nam us 1
sagittas pilis tiaras galeis, ,

caballos equis cedere ?

18 E x c essim us c o nso landi modum , et , dum uni us
.

mortem fler e pr ohib em us , t o tius orbis m ort uo s

p lanx im us Xerxes , ille rex p ot e ntis sim us , qui
.

subvertit montes , maria c onstr avi t , c um de subli mi

loco infinit am hominum m ul ti tudi nem et i nnum e r a
bilem v i di ss e t exercitum , fless e di c it ur , quod post
centum annos nullus eorum , quos t une c e rneb at ,
s u e rf ut ur us esset
p O s i p o ss em us in talem ascendere
.

s ec ulam ,
p de qu a uni v e r s am t e rr am s ub nos t ri s

p edibus c e r ne r e m us ! l am tibi e s tenderem t o ti us

mundi ruinas gentes gentibus et r e gni s regna
,

c on lis a ; alios t or q ue ri alio s ne c ar i a lios e brui , ,

fluc t ib us alio s ad s e r vit ut e m trahi

, hic nuptias ibi ,

l an ct um ; ill es nasci i st o s mori ; alios a fll uer e

p ,

di vi t ii s a lios men di care ; et non X e r x i s tantum

,

exercitum s e d t o ti us mundi homines qui nunc

, ,

v i v un t in brevi spatio d e fut ur os

, Vinc it ur sermo rei .

magnitu di ne et minus e st omne quod di ci m us .

1 9 Re d e am us igitur ad no s et quasi e caelo

.

de s cendentes p aulisp e r nostra v i d e am us S e ntisne .

,

o b secr o te quando infans quando puer quando

, , ,

i uv e n is quando r o b ust ae a e t at is quando senex

, ,

factus sis ? C ot idi e m orim ur cotidie c o mm ut am ur ,

et tamen ae t e m os ess e nos c r e dim us Ho c ipsum .

,

quod di ete q uo d s c r ib it ur quod relego quod emendo , , ,

1
ce r n
ì mus : E i lb erg .

1
Th is at to s ay , t he e nemy weapons wo uld g iv e w ay t o
t he R o ma n
H ero do tus VI I
.

2
, . 45 .

30 6
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

de vita mea t r ahit ur Quot puncta no t ar rr tot .

,

m eo r um damna sunt temporum S c r ib im us atque .

r escr ib im us transeunt maria epist ulae et fid ent e

,

sulcos carina per singul o s fluc t us ae t at is no str ae

momenta mi nuunt ur Solum hab em us lucri quod .
,

Christi nobis amore s o ci am ur Caritas patiens est .

,

benigna e s t ; caritas non z elat ur non agit p erp er am , ,

non i nflat ur omni a s ustine t omnia credit omnia

, , ,
’
sper s t omni a patitur ; caritas numquam e x c idi t
, .

Haec semper v i v it in pectore ; ob hanc Nep o t ianus

no s ter ab se ns prae s ens e s t et per tanta t e rr ar um
s patia divis e s ut r a ue c o n l e c t it ur manu Habemus
q p .

m ut uae o b si d e m c ar it at i s Iungam ur spiritu stringa .

,
’
mur aflec t u et fo rt it udine m mentis quam beatus pap a ,

C hromatins o st e ndit in d or mi t io ne germani nos ,

i m i t e m ur in filio Illum nostra pagella d e c ant e t

.
,

i llum c unc t ae litterae s e ment Quem corpore non .

v al e m us r ecor d at io n
, e t en e am us et cum q uo lo q ui ,

non possumus de eo numquam lo q ui d esinam us

,
.

LXXVI I
M O RTE FA Bi OL A E
A D O C E A NU M DE
l PL UR E S anni sunt quod super d o rmi tie ne
.
,

Blesilla e Paul am v ene r ab ile m f e mi nam recenti

, ,

1
I Co ri nthi ans 4, 7 , xiii . .

2 B
s ho p o f A q u
i ilei a , d o 4 07 hi s b o he E us e b ius w a s al s o r t r
L
. .

”
a b s ho p
i Cf. e e VI I
. tt r
The t le P o pe , at fi s a’p pl ed
. it rt i
t o t he sp ir ual f a he , w ho w as t he means of a m ans con
it t r
v ri
e s on , l ate
b ec ame e s c te d fi s t o b isho ps and abb o s,
r r tri rt t
t he nt o t he B sho p of R o m e and t he p a ia c hs o f A e xandr a ,
i tr r l i
ti J
An o ch, e usalem and C ous tant inopl e , and fi nall y af e 1 07 3
r tr
w as c laime d e x cl us i ely f or the B isho p o f R o me
v .

3 Th is l e e , dd e ss e d t o c e anus , and w
tt r a r enin O 39 9 , ritt AD . .

g i es anac c o un o f the l ife o f Fa b ola, one o f the ich R om an

v t i r
t Jr
matr e ns w ho o ok c e m e as he i s p ual g u de t
S he r irit i .

308
 LE TTE R LX A ND LE TT ER LXXVI I

correc tion is something taken from my span Every .

’
stroke of my secretary s pen i s so much loss o f li f e
for me W e write letters and send replies o ur
.
'

me ss age s cro s s t he s ea s and as the ship cleave s a

,

furrow through the waves t h e moments t hat w e

have to live grow le ss W e have but o ne profit : we
.

are j oined together by t he love of Christ C harity .

su ffereth long and is kind ; charity envi et h not ;

charity vaunteth not itself is not pu ffed up ; beareth ,

all things be lieveth all t hing s hopeth all things

, , ,
’1
enduret h all things Charity never faileth . It .

lives ever in t he heart and by it o ur Ne po ti an is

,

present though absent and grasps us eac h by a ,

hand s evered as we are in distant lau ds W e have

, .

in hi m a pledge of o ur mutual love L et us j oin .

’
in s pirit let us bind ourselves together in afle c fi o ns
,

chains and let us who have lost a so ntake p attern

,

by th e courage that the blessed Pope C hr o m ati us 2

showed when hi s brother fell asleep L et o ur pages .

c hant his praise let every letter echo his name

, .

We cannot have him in t h e body but let us hold ,

hi m f as t in remembrance W e c annot speak with .

him but let us never cease to speak o f him

, .

LETT ER LXXVI I
To O CE ANU S O N T H E D E AT H o r F AB I O LA
3

M ANY years have passed since I consoled the

venerate d Paula while her wound was still fresh
, ,

d ivorced her fi rs t hus b and and then m arri e d ag ain but did ,

p enance f or t his e rr or and vis ite d t h e H o ly L and wher e s he

g with Jerome whent he Huus invaded Palest ine S he
,

w as st ay in .

thenreturned t o R om e and inco nj unctio nwith Pammachi us

t he wi d owed hus b and o f t he ric h P auli n
, ,

a e s t ab li s hed a h ost e l
f or trav ell ers at O sti a j us t be fore he r d eath C f A pp p 4 8 6
,

. . . . .
,

30 9
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

adhuc ns ol at us sum
vulnere coQ uar t ae aestatis .

circulus v olvi t ur ex quo ad Helio dor um e p isc opum

,

Nep o ti ani sc ri b e ns epitap hium q uid q ui d habere ,

vi ri um potni in ill e t une dolore c onsum ps i Ante

'

.
,

ho c ferme biennium Pamm achio

meo pro subita
er e rin at io ne P auli n ae b r e v em e is t ulam de di
p g p
erubescens ad di s e r t is sim um virum plura loqui et ei
s ua i n e r e r e
g ne n o n tam consolari am ic u
, m v i d er e r ,

quam st ult a i ac t ant ia docere p e r fec t um Nunc .

mi hi fili Oc e ane volenti et ultr o adp e t e nti debit um

, ,

munus inponi s quod pro no vi t at e virt ut um v et e r em

,

m at er iam n e vam f ac i am In illis enim v el parentis

.

’
a fle c t us v el m a e r or avrm c ul i v el desiderium mariti

t e m p er andum fuit et pro di v er sit at e personarum

diversa de s cript ur is adhib e nd a medi cina .

2 In pr ae se nt iar um t r adis m ihi Fab iolam l aude m

‘

. ,

C hr is ti anor um m ir ac ul um ge nt ili um l uc t um pau

, ,

perum solac i um monachorum Q ui d q uid primum

,
.

a dr ip ue r e s e ue nt i um co m paratione v i lesc it Ie i u
q ,
.

nium pr ae di c em Pr ae v e rt unt el e m o s ynae Humi li .

tatem l aud e m ? M aie r est ardor fid e i Dic am .

ad e t it as sordes et in c on d emn at i on em v e s t i um
p
s er ic arum pl e b e i urn c ult um et servili a indumenta

quae s ita Plus est anim um d ep osuiss e quam c ultum .

Difli c ili us adr ogant i a quam auro c ar em us et ge mm is .

His eni m ab i ec tis i nt e r d um glo ri osis t um em us

s e r d ib us et v e ndib il e m p aup e rt at e m po p ul ar i aurae

1
Letter XXX I X 2
L ett er L X
I
. .

3
Le tter L XV .

31 0
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST JERO ME .

’
o fle ri m us
Celata vi rtus et in conscientiae fe t a
.

s ecreto Deum solum i ud ic em r espic it U n cle novi s .

mihi e s t e ff e r e nd a pr ae c o nrrs et ordine rhe t or um

r a e t e r m iss o tota de co nv e r s io nis ac ae nit ent i ae
p p
i nc unab uli s a ds um e nda Aliu s fo r sit an scholae
.

mem e r Quintum M aximum ,

’
U nus qui nobis n
c u c ta nd o r est it ui t rem ,

et Fab io r um ge nt em p r o fe rr e t
t o t am in medium ,

di c e r e t pugnas , d esc rib e r e t pr o eli a et per t ant ae

nob ili t at is gradus Fab i ol am veniss e i ac t ar e t ut quod , ,

i n virga non po t er at in r adi c ib us d e m o nstr ar er e t

, .

Ego di v er sori i Bethle mi tic i et pr ae s epis dominici

,

am at o r in
q ue V irgo puerp era Deum fudit i nfant e m
, ,

an c illam Christi n o n de nobilitate v e t e r is his t or i a e ,

s ed de ecclesiae hum ilit at e p r oduc am .

3 Et quia stat im in principio qua s i s c op ul us

.

quidam et procella mihi o b tr e c t at or um eius opponi

tur quod se cundum sortita matrimoni um prius
,

r e li ue r it non l aud ab o conversam ni si ream ab s ol

q , ,

vero Tanta prior m ar it us vitia hab uiss e narr at ur

.
,

ut ne sc ort um quidem et vile mancipi um ea sustiner e

posset Quae si v olue r o dicere perde m vi rt ut e m
.
,

f em inae quae m aluit culpam subire disc i dii quam

,

u an d am corporis s ui infamare partem et maculas

q
eius d et eger e Hoc solum pr e fe r am quod vere
.
,

c un d ae m at r o nae et C hri s ti anae sati s est Pr ae c ep it .

dominus uxorem non debere dim it ti excepta causa

1
E uni us nd Virgil A enezd V
a ,
'

, I . 84 6 .

312
 LETTER L XXVI I

virtue that is concealed and cherished in the inn er

consciousness looks to God alone as j udge S o the .

eulogy I bestow up o n her mus t be al together new

I mus t neglect all t he rule s of rhetoric and begi n
my s tory at the cradle o f he r conve rsion and p e rrit e nc e .

Ot hers perhaps mi ght remember t heir sc ho ol days -

and bring forward Q uin t us M a x im us :

’1
Th e man who by delaying saved th e s tate ,

and with hi m the whole Fabian family They mi gh t

.

tell o f their c onfli c t s and describe the ir battles and ,

b e as t that Fabiola had come o f so noble a li ne sho wi ng

,

in the r oo t a glory whi ch they could no t find in th e

'

branch I fo r my part who am a lover of the i un

.
,
’
at Bethlehem and the Lord s stable where the
,

Virgin in childbirth brought fort h an inf ant God ,

I will bring f orward a handmaid o f Chris t who shall

rely not o n the fame o f ancient his tory but on th e
humility o f t he Chur ch .

A s at the very outs et there is a rock int he path ,

and I am face d by t he storm of cens ure that w as

directed aga inst her for havi ng taken a s econd
h usband and abandoned her first I shall not prai s e
,

he r for h e r conversion un til I have cleared her fi om

thi s charge We are told that her fir st husband was
.

a man o f such heinous vices that even a prosti tute

or a common slave could not have put up wit h them .

If I describe them I shall mar th e heroism of the

,

w oman who preferred to bear t h e blame o f separa

,

tion rather than t o expos e to shame the man who

was o ne bo dy with her and thus reveal th e stains
,

upon his character This only I wi ll say and it is

.
,

a plea s uffic ie nt to excus e a chaste matron and a

Christi an wi fe The Lord ordained that a wife
.

31 3
 SELE CT LETTE RS OF ST JERO ME .

fe r ni c at iorri s et si dim iss a fuerit manere innupt am

, , .

Q ui d q uid viris iub e t ur hoc c o ns e q ue nt e r r e dundat ad

,

f e m inas . Nequ e enim adultera uxor dimi tt enda e st

e t vi r m o e chus t e ne nd us Si q ui meretrici i ungit ur .
,
’
unum corpus facit ergo et quae sc or t at or i i np uro q ue
, ,

s o c i at ur , unum cum eo corpu s e fli c it ur Ali s e sunt .

leges C aes ar um ali ae Christi ; aliud Papini anus

, ,

aliud Paulus noster p r ae c ipi t Apud illos in viris .

u d i c i ti a e frena l ax an t ur et solo stupro atque adulterio

p
condemnat e passim p er l up anar i a et anc illulas libido
p e r m it t it ur , qu asi culpam di gni tas fac iat non ,

voluptas Apud nos quod non licet f e mi ni s aeque

.
, ,

non licet viris et eadem s e r vit us pari condi cione

c en s e t ur . Dimi sit ergo u t ai unt v it ios um ; dimis it
, ,

illins et illius crimini s n e xium ; di m isit p ae ne di xi —

,

quod clamante vici nia uxor non sola p r o di di t Sin .

autem ar guit ur quare repudiato marito non i nnupt a

,

erm an s e r it facile culpam f at eb e r dum tamen

p , ,
’
r e f e r am n e c e s sit at e m M elius est inq uit ap os tolus
.
,
’
nub er e quam uri A d ul esc e nt ula erat vi d ui t at e m
.
,

su am servare non p ot er at V i d e b at aliam legem in .

membris suis r ep ugnant em legi mentis su s e et s e

vi uc t am atque c a t iv am ad c o i t um trahi M elius
p .

arbitrata est aperte c onfit e r i i nb ec illit at e m suam et

um b r am q uand am mi s e r ab ilis subire c o n i ug nquam

1
1 Co ri nthi ans , vi . 16 .

2
Th e great R om anj uri st, put t o d eath by C aracalla .

3
C
1 orinthi an s , vu 9 .

31 4
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST JERO ME .

sub gloria univ ir ae e x er c er e m er etri c ium Idem . ,

ap o s t o lus vult viduas ad ul esc e n t ul as nub ere filio s

‘

,
’
procreare mullam dare oc c asio ne m m ale di c t i gratia
, .

Et p ro tinus cur hoc velit e x p e ni t :

, , l am enim
’
quaedam ab i er unt retro Satanas Igitur et Fabia
.
,

quia p e r suase r at sibi et p ut ab at virum iure a s e

di mi s s um nec e v ange li i vigorem nov e r at in q ue ,

nubendi universa c aus at io vi v e nt ib us viris fe minis

C hr is t iani s am p ut at ur dum multa di aboli v it at
,

vulnera unum incauta vulnus ac c epit

, .

4 Sed quid ego in ab olit is et ant iq uis moror

.

q u ae r e ns e x c us ar e culpam cuius p ae
, ni t e nt i am ipsa
confe ssa e st ? Quis hoc c r e d e r e t ut post mortem ,

s e c un di vi ri in s emet reversa quo tempore solent ,

vi d uae n e le e n t e s i u o se r vi t ut i s e x c usso agere s e

g g g
liberius a di re b alneas volitare per plate as v ult us
, , ,

c ir c um fe r r e m e r e tr ic i o s saccum i nd ue r et e r r or e m
, ,

publice fat er e t ur e t tota urbe sp ec t ant e R omana

,

ante di em p as c hae in basilica quondam L at e r ani qui ,

C a es ari ano t i unc at us est gladi o s t ar e t in ordi ne ,

ae n en um epi s copo et
p i t t , pr e s b y t e ri s et omni populo
c on lac ri m ant i sp ars um c r i ne m e r a lurida squalida s , ,

manus sordida c e ll a s ub m itt e r e t ? Quae peccata

,

fle t us iste non p ur ge t ? Quas i nv e t e r at as maculas

haec lamenta no n ab luant ? Petrus tr inam nega

1
l Ti m othy v 1 4 1 5
, .
,
.

2
A R omansenato r w ho co nsp ire d a a g ins t Ner o .

31 6
 LE TTER L XXVI I

ma rriage would brin g rather than to cl aim to be ,

t he wife o f o ne hus band and under that disguise to

’
ply the harlot s trade The s ame apo stle expresses
.

his wis h t hat young wi dows sho uld marry bear

‘
,
’
children and give no handl e to calumny
, And .

then at once he gives hi s reason : For some are

’1
already t urned aside after Satan Fabiola therefore .

had convi nced herself and t hought that she was ,

j usti fie d in putti n ’
g away her husband She did not .

know the Gospel s s t rict ordi nance whi ch precludes ,

C hristi an women from marryi ng again in their firs t

’
husband s li fe tim e whatever the ir cas e may be
, .

Thus she evaded t he other as s aults o f the devil but ,

this one wound fi om him she unwitti ngly rec eived .

But w hy do I linger over th e forgotten past ,

s eeking to excuse a fault for whi ch s he hers elf con

fessed her penitence ? W ho would be lieve that

aft er the death of her second husband at a tim e ’
,

when widows having shaken o fl the yoke o f slavery

, ,

are w e nt to grow careless and indulge in licence ,

frequenting t he public baths fli tti ng to and f re in ,

t he squares s h owing the ir harlot faces eve r ywhere

,

who I say would believe t hat it was the n that sh e

, ,

came to hers elf put on sackcloth and made public

,

c on f e ss ion o f error On the eve o f p as s over in the

.
,

pres ence o f all Re m e she took he r stand among th e

,

other p enitents in the b all o f that L at e r anus who

’
h
peris ed formerly by Cae ar sword
s s
2
There before .

bis hop presbyt ers and weeping populace she ex

, ,

posed to vi ew he r dis h evelled h ai r wan face soiled , ,

hands and dus t sta i ned neck

,
—
What sins would .

not s uch lam entation purge away ? What stains

se deep t h at t h ese tears would not wa s h t h em out ?

By a t hreefold con f ession Peter annulled his t hree

31 7
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

t io ne m
’

trina confessione d ele v it Aaron sacrilegi .

et c o nflat um ex auro vi t uli c aput fi at e rnae co rr e x e re

preces Davi d sancti et mansuetissimi vir i homi
.
, ,

cidium pariter et ad ult e r i um septem di erum emenda

v i t fames Iac e b at in terra v olut ab at ur in cinere et
.
,

o b li t us r e iae e t es t at is lumen ua e r eb at in tenebris

g p q
i llum q ue tantum r e spi ci e ns quem o ff e nd e r at lacri , ,
‘
mabili voce di c eb at : Tibi soli peccavi et mal um
’
coram te feci et : R edde mihi lae titiam s alutaris
,
’
tui et spiritu principali c onfir m a me Atque ita .

fact um est ut qui me p rius d o c ue r at v ir t uti b us suis

, , ,

quomodo stans non c ad e r e m d oc ere t per p ae ni t en ,

tiam quomodo eadens r e s ur ger e m Qui d tam

, .

in p i um l e im us inter reges quam Achab

g de quo ,

s c r i t ur a di cit :
p Non fuit a liu s tali s ut Achab qui ,

v en um d at us est ut f ac e r e t malum in c o nsp ec t u

,
’
d o m ini Hic cum pro sanguine Nab uthae cor
.
,

r e t us f u i s s e t ab He lia et audi ss e t i ram domini per

p ’
r o he t am : O c c idi s t i insuper et o ss e di s t i et
p p p , ,

Ecce ego i nd uc am sup er te mala et d em e t am

’
posteriora tua et r eli q ua S c i dit vestimenta s ua e t
, ,

o e r uit cilicio c ar n e m suam i e i un avi t ue in sacco et

p q
am b ulab at dem isso capite Tune factus est sermo .

domini ad He liam Thesb it e ndi c ens : Nonne vi dis ti

humi li t at e m Achab coram me ? Quia ergo hum i li
tatus est in timore mei non i nd uc am malum in ,
”
diebus eius O feli x p aeni t ent ia quae ad s e Dei
.
,

t r ax it oculos quae fur e nt em s e nt e nti am do mini

,

confesso errore m utav it ! Hoc idem et M anasse nin

Paralipomenon et Ninev en f e c isse le gim us i n pro

1
P salm li 6
2 P s al m li 1 4
. .

C
. .

3
1 Ki ng s, x xi 2 5 . s eg. 2 h ron xx x iii
. . 12 .

J
,

onah, iii 5— 1 0 . .

31 8
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

p e t a , p ub lic anum
h quoque in evangelio e quibus ,

primus non solum i ndulgenti am sed et regnum ,

r ec i e r e meruit
p alius inp e nd ent em Dei fregit iram
, ,

tert ius p ectus v e rb er ans p ugni s oculos non le v ab at ad

caelum et multo i usti fic atior r e c essit humi li con
fe s sio ne v it ior um quam superba har is ae us i ac t at io ne
p
vi r t ut um Non e st loci hui us ut p ae ni t e nt iam
.
,

p r ae dic e m et quasi contra M ontanum No v at um q ue

s c r ib e n s dic am i llam hos t i am domini esse l ac ab ilem
p
et s ac ri fic ium Deo spiri t um c o nt r ib ul at um et i M alo
’
ae n i t e nt i am p ec c at o r is quam mortem et : Ex
p ,
’
surge exsurge Hi e r usale m et multa ali a quae
, , , ,

p rop he t ar um c langunt tubae .

5 Hoc unum lo q uar quod et l e ge nt ib us utile s it

.
,

e t praesenti causae c o nv e niat Non est confus a .

do m inum in terris et ille eam non c onfund e t ur in

caelo A p er ui t c unc tis vulnus suum et d ec olor e in
.

corpore c ic at ric e m fle ns R oma c o nsp e x it Dissut a .

habuit latera nudum caput clausum o s Non es t

, , .

ingressa e cclesiam domini s e d e xtra castra cum ,

M aria s e rore M o y si separata c o ns e di t ut quam

, , , ,

s acerdos e i e c e r at ipse r e v oc ar e t Descendit de

, .

soho d e li c i ar um s uar um a c c e it m e lam fecit fari n am

p , ,

et di sc alc iatis p edibus t r ansi vi t flue nt a lacrim ar um .

S edit sup er carbonis ig nis ; hi ei fuere in adi ut or i um .

Fac i em per qu am secundo viro pl ac ue r at v er b e r ab at

, , ,

o d e r at gemmas linteamina v id e r e non o t e r at orna

, p ,

1
S Luke x vi ii 1 3
.
, ,
.

2
Fo und ers o f hereti c al t
sec s in t he seco nd nd
a third
ce nturies .

3
Ez e kiel x viii , . 23 . Baruc h , v . 5 .

32 0
J onah and t o the publica n in the Gospel
,
The .
1
’
first no t only earned God s p ardon but regained hi s
’
ki ngdom ; t he s econd b ro ke the force o f Go d s
i mp endi ng anger ; th e third s m iting hi s breas t wi th
his fis ts woul d not lift hi s eyes to h eaven and ye t ,

by t he humble confession of his faul ts he went away

more j us ti fie d t han the Pharis ee with his arrogant
bo as ti ng of hi s vi rtues This however i s not th e
.
, ,

plac e to preach penitence or to say of it as though

, ,

I were wri ting agains t M onta nus and No v at us 2 t hat ,

it is a vi cti m well pleasi ng to the Lo rd and that a

’
broken sp i rit is God s s acr ific e Nor wil l I quote .

the words : I prefer the rep entance of a s i nner

"
’2
rather than his death or Aris e aris e O
, , ,

J e rusalem ,or any oth er of the many sayings

which are nois ed abro ad by the trumpets o f t h e
prophets .

Th is o ne thi ng I will say fo r it is both us eful to

,

my readers and pertinent to th e present cas e Fabiola .

w as not ashamed o f the Lo r d on earth and He will ,

not be ashamed of her in heaven She laid bare .

h e r wound to all and Rome be h eld wi th t e ars t he

, .

scar u pon her livid body S he uncovered her limbs

.
,

bar ed her head and clo s ed her mouth S he di d

, .

’
not enter God s c h urch but like M iriam t he sis ter ,

of M os es sat apart outside the camp until t he pri est

, ,

w ho had ca s t her out s hould call h e r back again .

S he c ame down from her t hrone of luxury s he took ,

up the mi llstone and ground meal with uns hod ,

feet she pass ed through rivers o f tears She sat .

upon coals of fire and th es e became he r aid S he

, .

beat the fac e by whi ch s he had won he r s ec ond

’
hus band s love s he abhorred all j ewe lry she could
, ,

not bear even to look upon fin e linen sh e shrank ,

32 1
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST J E R O ME .

menta f ugieb at . Sic d e l eb at quasi adult erium c om

,

m isiss e t et multis i np e ndiis m e di c am inum unum

vulnus sanare c upi eb at .

6 Diu morati s um us in p ae nit e nt i a in qua velut in

.
,

v ad e s i s locis r ese d im us ut maior nobis et absque ullo

,

inp e d im e n t o se l aud um eiu s campus ap e r ir e t Re .

c e t a sub oc u
p li s omnis ecclesiae c ormn uni one quid

fecit ? Scilicet in di e bona m alor um oblita est et

post naufr agium r ur sum t e mpt ar e v oluit p eri c ula
navi gandi ? Quin poti us o mnem c e ns um quem ,

habere p ot er at erat autem am plissim us et r esp on

—

d e us generi eius di lapid avi t ac v e ndidi t et in pecun

— ia
c o n r e at um usib us p aup e r um pr ae p ar avi t Et
g g .

primo omnium v oo o o,r cî ov ins tit uit in q ue aegr o

x ,

tantes c olliger e t de plat e is et c o ns um pt a languor ib us

atque inedi a mi s er or um membra r e fov er e t De .

sc r ib am nunc ego diversas hominum c al am it at e s ,

’
truncas nares e flossos oculos s emi ust os pedes
, , ,

l o ridas manus t um e nt e s alvos exile femur cr ura

, , ,

t urge nt i a et de e x e s is ac p ut ri di s c ar nib us vermicul e s

b ullie nt e s ? Quotiens morbo regio et p aed or e c o n
fe ot e s humeris suis p ort av it ? Quo tiens lavi t puru
len t am v ulner um s arri e m quam alius aspic er e no n
,

aud e b at ? Pr ae b e b at c ib os propria m anu et spirans

cadaver so rb it iunc ulis inrigab at S c ie mul te s divit es
.

et religiosos ob stomachi angustiam e x er c er e huiusc e

modi miseri cordi am p er ali ena ministeria et clementes
32 2
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

ess e pecuni a non manu Quos e q ui de m non reprobo

, .

et t ene r it udinem ani mi ne q uaquam interpret e r

infid eli ta t em ; s ed sicut i nb ec illit at i stomachi
,

veniam tribu e sic p er fe ct ae mentis ard e rem in

,

caelum l audi b us fe r e M agna fides ista c ont emnit ;

.

s e it quid in L az ar e di ve s ur ur a t us ali uan d o non

, p p q
f ec e r it quali superba me ns r e tr ib ut io ne d am nat a sit
, .

Ille quem d espicim us quem Vider o non poss umu s

, ,
-

ad cuius i nt uit um vomitus nobis er umpit nostri ,

s imilis est de c e dem nobiscum f or m at us luto is d e m

, ,

c o n ac t us e l e m e nt is Q uidq uid patitur et nos pa ti

p .
,

possumus Vulnera eius ae st im em us p ropria et

.

omnis animi in alterum d uri ti a el em enti in nOsm e t

ipsos c ogit atione fr ange t ur .

Non mihi si lin8 uae centum sint e r a ue c ont a i n

'

Ferrea v o x ,
’
Omnia m orb or um p e rc urr e r e nomina possi m ,

quae Fabiola in t anta m is e r or um r e frige ri a c omm u

t av it ut multi p aup e r um sani l an u en t i b us invi d e r e n t
, g .

Quamquam illa simili li b e r alit at e erga cle ric os et

m onac hos ac v ir gines fueri t quod m onas t e r ium i ron —

i llius o pib us s us t e nt at um est ? Quem nudum et

c lin ic um non Fabiola s vestimenta t e x e r unt ? In
’
quos s e indi ge nt ium eius non e fludi t pr aec eps et
festina largi ti o ? A ugust a m is er ic or di ae Ro ma fuit ;
p er a r ab at
g ergo insulas . E t r usc u m mare Vul
.

sc o r um ue ro vi n c iam et r e c o n di t o s c urvorum lit o rum

q p
sinus in quibus monachorum c onsist unt chori vel
, ,

roprio corpore l r ans mi s s a per fid e le s ac s an c t os

p v e t
viro s m uni fic e nti a c irc uib at .

7 U nde reperi te et contra o p inio ne m omnium

.

1 Virgil , A eneid , vr 6 2 5
. .

32 4
 LETTE R L XXVI I

and show mercy wi th th e p urs e not with the hand , .

I do no t blame no r do I by any means constru e their

lack of fortitude as lack of fai th But while I excus e .

the ir weaknes s I exto l to the skies the ardent zeal

,

that perfect cour ag e poss esses A great faith .

makes light o f di s c o mf e rt : it knows the re t ribu ti on

that fe ll upon t he rich man clothed in p urple who ,
’
in his pride refus ed L azarus aid The s ufler er .

whom we despise and cannot bear t o behold whos e ,

very aspect turns o ur s tomachs is a m an li ke o ur ,

selves formed o f t he s ame clay made o ut o f th e

, ,
’
sam e elements Whatever he s uflers we may
.

possibly su ffer als o L e t us regard his wounds as

.

our own and then all our lack o f s ympathy for others
,

wi ll be ove r come by o ur pi ty for ours elve s .

Had I a h undred tongues a hundred mouths ,

’
W ith voice of brass I could not tell the name s
,

of all the mala di es whi ch Fabiola treated S he w as .

,

indeed such a com forter that many poe r people

,

w ho were well fell to envyi ng the sick No t bu t .

what she showed the same generosity to the clergy ,

monks and vi rgins What monastery was there

, .

which her purs e di d not aid ? What naked o r bed

’
ridden s ufle r e r di d sh e not supply with cloth es On
what i ndigent person did she not pour o ut her swift
and la vish donations ? R ome was not large enough
for her co mpassionate kindness She went fi o m .

island to island and travelled round th e Etruscan

,

Sea and through the Volscian provin c e with i ts

, ,

lonely curvi ng bays where bands of mo nks have

,

taken up the ir home besto wing her bounty either

,

in pers on o r by the agency o f holy men of th e faith .

’
Then suddenly and to every one s surprise she
, ,

32 5
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

“
Hi er osoly m am nav igavi t , ubi multorum excepta
c onc urs u nostro
p ar um p e r usa est hospiti o ; cuius
societatis r ec o r dans vi d e or mi hi adhuc Videre , quam
vidi I esu bone quo illa fervore quo studio intenta
.
, ,

erat divinis v o lum inib us et v eluti q uandam fam em

satiare d esid er ans p er p r ophet as evangelia psal ,

mos qu e c ur r eb at quaestiones p r op onens et solutas

r ec o n d e ns in scri ni olo p ectoris sui Nec vero sati ab a
tur audie ndi c up idi ne sed add ens sc i e nt i am add eb at
,

dolorem et quasi oleum flamm ae adi c er es m ai ori s

, , ,

ar d o r is fomenta c apieb at Q uo d am di e c um in
.
,

m an i b us M oy si Numeros t e ne r e m us et me v e r ec und e ,

r o ar e t quid sibi vellet n o mi num t anta congeries cur

g ,

s in ul ae tribus in aliis atque in a l iis locis varie

g
i unge r e nt ur quomodo Balaam ariolus sic futura
,

C hristi m y st e r ia p ro phe t ar it ut nullus p rop em od um

,

r o he t ar um tam aperte de eo v at ic i nat us s it

p p ,

respondi ut potni et visus sum int err ogationi eius

, ,

s at is f ac e r e Re v ol v e ns ergo lib r um p e rv e nit ad e um

.

locum ubi c at alo gus d e scr ib itur omni um m ansionum

, ,

per quas de A egypt o egr e di ens populus p erv enit

usque ad fiue nt a Io rd anis C um q ue causas et .

rationes q uae r e r et singular um in q uib us dam haesi ,

t avi in aliis i no fie nso c uc urr i pede in pl e r is q ue

'

, ,

simpliciter ignorantiam c onfessus s um Tune vero .

magis c o epit urguer e et quasi mihi non li c e r et

,

ne sc ir e quod nescio e x p ost ular e ac s e indignam

, ,

tantis m y st erii s di cere Quid plura ? E x t ors it mi hi

.

1
Num be rs ,
xx iv . 17 E .

32 6
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST JERO ME .

ne gandi verecundia ut proprium ei opus hui usc e ,

modi disputa tiunc ulae p olli c e r er , qu od usque in

r e se n s tempus , ut nunc i n t e ll e o , do mi ni voluntate
p g
d il at um r e ddi t ur memoriae i lli us , ut s ac e r do t ali b us
p r i or is ad se v ol u m i ni s induta v e s t i b us per mundi

hui us soli t udi ne m gaud e at s e ad t e rr am r e p r om ission is

ali uan d o venisse
q .

8 Verum , quod c oepim us , p ers e q uam ur

. Quae .

r en t ib us nobis di gnum t ant ae f e mi nae hab i t ac ulum ,

cum ita s o li tudi nem c up er e t , ut di v e r so r io M ariae
carere nollet , ecce subito disc urr ent ib us nunt ii s
or i e n s t o t us i n tr e m ui t , ab ultim a M aeo t id e i nter
l ac i al e m Tan ainet M ass a e t ar um immanes populos ,
g
g
ubi C auc as i r upib us feras gentes Alexandri claus tra
c ohi b e n t , e r upis s e Hu morum e xamina , quae p e r nic ib us
equi s huc i lluc q ue v oli t ant ia c ae dis pariter ac
t e r r o ri s cuneta c o n ple r e nt A b e r at t une Ro manus
.

e x e r c it us et bellis c ivi li b us in Itali a t e ne b atur .

Hanc ge mtem Herodotus r e fe r t sub Dario rege ,

M e d o r um vi gi nt i anni s Orientem t e nuiss e c apti v um

,

et ab A e gypt iis atque A e thi opib us annuum e x egi ss e

vectigal A v e rt at I esus ab e r b e R omano tales ultra
.

b estias ! Insperati ubique ad er ant et fam am cele

r i t at e vi nc ent e s non religioni non d ign i tat ib us non , ,

a e t at i non v a i e n
, g t i m is e r e b ant ur i nfant i ae Coge .

bantur mori qui d ud um vivere c o ep e r ant et nes ci

,

1
The fi rs t tre ati se d edi c at e d to Fab i ola was on the v est
m ent s w ornby th e J ewi sh pries ts t he second on th e places ,

pas s e d by t he c h osen pe op le on the ir j ourney fr o m Egypt t o

t he Pr omi se d Lan d
C G
.

3
Th e as p ai n ate s .
H ero d otus , I . 1 04 . He c al l s t he m 2 K 60a 1 .

32 8
 LETT ER LXX VI I

I was ashamed to refus e her and she compe lled me

,

to p r omis e a special work on t hi s subj ect for her

us e U p til l t his moment I have deferred wri ting
.

’
it ; but my delay I now see was God s wi ll and it
, , ,

is now cons e crated to he r memory As a previous .

treatis e addr essed to her clothed her in prie s tly vest

ments so no w sh e may rej oice that she has p ass ed
,

thr o ugh the W ildern ess o f thi s world and come at

last to the land of promis e 1 .

But let me continue th e task I have be gun Whi le .

I was seeking a dwe lli ng suita ble for so great a l ady ,

whose desi re for solitude included an unwilli ngness not

to visit the place where M ary once l od ged suddenl y ,

messengers fie w t his way and that and the whole

Eastern world trembled W e w ere tol d that s w arms
.

o f Huns had poured forth fr om the di sta nt Sea of

Azov midway between the icy river Tanais and the

,

savage tribes o f the M ass age ta e where t he gates ,

o f Alexander
2
keep back t he barbarians behi nd t he
rocky Caucas us Flying hi ther and thither o n th e ir
.

swi ft steeds s aid o ur i nf ormants th es e i nvaders were

, ,

filli ng t he w hole world with bloodshed and panic .

At that tim e the Ro man army was absent being ,

kept i n Ita ly by reas on o f civi l war Of thi s race .

3
Her odotus tells us tha t under Da rius king o f th e ,

M edes they held the Eas t captive for twenty years

, ,

and ex acted a year ly tr ibute from th e Egyptians

and the Ethiopians M ay J esus save th e R oman
.

world from such wild beas ts in the fut ure ! Every

where their approach was unexp ected they out ,

stripp ed rumour by the i r sp eed and they spared ,

neither reli gion nor rank nor age ; nay even for ,

waili ng inf ants they had no pity Children were .

forced to die who had only j us t begun to live and

, ,

32 9
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST J ERO ME .

entes malum suum inter hostium manus ac tela

r id e b an t C o ns onus inter omnes r umor petere eos
.

Hi e r osoly m am et ob ni m i am auri c upidi t at e m ad

hanc urbem c onc urr er e M uri ne gl ec t i pacis incuria .

s ar c i e b an t ur A nt io chiae ; Tyrus volens a te r ra

ab r um e r e ins ulam
p q uae r e b at antiquam Tune et .

nos c o npulsi sum us parare naves es se in li tore , ,

a dv e n t um hostium pr ae c av e r e et s ae vi e n tib us ventis

magi s barbaros m et uer e quam naufr agium no ntam ,

propriae saluti quam v i rginum c asti m o ni ae provi

dentes Erat in illo tempore quaedam apud nos
.

di s s e n s io et b ar b ar or um pugnam domes tica bella

s up e r ab an t Nos in O riente t e nue r unt i am fix a e
.

sedes et i nv e t er at um loc or um sanctorum desiderium

illa quia tota in s arci nis erat et in omni orbe pere
,

gri na reversa e st ad p atri am ut ibi pauper vi v er e t

, , ,

ubi dives fuer at m ane ns in a lieno quae m ulto s

, ,

p rius ho spi t e s habuit e t me s e r m o nem lo ngi us ,

—

t r aham in c onsp ec t u Rom anae urbis p aup e r ib us

—

e ro ar e t quod illa teste v e n di d e r at

g , .

9 Nos hoc tantum d o le m us quod p r e ti osissim um

.
,

de s anctis locis monile p er di di m us Kecepit R oma .

,

quod amis e r at ac p roc ax et maledica lingua gent ili um

,

oc ul or u m testimonio confutata e s t L aud e nt c e t e ri .

misericordiam eiu s hum ilit at e m fid em ego ar d or e m

, ,

ani mi plus laud ab o L ib r um q uo Helio dor um .

,

u on d arn i uv e n i s ad h e r e m um c ohor t at us s um
q ,

Cf A p p end ix I I p 498 il
.

XI V
. .
,
2
A t Be thl ehem . C f I ntr od p
.
, . ix . Letter .

33°
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST . J EROME
t e neb at memoriter et R omana c ernens moenia ,

i ncl us am s e e s se plange b at Obli ta sexus fr agi li .

,

tati s inm em or ac s olit udi ni s tantum cupida ibi erat ,

ubi animo m or ab at ur Non po t er at teneri c o nsili is .

a m ic o r u m : ita ex urbe quasi de vinculi s ge stie b at

e r um p e r e Disp e n s at io n
. em
p e c uni ae et c aut am
di s t rib utio ne m genus infid e li t at is v oc ab at Non .

aliis e le m osy nam t ri b uer e sed sui s pariter e ffusis ,

ipsa pro Christo stipes opt ab at ac c ip er e Sic festi na .

bat s ic i np at ie ns erat m or ar um ut illam c r e der es

, ,

p r o fe c t ur am I ta que dum semper p ar at ur mors

.
, ,

eam invenire no npo t ui t i np ar atam .

1 0 Inter laudes f e mi na e subito mi hi Pamm ac hi us

.

meus e x o rit ur Paulina dormit ut ipse vigile t ;

.
,

p r aec e d it m arit um ut Chris to fam ulum d e r e li nq uat

, .

Hic here s uxoris et he r e di t atis alii po ss e ssor es .

C e r t ab ant v i r et femina quis in portu A b r ahae ,

t ab e r nac ul um fige r e t et haec erat inter utr um q ue ,

con t e ntio quis hum an

, i t at e s up e r ar e t Vic it ut e r q ue .

et ut e r q ue s up er at us e st Ambo s e vi c t o s et vi c tor e s
.

fat e nt ur dum quod alter c up i eb at ut e r q ue p e rf e c i t

, , ,
.

Iungunt opes s oc i ant v olunt at es ut quod a emulatio

, , ,

di ss ip at ur a erat concordi a c r e sc er e t
, Ne c dum .

dictum iam factum : e mi t ur hospiti um et ad hospi

,
’
tium turba c o nc urr it Non est enim labor in .
‘

’
Iacob nec dolor in Israhel A dd uc unt maria quos .
,

in gremio suo terra susc ipiat M itti t R oma pro .

er an t es quos n avi at ur o s litus molle c on f v e at

p , g o .

1
Num be rs , x xiii . 21 .

33 3
 LE TTER LXX V II

kn ew by heart and when she looked upon the wa lls

,

o f R ome s he complained that sh e w as the ir pris oner .

Forge t ful of her sex unmindful o f her frailty she

, ,

c r aved only for solitude and w as in truth where her

’
soul li ngered Her friends advice could not res train
.

her so anxious was she to e s cape from t he fetters

,

o f R ome . S he said that to weigh out money and

di s tribute it carefully showed a lack o f fai t h S he .

des ired not to hand over the task of a lms giving to

others but to spend all that she pos s essed an d th en
, ,
’
herself t o receive a dole in Chris t s name In such .

haste was she and so M p ati e nt of delay that you

, ,

might have thought her always o n the b ri nk of

departure ; So as she was ever making ready death
, ,

could not find her unprepared .

A s I sing her praises my dear Pamm ac hi us sud

,

d en l y rises before me Paulina sleeps that he may

.

keep vi gil ; she has gone before her hus band t hat ,

s h e may leave him behi nd to serv e C h rist H e was .

’
his wife s heir b ut others now possess th at inh eritance
, .

A man and a woman contended for t he pri vi lege of

’
setti ng up Abraham s tent in the harbour o f R ome ;
and thi s was the struggle between the two who ,

s houl d be firs t in that contest o f kindness Each .

won and each lost Both con f ess thems elves vi ctors
.

and vanqui shed for what eac h desired t hey carrie d o ut

,

together They j oin pur s es and combine their plans

.
,

that harmony might incre ase what rivalry would have

wasted Hardly said the thing was done ; a h os tel
.
,

w as purchased and a crowd fioc ke d to it for h ospitality

for There is no more travai l in J acob nor dis tress
’1
in Isr ael . The seas brought in travell ers for the
land to welcome Rome s ent ot hers who hastened
.
,

to enj oy the comf ort s of the mild shore before they

333
 SELE CT LE TTE RS OF ST JERO ME .

Quod Publi us semel fecit in insula M elita erga unum

apo st ol u m e t ne c ont r adi c t ioni locum t ri b uam in
— —

una nave hoc isti et frequenter fac iunt et in plur e s

, .

Nec s olum ino pum necessitas s us t e nt at ur s ed prona ,

in omnes m uni fic e nt ia aliquid et hab e nt ib us p r ov id e t .

Xenodochium in portu R omano s itum t o t us pariter

mundus audi vit Sub una a e s t at e di dic it Britania
.
,

quod Aegyptus et Par t hus agnov e r ant vere .

l l Quod scriptum est :

. Tim e nt ib us dominum
omnia c oop er ant ur in bon um i nob it ut ant ae f emi nae ,

vi di m us c o npr o b at um Q uo dam p r ae sagio fut ur or um .

ad m ulto s s c rips e r at m o nac hos ut v e nir ent et grave ,

o nore lab or ant em ab s olv er e nt fac e r e t que sibi de

ini quo mammona ami cos qui eam r ecip er ent in ,

aet ern a t ab er n ac ula V e ner unt amici facti sunt : .

,

d or m iv it illa q uod v olui t e t depo s ita tandem

— —

sarcina le vi or v o lavit ad c ael os Quantum haberet .

vi v enti s Fab io lae R oma mi r ac ulum in mortua ,

d e m o ns tr av it Ne c d um sp ir it um e x alav e r at ne c d um
.

debitam Christo r e ddi d er at animam ,

’
E t iam fama volans tanti , p r ae nunti a l uc tus ,
urbis populos exequias c o ng r e gab at
to ti us Sona .

bant p s alm i et aurata tecta t em plor um r eb o ans in

sublime allel uia q uati eb at .

Hic i uv enum chorus ille s enum qui carmine laudes

, ,
’
Fe mi ne as et facta f er ant .

1A cts xx viii 7
, .
‘
wh o receive d us , a nd lodg e d us t hree
’
da s courte ously
yA pp are ntly this
.

that no one may cri ticme m e a s

m eans ‘

ng
e x ag er ati The re g ular name f or ani nn { Bx î e ; -o o e o v.

Ro mans v m J ero me s ubstitutes fear f or love

. ,
’
28
‘
.

Luk XI
. .
,

St l, A eneid , 1 39
'

. e , x vi . 9 . Vir . .

Virgil , A eneid, VI I 2 87 .

334
 SELE CT LETTERS O F S T JERO ME .

No nsic Fur i us de Galli s non Papir i us de S amni ti b us , ,

non Scipio de Numantia non Pomp ei us de Ponti ,

gentibus t r ium phavi t

Illi corpora vicere haec .
,

s i ri t al es
p n e
q ui t i as s ub i ug vi t
a Audio : pr aec e .

dentium turma s et c at er v atim exequias eius multi

t udi ne m fl uc tuant e m non plat e ae non porticus non , ,

i nm ine ntia d e s up e r tecta capere po t e r an t pros

p e c t ant es Tune suos in unum populos Roma

.

c on s e x i t : f av e b an t sibi omnes in gloria ae ni t e nt i

p p s .

Nec mir um si de eius salute homines e x ult ar ent de

, ,

cuius conversione angeli laet ab ant ur in caelo .

1 2 Hoc tibi Fabiola ingenu mei senile munus

.
, , ,

has o ffic ior um i nferias dedi L aud av im us v irgine s .

,

viduas ac m arit at as q uar um semper fuere candida ,

vestimenta quae sequun t ur agnum q uoc um q ue

, ,
’
v ad it Felix pr aec o nium quod nulla t ot ius vitae
.
,

sorde m ac ulat ur ! Pr oc ul live r fac essat invi di a Si , .

pater fa milias bonus e s t quare oculus noster malus ? ,

Qua e i nc id er at in lat r o ne s Christi humeris r epo rt at a ,

est . M ult ae mansiones sunt apud p atr e m U bi .

’
ab un d avi t p e c c at um s up e r ab und av it gratia , Cui .

plus di m it t it ur plus amat , .

1
L t t r L XXVI I nd L XXVI I I
e e s a . velation xi v
2
Re . 4 .

S t M tth w xx 1 5
,
3
a e S t Lu ke x 30 x v 5
. . . .

S t J hn x iv 2
. . .
,
,
5
. o , . . R o mans v 2 0 , . .

7 S t Luke.
, v u. 47 .

3 36
 LETT ER LXXVII

Not so gloriously did Furi us tr ium ph over the

Gauls Papirius over the Samnites Scipio over
, ,

Num anti a or Pomp ey over the peoples o f t he B lack

,

Sea They co nquered physical strength she over

.
,

came spiritual iniquiti es I hear it s till : t he crowds

.

that went before the hi e r the swayi ng multitude ,

that attended he r ob s equies in throngs no streets , ,

no colonnades could contain no over hanging roo f s ,

could hold the e ager onlookers On t hat day R ome .

s aw all he r peoples gathered together Every one .

flatt e r e d himse l f t hat he had a s hare in the glory o f

he r peni tence No wonder that men exulted in her
.

salvation seeing that th e angels in heaven rej oiced

,

over her conversion .

Thi s 1 the best gift of my aged powers I pres ent

, ,

to you Fabiola as a funeral o ffering o f respect I

, , .

have pra ised virgi ns wi dows and married women

,

w ho have kept t heir ves tments always whi te who ,

’2
follow the L amb whithersoever H e goeth Blessed .

indeed is the praise of her whose lif e has be en s tai ned

by no foulness Let envy hold aloof let j ealousy
.
,

“
be silent If the father o f the hous e be good why
.
,

3
should our eye be evil She w ho fell among t hi eve s
’
has been carried home upon Christ s s houlders
’ ’5
In our father s hous e there are many mansions .

Where sin hath abounded grace hath much more ,

’
abounded To whom more is forgiven th e same
.
,
7
loveth more .

337
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST . JE R O ME

An L A E TA M D E INSTITUTIONE FILIAE

1B EATU S apo s to lus Paulus s cr ib e ns ad C o r inthios

.

e t r ud e m Christi ec clesiam s acri s ins truens di sc ipl inis

inter cetera man data hoc quoque po sui t dic enS °

‘
Si qua mulier habet virum infid e lem et hic cons en tit
hab i tar e cum ea ne dim i tt at vi rum,
S anc ti fic at us .

est enim v ir infid elis in ux o r e fid eli et s anc tific ata est

mulier infid e lis in fratre A lioq ui n filii v e stri .

inm undi e ss e nt nunc autem sancti sunt

,
Si cui .

forte hacte nus v ideb ant ur ni mi um d isciplinae vincula

l ax ata et p r ae c eps i nd ulge nt ia p r ae c e pto ris con ,

s id e r e t d om um patris tui c l ar iss1 m i quidem et ,

e r udi t iss im i viri sed adhuc am b ulant is in tenebris

, , ,

et int e llege t consilium apos toli illuc pi ofec iss e ut ,

radicis am ari tudi nem d ulc e do fr uctuurn c onp e ns ar e t

et
… e balsama pr e tio s a s udar e nt Tu es
nata de mpag m at rim o nio de te et To x o tio meo ,

Paula generata est Quis hoc c r e d er et ut Albini .

,

7 \
pontifici a neptis de r epromi ssione matr is nasce r e tur
ut pr ae s e nt e et gaudente avo p ar v ul ae adhuc lingua
4
,

b alb ut i e ns alleluia r e s o nar e t et v ir ginem Christi i n

Le eta t o who m w as se n in
thi s l ette r 403 , ma e t AD rri d
P
. .
,

To x o tius , s o nof aul a a nd To x o t ius , in hose v e ns r ant he w i

no le loo of ene as ( e e
b b d ’
A , L tt r C VI I I
S he he se lf w as t he r
d g t r
au h e o f a p a an, t he p on li
g l i nus , a nd h ad w
ti A b en t o
ritt
J erome c oncerning t he e d uc ati on o f her c hi ld P aula The .

a d vi ce g iv e n in t h is le tter t hat the litt le g irl s hou ld b e s e nt

t o B e thl e hem t o b e e d uc ate d by her g randm o ther P aula and
,

her aunt E us to c hium w a s a c c e pte d and s he ev e n

, tual ly
,

s uc c e e d ed E us t o c hium a s h ad o f t he n unnery t here

e .

2
C o ri nthians vi i 1 3
, . .

338
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST . JERO ME

suo gremio nutr ir e t et senex ? E d ile et feliciter

e x p e c t av im us Sancta et fid elis dom us unum sancti
.

fic at infidel em C andi dat us est fide i quem filiorum

/
.
,
r
e t nep o tum crede ns tu ba cir c um dat Ego puto .

eti am ipsum Iov e m si hab uisse t talem c ognat ionem

, ,

p o t uisse in C h r is t um credere De spuat li cet et .

in r i d e at e is t u
p l am meam et me ve l st ul t um ve l
in s an um c l am i t e t hoc et gener eius fac ie b at ante
, ,

quam c r ed er e t Fiunt non nascuntur Chris tiani

.
, .

Auratum s qual e t Capitolium ful igine et ar ane arum ,

te lis omni a R omae templa c oop e rt a sunt m o v e t ur ,

urbs s edib us suis et inundans p opulus ante delubra

s e m ir 1… t ad m ar ty r um t um ul os Si non .

e x to r ue t fid em prudentia x t or ue at s al t im
q e q ,

\
o undia .

T Hoc , L ae ta religiosissima inChris to filia di ctum

, ,

sit u t non d e sp e r e s parentis s al ut em e t eadem fide

, ,

qua m eruis t i fili am et p atr em r e c ipias to taque domus

,

beatitudi ne p er fruar is sciens illud a domino r e pro m is

s um ‘
Quae apud homines i mpossibilia apud Deum ,
’
oss ib ilia s unt N um u am est sera con v e rs io
p .
q .

L atro de cruce t rans ii t ad par adis um : Nab uc ho do

nosor rex Bab y loni us pos t e ffe r atione m et cordis et
, ,

corporis e t b eluar um in heremo c onvic tum mentem

r e c e it hum an am Et ut omitt am vetera ne apu d
p .
, ,

i ncre dul os nimis fabulosa vi de ant ur ante p auco s ,

annos pr opinq uus vester Gracchus nob ilitat em ,

at ri c iam nomine sonans cum pr ae f e c t ur am r e ge r e t

p ,

ur b anam nonne sp e c u M ithr ae et omnia po r t e nt uo s a

,

1 St . Luk
e, x vi ii . 27 . Pr o b ably i n3 7 8 .

34°
 LETT E R CV I I
’
Christ s own virg ins ? We did well to expect t his happy
issue The o ne unbeliever is s anc ti fie d by a s aintly
.

ho usehold o f believers He is a candida te for the

.

faith w ho has around hi m a throng o f beli eving sons

,

and grandsons : ( I for my part t hink that even

, ,

J ove m ight well have believed in Chris t if he had

had kinsfolk of this kind) He may spit in sco r n .

upon this letter and cry o ut tha t I am a fool or a

,

ma dman ; but his so ninlaw di d the sam e before- -

he bec ame a believer Christi ans are not bo rn but

.

made The gilded Capito l to day looks di ngy all

.
—
,

the temples in Rome are covered with soot and

cobwebs the city is s haken to its foundations and
, ,

th e p eople h urry p as t the ruined s hrines and po ur

’
o ut to visit th e martyrs graves If knowledge does .

not com pel faith let shame at least do so

, .

Le t thi s be said dear L ae ta most duti ful daugh t er

, ,
’
in Christ so that you may not despai r of your fa ther s
,

s alva tion I hope that the s am e faith whi ch has

.

gained y o u a daughter as its reward may als o win

you yo ur fa ther and that you may rej oice over
, .

blessi ngs b estowed upon yo ur whole h ous ehold ,

’
knowi ng God s prom is e : The thi ngs whi ch are
’1
impossible with m en are possible with God It is .

never to o late to be c onverted The robber passed .

fr om the cross to Paradi s e Nebuchadnezzar ki ng .

,

of Babylon recovered his human understanding

,

after he had been made like an ani mal in body and

heart and had lived with t he beas ts in the wilder
,

ness To p ass over incidents in remote anti quity

.
,

t o th e scepti cal may appear t oo fabulous for

belief did not your kinsman Gracchus whos e name
, ,

recalls his pat rician rank destroy the ca ve o f M ithr as

,

a few years ago when he w as Prefect of R ome ? 2

Did
34 1
 SELE CT LE TT E RS OF ST JERO ME .

nul ac r a quibus
si i , ny m phius , miles leo Perses
c or ax ,
1
, , ,

he l io d ro m us pater ini tiant ur subvertit , fregit

, , ,

e x c ussi t e t his qua s i o b s id ib us ante praemi ss i s i n e t

p
ravi t b ap ti s m um Chri s ti ?
S olit udi ne m patitur et in urbe ge nt ilitas Dii .

quondam nat ionum cum b ub o nib us et noc t ui s in s olis

c ulm in ib us r e m ans e r unt ; vexilla mi litum crucis
insignia sunt regum purpuras et ardentes di adema
,

tum gemmas patib ul i salutaris pic tur a c ond eco r at _ .

l am et A e gyp t ius Serapis factus est Christianus ;

M arn as G azae luge t inclu s u s et e v e rs ionem templi
i ugit er p e r t r e m esc i t De India Per sid e et A ethi0 p ia
.
,

monachorum cotidi e turbas su sc ì pixxms ; d e pos ui t

_

f ar e tr as A rm e nius Huni d is c unt psalterium S c y th ae

, ,

fervent calore fide i ; G e tar um r ut ul us et flavu s

e x e r c i t us e c c l e s i am m c i r c um f e r t t entoria e t ideo
fo rs it an contra nos acqua p ugna t acie quia pari ,

religione c o nfid unt .

3 Pae ne lapsus sum ad aliam m at e r iam et c ur r e nt e

.

rota dum ur c e um fa c ere cogito am pho r am finx it

, ,

%
manus Pr o o sit um enim mi hi erat sanctae M ar
.

cellae et tÎs d b ns invitato ad m atr e m id est ad ,

te s erm o ne m dir igere et doc ere quomodo instr uer e

, ,

Paul ul am mostram d e b e as quae prius Christo est ,

c on s e cr at a quam genita quam ante v o t is quam utero ,

1 cr y p hi us : H d b erg .

1
The initiate s asse d t hr o ugh se veral g ad es o f whic h r

these ar e titles T e R av en and Li on f or ex ample dr esse d

,

. , ,

inc harac te r and i mitated t he cr eatures i nt he ir m um m ery :

InA D 3 8 9 t he tem ple o f S e rapi s at A le x and ri a w as pulle d
,

d o wn and a Chri sti anc hur c h b uilt o nt he s ite

. .

The c hi e f Sy ri an go d i n G a z a C f J cr o m e s l i f e o f
,
’
3 . .

Hi larion 2 0 ,
.

34 2
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F ST J ERO ME .

s us c e
p iVidimu s aliquid temporibus nos tris de
s ti .

r0 he talib us libr is : Anna s t e r ili ta t e m alvi f ec u

p p ndi
tate m utavit tu l uc t uo sam fe c und itat em vi talib us
,

lib e r is co mmutas ti Fidens lo q uor acc ep tur am te

.

filios quae primum foe t um domi no r e ddi di s ti Is t a

, .

’
s unt primogeni ta quae o fier untur in lege Sic natus
, .

Samuel sic o r t us est Samson sic Iohannes pr ophe ta

, ,

ad i ntr oitum M ariae e x ultavi t et l usi t A udi eb at .

enim per os virgini s verba domi ni p er tonanti s e t de

u tero matris in o cc urs um eius gesti eb at e r um p er e .

Igitur quae de r epr omis sione nata est di gnam

, ,

hab e at ortu suo i ns tit utio ne m p ar e nt um Samuel .

nutri t ur in templo Iohanne s in solitudine pr ae p ar at ur

, .

Ille sacro crine venerabilis est vinum e t sic er am non ,

bibit adhuc parvulus cum Deo s erm o ci nat ur ; hi c

,

fugit urbes zona p elli cia c ingi tur loc us ti s alit ur et

, ,

melle silvestri et in ty pum pae ni te nti ae pr ae di c at

to r t uosissim inim al is v es tit us e x uviis
a .

4 Sic e r udi e nd a e s t anim a quae futura

.
, est tem
plum domini Nihil a liud disc at audi re nihi l lo q ui
.
, ,

nisi quod ad t im o r e m Dei p e r tine t Tur p ia verba .

non int e lle gat cantica mundi ignor e t adh uc tenera

, ,

lingua ps alm is d ulc ib us i nb uat ur Pr oc ul sit ae tas .

lasciva p uer o r um ip sae puellae e t pediseqnae a

,

s ae c ul ar i um c onsor t iis arc e ant ur ne quod mali , ,

di di c er int peius d oc e ant Fiant ei litterae v el

, .

1
S t Luke ,
. i . 41 . L e t he
. ca m el .

344
 LE TT E R CVI I

concep tion In o ur own day s we have se en s ome

.

thi ng such as we read of in t he prophets : Hannah

e xchanged her barrenness for fruitful mo therhood ,

you have exchanged a fertility bo und up with so r row

fo r children who wi ll live for ever I tell you con
.

fid e ntly that you who have given your fir s t b o m -

t o the Lo rd will receive sons at His h and The fir s t .

born are the o ff erings due under th e L aw Such .

w as the cas e both with S amuel and with Sams on ,

and so it was that J ohn the Bapti s t leaped for j oy

when M ary came in1 For he heard th e thunder of
.

’ ’
the Lord s voice o n the Virgin s lips and was eager ,
’
to break o ut from his mother s womb t o meet Him .

Therefore let your child o f promis e have a traini ng

from he r parents worthy o f her birth S amuel w as .

nurtured in the Temple J ohn was trai ned in the

,

W ildern ess The one inspir ed veneration with his

.

long hair to o k neither wi ne nor s trong drink and

, ,

even in his chi ldhood ta lked with God The other .

avoided cities wore a skin girdl e and fed on loc usts

, ,

an d wild honey clothi ng hims elf in the hai r o f th e

,

most twisted of all ani mals 2 as a symbol o f the

repentance whi ch he preach ed .

Thus must a soul b e t rained which is to be a temple

o f G od
. It must learn to hear nothi ng and t o say
nothi ng save what p ertai ns to the fear o f the Lo rd .

It must have no comprehens ion o f foul words no ,

knowledge o f worldly songs and i ts childish tongue

,

mus t be imbued with th e sweet mus ic o f the psalms .

Let boys with th eir wan ton frolics be kept far from
Paula : let even her maids and attendants hold
aloof from associa ti on wi th the worldly lest they ,

render their evil knowledge wors e by te aching it to

her Have a set of letters made for her of boxwood
.
,

34 5
 SELE CT LE TT E RS OF ST J ERO ME .

b ux e ae ve l e b ur ne ae et suis nom inib us a

pp e lle ntur .

L ud at in ut et lusus eiu s e r ud itio s it e t non s olum

e is , ,

o r din em t e n e a t litterarum ut … in,

… eat s e d ipse inter s e crebro ordo

,

t ur b e tur et medu s ultima primis media m isc e ant ur , ,

ut eas non sonu tantum s e d e t visu nov e r i t Cum , .

vero c o e p e ri t t r em e nti manu s tilum in cera duc e r e ,

v e l alterius s u e r o si t a manu teneri r e an u r i u l i

p p g t r a t c _ _

v e l in tabella s c ul an
p t ur clementa ut per e osde m ,

sulcos inclusa m ar ginib us t r ahantur vestigia et foras

non queant e v agar i Syllabas iungat ad pr aem ium .
,

et quibus illa aeta s de l e c t ar i potest m unusc ulis

, ,

in x @ ur Hab e at et in di s cend e socias quibu s

.
,

i nv id e at u ar u m l audib us m o r de at ur N o n est
, q .

ob i ur gan d a si t ar d io r s i t sed l audib us e x c itandum

, ,

ingenium ; et v i cisse s e gaud e a t et v i c tam d ol e at ..

C av e nd um in primis ne o d e r it studia ne am ar itudo

, ,

eorum p e r c ep t a in infant ia ultra rudes annos transeat .

Ipsa nomina per quae c o nsuesc e t verba c onte x er e

, ,

non sint fortuita se d certa et coacervata …

, a ,

ro he t ar um videlicet atque a os t olor u

p p p m et omni s ,

ab Adam p atriar char urn series de M athe 0 L uc aq ue '

d e sc e nd at ut dum aliud agit f ut ur ae memori ae

, , ,

pr aep ar e t ur .

M agi s ter p r o b ae et vitae atque e r udit io nis

ae t at is

e s t e l ige nd us nec ,
puto e r ub e sc it doctus vir id
,

34 6
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

facere v el in propinqua v el in nobili v irgine quod ,

Aristoteles fecit in Philippi filio ut ipse libra ,

r io r um v ilitat e initia ei t r ad e r e t litterarum Non .

s unt contemnenda quasi parva sine quibus magna ,

cons tare non po ss unt Ipse e le m ento r um sonus e t .

prim a ins titutio p r ae c ep to r is aliter de erudi to aliter ,

de rustico ore pr o fe r tur U nde e t tibi est provi .

d e nd um ne i nep t is blanditiis f e mi nar um di midi a ta

,

di cere filiam verba c o ns ue sc as e t in auro a tque

purpura lud er e quorum alterum linguae alterum
, ,

m ori b us offigit ne di sc at in tenero quod ei postea

, ,

d e dis c e nd um est G r ac chor um e lo q ue nt iae mult um

.
1

ab i nfantia sermo matris sc r ib i tur c ontulisse Hor ,

t e ns ii 2 oratio in paterno sinu c o al ui t Difiic ult e r .

e r ad i tur quod rudes animi p e r b ib e r unt L anarum

, .

mn e hy lia qui s in pr is tinum c andor em r e v oc e t ?

Rn di s t es ta diu et s apor em r e tine t e t odorem quo
.
,

primum imbuta est Graeca narr at his toria Alex .

an dr um po t e nt issim um regem o rb is q ue domi t or e m

, ,

et in m or ib us et in inc es su L eo nidis p ae d agogi sui , ,

no n p o t uisse carere v itii s quibus parvulus adhuc ,

f ue r at i nfe c t us Erac lis est enim m alor um ae m u

.

l at io et quorum v ir t ut e m ads e q ui ne q ue as cito

, ,

im i t e re vitia Nutr ix ipsa non sit … lenta non

.
,

lasciva non garrula ; hab e at m od e st am ger ul am

, ,

nutr ici um gravem Cum av um vid eri t in pec tus

.
,

eius tr ans ili at e collo p e nd e at nolenti alleluia de

, ,

c an te t R apiat eam avia patr e m r i sib us r ec ogno sc at

.
, ,

1
G r acco r um : E i lb er g . Hor t ens i ae : E i lb erg .

1
Dye d pu le with t he j ui ce o f t he murex .

1
H orace , p is tl es , I . ii . 70 : quo se mel es t i mbuto moena
s er va b it od or em tes ta d iu .

34 8
 LE TT ER CVI I
’
hi gh b o m virgi n what Aris totle did for Philip s son
- —
,

when like some h umble clerk he taught him his

firs t letters Thi ngs must not be despised as tr ifle s
.
,

if without them great res ults are i mpossible Th e .

very letters thems elves and so the firs t les s on in

,

them sound quite di ff erently from th e mouth o f

,

a learned man and of a rustic A nd so you must

, .

’
take care not to let women s silly coaxing get
your daughter into the way o f cutting her words
s hort o r o f di sporting herself in gold brocade and
,

fine p urple The first habit ruins talk th e second

.
,

character ; and children sho uld never learn what

they wi ll afterwards have to unlearn W e are told .

that the eloquence o f th e Gracchi was largely due

to the way in whi ch th e ir mother ta lked to them as
’
children and it was by si tti ng o n hi s father s lap
,

that Hortensi us became a great orator The firs t .

i mpression made on a young mind is hard to remove .

h l l
The s e d y e d woo l
» 1
w ho can bring back its
—

pris tine whiteness ? A new j ar keeps for a long

t h e the tast e and s mell o f i ts original contents ?
Greek history tells us that the mi ghty king Alexander ,

who s ubd ued the whole world coul d not rid h im s e lf

,

o f the tricks of m anner and gai t w hich in his child

hood he had caught from his governor L eonide s .

For it is e as y to imitate the bad and you may soon ,

copy the faults o f those to wh os e virtue you can

’
never attain Let Paula s foster mother be a person
.
—

neither dr unken nor wanto n nor fond o f gossip :

let her nur s e be a modest woman her fos te r fath e r ,

a respectable m an When sh e sees her grandf ather

.
,

she mus t leap in t o his a rms hang on hi s neck and

, ,
’
si ng Allelui a whether he likes it or not
‘
L et .

her grandmoth er snatch her away let her recog ,

34 9
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

sit omnibus amabilis et universa pr op inq ui tas r os am

ex se natam gaud e at Disc at statim quam hab e at
.
,

e t alteram aviam
q uam am it am cui imperatori cui
, , ,

e x e r c i t ui t ir unc ul a n utri at ur Illas d esid er e t ad

.
,

illas tibi m ini t et ur ab sc essum .

5 Ipse habitus et v est it us d o c e at eam cui pr om iss a

.
,

s it . Cave ne aures perfores ne c er us a et purpuri sso

,

c on s e cr at a Christo o r a d e in as ne collum margaritis

p g ,

e t auro premas ne caput ge m mi s oneres ne c apillum

, ,

in r ufe s et ei aliquid de
gehe nnae i gnib us auspic er is .

Hab e at alias margaritas quibus postea v endit is ,

e m t ur a st r e t io siss im u m m ar ar it um Prae
p e p g .

t e x t at a nobilis s ima quondam femina i ub e nt e viro

, ,

Hy m eti o qui pat r uus E ust ochia e virginis fuit

, ,

hab it um eius c ul t um q ue m ut av it e t negle c tum

c r in em nudanti gradu t e x uit vincere c upie ns et
virgi nis propo situm et matr is desiderium : Et ecce
tibi eadem nocte cer mit in somnis venis s e ad se
angelum terribili facie m ini t ant em poe mas et h aec
verba fr ange nt em : Tune ans a es viri imperium
r ae fe rr e Chri s to ? Tu caput virginis Dei s ac r il e gis
p
adt recta e m an ib us ? Quae iam nunc ut
sentias e x c r uc iat a quid feceris et finito mense
, ,

quinto ad infe r ma d uc ar is Sin autem p e r s e v e r av er is

.

’
in sc e ler e e t mari t o simul o rb ab e ri s et fili is
,
Om ni a .

1
Cf . A ppe nd i x , p 4 88
. .

3 5°
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F ST . J EROME

per o r di nem pl e t a sunt et seram mi s e r ae paeni

ex

t e nt i am velox signavi t int e r itus Sic ul c iscitur .

Christus v iol ato r e s templi sui , sic gemmas et pre

t ios issim a o rnamenta d e fe nd it Et hoc r e tuli , non .

quod insultare velim c al am i t at ib us infelic ium , s e d ut

te m one am , cum quanto metu et c aut ione servar e
d e b e as , quod domino s popo nd is t i .

’
6 Heli s acerdo s o fie ndi t dominum o b vitia libero
.

rum ; ep isc opus fieri non potest , q ui filios hab uer it

luxuriosos et non s ub di tos At e contrario de muliere .

sc r ib it ur , quod salva fie t per filio r ùm

ge ne r at ione m si
r m an s e r i t in fide et c ar i t at e et s anc ti fic at ion e c um
p e

pu dicitia " . i nputat ur

p ar e nt ib us , quanto magis lacta ms et fragilis et quae

i ux t a s e nt e nt i am domini igno r at d e x t e r am aut
’
sinistram , id est boni ac mali mescit di fier entiam !
Sollicita provides , ne filia p e r c utiat ur a vipera ; cur
non eadem cura pr ovi d e as , ne fe ri at ur a mall eo _

un i v e rs ae terrae , ne bih at de aureo calice Bab y loni s ,

ne e gr e di at ur cum Dina et velit v id er e filias r e gi o ni s
ali e n ae , ne lud s t pedibus , ne t r ah at tunicas Vene ma
non dantur nisi melle c ir c um li t a et vi tia non deci
p i u n t nisi sub specie um b r a ue
q v ir t ut um Et .

’
quomodo , inq ui es , peccata patrum filiis no n red
d unt ur nec filio r um p ar e nt ib us , sed anima quae
e c c av e r i t , ipsa m or i e t ur Hoc de his di c i t ur ,
p
u i oss un t sapere de quibus in evangelio scri ptum
q p ,

1
S amuel 11 . 30
Ti m’thy ii J
.
,
’
2
15 e ome s ub s i c has ry fo r t tut tit
‘
l o es
G
. .
,

br i t y I e , B a by lon enes is , x l xxiv

3 1 ‘
so e . . .

L u r I 9 36
. . .

e . : v aluti p uer i s a bs i n
. thia tetr a med entes ! cum
d ar e c ona ntur p r i us o ra s p ocu! a c ir cum conti n
, gunt melli s
dulci fla vo que l i quor e . ze kie l , x 20 viii . .

3 52
 LE TTE R CVI I
’
dea th marked the unhappy woman s late repentance .

So it is that C hrist ta kes vengeance upon the violators

of hi s temple so he defends his pe arls and precious
,

j ewels I have told y ou this not with any wish to

.
,

exult over th e downf all of th e wretched but to ,

remi nd you with what anxiety and careful ness you

must watch over that which you have vowed t o th e
Lo rd.

’
The pri es t E li lost God s favour becaus e o f hi s
’ 1
childr en s faults a man cannot be a bishop if his ,

sons are men o f pr ofligat e and disorderly lif e On .

t he ot her hand it is wri t ten of t he woman : S he

s h all be saved in childbearing i f they con tinue in f aith
,
’2
and ch arity and holiness with c hastity If parents .

’
get the credit for their children s deeds even when ,

they are of ripe age and their o wnmasters how much ,

more are they responsible for a fi ai l baby gi rl w ho , ,

as the Lo rd says cannot discern between right hand

,

and left that is does not know the di ff erence be

, ,

tween good and evil You take anxious thought

.

to prevent a vi per biti ng your daughter ; why do

you not show the same prudent care to s ave her
fi om the h ammer of t h e whole eart h t o guard he r
3
,
’
fi o m drinking o f Babylon s golden cup fi o m going ,

o ut with Di nah to see the daughters o f a strange

land fi om sporting in th e dance fi o m tr ai li ng h er

,
4
,

robe at her heels ? You smear honey round th e

cup before you give a drug and vi ces onl y deceive
5
,

when they wear the mien and semblance of virt ue .

Yo u W ill as k : how is it that th e sins o f th e fathers

are not recko ned agains t t he sons nor t he s ins o f ,

the sons ag ai nst the parents b ut ,the s oul that

s inneth it shall die That passage I answer , ,

refers to thos e w ho have reached the age of dise re

3 53
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST J ERO ME .

’
A e t at e m
‘
est : habet pro s e lo q uat ur Qui autem,
.

parvulus est et sapit u t parvul us donec ad annos ,

sapientiae v e ni at et Py thagor ae litterae e um perdu

cant ad bivium tam mala eius quam bona par e nt ib us
,

i np ut ant ur nisi forte ae s t im as C hr is t i ano r um filio s

, ,

s i b a t ism a n o n ac c e e r int ipsos tantum reos e s se

p p ,

peccati et non sc e lus r e fe rr i ad eos qui dare noluerint , ,

m ax M e eo tempore quo c ont r adi c e r e non p o t e r ant

, ,

ui a c t urL e ra nt sicut e regione salus i nf ant i um

q _c e p _ ,
’
maiorum lucrum e st Ofier r e ne c ne filiam p e t e statis .

tuae fuit quamquam alia si t tua condi cio quae prius

, ,

eam v ov is ti quam co nc e p e r is ; ut autem ob lat am

,

ne gle gas ad periculum tuum p e r t ine t Qui c laud am

, .

e t mutilam et q ualib e t sorde m ac ul at am ob t ul e r it

ho s t iam s ac r ile gii reus e s t ; quanto magi s qui
, ,

partem corpori s s ui et inlib atae anim ae p ur it at e m

r e ii s am l e x ib us parat s i n
g p e glige ns fuerit
p uni e tur !
, ,

7 Po s t q uam gr andi c ul a e s se c o e p e ri t et in e x e m
.

plum spo nsi s ui crescere sapientia aetate et gratia ,

apud Deum et homines p er gat c um par e nt ib us ad ,

templum veri patri s s e d cum illis non e gr e di at ur e ,

templo Q uaer ant eam in itinere sacculi inter

.
,

turbas et fr e q ue nt i am p rop inq uo r um e t mus qu e m

alibi r ep er iant nisi in ady to sc rip tur ar um prophe t as
e t apostolo s de sp ir it alib us nup tii s sc isc itant em .

Imi t e t ur M ariam quam Gabriel s olam in cu icu o ,

1
S t J o hn 1 x 2 1
.

P ythag oras depicte d t he Choic e of Life under the f orm

.
,
2

o f t he G re e k l e tte r whi c h w as o ri gi nally made with o ne

s traig ht strok e ont he ri g ht an d h alf w ay up a c urved branc h,

o n t he l e ft Th e lowe r p art re pres ent s t he pe ri od of c hil d

.

hoo d ; the b ranc hing way s t he ti me whent he c hoi ce has to b e

o

mad e b e tweeng oo d and evi l The st ee p path t o t he rig ht is .

t he p a h t of virt u e .

3 54
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F ST J EROME .

s uo re et ideo for si tan timore p er t e r ri ta e s t

pp e r i t ,

quia virum quem non sol eb at as pe xi t A e m ul e t ur

, , .

e am de qua di c i t ur : Omni s gloria fili ae regis ab

,

intus lo quat ur et ipsa le c to c ari tat is iaculo

’
vulnerata : Introdux it me rex m cubiculum suum .

Nunquam exeat foras ne inv eni ant eam qui circum , ,

e un t c iv i t at e m ne p e r c ut ian t et v ulne r ent et anfer

,

entes tha i s… p udi c iti ae nudam in sanguine

d e r elinq uant ; quin poti n s cum ali q ui s osti um ei us ,

p u l s av e r i t di c at : , Ego murus et ubera mea t u rr is .

’
L avi pedes meos non possum ingui nar e eos , .

8 Non v e sc at ur in publico id est in p ar e ntum

.
,

convi vio nec v i d e at cib os quos d e si d er e t Et licet

, , .

quidam putent m aio ri s esse virtuti s pr ae se ntem

c on t e m ne r e v ol up t at em tamen ego s e c uri o r i s ar b i t ro r ,

con t ine nt i ae nesc ir e quod q uae r as Legi quondam

, .

in se o s puer : A egr e r e pr e hendas quod sinas ‘

,
’
c on s ue sc e r e Dis cat iam t une e t vinum non bibere
.
,
’
in quo est luxuria Ante annos r ob us tae ae t atis
.

p e r ic ul os a e s t teucris grayì èî ib st ine nt ia U sque ad .

id tempus si necessitas p ost ularit et b alne as ade at

, ,

e t vino modi co ut atur p ropter stom achum et c arnium

e d ul io s us t e n t e t ur ne prius d e fic i ant pedes quam
, ,

c urr e r e i n c i ian t Et h aec dico i ux t a ind ul e n ti am

p ’
.
g ,

non i ux ta imperium t im e ns d eb iliÎ at e m non d oc e n

, s ,

luxuriam Alioq uin quod Iudai c a s up e r st itio e x

.
,

parte facit in e iur ati one q uorund am anim alium atque

e s c ar um quod In , dor um Br agm anae et A egyp t io r um

1
P s al m x lv . 13 .

2
S ong of Solomon i 4 , . .

S ong of So lomon v iii 1 0 and v 3

tz’
. . .
,

Pub li hus Sy rus S ente n ae 1 80 C f p 478 , , . . . .

E phesi ans v 1 8 , . .

Ti mothy v 2 3 ,l Corinthi ans vu

. .
, . 6 .

3 56
 LE TT E R CVI I

M ary who perchance w as t e rrifie d beca us e she saw

a strange man L et her s eek t o r iv al th at o ne o f
.

’
whom it is said : All the glory o f the king s
’1 ’
daughter is from w ithin W ounded with love s
.

arrow let he r t oo say to her chosen : The king

’
hath brought m e into hi s ch amber At no tim e .

let her go out abroad lest those th at go about th e

,

city find her lest they smite her and wound her and
,

take away the veil of her chasti t y and leave her

naked in her blood Nay rather when o ne knocketh
.
,

at her door let her say : I am a wall and my

breas ts are a tower I have wash ed my feet ; how
.

can I d e file them 3

S he should no t take her food in public that is at , ,
’
her p arents guest table ; for she may there see
-

dishes t hat she W ill crave for And t hough some

’
.

people think it shows the higher virtue to despis e a

pleasure read y to your hand I for my part j udge ,

it part o f th e surer self restraint t o remain in ignor

-

ance of what you would like Once when I was a .

boy at school I read thi s line : Things t hat have

’1
become a habit y o u will find it hard t o blame L et .
‘

h e r learn even now not to drink wine wherein is

’5
exce ss . U ntil they h ave reached their full s tr e figt h
however strict absti nence is dangerous for y oung
,

children : so till then if needs mus t let her v isit

, ,
’
the bath s and take a little wine for the stomach s
,

6
sake and have t he support o f a meat diet lest her
, ,

feet fail before th e race begins I say this by way .

’7
of indulgence and not by w ay of co m mand feari ng ,

weakne s s not te aching wantonness M oreover what

, .
,

t he J ewis h superstition does in part solemnly re ,

ec ti n certain animals and certain product s as f ood

j g ,

w hat t he Brahmans in India and the Gy mno s ophists

3 57
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

gy m noso his t ae
p in pol ent ae et or iz ae et pom or um
solo observant cibo cur virgo Christi non fac i at in ,

toto ? Si tanti vw quare non m aior is si t pret 11 ,

m ar gar it um ? Quae nata est ex r e p r omi ssione s ic ,

vivat ut illi vi x e r unt qui de r epr om issione generati

, ,

sunt A e q ua gratia aeq uum hab e at et laborem

. .

Surda s it ad or gana : tibia lyr a et cithara cur facta ,

sint nesc iat

, .

9 R eddat tibi pensum cotidie scr ip tur ar um c e r t um

. .

E di sc at G r aec or um v e r s uum num er um . S e q uat ur

statim et L atina e r ud it io
non ab initio os ; quae si

t ene r um c on os ui t in p er egr inum s onum lingua

p ,

c o rr um i t ur e t e x t e r nis v itiis sermo patr ius sordi

p
d at ur Te hab e at m agistr am t e ru di s m ir e tur
.
,

infant ia Nihil in te et in patre suo v id e at quod si

.
,

f e c e r i t p ecc e t, M emento v o s parentes virginis et

.

magis eam e x em plis docere posse quam voce Cito .

flores p er e unt cito violas et lilia et c r oc um p e st il ens

,

aura c or rumpit Num q uam absque te pr oc ed at in .

publicum basili cas m ar ty r um et ecclesias sine matre

,

non ad e at Nullus ei iuv e nis nullus cincinnatus

.
,

ad r id e at Vigil iar um. di es et s olle mnes per

no c tat ione s sic v ir gunc ul a nostra celebret ut ne ,

u m a matre di sc e dat .

Nolo de anc illulis suis aliquam plus diligat cuius ,

crebro aur ib us insusurr e t Quicquid uni loquitur .

,

hoc omnes sciant Placc at ei comes non compta .

atque formosa quae liquido guttur e carmen dulce ,

3 58
 SELE CT LE TT E RS O F S T JERO ME . .

m òd ere tur , sed gravis p allens sor di d ata sub tr is tis

, , , .

Pr aepo nat ur ei p rob ae fid e i et morum ac p udi c i ti ae

virgo veterana quae ill am d oce at e t ads uesc at
,

exemplo ad or at ionem e t psalmos nocte c onsur ger e ,

mane hy m nos ca mere tertia sex ta nona hora quasi, , ,

b ell atr i c e m Christi stare in acie ac c ens aq ue l uc e rnul a

r e d d e r e s ac ri fic i u m v e sp e r tinum Sic dies transeat .
,

s ic nox in v en i at lab or ant em Or atio n i lectio l e c tio n

. i ,

s uc c e d at oratio Breve vi deb itur tempus quod

.
,

tantis o p er um v arie t at ib us occupatur .

1 0 Disc at e t lanam facere tenere colum ponere

in
.
, ,

gremio c al at um rotare fusum stamin a pollice

, ,

d uc er e . Spermat @ mb y c um telas S c r um vellera e t ,

aurum … ns Talia vestimenta paret

.
,

quibus p ell atur fri gus non quibus corpora ves tita ,

nud entur Cibus eiu s hol us c ulum sit e t simila

.

r aro ue
q p i sc icnl i Et n e
. gulae p r aec e ta l on i us
p g
tr aham de quibus in alio loco pl en
,
i us sum l oc utu s ,

sic c om e d at ut semper es ur i at u
,
t statim post cibum ,

o ss i t legere s alle r e D is l ic en t mihi in

p c r ar e
, p , p .

t e ne r is v el maxime ae t atib us longa e t i mmoderata

i e iuni a quibus i ungunt ur eb do m ad es et oleum in

,

cibo ac poma v i tant ur Experimento di dici as ellum .

in via cum lassus fuerit diy ert h u1a quaerere

, , … .

Faciant hoc cultores I sidis e t C y b elae qui gulo s a ,

ab s t in en t ia Fas id e s aves e t fumantes t ur t ur e s vorant ,

3 60
 LE TT E R CV I I

notes b u
, t o ne grave and pale carelessly dress ed and
,

inclined to melanch oly Set before her as a pattern

.

some aged virgin o f approved fai th character and , ,

chastity o ne who may ins truct her by word and

, ,

by example accustom her to ris e fi om her bed at

ni ght for prayer and psalm singing to chant hym ns ,

in t he morni ng at th e thir d sixth and n

,
i nt h hour
, , ,
’
to ta ke her place in the ranks as o ne of C hrist s
ama zons and with kindled lamp to o ff er t he eveni ng
,

s ac r i fic e
. So let the day pass and so let t he nigh t ,

find her sti ll labo uring Let reading follow prayer

.

and prayer follow rea di ng The tim e wi ll seem .

s hort when it is occupied with such a diversity o f

tasks.

Let her learn als o to make wool to hold the dis ta ff , ,

to put the basket in her lap to turn the spindle to

, ,

shape the thr ead wit h her thumb Le t her sco rm .

silk fabrics Chinese fle ec es and gold brocades

, , .

Let her have cloth es whi ch keep o ut the cold not ,

exp os e the lim bs they pretend t o cover Le t h e r .

food be vegetables and wheaten bre ad and occasion

ally a little fish I do not wish here to give long
.

rules for ea ti ng since I have treated that subj ect

,

more full y i n another place ; but let h er meals

always leave he r hungry and able at once to begin
readi ng o r prayi ng o r singing the psal ms I d is .

approve especially wi th young p eople of long and

, ,

immoderate fas ts w hen week is added to week and

,

e ven oil in food and fi ui t are banned I have learned .

by e xp erience that the ass 011 the high road makes

for an inn when it is weary Le ave such thi ngs t o
.

the worshippers of Is is and Cybele who in glutto nous ,

abstinence gobble up pheas ants and t urtle doves all

s mo king hot of cours e to avoid contaminating
,

361
 S ELE CT LETT E RS O F ST JEROME .

ne scilice t Cerealia dona contaminent Hoc in .

perpetuo i e iunio pr aec ep t um si t ut longo i tine r i ,

vires p e rpe te s s upp ar e nt ur ne in prima mansione

C e t e 1 um ì m t e
,
_

c ur r e n t e s c o rr uam us in medu s *
.
,

sc ri si
p , … ragcsi ma c o nt ine n t iae vela p and e nd a
sunt e t tota aurigae retinacula equis l ax and a pro
pc r ant ib us quamquam alia s i t condi cio s ae c ul ar i um
, ,

alia vi rginum ac monac horum Saccularis homo in .

quadragesima ventr is ingluv i c m d c c oq uit e t in

cocl ea… morem suo vic t itans suco futuri s dapib us
ac s aginae aq ualic ulum parat ; virgo e t m o nac hus sic
in quadrage sima suos e m it tant c q uo s u t sibi memi ,

ne ri nt semper esse c urr e nd um Finit us labor maior

.
,

i nfinit us m o d c r at io r est ; ibi enim r e spir am us hic ,

perpetuo inc e dim us .

1 1 8 1 quando ad suburbana p e r gis domi filiam

.
,

non r elinq uas ; ne s c i at s ine te nec p ossi t vivere ; cum

s ola fuerit p e r t r e m esc at Non hab e at co nlo q uia
, .

s ae c u l ar ium non m al ar um v ir ginum c o nt ub e r ni a

, ,

non i nt er si t nup t iis s e rv ul or um nec familiae p er s tr c

en t is l us ib us m i s c e at ur Scio r a c c c i ss e uos d am
p p.
p q ,

ne virgo C hri s ti cum e unuc his lav e t ne cum m ar it is ,

f e mi nis quia al u non d e p o nant anim os v ir or um aliac

, ,

t um e n t ib us ut e r is p r ac f c r ant fo c dit at em M i hi .

om n i no in adulta v i r ginc lav ac r a di spli c e nt q uae se ,

ips am debet e r ub e s c e r e et nudam v i d er e non posse .

Si enim v igiliis et i e i um 1 s m ac er at corpus s uum et in

s er v i t ut e m r e d i i t s i H
g , ammam lib idinis et in centiva
f e r v e nt is ae t at is c x t ingue r e cupit co ntinent i ae

1
Cf . Pl t us
au , C ap ti vi , 80 .

36 2
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F S T JE R OME .

f rigor e , p e t it is sor di b us t urp ar e f e s tinat

si ad

nat ur al em p ul c hr itudi ne m , cur e contrario b alne ar um

f om e ntis ignes s usc itat ?
so
pit os
1 2 Pro gemm is aut serico divi nos codices am et in
.
,

qui bus non auri et pellis Bab yl oni ae verm iculata

i c t ur a sed ad fi d c m placcat emendata e t erudi ta
p ,

distinctio Discat pri mum Psalterium his se c anti c is

.
,

amggt et in Pr ov e r b iis S al om o n
, is c r ud iatur ad vitam .

In Eccle siaste c ons ue sc at calcare quae mundi s unt ; ,

in Iob virtutis e t p at ie nti ae exempla s ec t e tur Ad .

Evangelia transeat numquam e a po s itura de m anib us

Apostolorum Acta e t E p is tul as tota cordi s inb ib at
voluntate C um q ue pectoris sui cc llarium his opib us
.

l oc upl et ar it mandet memoriae Pro phe tas et H ept a

,

t e uc hum et R egum ac Pa rali pn mm gnlibros Hc s dr ac

qu e et Hester volumina ut ultimum sine periculo ,

di sc at Canticum C antic o r um nc si in e xordio l egc r it , ,

s ub c ar n alib us verbis spir it ali um n upt iar um e pithal a

mium non int elle gens vulne r et ur Caveat omnia .

apocrypha et si quando ea non ad d o grnat um veri

,

tatem sed ad signor um r ev e r e nt iam legere v olue r it

, .
,

s c iat non eorum es s e quorum t it uli s pr ac no t ant ur

, ,

m ult aq ue his adm i x t a v it iosa et grandis ess e pru

d e nt iae aurum in luto quaerere C ypri ani opu s cula .

s emper in manu t e ne at A thanas ii epist ulas et ,

1
I . c .
, t he R o m an
, o r as we c al l the m Turki sh , b aths .

3 64
 LETT ER CVII

ch eck the ho t desires of youth by a cold cha tity s

,

if she hastens to sp oil her natural beauty by a de

libe rate squa lor why should she r o ùse a sle eping
,

fire by th e i ncentive o f baths .

Instead of j ewels o r silk let her love the manu

scripts of the Holy Sc riptures and in them let her
,

prefer correctness and accurate arrangement to

gilding and Babyloni an p archment with elaborate
d e corations Le t her le arn the Psalter first with
.
,

these songs let her dis tract hers elf and th en let h e r ,

learn l e ssons o f li fe in the Proverb s of Solomon In .

readi ng Ec clesiastes let her b e come accustomed to

tread underfoot the thi ngs of this world let he r follow
the examples o f vir tu e and patience that s he will
find in J ob . Let her then p ass o n to the Gospels
and never again lay them down Let her drink in .

t he Acts of t he Apo stles and the Epistles with all

t he will o f her h ear t As soon as she has enriched
.

’
her mi nd s storehous e with th es e tre as ures let he r ,

commit to memory the Prop h ets t he Hepta teuch , ,

the boo ks of Ki ngs and t he Chronicles and t he ,

rolls of Ezra and Est her Then at las t she may

.

safely read t he Song of Songs : if she were to read

it at t he be ginni ng sh e m ight be harmed by not
,

perceivi ng that it w as the song of a spiritual bridal

express ed in fles t l anguage Le t her avoid all .

th e apoc rypha ] books and if she ever wishes to read

,

them no t for the tru th of their doc trines but out

,

o f resp ect for th eir wondrous tale s let her realiz e ,

t hat t hey ar e not really written by those to whom

t hey are ascribed that there are many faulty el e
,

ments in them and that it requires great s kil l to

,
’
look for gold 1 nmud Let her always keep Cyprian s
.

works by her and let her p er us e the letters o f Ath a

,

365
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

Hilar n libros ino ffe ns o d e c ur r at ri e de

__
. Illo r um

t r ac t at ib us , illor um d e l ec t e t ur i nge niis , in quorum

libri s pietas fid e i non v ac ill e t ; c e t e r o s s ic legat , ut
magi s i udic e t quam se
q uat ur .

13 . R espo nd c b is : Quomodo
omnia mulier h aec
sacculari s in tanta fr e q ue nt ia hominum R omae
custodire potero ? Noli ergo s ubire onus quod ,

ferre non potes sed p ost q uam ablacta ue rì s e am cum

, ,

Isaac et v e st ic r is cum S am uh ele mitte avi ae et ,

am it ae R edde pr e t io sissim am ge mm am cubiculo

.

M ariae et cunis Iesu v agi e nt is i mpone Nutr iat ur

,
.

in monasterio sit inter v irginum choro s i ur ar e non

, ,

d isc at mentiri s ac rile gium putet nesc i at saeculum

, , ,

vivat angelic e sit in carne sine carne omne hominum

,

genus s ui s imile putet et ut cetera t ac e am certe te , ,

lib e r e t s er v andi di ffic ult at e et custodi ae periculo .

M elius est t ibi desiderare absentem quam pavere ad

s ingula cum quo lo uat ur quid lo uat ur cui a d n uat
, q q , , ,

quem lib e nt er aspic iat Trade E ust o c hio par v ul am.

,

cuius nunc et ipse vagitus pro t c oratio e st trade ,

co m it e m,f ut ur am sa nc t it at is h e r e d e m . Illam v id e at ,
’
illam amet illam primis m ir e t ur ab anni s cuiu s et
, ,

sermo et habitu s et inc e ssus doctrina v ir t ut um est .

Sit in gremio av i ae quae repetat in nepte q uidq uid

, ,

r a e m is it in fi lia quae longo usu d idi c it nutrire

p , ,

1
Virgi l , A eneid , VI I I . 51 7 .

366
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

docere servare , g i n e s , in cui us

vi r corona cem mar n
;g
cc t i di e … nunrer i c as ti t as t e x itur . Feli x vir go felix ,

Paula quae per av i ae ami t ae q uc virt ut e s

Tox otii ,
nob ili or est s anctit at e quam genere ! 0 s i tibi
c on t inge r e t vi d e r e s ggrum et c o gnat am tuam et _

in parvis c orp us c uli s ingentes amimo s int ue ri l Pro

in s ita tibi pu di citia non amb ige r c m quin pr aec eder es ,

fili am et primam Dei s e nt e ntiam secunda e v an gelii

lege m ut ar c s Ne tu parvi p en
. deres aliorum desideria ’
li b e r o r um et te ipsa magis o fl e rr c s De c ! Sed quia
tempus est ampl e x andi et tempus longe fieri a
c o n l e x ib us et uxor non habet pote s tatem corporis
p
su i et unus quis q ue in c a v oc at io ne qua v o ca t us est ,

in c a pe rm ane at in domino et q ui sub i ngo est , , ,

s i c debet c urr e r e ne in luto c omi t e m d er elinq uat

, ,

totum redde in s ub o l e quod in te interim distn list i

, .

Anna fili um quem Deo v ov c r at p ost q uam o b t uli t

, ,

t ab e r nac ulc numquam r ec epit

,

ut f ut ur us p r ophet a in huius domo c r e sc er e t quae ,

adhuc alios fili o s habere c u i e b at D eni ue post

p q .
,

quam c o nc c pit et p e p er it non est ansa ad templu m ,

accedere c t vacua appar er e coram domino nisi prius ,

r e dde r e t quod d eb eb at talique immolato sacrificio

’

, ,

reversa d om um quinque libero s sibi ge nuit qui a ,

m
ri o eni t um D e c e e r at M i r ar is f c li c i tat e m
p g p p .

sancta e m uli e ri s ? Imitare fide m Ip s e , si Paulam .

1
Cf e J oe
. . . I
3 , where t he res pe c tiv e merits of t he es tat c s
.

o f m arr iag e , w i d owhoo d an d vir g ini ty are c o mp are d t o t he

se e ds w hi c h b ro ug ht f o rth t hir ty , s i x ty and hundr ed f ol d
f o r t his ass o c i at io n o f 1 00 wi th virg inity , c f al so Le tter s .

I
XX I , 1 5 and 1 9 , and L X V , 2 I .

2 G en si
e s , xxx v 1 1 Be fruitf ul and mul tiply
. .

E cclesi as te s , iii 5 . 1 Corin

. thi ans , vu 4 . .

5
1 C o rinthi an s , vii 2 0 1 S am uel, i 2 2 .
. . .
 LETT E R CVI I

ta ught her how to rear instruct and watc h over , ,

1 i r ins and in her crown every day is woven t h e

g ,

mystic hundr ed o f chastity 1 O happy vi rgi n ! O .

h appy Paula daughter of To x o ti us ! By the virtues

,

o f her grandmother and her aunt she is nobler in

s anc tity even than in li ne age Oh if you coul d only .

,

se e your mother inlaw and your sister and know

- -
,

the mighty souls that dwell within their feeble

bodi es ! Then I doubt not that y o u would obey yo ur
innate love o f chastity and come to th em even before
’ 2
your daughter exchanging God s first d e c r e c for
,
’
t he Gosp el s second dispens ation You would s urely .

co unt as nothi ng your desire for oth er chil dren and

would rather o ff er your self to G od But inasmuch .

as there i s a time to embrace and a tim e to r e fi ain

’3
fi o m embrac ing and the wife hat h no t power
,
’4
over her o wn body and every man should abide
,

in the same calli ng where i n h e was called i n the

5

Lord and becaus e he w ho is under t he yoke ought

,

so to run as not to leave hi s companion in t he

mi re pay back in your chi ldr en all that you de f er
,

paying in your o wn person When H annah had —

.

broug ht to the ta bernacle t he son whom she had

vo w ed to God she never took hi m back again
, ,

thinking it improper tha t a fu t ure prophet should

grow up in t he hous e o f o ne w ho sti ll des ired to
h ave ot her sons 6 In fine after sh e had conceived
.
,

and b c rne hi m she di d not venture to visit th e

,

t emple and appear before G od empty handed but -

,

first paid h e r debt and then after o ff ering her

,

great s ac rific e returned home and havi ng borne her ,

first son fo r God was th en given five c hildren for

hers elf Do you wonder at the happ iness of that
.

holy woman ? Then imitate h e r f aith If you .

369
 “
SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

m ise r is , b alb ut ie nti a senex verba form ab o multo

gl o ri osio r mundi p hilos o ho ,
p qui non regem M ace
donum Babyloni c p e r it ur um veneno sed anc illam et
,

s
p o ns am C hri s ti e r udiam re
gni s c ae le st ib us

c ff er c nd am .

CXVI I
AD M AT HEM ET F I LI A M IN GA LL I A C O M M O R A NTE S

l . R E TT U L IT mihi quidam frater e Gallia se habere

s o r or e m v ir
gi ne m m at r e m uc
q vi d uam , quae in eadem
urbe di vi sis hab it ar e nt c e ll uli s et v el ob hospit n

s oli t udi ne m vel c ust o di e ndas fac ult at ulas pr aes ul e s

sibi q uos d am c le r ic os a ds u mps isse nt , ut maiori

d e de cor e i ungere nt ur ali e ni s , quam a se f ue r ant

s e p ar at ae . C um q ue ego i nge m esc e r e m et multo

plura tacendo quam lo q uendo si
gni fic ar e m Q ua es c
in
’
te , q uit , c or r i
pi as eas litteri s tui s et ad con
c or diam r c vo c e s , ut mater fili am , filia m at r e m
’ ’
n i nq uam ,
‘
a
g o s c at . Cui ego : Opt im am , mihi
i ni ungis pr ov inc iam , ut alienu s conciliem quas filiu s ,

f r at e r q ue non o t uit , quasi vero e pisc o pale m cathe

p
dram t e nc am et no nclausus cellula ac pr o c ul a t ur b is

r e m o t us vel r ae t e r it a l an am vitia vel vi t ar e nitar

p p g
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F S T J ERO ME .

prae s entia Sed et i nco ngr uum e st latere corpore e t

.

’ ’
lingua per orhem vagari Et ille : Nim i um ait .
, ,

form idolosus ; ubi illa quondam constantia in qua ,

multo sale urbem d efi ic ahs L uc ili anum q uip piam

'

’
r e tt ulis t i ? Hoc est aio quod me f ugat e t
, ,

labra dividere non sinit Post q uam ergo argu endo .

crimi na factus sum c r imi no sus et iux t a t rit um vulgi

sermone proverbium i ur antib us et negant ib us c unc t is
me aures nec credo h abere nec tango ipsiq ue parietes
in me m ale d ict a r e so nar unt Et ps all eb ant contra
”
me q ui b ib eb ant vinum c o ac t us malo tacere didici
, ,

r e c t ius esse ar b it r an s
p o ne r c custodiam o r i meo e t
o s tium munitum lab iis meis quam declinare cor in ,

verba m ali t iac et dum carpo vitia in vitium detrae

, ,
’ ’
t io n is i nc ur r ere Quod cum d ix isse m : Non c st
.
,

i nq ui t d e t r ah e r e verum dicere nec privata c or r c pt io

, ,

ge ne r al e m d oc tr inam facit cum aut r ar us aut nullus ,

s it qui sub huius culpae r e at u

, m c ad at Q uaeso ergo .

te ne me tanto itinere v ex at um frustra venis s e

,

at iari s S e it eni m do m in us quod post vi s ionem

p .
,

sancto rum loc o r um hanc v el maxime causam babui ,

’
u t tuis litte r is sorori me r e dd e r e s et matri Et ego .

’
l am iam inq uam , quod vi s fac iam ; na m et
, ,

e is t u l ae t r an s m arin ae sunt et s p e c i ali t e r s ermo dic

p
tatus raros potest invenire quos m or de at Te autem , .

m o nec ut clam s e rm one m hunc habeas

,
C um q ue .

c rt av e r i s pro viati c o s i audi tus fuerit l ae t e m ur

p , ,

pariter ; sin autem c ont e m pt us quod et magi s r ec r , ,

’
e o verba e r di d e r im tu i t in e ri s lo n i t udi nem
g p g ,
.

1 H r
o ac e S atires I x 3 : s a le multo urbem def ri cui t
, , . . .

Lucilius w as a s atiris t .

T hi s pro v er b has not be en i d entifi e d nor has any

satis fa ct ory e x plan ati onof i ts n ature be en g iv en .

P salm l x i x 1 2 . .

I e t he j ourney fr om G au] t o P ales tin

. . e .

372
 LE TT ER C XVÎ
Ì

try to avoid pre s ent tempta tions It is inconsistent .

surely to hi de one s body an

’ ’
d to allow one s tongue ,
’
to roam the world Thereupon he answered : Yo u
.

are t o c fearful ; where now is the hardihood wh ere

w ith like L ucilius o old you s ec ur e d t he city with
,
f 1
,
’
ab undant salt ? It is j ust t hat said I which , ,

deters me and forbids me now to c p en my lips .

Becaus e I tried to convict crime I have myself been

2
made o ut a criminal I t is like the popular proverb
.

as all the world declares c noath that I have no ears ,

I believe it to o and do not touch them The very .

walls resounde d with curses against me and I was

” 3
t he song of drunkards I have been taught by .

p ainf ul experience to hold my tongue and now I ,

thi nk it better to set a guard to my mouth and keep ,

t he door o f my lips close fastened rather th an to ,

incline my heart to malicious words and while c e nsur ,

ing the faults o f oth ers myself to fall in to that of

’
detraction To that he said : Speaking the tr uth
.

i s not detraction and a s pecial rebuke is not a general

,

lecture There are few persons or none who are

.

guilty o f this particular fault I beg you therefore .

h
not to let me have made t is long and painful j ourney 4

i n vain The Lord knows that after the sigh t of the

.

holy places my chief motive for coming was to ge t

you to restore me by a letter to my mother and
’ ’
si s ter Well w c ll I answered I will do as you
.
, , ,

wish M y lett ers will p ass acros s the sea and a

.
,

discourse specially composed can seldom o ffend

others I w ar m y ou however to ke ep what I s ay
.
, ,

private Take it as p art of your luggage and if it

.
,

is lis tened to let us rej oice together But if it is

, .

rej ected as I rather think it will be I shall have

, ,
’
wasted my words and you your long j ourney .

3 73
 SELE CT LE TT ER S O F ST JERO ME .

2 . Primum scire v os cupio soror ac filia m e non , ,

i dc irc o sc r ib e r e quia aliquid de v obis suspic e r sed ne , ,

c e t e ri s us ic e n t ur v e st r am c r ar e c o n c o r diam Alio
p , .

quin quod absit si peccati vos a e s tim ar em glutino

— —

c ohaes isse numquam sc r ib e r e m sc ir c m ue me surdis

, q
narrare fab ul am D e ind e hoc o b se cr o ut si morda
.
, ,

e i us
q uippi am s c r ip s e r o non tam mcae aust e r it at is
,

p u t e t i s es se quam morbi P u t r i d ae carnes ferro

.

curantur et cauterio v e nena serp entino p ellunt ur ,

antidoto ; quod satis dolet maiori dolore e x p elli t ur , .

Ad extremum hoc dico quod etiam si c o nsc i e nt ia , ,

vulnus non hab e at habet tamen fama igno m ini am

, .

M ater et filia nomina piet atis o ffic ior um v oc ab ula

, , ,

vincula naturae s e c und aq ue post Deum fo ed e r at io ,

non e st laus si vos di ligitis ; sc elus e s t quod o di stis

, , .

Dominus Iesus sub i ec t us e st p ar e ntib us suis venera

batur m at r e m cuius erat ipse pater col eb at nutri
, ,

c 1 um quem nutr i e r at ge st at um q ue s e m em ine r at

, ,

alterius utero alterius b r achiis U ndc et in cruce

, .

pendens c omm e nd at par e nt e m di scip ulo quam ,

numquam ante cr uc e m di mi s er at .

3 Tu vero fili a iam enim desino ad m atr e m

.
,
—

lo q ui quam fors it an aetas et i n

, b e cillit as ac soli t ud o
e x c us ab ile m f ac i un t tu inq uam filia e ius dom um
—
, , ,

a n ust am indicas cuius non tibi fuit venter an ustus

g , g
Decem m e nsib us utero clau s a vi x isti et uno die in ,

374
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JEROME .

uno cubiculo cum matre non duras ? An oculos eius

ferre nonpotes et qui a omnes motus t uos illa q uae
, ,

en
g ui t quae alui t et ad hanc p e r d ux it ae tat e m
, ,

f ac ilius i nt e lle git testem domesticam fugi s ? Si

,

Virgo es quid t imes dili gent em cus t odi am ? Si

,

corrupta cur non pal am nubis ? Secunda po s t

,

naufi agi um tabul a est qu od male c o ep e ris s alt im

, ,

hoc remedio temperare Nequ e vero hoc dico quo

post p ecc atum t ollam p aeni t enti am ut qu od m
.
,

ale , ,

c o e it male e r s e v e r e t sed quod d e s er e m in is t i us

p , p , p
mo di copula di v ulsione m A lio q ui n si ad m atr em .
,

mi gr av er is post r ui nam f ac ili us pot er is cum e a,

l an e r e quod p er i lli us ab s enti am e r di di s t i

p g , p .

Q uo ds i adhuc integra es et no n p er di dist i serva n e , ,

perdas Quid tibi nece s se est in c a v ersar i domo in

.
,

qua necesse habeas coti die aut perir e aut vincere ?

Q uis quamne m or t al ium i ux t a vi
p er a m sec ur us

so m nos capit ? Quae ut non certe solli p erc uti at ,

c it at .S ec uri us est perire non poss e quam i ux t a

pericul um non perisse ; in altero tr anquillit as est in
’

altero gub ernat io ibi gaud em us hic e v adim us .

4 Sed forte r e spo ndc as :

. Non bene morata
mater e s t r e s sacculi cupit amat d iviti as i gnor at
, , ,

i e iun i um oculos s tibio li mit vult compta procedere

, ,

et n oc e t proposito meo nec possum cum hui u sce

’
modi vivere Primum q uidem etiam si tal is est ut
.
, ,

c aus ar is maius hab eb is pr ae m ium si talem non

, ,

3 76
 LE TTE R CXVI I

e ndure to live with her for one day in one roo m ?

Or is it that you cannot bea r he r eyes ? Knowing
that she w ho bore you nursed y o u and re ared you
,

unders tands all your movements without di fficulty do ,

you shrink fi om a wi tness to your home l ife ? If you

ar e a virgin why do you fear careful guardi ans hip ?
,

If you h ave lost your virgini ty w hy do you not marry ,

openl y ? M arriage is a raft for the shipwrecked a ,

remedy that may at leas t c ure a bad begi nni ng Nor .

do I s ay this becaus e after sin I woul d abolish re

,

en t an so t hat w h at began wrong may o on

p ce
, g
wrong ; but because with connections o f this sort
I despa ir of a break In any cas e if y o u re tur n
.
,

to your mother after y our down fall you will be ,

more e as ily able in her company to lament that

whi ch ou lost by separating fi om her If on the
other {and you are sti ll a p ure virgi n and h ave
.
,

not los t your ch as tity guard i t lest you lose i t

,

now. Why mus t y ou li ve in a hous e where you

must every day win a battle or b e rui ned ? Can
any o ne sleep so undly by the side o f a viper ? It may
not atta ck but it certai nly caus es uneas iness It is
, .

s afer to b e where you cannot possibly perish than to ,

graz e the peril and j us t not to peris h In the firs t .

cas e calm water ; in th e s econd skilful steering ;

, ,

there we are gay here we j ust escape

, .

You may perhaps reply : M y mother h as not a

good characte r she de s ires the thi ngs of this world
, ,

s he love s rich es she ignores all fas ts she rubs her

, ,

eyes with antimony she li kes to go o ut in fine cloth es

, ,

sh e is a danger to my vows I cannot live wi th a person

,
’
of her ki nd .To begin with even if she is the sort ,

of woman you allege you will have t he greater reward

,

if y o u refus e to des ert her with all her faults She .

3 77
 SELE CT LETT E RS O F ST JERO ME .

des c r as .Illa te diu p or t avit diu s luit et diffic ili or es ,

i nfamt iae mores blanda pietate s ust imuit L avit .

p anno r um s orde s c t inmundo saepe fo e d ata e s t

sterco re A dse di t ae gr o t ant i et q uae propter te
.
,

s ua fastidia s us t in ue r at tua quoque passa e s t

, Ad .

hanc p e r d ux it ae t at e m ; ut C hr ist um amares d oc uit , .

Non tibi d isplic c at e ius c omv e r s atio q uac t e spon s o ,

‘

tuo virginem c ons e cr avi t Q uo ds i ferri non potest et

.

delicias eius fugis atque ut vulgo sol e t is d icere , ,

saccularis e s t mater habes aliena s vir gines habes

, ,

sanct um pudi cit iae chorum Quid m atr em d es er ems .

eum eligis qui suam fo r sit an sor or e m r eliquit e t

,

m atr e m ? Illa di ffic ilis se d iste f ac ili s illa i ur gat r i x

, ,

iste plac ab ili s Quem q uaer o utrum sc onta sis an

.

postea inv e ner is Si secuta es m ani fe s t um es t cur

.
, ,

m at r e m r eli q ue ris ; s i postea r epp e r ist i c st e ndi s , ,

quid in matris hospit io non po t ue r is inveni re Durus .

’
doctor et meo mucrone me v ulner ans Qui am b ulat ,

’
i nq ui t
, simpliciter amb ulat c onfid e nt e r
, Tac e r e m .
,

si me r em or d er e t c o nsc i entia et in aliis meum crimen ,

no nr e pr ehe nd e r em nec per tr ab e m oculi m e i alterius

f e st uc am vi d e r e m Nunc autem cum inter fra tres
.
,

roc ul habitans e or um ue fruens c ontubernio ho n e st e

p q
sub ar b itr is et v id e am raro et vi de ar inpud e ntis si ,

1
P ro ev rbs x , . 9 .

3 78
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JEROME .

m um est eius te verecundiam non s e q ui c ui us te ,

se u Q uo ds i di x eris :
q i t est eri s e xemplum . Et
mi hi sufficit c onsc i entia mea ; babe c D eum i udi c e m ,

qui mc ae vitae te s tis es t ; non curo quid lo q uant ur ,

’
homines audi apost olum sc r ib e nt e m : Pro vi d e nt e s
,

’
bona non solum coram Deo s e d etiam homi nib us , .

Si qui s te c arpit quod sis Chris tiana quod virgo ne

, , ,

cures quod ideo di mise ris m at r e m ut in monasterio

, ,

inter vi r gi nes v iveres ; talis d et r acti c laus tua est .

Ub i non luxuria in puella Dei s e d dur it i a c arpit ur , ,

c r ud e li t as i s ta pietas est Illum e nim pr ae f ers matri

.
,

quem pr aeferr e i ub er is et anim ae tuae Quem si et .

ipsa pr ae t ule rit et fili am te s e ntie t et so r or e m

, .

5 Quid i git ur ? Sc el us e st sancti viri habere

.

c o mt ub e r n i um Obtorto collo me in ius trahis ut a ut ,

p r ob e m ,quod nolo aut multorum , i nvi di am s ub e am .

Sanctus vir numquam filiam a matre s c i ungit utr am

que s u s ic it
p u tr am ue v e n
,q e r at ur Sit q uamli b e t .

s ancta fili a mater vidua indicium c astit atis est Si

, .

c o a e v us tuus est ille neseio q ui s m at re m tuam ,

ho nor e t et suam ; s i s enior te ut fili am di li gat et ,

parenti s s ub ic i at di sc ipli nae Non expedit am b or um .

fam ae plus te illum amare quam m atr e m me non ,

’
videatur afiec t um in te eligere sed ae t at e m Et ,
.

1
R om ans, xi i . 17 .

3 80
 LETTER CXVI I

for you not to adopt the modest l ife o f the man whom
y ou profess to have taken as your exemplar You .

may reply : For me also my own cons cience is

s ufiici c n
. t God is my j udge w ho is wi tness of my
’
life. I care not what men may s ay Listen t hem.

’
t o t h e apostle s words : Provide things hone s t not
’1
only in the sight of God but also inthe sight of men .

Heed it not if anyone criti c izes you for be ing a

Christi an and a vi rg in and for ha vi ng left your
,

mother to live in a monas tery wi th other virgi ns .

Such censure is your truest pra ise When men blame .

’
on e o f God s maidens not fo r s e l f i ndulgence but f o r
,
—
,

s t ernnes s
, what they call cruelty is really devotion .

You are preferring to your mother Him w hom you

ar e bidden to prefer to your own soul A nd if s he .

hers elf should ever als o thus prefer Him she will ,

find in you both a da ughte r and a sister .

What ! ou may s ay is it a cri me to l ive under

,

the s ame roof wi th a holy man ? You drag me by

the scru ff of the neck into co urt and give me choice
,

either to approve ag ainst m y wi l l o r els e inc ur ,

odium fi om many A holy man never separates a

.

daugh t er fi o m her mother ; he r e sp ects t hem bot h ,

he regards both of them wi th reverence However .

s aintly a daughter may be a widowed mother is

,

warranty of her chas ti ty If thi s man of yours is

.

the s ame age as you are he shoul d honour your

,

mother as his o wn; if he is your e l der he shoul d ,

’
love you as a daughter and s ubmit you to a mother s
discipline I t is not exp edi ent for your reputa tion
.
,

o r for his that he shoul d love you more than he

,

loves your mother : so that h e may not seem t o

make hi s choice i n you not of yo ur a ffecti on but
of your youth And I should still s ay this if you
.
,

38 1
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

hoc di c e r e m , si fr at re m m o nachum non haberes s i ,

dom e st ic is c ar e r e s
p r aes idi i s ; nunc vero pro dolor , ,

inter m at r e m atque g er m anum —

et m at r e m vi d ua m
fr atrem q ue m onachum — cur se alienus i nt er s er it ?
Bonum qui dem est ut te et filiam no v e ris et so ro r e m ;
,

si autem ut r um ue non potes et mater quasi dura

q
r e s ui t ur s alt im frater placcat Si frater a s e r io r
p , p .

est m ollior sit illa quae ge nui t Qui d p alle s ?

, , .

Quid ae s t uas ? Quid v ult um r ub o r e s uff undi s e t

t re m e nt ib us labus i n at ie nt i am pectoris c o nt e s t ar is ?
p
No n s upe r at am o r e m matri s et f r at r is nisi solus
u xori s a ff ectu s .

6 Audio p r ae t e r e a te suburbana v ill ar um am c e ni

.
,

tates cum ad finib us et c o gnat is et i st ius modi genus

ho m inib us c irc um ir e Nec dubito quin v el con s o
.
,

brina vel soror sit in q uar um s olac ium novi gene ri s

,

d uc ari s ads ec ula ab s it quippe ut q uam vi s pro x im i

—
, ,

s in t et cognati vi ro r um te s uspic e r captare con

,

sortia o b s c c r o ergo te virgo ut mihi r e spo nd e as

—
, ,

sola vadis in c o mi t atu p r opinq uo r um an cum amasio

tuo ? Q uam v is s is i npud e ns s aec ular ium c oulis eum ,

i nge r e r e no n aud e b is Si enim hoc feceris et te et

.
,

illum famili a universa c ant ab it vos c unc tor um di giti ,

d e no t ab unt ipsa quoque soror aut ad fin

, is sive

cognata quae in ad ulat io ne m tui sanctum et no nnum

,

38 2
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J EROME .

coram tc v oc a nt , cum se p aul ul u m c omv e r t er it ,

p or t e ntos um ri d e b it m arit um
Sin autem sola .

i eri s— quod et mag is a c s t im o uti que inter servos —

ad ul esc e n t es inter maritas f e mi n

, as atque n upt ur as ,

inter las civas puellas et c om atos li nt e at o s que i uv enes

f urv ar um v e st ium puella gr adie r is Dab it tibi .

b arb at ulus q ui lib e t manum s us t e ntab it las s am et ,

r ess is di iti s aut t e m t ab it ur aut t e m t ab it Bri t

p g p p .

tibi inter viros m atronas q ue convivium : e xp e ct ab is

aliena oscula pr ae gust at os c ib o s et absque scandalo
,

tuo in aliis seri c as ve s tes aur at as q ue mi r ab e ris In .

ipso quoque convivio ut v e s c aris c arnib us quasi , ,

invita c ogeris ut vinum bibas Dei laud ab it ur

, ,

creatura ut lav e s b alne is sor di b us d e tr ahet ur ; et

, ,

o mnes te cum aliquid eorum quae s uad e nt r e tr ac tans

°

, , ,

feceris puram sim pli c em domi nam et vere inge nuam

, ,

c on c lam ab u nt Pe r so nab it interim ali quis cantator

.

a d m ens am et inter ps alm os dulci m od ulat io ne

cu r ren t es quoniam alienas non aud eb i t ux or e s te
, , ,

quae c ust o d e m non habes s aepius r esp ec tab it , .

L o q ue t ur nut ib us c t q ui d q uid m c t uet dicere sign

,
ifi ,

c ab i t aff e c t ib us Inter has et tant as inlec eb r as

.

v ol u t at u
p m etiam ferreas mentes libido domat quae ,

m aior e m in virgin i b us patitur fam e m dum d ulc i us ,

putat omne quod ne sci t Narrant ge ntilium fab ulae

, .

38 4
 LETT ER C XVI I

and a holy man will laugh behi nd his bac k at your

,

frig ht o f a husband If on the ot her hand you go

.
, ,

out alone whic h I rat her suppose you a g irl in

— —
,

yo u r dark clothe s will be one of a pa r ty o f youthf ul

,

att endants married women and women soo n to be

,

bride s pleas ure lo v ing dam s el s and young fop s with

,
—
,

l o ng hair and clo s e fit t ing tunic s

—
Some b o y w ith a .

li ttle h e ar d will give you his arm and hold you up if ,

you are t ired and as your fingers s queeze he wi ll either

,

be tempted himself or w ill tempt you You will s it .

do w n to table wi th married m e n and women ; you

will wait till t he others have fini shed ki s sing and t he
dis he s have been tasted and without making any ,

p r otest will a dmire the s ilk dres s es and the gold

brocade t hat the others are wearing At the dinner .

itself they w ill pretend you are unw illing and will
force you to partake of t he meat ; to get you to
dri nk w ine t he y w ill prai s e it as t he gift o f the
,

Creato r To induce you to vi sit the baths t hey will

.
,

speak o f dirt with disgus t And when you reluctantly

.

do somet hing of what they would have you do they ,

will cry out in choru s What a fi ank innoc ent girl ,

s he is ! What a genuine lady ! M eanwhile s ome

singer w ill come into t he dining room and as h e per -
,

forms a s election of soft flowing airs h e will not ,

’
dare to look at other m e ns wi ve s but he will very ,

o ften glance at you who have no protector He w ill

, .

s peak by gesture s and a meaning emp ha sis in his

,

voice w ill convey w hat he i s afraid to put into words .

Ami d suc h strong allurements to pleas ure as the s e

even ir on wills are overcome by desire w hic h in ,

t he ca s e of vir gins is t h e sharper s e t becaus e i t

t hi nks t hat anythi ng of which it knows nothing is
e specially delig htful Heathen legends te ll us th at
.

38 5
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST . JEROME
cantib us sir enarum nautas in saxa pr ae c ipit e s et ad
O rphe i arbores b estias q ue ac s ili c um dura
c ithar am

m ollit a .Di fficile inter epulas s erv at ur pu di citia .

Nitens cutis sor di d um ost ent at ani m um .

7 L e gi m us in sc olis pueri e t spiri t ant ia in plat e i s

.
—

aera c o mspe x im us aliq uem o ssib us v ix haer e mt e m

—

inlic itis arsisse am or ib us et ante vita c ar uisse quam

peste Quid tu facies puella sani corporis delicata
.
, , ,

pinguis rubens ae st uans inter carmes inter vina et

, , ,

b alne as iux t a maritas i ux t a ad ul e sc e nt ulo s ? Etsi

, ,

rogata nond e d eris tam e nformae putes testimonium ,

si r ogeris Libidinosa mens ar d e nt ius honesta pers e

.

q it ur et quod no nlicet d ulc ius s uspic at ur

u , ,Vestis .

ipsa vilis et pulla animi t ac e ntis indici um est si ,

rugam non hab e at si per t err am ut altior md e ar is

, , ,

tr ahat ur si de industria dissut a sit tunica ut ali quid

, ,

intus app ar e at o p er iat q ue quod fo e dum est et , ,

a e r i at quod fo rm o s um
p , Caliga quoque am b ula ntis
.

nigella ac mitens stridore i uv e nes ad s e vocat .

Papillae fasc iolis c o npr imuntur c t c r ispanti c ingulo

an us tius pectus ar t at ur Capilli el in fi o nt e m ve l
g v .

in aures d e fiuunt Palli olum int er dum cadit ut

. ,

c an di do s nud e t um e r os et qua s i vi d e r i nol ueri t

, , ,

c el at festina quod vole n ,s r etr ax e r at Et quan d o in .

publico quasi per verecundiam o p eri t fac ie m lupa ,

1
V irg il , E clogues , III . 1 02 : vi x os si b su ha erent .

386
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JEROME .

narum arte id solum o st e ndit , quod n

os t e s um magis
placere pote s t .

8 . R espo nd e b is : U nde me nosti ? et quomodo

tam longe in me i ac t as oc ulos t uos ? Fr at ris hoc
tui mi hi nar r av e r e lacrimae et int ole r ab il es per
momenta singultu s Atque utinam ille m e nt it us s it
.

et magis t im e ns hoc quam argue ns di x e r it ! Sed

mi hi crede soror : nemo m e nt ie ns plor at Dolet
, .

sibi pr aelat um i uv e ne m no n quidem c om at um non , ,

v e s t ium s e r ic ar um se d t ross ulum et in s or dib us

,

d eli c at um qui ipse saeculum signet t e x tr i num t e ne at ,

pensa d istr ib uat regat familiam e m at quicquid d e

, ,

publico neces s arium e st di spensator et d ominus et ,

pr a e v e mi e ms o ffic ul a serv ulor um quem omnes rodant ,

famuli et quicquid domina no n d e d e r it illum clami

, ,

tent s ub tr ax isse Q ue r ulum s e r v ulor um genus est

.

et q uant um c um q ue d e d e r is semper e is minus e st

, , .

No nenim c o nsid e r amt de quanto sed quantum detur , ,

d o lo r e m q ue suum s oli s quod po ssumt d e t r ac t a

, ,

t io nib us c o nso lant ur Ille p ar asit um iste i np ost or e m

. ,

hic he r e d ip e t am alius novo quoli bet appellat v oc ab ulo .

Ip s um i ac t ant adsid er e lec t ulo o b st e tr ic e s adhib e r e ,

languenti portare m at ulam c ale fac er e lintea plic ar e

, , ,

fa sciolas Fac ilius mala c r e d unt homines et quod

.

cumque domi fingitur rumor in publico fit Nec , .

m ir e r is si ancillae et s e r v uli de vobi s i s ta c onfingamt

, ,

cum mater quoque id ipsum q uc r at ur et frater .

3 88
 LE TT ER CXVI I
’
harlot ski ll it shows only thos e features w hich give
s

men when sho w n mor e pleas ur e

'

You will reply : From what s ource do you know

all thi s abou t me ? How could you ever have se t
eyes upon me w hen you l ive so far away ? Your
’
bro ther s tears told me thi s and his scarcely endur
able outburs ts of sobbing W ould th at he may have .

spoken falsely would t hat his words may have been

,

t he e xpres s ion of fears not o f facts ! But believe ,

me si s ter ; no o ne ever weeps when he is ly ing H e

,
.

i s in d ignant t hat a young m an is preferred to him

self not indeed a lo mg haired fop in silk clothes
,
-

but still a coxcomb dainty even in hi s squalor a ,

rogue w ho puts hi s own seal o nyour purse manages ,

t he weaving apportions t he wool to be s pun di rects

, ,

the house hold and buys all t hat i s needed in th e

,

market He is both steward and master and

.
,

anticipates t he se r vants in all their duties so t hat the ,

whole household h ave the ir teeth in hi m and prote s t

that he has filc he d all t hat t heir mistress does no t
give them Servants are alway s full o f complaints
.
,

an d however much you give t hem it i s t oo little

, , .

They do not consider how much you have but only ,

how much they get and they console their indigna ,

tion im the only way they c an by findi ng fault , .

One calls hi m a parasite another am incubus another , ,

a legacy hunter another any fresh mame he can

-
,

invent They put it about that he s its at your bed

.

side fetc hes nurs es when you feel unwell removes

, ,

the slops makes you warm bandages and folds

, ,

compresses People are only too ready to believe

.

evil and tales invented within doors soon get noised

,

abroad Nor need you wonder t hat your maids and

.

f ootm en invent suc h tales about you both w hen eve m ,

your mother and b rother make similar complaints .

38 9
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST J ERO ME .

9 .Fac igitur quod moneo quod p rec or ut primum

, , ,

matri d ehinc si id fieri no n p otest s altim f ratr i

, , ,

r ec o n c ili e r is Aut si i s ta tam cara nomina ho st ilit er

.

d e t e s t aris di videre ab eo quem tuis d ic e r is r ae t u

,
p
,

lisse Si au t em et hoc non po tes r e v e rt er is enim

. —

ad t uos si illum possis d ese r e r e v el ho me stius sodali

,
—

tuo ut er e S e p ar ent ur domus v es tr ae di vi dat ur que

.

convivium me maledici homines sub uno t e c t ulo v os

,

m ane nt es lec tul um quoque c rimi ne nt ur habere

c omm un em Potes et ad necessitates tuas quale
.
,

v ol uis t i habere s olac ium e t ali qua ex parte publica

,

carere infamia quamquam c av end a sit macula, ,

quae nullo nitro secundum Hi er e m iam nulla ,

fullonum herba lui pote s t Quando v is ut t c v id e at .

,

—
et in v ise t adhib e arb i t r os am ic o s libertos s e r v u
—
, ,

los Bona c o nsc ientia nullius oculos f ugie t Intr e t

. .

i ntr e p id us s e c ur us exea t
, Taciti oculi et sermo .

silens et to tius corporis habitus vel t r e pid at ione m

i nt e r d um v el s ec urit at e m lo q uunt ur Aperi q uae so .
, ,

aures tuas et c lam o r e m t otius civitatis exaudi .

l am p e r di dist i vestra v oc ab ula et mutuo e x vobis

cognom ina s usc epistis : t u i lli us di c e r is et ille tuus .

Hoc mater au di t et frater p ar atiq ue s unt et pr ec ant ur

v o s sibi di videre et r i v at am v e s t r a e c o ni un c t io ni s
p
i nfam iam l aud e m facere c omm unem Tu e s to cum .

matre sit ille cum fratre A ud e t

,
n i us d il iges
1
.

s od ale m fi at ri s tui : ho me s t ius am ab it mater amic um

filii quam fili ae s uae Q uo dsi nol ueri s si mea .

,

1
d ilige s : H i lb erg .

1 J r mi
e e ah , 11 . 2 0, 2 2 :
‘
pl ayi ng t he h ar l c t .
’

39 °
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

m onita rugata fronte c o mt e mps e ris e pis t ula tibi ,

h aec voce libera p r o c l am ab it Quid alie num se r v um

J
o b s id e s ? Quid m ini st r um Christi tuum fam ulum
f ac is ? R e s pice ad populum g lo rum facies
s in u ,

i nt ue r e . Ille in ecclesia legit et t c aspic iunt univers i ,

nisi quod pacue li c e nti a co niugali de tua infamia glori

aris nec iam secreto d e d e c or e potes esse contenta ;
r oc ac i t at e m libertatem vocas Facies m er etric is
p .

”
facta e st tibi nesc is e r ub e sc e r e
, .

1 0 Iterum me m alignum
. iterum s u5pic ios um , ,

iterum r um iger ulum c l am it as E gonc s uspic ios us .

,

e on
g e m ali v o l us qui ut in principio e pist ul ae prae
, ,

f at us sum ideo s c r ipsi quia non s usp ic ab ar an tu

, , ,

ne gli ge ns di s s oluta c o nte m pt ri x quae annis nata

, , ,

vi i n
g t i et quinque a d u l e sc e nt e m nec d um bene
b arb at ulum ita b r ac hns tui s quasi c as sib us inc lusis t i ?
Optimum re vera p ae d agogum qui te m o me at q ui , ,

a s e ri t at e frontis e x t e r r e at et
p quamquam in m ullis ,

a e t at ib us libido s it tuta tamen v e l cano capite ab

,

aper ta defendat ignominia ! V e ni e t v e nie t tempus ,

— dies adlab it ur dum ignoras e t iste fo r m os ul us

,
—

tuu s quia cito s e ne sc unt m ulie r es maxime quae

, ,

i ux t a viros s unt vel di tio r e m r e p er i e t vel i un

, i or e m .

Tune te pae nit e b it p e r tinac iae quando et rem et ,

fam am am ise r is quando quod male i unc t um f ue r at

, , ,

di v i d e t ur bene nisi fort e s ecura es et c o al c sc e nt c

,

tanti temporis c ar it at c d isc id i um non v e r e r is .

1
J r mi e e ah, i ii 3 . .

39 2
 LE TT ER CXVI I

still refuse if w ith wrinkled brow y o u rej ect my

,

warni ng the m t his letter will cry aloud to y o u with

,
’
unchecked voice W hy it will s ay
. do you besiege
, ,
’ ’
another s servant ? W hy do you make C hrist s
mi ni ster your slave ? Look at the people and
regard eac h individual face When he is reading .

in c hurch the whole congregation fix their eye s o n

’
you : but you perhap s with almost a wi fe s reckless
ness glory in your s hame and s ecret di s grace no,

longer s at is fie s you you call boldness fi e e d o m Yo u .

’ ” 1
have a w hore s forehead and refuse to be ashamed .

Again you cry out that I am a malignant that I ,

am suspicious t hat I am a s candal monger Am

,
-
.

I truly su spicious or malignant I w ho as I said , ,

at t he beginning o f t his le tter only took up my ,

p e n because I felt no suspicious of you ? Is it

not you rather w ho are carele s s loo s e and sco m ,

ful you w ho at t he age of twenty fiv e have caugh t

,
-

in the s nare o f your arms a yout h w ho s e beard has

hardly grown ? A fine ins tructor in truth he mu s t
be able to ad vise by stern looks to fi ight e n and
, , ,

even by his grey hai r to de fend you from open

s hame ! No t but wh at lust i s never s af e at any
time of life Th e day will surely surely come
.
,

for time glides on w hile you notice it not when —

yo ur hands ome youngster w ill find a ric her o r a

more youthful mi s tre s s W omen s oo n grow o ld
.
,

e specially when they live wi th a man at t heir side .

You wi ll be s o r ry for your deci s ion and regret your

obstinacy o n the day when you find property and
,

reputation gone and this unhappy union happily

broken unle ss perhap s you feel quite at ea s e and
—
,

seeing that your a ffection has had so long a time to

become establi shed you have no fear o f a rupture
, .

39 3
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F S T JERO ME .

ll .Tu quoque mater quae propter ae t at e m

, ,

m ale di c ta non m e t uis noli sic v indi c ari ut p e cc es

, , .

M agis a te di sc at filia s ep ar ar i quam tu ab illa d is ,

i ungi Habes fili um et fili am et ge nerum i mmo

.
,

con tub e m al em fili ae tuae ; quid q uaeris ali ena

s olac i a et ignes i am so it os suscitas ?
p Home st i us
tibi est saltim culpam fili ac sust ent ar e quam oc ca
s io n e m tuae quaerere Sit tecum fi lius m o nac hus
.
,

p i e t at is v i d ui t at isq ue praesidium Quid tibi ali enum .

hominem in c a praesert i m domo quae fili um et ,

fili am capere non p o t ui t ? Eius iam ae t at is es ut ,

o s sis nepotes habere de filia Invita ad te ut r um ue

p q . .

Re v e rt at ur cum viro quae sola e x i e r at virum di xi

,
—
,

nonm ar it um ; nemo c alum mi et ur : se x um significare

volui ne c oni ugi um aut si e r ub e sc it et r e tr ac tat e t
,
—
,

d o m um in qua nata est ar b itr at ur angust am v o s

, , ,

ad eius hospitiol um p e rgit e Q uam vis ar tum s it . ,

fac ili us pote s t m at r e m et fr at r e m capere quam

ali e n um hominem cum quo certe in uno cubiculo
,

m amc r e non p o t e r at Sint in una domo duac femi nae

. ,

duo m as c uli Sin autem et tertius ille W po Boo x òs

.
,

tuus abire non vult et s e di t iones ac tur bas c onc it at ,

sit biga sit triga fi at e r vester ac fili us et sor o r e m

, ,

il li s e x hib eb it c t m atr em Alii vit ric um e t gener um

.

v oc e n t ille nutricium app elle t et fr at r em

, .

1
J e o r m e ins i st s t hat t he br other s houl d ’live int he h ouse
re f r a b l y w i th n t h r m an hi i t r s m at e b ut even —
p e s s s e —
o e o e
’
if t he m ot her s m ale fri end r emains t he br o ther m ust sta
thus t here are e ither t wo m en or three men in t e
e st a b lis hm e n t .

394
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J EROME .

12 Haec ad b r e v e m luc ub r at iunc ulam celeri

.

sermone dic t avi volens desiderio pos t ulant is satis

fa c ere et qua si ad sc holastic am m at eriam me e x er c e ns
—
eadem e nim di e mane pulsab at ostium qui pro ,

f ec t ur us erat sim ulq ue ut o st c md e r em o b t rec t at o ri

—
,

bus meis quod et ego possim quicquid v e ne r it in

, ,

b uc c am dicere U nde et de sc ri pt uris pauc a

, .

er st r inx i nec o r at io ne m meam ut in ceteris l ibris

p ,

facere solitus s um illar um flori b us t e x ui E x t em por

, .

'

alis e s t di c t io et tanta ad l umen l uc e r mulae facultate

perfusa ut no t ar io r um manus lingua pr ae c urr e r e t et
,

sigma ac furta v e rb or um v olub ili tas s erm oni s ob r ue r e t .

Quod idc irc o dixi ut qui non igno sc it ingenio , , ,

i gnos c at ve l t e m p or i .

CXXV
A D R U S TI C U M M O NA C H U M

1 . Num C hri s tiano fe lic ius cui pr om itt untur

.
,

regna c ae lor um ; ni hil lab oriosius qui co tidi e de vita ,

r ic li t at ur Nih i l f or t i us qui vincit di ab olum ;

p e .
,

ni hil inb e c illius qui a ca rne s up e r at ur U triu s que rei .

exempla sunt plurima L atro c r e d idi t in cruce et .

1
Pr o b ab ly Narb o nne ; f ollo wing
R us tic us er o m e s
of J ’

a d v i ce he e nte re d a m onastery w a s o rd aine d l at er and ,

c on s e c r at e d Bis ho
p o f Narb o nne 4 30 .

39 6
 LE TTE R CXVI I AND LE TTER CXXV

Note
I dictated thi s letter talking qui ckly in the, ,
’
S pace of one short nig ht wis hi ng to sati s fy a fi ie nd s
,

c a m es t re que s t and to try my hand as it were upon , ,

a s c holastic subj ect fo r t hat same morni ng my

—

visitor w ho was o n the point of departur e knoc ked

, ,

at my door and at the s ame time wis hing to s how

my detractors that I too can s ay t he first t hi n
—
,

g t hat
comes into my head I there fore introduced fe w
.

quotations fi o m t he Scrip t ures and di d not interweave

my dis course with its fl owers as I have done in my ,

other books I extemporized as I went and by t he

.
,

l ight of o ne small lamp pour ed for th my words in

such profusion t hat my tongue outs tripped my
,
’
secretarie s p e ns and my volubility b aflle d t he tricks
o f their shorthand I say this that those who make
.

no excus es for lack of ability may make some for

lack of ti me .

LETTER CXXV
To R U S TI C U S 1

Good and bad monica

W ritten A . D . 41 1

NOT H 1 NG happier than the Chris tian for to hi m

is ,

is promi s ed t he kingdom o f heaven : not hing is more

toil worn for every day he goe s in danger o f his li f e
-
, .

Nothing is s t ronger than he is for hc tr iump hs over ,

the de v il : nothing is w eaker for he i s conquered ,

by t he fles h There are many examples o f t he t ruth

.

of both statements The robber o n the cro ss

.

be lieved and it was immediately vouc hsa fed him

,

39 7
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

‘
statim m er e t ur audire Ame m amen dico tibi
°

,
‘

’
h odie mecum c r is in paradi so Iudas de ap c s tolatus .

fastigio in pr odi t ioni s tartarum lab itur et nec fa

m il i ar itat e c onviv ii nec i ntinc tione b uc c el lae nec
o s culi gratia fr angitur ne quasi hominem t r ad at , ,

quem filium Dei no v e r at Quid Samaritana vilius ? .

Non sol um ipsa c r e di di t e t po s t sex viros unum

invenit dominum M essi am q ue c ogno sc it ad fontem ,

quem in templo Iud ae o r um po pulus ignor ab at s ed ,

auctor fit multorum salutis e t apo s to lis e m e ntib us

c ib o s e s uri e n t em r e fic it l as sum q ue s us t e nt at Qui d .

Salomone s api e nt ius ? A t t am e ninfat uat ur am orib us

f e m inar um Bonum e st sal nullum q ue sacri
.

fic ium absque hui us aspersione s us c ip i tur unde et —

a os tol us r ae c i i t : Sermo ve s ter sit s al e con

p p p
d itus quod s i i nfat ue t ur fora s pr o ic itur in tan
—
, ,

t um q uc perdit nominis di gn it at e m ut me In ster ,

q u i li ni o quidem utile si t quo solent c r e d e n , t i um arva

c on di ri et sterile anim ar um solum pimguc sc e r e .

Haec di c im us ut prima te fili R ustice fronte do

, , ,

c e am us magn a c o e i s s e excelsa s ec tar i e t adules

p ,

cen t iae immo p ub e r t at is incentiva c alc ant c m per

, ,

f e c t ae quidem a e t at is gradum scandere sed l ub ric um ,

iter e s t per quod i ngr e d e r is ne c tant am s e q ui

,
‘

,
‘

gloriam post vi c tor i am q uantam ignom iniam po s t ,

r uinam .

2 . Non mihi nunc per v ir t ut um prata d uc endus es

me c l ab o r and um ut ost e nd am tibi variorum p ul c hri

1
S t L uke xxiii
.
, . 43 .
2
C olossi ans , iv . 6 .
3
Mat t . v . 13 .

398
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

t udi ne m florum quid in s e lili a hab e ant puri tatis

, ,

quid r o s ar um verecundi a po ss id e at quid v iol ae ,

purpura p r o m i ttat in regno quid r utilant ium s pon ,

deat pic t ur a gemm ar um l am enim pr opitio domino .

s t i v am tene s iam in tectum atque s olarium cum

,

Petro apostolo c o nsc e ndis t i q ui e s ur i e ns in Iud ae is ,

Cornelii s at ur at ur fide et fam e m inc r e d uli tat is eorum

gentium conversione r e s t inguit atque in va s e evan
e l io r um uad r an ulo quod de caelo de s cendit ad
g q g ,

terras d o c e t ur et di sc it omnes homine s po s s e s alvari

, .

R urs um q ue quod v i d e r at in s pecie candidi s simi

, ,

lint e am inis in s uperna t r ansf e r t ur e t c r e d e nt i um

tur bas de terris in caelum r apit ut p ollic itatio domini ,

c o n l e at ur : Beati mundo corde quoniam ip si

p ’
,

Deum v id eb umt Totum quod adpr e he ns a manu

.
,

in sinuare tibi cupio quod qua s i doctu s nauta po s t ,

multa naufr agia r ud e m conor i ns t r uer e v ec tor e m ,

ill ud e s t ut in quo litore pud ic i tiae pirata s it no v e r i s

, , , ,

ubi Charybdi s e t radix omni um m alo r um avaritia ubi ,

S c y l lae i o b tr e c t a tor um canes de quibus ap os tol us ,

loquitur : Ne mordente s i nv ic e m mutuo cousu °

’
mamini quomodo in media t r anq uillit at e securi
,

L ib y c is i nt e r d um v it io r um S y r t ib us o b r uam ur quid ,

ven en at o r um an im ant i um d e s e r t um huius s acculi

nutr iat .

3 .Navigantes R ubrum M are in quo o ptand um ,

nobi s e s t u t verus P harao cum s uo m e r gat ur e x e rc i t u ,

multi s di ffic ul t at ib us ac p e r ic ulis ad urbem A b isam am

e rv e ni umt U t r o ue
q litore gente s v agae immo
p .
,

1
A c ts x 9 .
—
16 .
2
S t M atthew v 8
.
, . .

Galatians , v . 15 . A c ity of Arabia Feli x .

40 0
 LETTER CXXV
lili es th e modes ty o f the roses and the sure pro n
, , … .

’
o f the kingdom given by the v iolet s purple an d the
’
j ewelled brilliance o f eac h painted flower By Go d s .

favour you have already put your hand to the plough ,

and have already cli mbed up to the ho us e to p and t he —

terrac e like t he apostle Peter w ho when he w as

,

hungry among the J ews was satis fied by the faith of

Cornelius and appe as ed the cravings caused through
their unbelief by the conversion of the Gentile s being ,

taught by th e four cornered vessel o f the Go spels le t

-

do w n from heaven to earth that it w as possible fo r all

men to be s aved 1 And then aga in the fa ir white
.
, ,

sheet which hc saw in his vision w as taken up carr y ,

ing hosts o f believers fi om earth to h eaven t hat the ,

promise o f the Lord might be f ul fill e d : Bles s ed are

’2
the p ure in heart for t hey s hall s e e G od
, In all .

thi s I only wi sh to take you by the hand and convey

to you certai n knowledg e Like an experienced
.

s ailor w ho has been i n many a s hip w re ck I seek to ,

ins truct a novice and to tell you where you w ill find
,

t he p ira te s w ho would rob y o u of c h as tity w here ,

lies t he Charybdis of avarice root of all e vi ls where

, ,
’
are Sc ylla s dogs t ho s e calumniato rs of whom the
,

apostle s ay s : If ye bite and devour one another ,

’3
take heed that ye be not consumed one o f ano ther .

I would w arm you t oo t hat s ometimes as we sail at

c as e in calm weat h er we may be sucke d down by t h e

quicksands of vice and that many venomous crea t ure s

,

have the ir home in t he desert o f t his world .

Those who navigate t he R ed Sea where we must

,

hope that t he real Pharaoh may be drowned wi th

all his ho s t have to face many di fli c ul t ie s and dangers
,

before they reach t he city of A b is am a Both s hores

1
.
‘

are infested by nomad tribe s and savage beasts .

40 1
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JEROME .

b el uae habitant f c r oc issim ae Semper solli c iti .

,

semper armati to t ius anni v e hunt cibaria L atenti .

bus saxis v adi sq ue d uri ssim is plena sunt omnia ita ut ,

speculator c t ductor in summ a mali arbore se d e at c t

inde r e ge nd ae e t c irc um flec t e nd ae navi s di c tat a
p r ae di c at Feli x cursu s e s t s i post sex menses
.
,

supra di c t ae urbis p or t um t ene ant a quo se incipit ,

aperire oceanus per quem vi x anno perpetuo ad

,

Indi am p e rv e nit ur et ad G ange m fluvi um quem —

Phiso n sancta scriptu m c ognom inat qui circuit —

om n e m t e rr am E v il at et multa genera i m ent o r um

p g
de paradi s i dic itur fonte e v ehe r c Ibi nas c itur .

carbun culu s et zm ar agd us et margarita c and e nt ia et

'

uniones quibus nob ilium fem inar um ardet am b itio

, ,

m o mt e s q ue aurei quos a di re propter dracones e t

,

r h as e t i nm ns um corporum monst a h m i n i b us
g yp e o r r o

i mpo ssibile e s t ut o st e ndat ur nobis q ual c s custodes

, ,

hab e at avaritia .

4 Q uo r s um ista ? Pe r spic uum e s t

. Si ne go ti a .

tores s acculi tan ta sustinent ut ad incertas per ,

v en i ant p e r i t ur as q ue di v i tias e t servant cum an im ae

,

di s crimine quae multis p e ric ulis q uaesie r unt quid

, ,

Christi nego tiat or i non faciendum e st qui v e ndi tis ,

omnibus q uae r i t pr e tio s is sim um m argar it um qui ,

totis sub s tan tiae s uis o pib us emit agrum in quo ,

r e e ri at
p t he s aur um quem nec fur e ffo d e r e nec
,

latro p os sit aufe r r e ?

5 Scio me o ffe ns ur um e ss e quam pl ur im os qui
. ,

n r al em de v i t ii s di s uta t io n e m in suam r e f e r an t
g e e p
c on tum eli am c t dum mihi ir asc unt ur suam indicant
, ,

c on sc i e n tiam m ul to q ue peiu s de s e quam de me

indi cant E go e nim ne m inem nom inab o nec v e t e r is
.

1
G e nes is , i i I l . .
2 St . M att hew , x i ii . 45 a nd vi . 19 .

40 2
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JERO ME .

c om o e di ae li c e nti a
certas personas eligam atque
e rs t ri n am Pr ud e nt is viri est ac pr ud e nt i um
p g .

f e m inar um dissimulare im rmo emendare quod in s e

, ,

i nt e ll e gant et i nd ignar i sibi magi s quam mihi nec in

,

monitorem m al e dic t a c onge r e r e qui ut i s d e m , ,

t e ne at ur c r im in ib us certe in c o melior e s t quod sua

, ,

c i mala non placent .

6 Audio r e l igios am habere te m atr em multorum

.
,

an nor um v i duam quae alui t quae e r udi v it i nfant e m

, ,

et po s t studi a G alliar um quae v el flor ent iss1m a s unt

, ,

misit R omam non p ar c e ns s um ptib us e t ab s e ntiam

film spe s us tine ns f ut ur o r um ut ub e r t at e m Gallici ,

nit or e m q ue s e rm onis gravitas R omana c ondi r e t nec

c al c ar ib us in te s e d fre m is ut er e t ur quod et in d ise r ,

t issim is viris Graeci s e l e gim us qui A s ianum t um o r e m

A ttico sic c ab at sale et luxuriantes flagellis vinc as

falc ib us r e pr im e b ant u t e l o que nt iae t or c ul ar i a non
,

v e r b o r um am i n v arum
p p is s e d sensuum
, q uasi u
e x r es s io n ib u d u nd nt Hanc tu u ci e ut
p s r e a r e s. s p
p ar e nt e m ama u t nut r ic e m venerare u t s anc t am
, ,
.

N c c aliorum im i t er is exemplum q ui r elinq uunt suas ,

et alienas app e t unt quorum d e d e c us in pr op at ulo

,

e s t s ub no m inib us pi e tatis q uac r ent i um s u specta

consortia Novi ego q uas d am iam m atur iori s ae t at is
.

e t pl e r asq ue generis libertini ad ul e sc entib us d el ec t ar i

et filios quaerere s pir it al e s p aulat irnq ue pudore
superato per fic t a matrum nomina e r um pe r e in
lic e nt iam m ar it al e m Alii sor or es v irgine s de s erunt
.

4 04
 LE TT ER CXXV

the licence of the O ld Comedy to pick out de fini t e

pers ons for criticis m A w i s e man and wis e w omen
.

will either hi de or correct any faults they find in

themselves they will be more in dignant wi th them
,

selves t han wi th me and will not heap curs es upon

,

the ir adviser Grante d that he is liable to the s ame

.

c harges as t hey are in hi s case his faults give him no

,

pleasure ; and s o far at leas t he is th e ir superior .

I hear t hat your mother is a religious woman who

for many yea rs has been a widow and that w hen you ,

were a c hild she reared and ta ught you hersel f .

After you had studi ed in the flc ur ishi ng academies

o f Gaul sh e sent you to R ome s paring no e xpens e
,
’
and cons oli ng hers elf for her son s abs ence wi th bri ght
hopes of hi s fut ure Her ide a was that R oman
.

gravity would temper the exuberance and glitter of

your G alli e eloquence and in yo ur ca se would act as
,

a bit rather th an as a sp ur So w c read o f the greatest

.

Greek orators that they seasoned t he bombas t of

,

Asia with A ttic salt and pruned the ir vines severely

when the s hoo ts were too luxuriant They wish ed .

to fill t he wine pre s s of eloquence not w ith lea f

-
,

clusters of words but with t he rich grape j uice of

,
—

sound sense R e spect h e r then as a parent love

.
,

her as a mother venerate her as a saint Do not

, .

imitate those w ho leave th eir o w n relative s and r un

after strange women Their infamy is plain ; for .
_

under pretext of piety th ey really seek il licit i nter

co urse I know some women of ripe age w ho in
.

many c as e s take t he ir pleas ure w ith young freed

men calling them their S piritual children and
, ,

gradual ly so far overcom ing any sens e of s hame as

to allow th ems elves under this pretence of mother
h oo d all the licence of marriage In other cas e s men .

405
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JEROME .

e t e x tr ane is v id ui s c op ul ant ur Sunt quae o d e r unt .

,
’
suos e t non s uo r um p alp ant ur aflec tu q uarum in ,

patientia index anim i mullam r e c e pi t e x c us ationem

, ,

e t ca ss a inp udi c it iae velamenta quas i ar ane arum fila

di sr um pi t Vid e as no nnullos acc inc tis r c nib us pulla
.
,

tunica barba prolixa a m ulie rib us non posse di s

,

cedere s ub e o d em c onm ane r e tecto simul i ni r e

, ,

convivia ancillas i uv e ne s habere in mini sterio e t

,

praeter v o c ab ul um nupt iar um omni a e sse matri

m c mii Nec culpa e st nomi nis Chri s tiani si sim ulator
.
,

r c li io n i s in vi ti c sit quin im m o confusio n t ili um

g , ge ,

c um e a v ident e c c l e s ii s di s lic e r e quae omnibu s boni s

p ,

no n placent .

7 Tu vero si m o nac hus esse vis non v id e r i hab e to

.
, , ,

c uram non rei fami liari s cui r e nunti ando hoc e s se ,

c o e is t i s e d an i m ae tuae Sordes v e s t ium c an di d ae

p , .

mentis indicio sint vilis tunica c o nt em p tum sacculi

,

pr o b e t ita d um t ax at ne anim us t um e at ne habitus

, ,

s e r m o q ue d is s e nt iat Balne ar um .fomenta non

u ae r as qui c al o r e m corporis i e i un i or um cupis
q ,

f rigo r e e x t ingue r e Quae e t ipsa moderata sint ne

.
,

ni mia d eb ilit e nt s tom ac hum e t m aior em r e fe c tic nem

o sc e nt i a e r um p an t in cr udi tatem quae p ar c ns libi
p ,

d i num e s t M o di c us et t e m p e r at us c ib us c t carni
.

e t a nirnae utili s e st M at r e m ita vide ne per

.
,

ill am alias Videre c ogaris q uar um v ul tus cordi tuo ,

4 06
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

’
h ae r e ant ,
‘
Et t ac it um vivat s ub pectore vulnus .

A nc illul as , quae il li in obsequio sunt , tibi scias esse in

ins idii s , quia , quantum vilio r c arum con di cio , tanto
f acili or ruina e st Et Iohannes Baptista s anct am
.

m at r em habuit p o nt ificisq ue fili us erat et tamen nec

’
matris afle c tu nec patr is o pib us vi nc e b at ur , ut in
domo p ar ent um cum periculo vi v er c t c as tita tis .

Viv eb at in heremo et oc uli s d e sid e r ant ib us C hr ist um

ni hi l aliud dignab atur aspic e r e Vestis aspera , zona .

p elli c i a , c ib us locustae melque silvestr e , omni a

virtuti e t c o ntine ntiae pr aep ar at a Fili i pr ophe .

tarum quos m o nac hos in v e t e r i l e gim us testamento

—

—
a e d i fic ab an t sibi casulas propter flue nt a Ior d an is et
t ur b is ur b i um d e r e li c t is polenta e t he r b is agr e st ib us
vi c t i t ab ant Q uam diu in patria tua e s , hab e to
.

c e ll ul am p r o paradiso , varia scrip t ur ar um poma

d e c e rp e , his ut e r e d eli c us , harum f r ue r e c o np le x u .

Si sc and ali z at te oculus , pes , manu s tua , prc ice ea .

Nulli parcas , ut s oli parcas anim ae Qui v id e rit .

m ulie r e m ad c onc upisc end um e am , i am m o e ch at us

e s t c am in corde s uo Quis glor iab it ur c as tum se
.

habere co r ? Astra non sunt munda in c onspe c t u

domini : quanto m agi s homines quorum vi ta temp ,

tati c est ! V ac nobis qui quo tiens c o nc upis c im us, , ,

’
to t i e ns fo r nì c am ur Ine b r iat us est i nq uit gladius
.
, ,

meu s in caelo multo am pli us in terra quae spin as ,

et t rib ulo s ge ne r at Vas e l ec tionis in cui us Christu s

.
,

o r e s on ab at m ac e r at corpus suum c t s ub i c i t s er vi t ut i
,

e t tamen cermit natur alem carnis ar dor e m s uae

1
Virgil A n id IV 67
e e .
2
St M atthew x viii . 9 .

S t M tth w Pr
.
, , .
,
2
a 28e v. o ver b s xx 9
I i h xx xi v 5
.
, . , . .

5
sa a , . .

4 08
 LETT ER CXXV
’1
A secre t wound may fester in your brea s t .

You mus t remem ber t o c that the maids w ho wait

upon her are an e s pecial snare ; the lower they are
in rank the easi er it is to ruin t hem J ohn the
,
.

Baptist had a s aintly mother and hi s fat her w as a

’ ’
pries t ; but neither his mother s love nor hi s father s
’
wealth could prevail upon hi m to live in his parents
hous e at t he ris k of his c has tity He t ook up his .

abode in t he de s ert and desiring onl y to see Ch ri s t

,

refused to look at anyt hing els e His rough garb .

,

his s kin girdle hi s di et of locusts and wild honey

,

were all alike meant to ensure vi rtue and sel f

re s tra int The sons o f the prop hets w ho are t he
.
,

monks of t he Old Te s tament bui lt huts for t hem

,

s elves by the s tream of J ordan and leaving t he ,

cro w ded cities lived o n porridge and wi ld herb s .

A s long as you sta y in your native city regard your ,

cell as Paradis e gather in it the varied fruits of the

,

Scriptures make them your delight and rej oice in

, ,

t heir embrace If your eye o r your foot o r your

’
.

hand o fle nd you cas t it o ff 2 Spare nothing provi ded

,
.
,

that you spare your soul W hosoever looke th on

.

a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery

’3
wi th her already in his heart W ho can boas t
.

I have made my heart clean 4 The sta rs are

’
not pure in God s sight : how much le ss ar c men ,

w ho s e life is one long t emptation ! W oe t o us w ho ,

commit fornication whenever we have lus tf ul

’
t houghts ! M y sword s ays t he Scripture
, hath ,

drunk its fil i n eaven : much more th en wi ll it

l h 5

o n earth w hich produces t ho m s and t hi s tle s

, The .

’
cho s en ves s el fi om whose mouth we hear C hri s t s
,

own words keeps his body under and b rings it i nto

,

subj ection ; but still he perceives that th e natural

4 09
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

repugnare sententiae ut quod non vult hoc agere , , ,

c on p e llat ur et quasi v im p atiens v o c ife r at ur et

,
‘
dicit : M i s er ego homo quis me lib e r ab it de corpore ,
’
mortis huius ? Et tu te arb it rar is absque lapsu et
vulnere po ss e transire nisi omni cu s to di a s e rv av eri s ,

cor tuum et cum salvatore di x eris : M ater mea e t

fratres mei hi s unt qui fac iunt v ol untat em patris ,

mei C r ud eli t as ista pietas e s t ; im mo quid tam

pium quam sanctae matri sanctum filium c ustodi re ?
,

Op t at e t illa te vivere non vi d e r e ad tempus ut , ,

semper cum Christo v id e at Anna S am uhel em non .

sibi s e d t ab er nac ul o ge nui t

, .

Filii Io nad ab qui vinum et sic er am non b ib eb ant

, ,

qui hab i tab ant in t e nto r iis et quas nox c o npul e r at , ,

sedes hab e b ant s c r ib unt ur in p s alm o quod prim i

, ,

c a t i vi ta t e m s us t in u e r int quia e x e r c i t u C hal d ae o r um

p ,

v as t an t e Iud a e am urbes i nt r o ir e co mpulsi sunt .

8 V id e r int qui d alii s e nti ant unusq ui s q ue enim

.
,
—

s uo sen s u d uc i t ur mihi oppidum c ar e e r est e t s oli

—

tudo p ar adi sus Quid d e sid e r am us ur b ium fi e q ue n

.

tiam qui de s ingul ar ite c e ns em ur ? M oy s e s ut

, ,

populo Iu d ae or um u adr a in
p r a e e ss e t q g ta annis ,

e r udi t ur in h eremo pastor ovium hominum factu s e s t ,

pastor ; apo s toli de pisc atione lacus G e ne s ar ad

i s c at i on e m hominum t r ans ie r un t T un e hab e b an t
p .

p at r e m rete
,
n av ic ul am :
, sec ut i dominum
p r o t inus
omn i a r eliq ue r unt portantes cotidie c r uc e m suam et

1 R o m ans, v m24 . .

2
S t L uke viii 2 1 .

Jeremiah xxxv 6
. .
,

P
. .
,

The reference i s t o t he he ad n g ’
of i s al m l xx i , gi venin
t he S eptuagi nt '
’
7 03 A a vi8 v i é w v a 8a B
'

, ! a
’
i r còv wparr wv
'

al xp aÀ arr zafle vr wv .

’
M onac hus me an
s l onely

41 0
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST JERO ME .

ne vi rgam quidem in manu hab e nte s Hoc di co ut .

, ,

etiam si c le r ic at us te t itillat desiderium di s cas quod , ,

’

p o s sis docere et r at io nab ilem ho s t iam c fle r as Christo

, ,

ne miles ant e q uam tiro ne prius magister sis quam ,

di s cipulu s Non es t hurni lit atis mcae neque men

.

s urae indicare de ceteris et de m i n is tris e cc l e siar um

sinistrum q uippi am di cere Hab e ant illi o r dine m et .

gradum suum quem s i t e nuer is quomodo tibi in c o

, ,

vi v e n d um sit e di t us ad N e p o ti anum liber docere te

,

po t e ri t Nunc monachi incunabul a moresque di s

.

c ut im us e t eiu s monachi ui l i b r ab ili b us studiis

q e ,

e r udi t u s in ad ul esc e ntia i ugum Chr isti collo s uo

i mpo s uit .

9 Pr im um q ue t r ac tand um est utrum s olu s an

.
,

cu m aliis in monasterio vivere d e b e as M i hi placet .

,

ut habeas sanctorum contuberni um nec ip s e te

d oc e as e t ab s que d uc t or e i ngr e diar is viam quam
1
,

numquam i ngr ess us e s s t atim q ue in partem tibi ,

alteram d e clinand um s it e t errori p at e as plus q ue aut

minus am b ul es quam necesse est ut currens lass e r is
, , ,

moram faciens ob d orm i as In solitu di ne cito sub r e .

pit s uperbia et si p ar um p e r i e iunav e r it homi nc m q ue

,

non vid e r it putat s e alic ui us es s e momenti ob li tusq ue

,

s ui , unde quo v e ne ri t intu s corpore lingua fori s ,

vagatur l udi c at contra apostoli v o luntat em alie mos

.

s ervos quod gula p opo sc e r it p orrigi t manus dormit , ,

1
d o ctore : E ilb erg .

1 A mo nk w onac hua o ri ginally was a s o li tary livi ng i n

— —

t he d ese rt b ut a ft er t he ti m e o f S t Bas i l m o n
,
ks were us ua lly
.

o rg an i z ed i nc o mmun iti e s und er rule and d evo te d their time ,

t o praye r m edi t ati onand u se ful w ork

,
If a m o nk wi s hed t o .

en te r t he min i stry o f t he Chur c h he had t o b e or d ained as

deac on by a b ishop He then normally l iv ed in a c ity and
.

had a cure o f s o ul s
Lette r L I L
.

2 R omans , xiv . 4 .

41 2
 LETTER CXXV

eve r y day without so much as a s tick in their h ands

, .

I s ay this so that if you are tickled by a desire to

,
1
become a clergyman you may learn now what you
,

will then be able to teach others o ffering a re ason ,

able s ac rifice t o Christ You must no t t hink yours elf

.

an old sol dier while you are s till a re crui t a mas ter ,

whi le you are still a pupil It would not become my.

lowly rank t o pass j udgment on others o r to s ay ,

anyt hing unfavourable a b out tho s e w ho serve in

c hur c hes Le t them keep the ir proper place and
.

sta tion and if you ever j oin them my treatis e

, ,

wri t te n for Ne po ti an wil l s how y o u how you oug ht

2 ‘

to live in that position For the moment I am .

’
dis cussi ng a monk s e arly training and character a ,

monk moreover who after a liberal education i nhis

, ,

early manhood placed upon his neck the yoke of

Christ.

The first po int with which I must deal is whe ther

you ought to live alone o r in a monastery wit h
others I would prefer you to have t he soc iety o f
.

holy men and not to be your own teach er If y o u .

s e t out o n a strange road wi t hout a gui de you may

—

easily at the s tart take a wrong turning and make

a mi s take going to o f ar or not far enough runni ng
, ,

till you weary yours elf or delay ing your j ourney for
a sleep In solitude pride qui ckly creeps in and
.
,

when a m anhas f as ted for a little w hile and has seen

no one he thinks hi msel f a pers on o f s ome account
, .

He forgets w ho he is whence he come s and w here

, ,

he is go ing and lets his b ody run riot wi thin hi s

, ,
’ 3
tongue abroad Contrary to t he apostle s wis hes he
.
,
’
j udge s another man s servants ; he stretc he s out his
hand for anythi ng that his gullet craves ; he does
what he pleases and sleeps as long as he pleas es ; hc
413
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST . JEROME

quantum v ol ue r it ; nullum v e r e tur omnes s e i n ,

f e r io r es putat c r e b r i usq ue in urb ib us quam in cellula

est et inter fratres sim ul at verecundiam qui pla ,

t e ar um t ur b i s c o n l idi t ur Quid igitur ? S olitari am

.

vitam r ep r e h end im us ? M inime quippe quam saepe ,

l audav im us Sed de ludo m onas t e r ior um huius c e

.

modi v ol um us e gr e di mili tes quos rudimenta non ,

t e r r e ant , qui spe c imen c onv e r sat ioni s s uae multo

tempore d e d e r int qui omnium fuc r unt mini mi ut
, ,

primi omnium fie r e nt quos nec e suri es nec s aturi t as

,

al i uan d o s uperavit qui p aup e r t at e lac t ant ur

q , ,

quorum habitus s ermo v ul t us i nc ess us doctrina

, , ,

v ir t ut um est qui n ,e sc iun t secundum q uo s d am ineptos

homines d ae m o num ob pugnantium contra se p or t e nt a
c on finge r e ,ut apud i mperitos et vulgi homines
m ir ac ul um s ui faciant et e x ind e s ec t e nt ur lucra .

1 0 Vidimus nup e r e t pl anx im us Croesi opes uni us

.

morte d epr ehe nsas urb isq ue stipe s quasi in us us

a u e r um c o n r e at as s tirpi e t os t e ri s d e r e l ic t as
p p g g p .

Tune ferrum quod l at eb at in profundo super

, ,

nat av i t aquae et inter palm arum arbores M e rr ae

am ar it udo m o n s t r at a e s t Nec m ir um : talem e t
.

s oc i um h abuit et m agis tr um qui e ge nt ium f am em

,

sua s fecit esse di v itias et m iseri s derelicta in suam

m isc r iam tenuit Quorum clamor tandem p er v eni t
.

ad caelum et p at i e ntissim as Dei v ic it aure s ut mi s sus ,

angelus pessimo Nabal Carmelio dic er e t : S t ul t e ,

hac nocte aufe r ent an imam tuam a te ; q uae autem

preparasti cuius crunt ?
,

1
Ex od us x v , . 23 .
2
St . Luk e , xi i . 20 .

414
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

Il . Volo ergo te et propter causas quas supra ,

e x o su
p i non
, h a b i t ar e cum matre et
p r ae c i ue
p ne ,
’
o flc r e n t e m d e l ic at os c ib o s r e n ue ndo contri s tes aut si ,

a cc e e r is
p oleum igni adic ias et inter fr eq ue nt iam
,

p ue l lar um per diem v id e as quod noc tib us cogites , .

Num quam de manu et c ouli s tuis r e c e d at liber ps al ,

t e r i um d isc at ur ad verbum oratio sine intermi ss ione , ,

vigil sens us nec vanis c o git at io nib us patens Corpus .

pariter anim us q ue t c nd at ur ad dominum Tr am .

vince patientia ; ama s c i e nt iam sc r ipt ur ar um e t

ca r nis vitia non am ab is Nec v ac e t mens tua varns .

r t ur b at io nib u quae i c tor i i ns e d e r int domi

p e s , s
p e , ,

nab unt ur tui et te d e d uc ent ad delictum maximum .

Fac c t aliquid operis ut semper te diabolus inv e ni at

,

o c c u at um Si apostoli h ab e n t es pote s tatem de

p .

evangelio vivere l ab o r ab ant m anib us suis ne quem ,

gr av ar e nt et aliis t r ib uc b ant r e fr ige r ia quorum pro

, ,

s ir i t al ib us d e b e b an t metere c ar n alia cur tu in u s us

p ,

t uo s c e ss ur a non p r ae p ar e s ? Vel fisc e llam t e x e

i unc o v e l c anis t r um len ti s pl e c t e v im in ib us s ar iat ur ,

humus areolae aequo limite di vi d amt ur ; in quibus

,

cum hol e r um i s eta f ue r int semina v e l plantae per

o r d in e m p os it ae aquae duc ant ur i nr iguae ut pul
, ,

c he r r im o r u m v e r s uum S pectator ads is tas

Ecce supercilio cliv osi t r am itis undam
Elicit illa eaden s r auc um per levia murmur
,
’
Saxa c ie t s c at e b r is q ue ar e nt ia t e m pe r at arva .

1
2 T hessal o ni ans , iii . 8 .
2
Virgil , G eor gia , I . 108 .

416
 LETTER CXXV

For the reasons the n which I have given above I ,

wish you not to live wi th yo ur mother And t here .

are some further cons iderations If s he o ff ers you

.

a dai nty dish you would grieve he r by refus i ng it

, ,

w hile if you take it you would be t hrowing oil on fire .

M oreover in a hou s e th at is full of girl s you would

,

see things in t he day tim e t hat you would think

—

about i n the nig ht Always have a boo k i n your

.

hand and before your eye s ; lea r n t he p s al ms word

by word pray without ceas ing keep your s en s es on
, ,

the alert and closed agains t vain ini agi ni ngs Le t .

your mi nd and body bot h strain towards t he Lord ,

overcome wrath by patience ; love th e kno w ledge of

t he Scrip t ur es and you w ill not love the s ims of t he
fles h Do not let your mind o ff er a lodging to dis
.

t ur b ing thoughts fo r i f th ey once find a h ome in

,

your breas t they will become your masters and lead

you on into fatal sin Engage in some occupation
.
,

s o t hat the devil may always find you bu s y If t he .

apostles w ho had t he power to make th e Go spel their

liveli h ood still worked wit h the ir hands t hat th e y
mi g ht not be a b urden on any man 1 and gave relief
,

to others whose carnal po ss e ssions t hey h ad a right

to enj oy in re t urn fo r their sp iritual benefits w hy ,

s hould you not pro vi de for yo ur o wn fu t ure want s ?

M ake creels o f reeds o r weave b askets of phant osiers .

Hoe the ground and mark it o ut into equal plots and ,

when you have sowm cabbage s eed or s e t out plants

in rows bring w ater down in c hannels and stand by
,

like the onlooker in the lovely li ne s :

Lo fi o m the channelled slope he brings t he s tream
, ,
’
W hic h f alls hoars e murmuring o e r t he polis hed
stone s
And with its bubbling flo o d allays the heat
’
Of s uns corched fields 2
-
.

41 7
 SELE CT LE TT ERS O F ST J ERO ME .

Ins er ant ur in arbore s vel gemm i s v e l

fr uc t uos ae
su r cu l is et parvo post tempore l ab or is tui dulcia
,

poma d ec erp as A pum fabricare al v e ar ia ad quas

.
,

te m itt unt Proverbia et m onast e ri o r um or dinem ac ,

regiam disciplinam in parvis d isc e c orp orib us .

Te x ant ur et lina c ap ì endi s pisc ib us sc r ib ant ur libri , ,

u t et m anus o p e r e t ur c ib os e t a nima l e c t io ne s atu

’
r e t ur . In d e sid e r ns e s t omnis o tio s us A e gy p .

t ior um m onas t e r i a h anc morem tenent ut nullum ,

absque opere ac labore susc ipiant non t am propter ,

victus necessaria quam propter anim ae s al ut em ne ,

v age t ur p e rn ic io sis c o git at io nib us c t instar fo r nic ant is ,

Hie r us al e m omni transeunti d iv ar ic e t pedes suos .

1 2 Dum e ss em i uv e nis e t soli t udi n

. i me deserta s

v allar c n t incentiva v i t ior um ar d o r e m q ue naturae

,

ferre non p ot er am ; quae cum c r eb r is i c i unus fran

gerem mens tam en c ogi tationi b us aes tuab at Ad
, .

quam e dom and am cuidam fr atri qui ex Heb r ae is ,

c r e di d er a t me in di s ciplinam dedi ut post Qui n

, ,

t il ian i ac umina C ic e r o nis q ue fluv ios gr avi tat e m q ue

Fro nt o nis e t l e n i t at e m Pli nii alphab e t um d isc e r e m ,

s tr id e n t ia an h e l amt i aq ue verba m e di t ar e r Quid ibi .

l ab ori s i nsum ps e r im quid s ust inue r im di fli c ul t at is

, ,

quotiens d e sp e r av e r im q uotie ns q ue c c ssav e r im et

c on t e nt io ne discendi r ur s us i n c ep er im te s ti s est ,

c on sc i e n ti a tam mea qui p assus s um quam eorum, , ,

qui mecum d ux e r e vitam Et gratias ago domino .

,

'
\
1
Pr o v erb s
pe z r a o a v K a
2
Pr ov er bs , xiii 4
, Vi . 8,
i p 09 è cb s épy dn s ( o-r :
. .

( XX ). .
where L ’XX
L .
.

K 7
a
.
dd s :
. À .
'
wope v flrrr a wpo g .
’ ’
‘

r I) v

41 8
 SELE CT LETTE RS O F ST JEROME .

quod de amaro semine litterarum dulce s fructus

capio .

1 3 B icam et aliud quid in A e gy p t io v id e ri m

.
, .

Graecus adul e s c e ns erat in coenobi c qui nulla con ,

t ine ntiae nulla operi s ma gni tudine flamm am po t e r at

,

carni s e x t ingue r e Hunc p e r iclit ant em pater mona

.

s terii h ac ar t e s e r v av i t Im p e r at cuidam viro gravi

.
,

u t i urgiis atque c o nv ic iis ins c c tar e t ur hominem e t

po s t inr o gat am i niur iam primu s v e ni r e t ad queri
monias Vocati testes pro e c lo q ue b antur qui
.
,

c on tum eli am f e c e r at Flere ille contra m e nd ac ium ;

.

nullus aliu s credere v e r it at i solus pater d e fe nsione m ,

s uam callide opponere ne ab undant io ri t r is tit ia ,

’
ab so r b e r e t ur fi at e r Quid multa ? I ta annus ductus
.

e st ,quo e x pl e to int e rr ogat us ad ul e sc c ns super cogi

t at i o nib us p r is tinis an adhuc m ole stiae aliquid
,
’
s us t in Papac i nq uit vivere non licet et ‘
er et : , , ,

fo r nic ar i libet ? Hic s i solus fuiss e t quo adiutore ,

s u e r as s e t ?
p
14 . sacculi solent am or e m v e t e r em
Philo so phi
amore novo qua s i c lav um clavo e x p e lle r e Quod et .

A s ue r o septem principes f e c e r e Persarum ut Va s ti ,

reginae desiderium ali arum p uellar um amore con

e sc e r e nt Illi vitium viti e c c at um ue peccato
p . c
p q
r e m e d i an t ur no s amore v ir tut um vitia s up e r e m us
,
.

’
Declina ait ,
a malo et fac bonum ; quaerere
,
’
pacem et p e r s e q ue r e eam Ni s i o d e rim us malum .
,

bonum amare non pos s umu s Quin potins fac ie n .

dum e s t bonum ut d ec line m us a malo ; pax ,

u a rc n d a ut bella f u i am us Nec s u fficit c am

q e ,g .

1
2 Cori nthi ans , 11 .7 .
2
E sther ,
11 . 2 .

P s alm xxxiv . 14 .

42 0
 LE TTER CXXV

Lo rd that from a bitte r seed of learning I am now

plucking sweet frui ts .

I w ill tell you of another thi ng that I saw in Egypt .

There w as a young Greek in a communi ty there w ho ,

could not quench t he fires o f the fle s h by any con

t i ne nc e o r any labour h o w ever severe In his danger .

the fath er o f t he monas tery s aved hi m by t he fol

lo wi ng de vi ce H e ins tructed a grave elder t o pursue
.

the young m an with revi lings and abus e and afte r ,

ha v ing thus insulted him to be t he first to lay a

complaint Wh en witne sses were called they al w ays
.

s poke in f avour of t h e aggre s s or Th e youth could .

only weep at t he fals e c harge but no o ne beli eved ,

t he truth . The father alone would cleverly put in

-

a ple a o n his behalf les t our brother b c s w allo w ed

,
’1
up by overmuc h sorrow To out a long tale s hort
.
,

a w hole year passed in this way and at the end t he ,

youth w as asked about his former imagini ngs whether ,

’
they still troubled him Good heaven s he replied
.
, ,

ho w can I want to forni cate when I am not allowed

,

even to li ve ? If he had been alone by whose help ,

could he have overc ome temptation ?

W orldl y philosophers ar c wont t o dri ve out an old
passion by a new one as you drive out an old mai l
,

by hamm ering in another Thi s is what th e seven

.

prince s of Persia did to Ahas uerus when they ,

as suag ed his regre t for queen Vas hti by suggesting

an amour wi th other maidens 2 They cur e f ault by .

fault and sin by sin: we mus t overcome vice by love

’
of vi rtue. Depart from evil says t he Scripture, ,
’3
and do g ood ; seek peace and p ursue it If we .

do not hate evil we cannot love good Nay more .

,

we mus t do good if we are to depart from e vil : we

must seek pe ace if we are to avoid wars Nor is it
, .

42 1
 SELE CT LETTERS O F ST JEROME .

quaerere nis i inventam f ugie nt e m q ue omni studio

,
’
p e r s e q uam ur quae e x sup e r at o m nem sensum in
, ,

qua h abitatio Dei est di cente pr ophe t a : Et factus

’
est in pace locus eius p ulc hr e q ue p e rs ec ut io pacis ,

d ic i t ur iux t a illud apostoli : H0 8 pit ali tat e m per

’
sequentes ut non levi c i tato q ue sermone c t ut ita
,
—

lo q uar s umm is labus ho spi t e s i nv i t c m us s e d toto

—
,

mentis ardore t e ne am us quasi aufe r ent e s secum de

lucro nostro atque co mpendio .

1 5 Nulla ars absque m àgis tro d isc i t ur

. Etiam .

muta animalia e t fer ar um greges d uc t or es sequuntur

suos In apib us principes sunt ; grues unam s e
.

q uunt ur ordi ne litterato Imperator unus iudex .

,

unu s pr o v inc iae R oma ut condita e st duos fratres

.
, ,

simul habere reges non p o tuit et parrici di o d e di c at ur .

In Re b e c c ae utero E s au et Iacob bella gc sse r unt .

S i nguli e c cl e s iar um epi s copi singul i ar c hi pr e sb y t e r i , ,

s i n uli a rc hi di ac o n i c t omnis ordo ecclesiasticus suis

g
r e c t o r ib us n i ti t ur In navi unus gubernator in domo
.
,

unu s dominus ; in q uam v is grandi e x er c it u unius

signum e x p e c t at ur Et ne plura replicando fasti .

di um l e ge nti fac iam per haec omni a ad illud tendit ,

oratio ut d c c e am te non tuo arbitrio dim itt e nd um

, ,

s e d vivere debere in monasterio s ub unius disciplina

patris c o nsc r t ic q ue multorum ut ab alio dis cas ,

hum ili tat em ab alio p at ie nt iam hic te silentium ille

, , ,

d o c e at m ansue t ud ine m non facia s quod v is c o m e d as , , ,

1
P hi l ip p ians , iv . 7 .
2
P s al m lx x vi 2 . .
( S ep tuag int
l xx v .
3
R omans, 111 1 . 13 . Ge nesis xx v ,
. 22 .

42 2
 SELE CT LETT ERS O F ST J EROME .

quod i ub e ri s habeas quantum ac c ep e ris v e st iar is

, , , ,

quod ac c e p e r is operi s tui pen s a p e rsolv as s ub ic i ar is

, , ,

cui non v is la s sus ad s tratum venia s am b ul ans q ue

,

dormites ne c d um e x pl e t o som mo s urgere co mpel

,

lari s dicas p s alm um in ordine tuo in q uo non dul

,
—

cedo voeis s e d mentis a ffectus quaeritur sc rib e nte

’
apostolo : Ps allam spiritu p s allam et mente e t , ,

Cantantes in c o r di b us v e str is le ge r at en im esse

p r ae c e p t um : p s alli t e s api e nt e r servias fr atr ib us —

,

ho spitum laves pedes pa s sus i n i ur i am tacca s prae

, ,

positum m onast e r ii t im e as u t domin um di ligas ut ,

ar e n em c r e d as tibi salutare d
p t , q u i q d ille prae
ui ,

c e p e r i t nec d c m ai or is sententia i udi c e s cuius o fli c n

, ,

est o b o e di r e et i npl er e quae ius s a s unt dicente , ,

’
M oy s c :
‘
Audi Isr ahel et tace , Tantis nego t iis , .

o c c u at us mulli s v a c ab i s c ogi ta tio n ib u s et dum ab

p ,

alio tran s is ad aliud o pus q uc s uc c e d it operi illud ,

solum mente r e t ine b is quod agere c o np e ll eri s ,

.

1 6 Vi di ego q uo s d am qui p o s t q uam r e nunt ia

.
, ,

vere sacculo v e s tim e nt is d um tax at e t voei s pro

—

f e s s io ne non rebus ni hil de pristina c o nv e rs at io ne

,
—

m utar unt R es familiari s magis auc ta quam inmi

.

nuta est ; eadem mini s teria s er v ul or um idem appar ,

at us c o n v iv ii ; in vitro c t patella fic t ili aurum come

1
1 Co rinthi ans , xiv . 15 .
2
E phesi ans , v . 19 .

3 P salm x lvii . 7 . De utero no my , xxv m9 . .

42 4
 LETT ER CXXV

you will take wha t you are given ; you will w ear the
dress allotted to you ; you wi ll perf orm a s e t amount
o f w ork ; you wi l l be s ubordinate to s ome one you do

not like ; you wi ll come to bed worn out with weari

nes s amd fall asleep as you walk about Before you .

have had yo ur fill o f rest you will be forced to get

,

out of bed and take your turn in p s alm s ingi ng a -

task where real emotion is a greater requi s ite t h an a

s weet voice . The apostle say s : I will pray with ‘

t he spiri t and I will pray wit h t he unders tandi ng

’1 ’2
also, and aga in : M ake melody in your h earts
,
.

He had read t he precept : Sing ye prais es with

’3
unders ta n di ng Yo u wi ll se r ve t he brethren ; you
.

will was h the feet o f guests ; if you s u ffer wrong you

wi ll say nothing ; t he s uperior of t he mona s tery
you will fea r as a mas ter and love as a f ather What .

ever precepts he gives you will beli eve to be whole

some for you You wi ll not pa ss j udgment upon y our
.

’
elder s decis ion s for it is your duty to be obe dient
,

and carry out orders accordi ng to t he words of

,
’4
M os e s : K eep silence and hearken O I srael ,
.

Yo uwi ll be so busy wi th all the s e tasks that you will

have no time fo r vain imaginings and w hile you ,

pa ss from one occupation to t he next you will only

have in mind the work t hat you ar e being forced
to do .

I myself have s een s ome m en who after they h ad

renounced t he world ingarb at least and in verbal
—
, ,

profession s but not in reality changed nothing of

,
—

their former mode of life T heir hou s e hold has

.

increased rather than di minish ed ; they have the

s ame number o f servants to wait upon them and
keep the s ame elaborate table ; though they drink
from glass and eat fi om plates of eart henware i t ,

42 5
 SELE CT LE TTE RS O F ST JERO ME .

di tur et inter turbas c t examina m inis tr o r um nomen

sibi v indi c ant solitarii Qui vero p aup e r es sunt et .

tenui s ub s t ant iola v id e nt urq ue sibi sci c li pom p ar um ,

f e r c uli s similes p r oc e d unt ad publi cum ut c an inam ,

e x e r c e an t f ac undi am Alii sub l atis in altum humeris

.

et intra s e nese io quid c or nic ant es st up e nti b us in

t e r r am c oulis tum entia verba t r uti mant ur ut si , ,

p r aec o ne m addi d e r is pute s incedere p r ae fe c t ur am

, .

Sunt qui hum o r e c ellular um i nm o d e r at isq ue i e iuni is

, ,

t a e di o soli t udi nis ac nimia le c t io ne d um diebus ac ,

noc t ib us aurib us suis p e r so nant v e r t unt ur in ,

p eÀa yxo À fa v et Hipp oc r at is magis fo m e nt is quam

.

nostris m o ni tis indi gent Ple ri q ue ar ti b us et nego .

t iat io n ib us p r i st inis carere no n po ssunt m utat is q ue

nom inib us inst it or um eadem exercent co mmercia ,

non v ic tum c t v est itum quod ap ost ol us prae ,

c i it
p , sed m aior a quam sacculi homine s e m ol u

menta s e c tant e s Et prius quidem ab ae di lib us

.
,

quos dy apa vép ov g G r ac c i appellant v end e nt ium ,

c o he r c e b at ur rabie s nec erat i m pune p e cc atum nunc ,

autem sub r eligio nis titulo e x e r c e nt ur inius ta con

pendi a et honor nominis Christiani fi aud em magis
f acit quam patitur Quodque pud e t di cere s ed
.
,

nece s se e s t u t s altim s ic ad nostrum e r ub e sc am us

,

d e d e c us p ub hc e e x t e nd e nt e s manus p an
, ni s aurum
t e gim us e t contra omnium o p i nio ne m pl e n i s s aec ul is
m o r im ur di v i t e s qui quasi p aup e r es v i x im us
, Tibi .
,

cum in monas terio fue ris haec facere non lic eb it et ,

1
Im a g es of t he g o ds we re ca rrie d o nthese l itters ins olemn
t
s a te .

2
The i n s titor es were tra v elli ng m erc hants w ho dealt
l arg el y in fe m ale finery C f H orac e , Odes , 1 1 1 v i 3 02 ; E p .

VI
. . . .

X I 20 . .

3
1 T im othy , vi 8 . .

42 6
 SELE CT LETTERS O F sr . JERO ME
i nol e s c e nt e p aul at im
consuetudine quod primum ,

c o e b ar i s
g velle i,n c i i e s et d e le c tab i t te labor tuus
p
o b li t us ue
pr ae t e r it o r um s emper priora s e c t ab e r is
‘

q
ne q uaq uam c o nsid e r ans quid alu mali faciant sed, ,

quid boni tu facere d e b e as .

1 7 Neque vero p e c c ant ium d uc ar is mul titudine e t

.

te p e r e unti um turba s ollic i t e t ut tacitu s cogi te s ,

Quid ? ergo omnes p e r ib unt qui in urb ib us habitant ? ,

Ecce illi fr uunt ur suis rebu s ministrant e cc l e sii s , ,

a d e un t b alne as unguenta non sp e r nunt et tamen in

,
’
omnium fiore v e r santur Ad quod et ante respondi
.

e t nunc b r e v it er r e sp ond eb o : me in prae s enti opus

culo non de c l eric is disputare sed m o nachum insti ,

tue t e Sancti s unt clerici et omnium vita l aud ab il is

. .

Ita ergo ag e e t vi ve in monasterio ut c l er ic us esse ,

m e r e ar is ut ad ul esc e nt iam tuam nulla sorde con

,

macules u t ad altare Chri s ti qua s i de thalamo virgo

,

procedas et habeas de foris bonum te s tim onium

f e m inae q ue nomen tuum noverint v ul t um ne sc iant , .

Cum ad p e r fe c tam a e t at em veneri s si tamen vita ,

comes fuerit e t te v e l populus v e l pontifex civitatis

,

in clerum ad le ge r it agito quae clerici s unt et inter

, , ,

ip s o s s e c tar e m e lio r es qui a in omni condicione et

,

gradu optimis mixta s unt pe ss ima .

1 8 Ne ad s c ri b e nd um cito p r osili as e t levi d uc ar is

.

insania M ulto tempore d is c e quod d oc e as Ne

.
, .

1
Cf p
. . 1 .

42 8
 LETT E R C XX V
your ow n accord what w as at first a matter o f com
puls ion ; you will ta ke pleas ure in your labours and ,

forge t ti ng what is behind you will reac h out to that

which is before ; you W ill not think at all of t he
e v il that others do but only o f the good which it is
,

your duty to perform .

Do not be i nfluenced by the number of thos e that

sin o r di s turbed by the ho s t of th e peris hing s o as
, ,

to have the unspoken t houg ht : W hat ? S hall all

then peris h w ho live in cities ? Be hold they enj oy ,

their property t hey serve in the chur che s they

, ,

frequent the baths they do not disdain unguents

, ,
’
and yet they flo ur ish and are uni vers all y respected .

To such reasonings I have repli ed before and will ,

now do so briefly again merely remarking that in

,

this present s hort treatis e I am not dis cussing th e

beha v iour o f t he clergy but Iaying down rules for a
,

monk 1 The clergy are holy men and inevery ca s e

.
,

their life is wo r thy of praise Go t hen and so live .

in yo ur monas tery that you may de s erve to be a

clergym an that you may keep your youth f ree from
,

all stain of d e fil em e nt and t hat you may come fort h

,
’
to Christ s altar as a vi rgin steps from h e r bower ;
that you may be well spo ken of abroad and that ,

women ma y know your reputation but not your

looks When you come to ripe years th at is i f li f e
.
, ,

be grante d you and have been appo in ted as a clergy

,

man either by the people or by t he bis hop of the city ,

then act as becomes a cleric and among your col ,

leagues c hoos e t he better men as your models In .

eve ry rank and condition of li f e t he very bad is

mingled with the very good .

Do not ras t leap into authorship and b e led ,

by light headed madness Spend years in learni ng

-
.

42 9
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST J EROME .

c r e d as laud at ori b us tuis immo inr isori b us aurem ne

,

lib e nt e r ad c omm o d e s qui cum te ad ulatio nib us

,

f o v e r int e t q uo d am modo i np o t e m mentis e fie c e ri nt

‘

s i subito r es e x er i s aut c ic on
p , i arum d e p r e he nd as post
te colla c ur v ar i aut manu auriculas agi t ar i asini aut
a e s t uan t em cani s protendi l in uam Nulli d t r aha s
g e .

nec in eo te sanctum putes s i c e t e r os lacere s Acc u , .

s amus saepe quod fac im us e t contra nosm e t ipsos

, ,

diserti in nostra vitia inv ehim ur muti de e lo q ue ntib us

i udic ant e s Te s t udi ne o G r unni us inc e d e b at ad 10
.

u en d um gradu et per intervalla quaedam vix anca

q p
verba c api eb at ut eum p ut ar es singultire non
, ,

ro l o u i Et tamen cum mensa posita l ib r or um

p q .
,

e x po suis s e t s tr ue m a dd uc t o supercilio c on
, tr ac ti sq ue
nar ib us ac fronte rugata d uob us digit ul is c onc r e
ab at hoc signo ad aud ie n d u m d isc i ulos r o vo c an s
p p p .

Tune nugas meras f und e r e et adversum singulo s

declamare ; c r itic um di c e r e s e sse L o nginum censo
remque Ro m anae fac undi ae notare quem vellet e t , ,

de s e nat u d oc to r um e x cl ud ere Hic bene numm at us .

plus plac e b at in pr andiis Ne c mi rum qui m ulto s .

,

inescare solitus erat fac to q ue cuneo ci rc um str e

pentium garr ul o r um prooe d e b at in publicum intus
Nero foris Cato t ot us ambiguus ut ex c o ntr ar us
, , ,

d ive r sis q ue natur is unum monstrum no v am q ue

b e s ti am di c e r e s e s se co mpactum i ux ta illud p oe t ic um

C los ely p i e d f rom Pe rs ius I 58 60

1 co .
-
.

A c harac te r in the mi me P or ci Testamentum here t he :

ref ere nce is t o R ufinus o nce J ero me s friend b ut afterward s

’

C f A pp II p 4 9 8
,

f or t heo lo gi c al re aso ns his b itter e ne my . . .

, .

4 3°
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST . JERO ME
’
Prim a leo , o st r e ma draco media i sa chimaera .

1 9 Num q uam ergo tale s v id e as nec huiusc e modi

.

hom inib us adpl ic e r is , ne declines cor tuum in verba

m ali t i ae e t a udias : S e d e ns adver s us fr atr e m tuum
d e tr ah e b as e t adversu s fili um matris tuae p o ne b as
’
scandalum , et iterum : Filii hominum dentes eorum
’
arma e t s agittae , et alibi : M ollit i sunt sermones
’
eiu s s uper oleum et ip s i sunt i ac ul a , e t ap e r t ius in
Ecclesias te : Si m ord e at serpens in silentio , sic , qui
’
fr at ri suo occulte d e t r ahit Sed d ic is : Ip s e non .

d e t r aho , aliis l o que nt ib us facere qui d po ss um ? Ad

e x c us an d as e x c us atio ne s in p ec c at is ista p r ae t e n
'

di mus .Christu s arte non l udi t ur Ne q uaquam mea , .

s e d apostoli s ententia e s t : Nol i t e errare Deus non

’
i nr id e t ur Ille in corde , nos vid em us in facie
. .

Salomon loquitur in Pr o v e rb ii 3 V e nt us aquilo °

’
d iss ip at nubes e t vult us tristis linguas d e t r ahe nti um .

Sieut enim sagitta s i mitta tur contra duram ma ,

teriam no nnum q uam in m itt e nt e m r e v e r ti tur et

,

v ul ne r at v ul ne r ant e m ill ud q ue c o npl e t ur : Facti

’
sunt mi hi in arc um pr av um et alibi : Qui m it tit in ,
’
altum lapidem r e c id e t in caput eius ita detractor
, ,
.

cum tri s tem fac ie m v id e rit audi e ntis immo ne audie n ,

t is quidem s e d o b t ur ant is aures s ua s ne audi at

, ,

indicium s anguinis ilic o c o nt ic e s c it pallet v ul tus

, , ,

haerent labia s aliva sic c at ur U n cle idem vir

, .

1
Lu r tiu V c e s, 905, d es c ri bing t he Chim ae a . r
P
.

2
P lm 2 0
sa
3
s al m lvii 4 . .

P lm I 2 1
.

sa V. .
5
E c cle sias te s x Il , . . B V ma
. . rg in .

P salm c xli 4 . . G alati ans vi , . 7

.

P ro v erbs xx v 2 3 , . . P s alm l xxviii . 57 .

1°
E c cle sias tic us x x v u 2 5 , . .

C f I s aiah xxx i ii 1 5 ( of
. , . t he rig ht eous m an) : qui ob terat
a ures ne a udiat sangui nem .
 LE TT E R CXXV
the poe t tells us : In front a lion behind a dragon , ,
’1
i n the middle a very goat .

Therefore you must never loo k at men s uch as he

w as or have any in tercours e with fellows of thi s kind
, ,

l est you turn your heart aside unto words of evil and
he ar the words : Thou sittest and speake s t aga in s t
’
thy brother ; thou slanderest t hi ne own mot her s
’2
son , and again : The sons o f men whose teeth
’3
are spears and arrows and in another place : His
,

words were soft er than o il yet were they dra w n ,

’
swords ,and more cle arly in Ecc lesi as tes : S urely
th e serpent will bite where there is no ench antment ,
’5
and the s landerer is no better But you may say
.

I myself am not given to detraction but if oth er ,

peo ple say things what can I do ? , Such a plea is

only an excus e to practis e wicked works with men
’
that work iniqui ty Chr ist is not deceived by such
.

a trick I t is not I but the apostle who says : B e

.

’7
not deceived ; God is not mock e d God looks .

upon the h eart we only s ee the face In t he

, .

Proverbs Solomon says : As the nort h wi nd dr ivet h

away rain so doth an angry countenance a back
,
’8
bi ting tongue As an arrow if it be aimed at a
.
,

h ard substance sometime s rebo unds upo n t he arc her

,

and wounds the wo under and so the word is ful —

fille d : They were turned aside like a deceitful

’9
b ow , and in another place : Whoso caste th a
’1 °
stone on hi gh cas te th it onhis own head s o w h en —

a slanderer sees that hi s h earer is loo ki ng s urly and ,

so far from l istening is stopping up his e ars so that

he may not hearken to the blood j udgment 1 1 he f o r ,

hi s part at once f all s s ilent his face turns pale his lips
, ,

stick fas t and the mois ture dries up within his mouth
, .

Wh erefore the same wis e man says : M e ddle not

4 33
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST . JEROME
’
sapiens : Cum d e tr ac tor ib us inqui t non c onm is , ,

c e ar is, quoniam repente v e ni e t p e r di tio eorum ; et

’
r ui n am utriusque quis novit ? Tam scil ice t eius ,

qui loquitur quam illius qui audit lo q ue nt em

, ,
.

Verita s angulos non amat nec q uae r i t susurrone s .

Timotheo d ic i t ur : Adversus pr esb y t e r um accusa

‘

t io ne m cito ne r e c e p e r is Pe c c ant em autem coram

.

’
omnibus argue ut e t c e t e r i metum hab e ant
, Non .

e st facile de perfecta aetate credendum quam et vita ,

pr ae t er ita d e fe ndi t et honorat v oc ab ul um dignita tis ,

verum qui homi nes s um us et int e r d um contra an

,

norum m at ur i tat em pue r or um v itiis lab im ur si me ,

v is corrigi d e l i ue n tem aperte increpa tantu m ne

q , ,

occulte m o r d e as : C o rripi e t me i ust us in miseri

cordi a et inc repab i t me oleum autem pe c c ator is non ,

i np ingue t caput meum Quem enim di ligit dominus

.
,

c o r r i it
p ’ fi a e llat
,g autem omni um fi li um quem ,

r e ci it Et per E s ai am c l am at Deus : Populus

p .

meus qui beatos v o s di c unt s e duc unt vos e t se m itas

, ,
’
pedum v e s tr or um supplantant Quid enim mihi .

pr o d e s t s i aliis mala mea referas s i me ne s ciente

, ,

e c c at is meis i mmo d e t r ac t io n i b us tuis alium v u l

p ,

ne r e s et cum c e r tatim omnibus narres s ic s ingulis

, ,

l o q uaris quasi nulli alteri di x e r is ? Hoc est non me

,

emendare s e d v it io tuo s at isfac e r e Pr ae c ipit domi

, .

nus p e cc ant e s in nos argui debere secreto vel ad

hibito te s te e t s i au di re nolue r int r e fer r i ad eccle
, ,

siam hab e nd osq ue in malo pertinaces quasi e thnic os

e t publicanos .

1
P ro verbs xxiv 2 1 Vulg ate .

1 Tim o thy v 1 9 ( slig h t ly alt ere d )

.
,
2
. .
,
3
P s alm c x li 5 ( S ep tuagi nt
. .

H ebrews x ii 6 , I sai ah
. .
, i ii 1 2
.
( S e pt uag int ) .

4 34
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST JEROME .

20 Haec e x pr e ssi us lo q uor ut ad ul e s c e nt em

.
,

meum et linguae et aurium prurigine liberem ut ,

r en at um in C hristo sine ruga et macula quasi

p udic am
v ir i n
g e m e x hib e am s anc t am q ue tam mente quam
corpore ne solo nomine glorie t ur et ab s que oleo
,

bonorum o p e r um e x t inc t a lampade e x clud atur ab

sponso Habes ibi sanctum d o c tissim um q ue ponti
.

fic e m Pr oc ul um qui viva e t praesenti voce nostras

,

s c id ul as s u e r e t c o t idi an is q ue t r ac t at ib us iter tuum

p
di rigat nec p ati at ur te in partem alteram decl inando
viam relinquere regiam per quam Isr ahel ad t e rr am ,

r e r o m issio n i s p r o pe r ans s e t r ansi t ur um esse pro

p
m itt i t Atqu e utinam e x audi at ur v o x eccle siae con
.

plor antis : Domine pacem da nobis ; omni a enim

’
,

r e d di di s t i nobis U tinam quod r e nunti am us s ae

.
,

culo voluntas sit non nece ssitas et p aup e r t as hab e at

, , ,

e x e t i t a gloriam
p non i nl a t a c r uc i at um
, Ceterum .

i ux t a miserias huius temporis e t ubique gl adio s

s ae v i e nt e s s ati s dive s e s t qui pane non i nd ige t , ,

nim i um p o t e ns qui servire no n c ogi tur Sanctus

, .

E x s up e r i us , Tolos ae e pisc opus , v id uae S ar e p t e ns is

imitator , e s ur ie ns p asc i t alios et o r e pallente i e iuniis
fame t o r q ue t ur aliena o m ne m q ue substantiam Chri s ti
vi s ceribus e r o gav it Ni hil illo d it ius , qui corpu s
.

domini canistro vimineo sanguinem portat vitro qui , ,

av ar it iam
p r o i ec i t e templo qui absque f uni c ul o e t ,

Bis h op o f M arse i lles

1
.

2
I sai ah, xxvi 1 2 ( S eptuag int )
T
. .

Bis ho p o f oul o us e int he b eg i nning o f t he fi fth c ent ury ,

and a friend o f e ro m e J
H e liv e d at R om e b efore his
.

e pi s c o p a e t ( Lett er L IV , ll ) .

I K ing s x v ii
, . 12 .

4 36
 LE TT E R C XX V
I have spo ken thus definitely becau s e I w ish to
fre e a young friend of mine from an itc hing tongue
’

and itc hi ng ears so that I may present him born

,

again in Christ wi thout s pot or roughness as a c hast e

virgin holy bo th in body and in mind I would not
,
.

have him boast in n ame alone or be shut ou t by t he

,

Bridegroo m becau s e hi s lamp h as gone o ut for want

of the oil of good works You have in your tow n a
.

saintly and most learned prelate I’r oc ul us

1
and he by ,

the living s ound o f his voice can do more for y o u than

any page s I can write By daily homili es he will
.

keep you in the s traigh t path and not su ffer you t o

’
turn right or left and leave t he king s highway ,

w hereby I s rael undertakes to pas s on i ts has ty

j ourney to the promi s ed land M ay the voice o f the
.

’
Ch urch s supphc atio nbe heard : Lord ordai n peace ,

for us for t hou al s o has t wrought all o ur works for

,
’2
us. M ay our renunciati on o f t he w orld be a matter
of fre e wi ll and not of n ece s sity ! M ay we seek
poverty as a glorious thi ng not have it forced upon
,

us as a punishment ! However in o ur pre s ent ,

mis eries with swords raging fie rc ely all around us

, ,

he is rich enough who is not inactual want o f bread ,

he i s more po w erful t han he needs be who is not

reduced to slave r y E x upe rius 3 the s aintly bis hop
.
,

of Toulou s e like the widow o f Z arephath feeds

,

others and goes hungry hi m s elf 4 His face is p ale .

with fas ting but it is t he craving of others that to r

,

ments hi m and he has sp ent all his subs ta nce on

,
’
tho s e th at are Chris t s fle sh Yet none i s rich er than
.

h e ; for in hi s wicker bas ket h e carrie s the body of

t he Lord and in his glass cup His blood He has .

driven greed from t he temple ; without s courge of

ropes or c hi di ng words he has overthrown the tables
437
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST JEROME .

inc r e p at io ne ve nd e nt ium
columbas id est dona ,

Sp iritus Sancti mensa s s ubvertit m am m o nae e t

,

numm ular ior um aera di sp er si t ut domus Dei domus ,

v oc ar e t ur o r at io ni s et non latr o num spelunca Huius .

e vicino s e c t ar e vestigia et c e t e r o r um qui virt utum ,

illin s similes sunt quos sacerdotium et hum ilior e s

,

facit e t p aup e r ior es aut si perfecta d esider as exi

, , ,

cum Abraham de patria et de c ognat io ne tua et

perge quo ne sc ì s Si habes s ubstantiam vende et
, .
,

da p aup e ri b us si non habes gran di onere lib e r atus

, ,

es ; nudum C hr is t um nudu s s e q uer e Durum .

,

grande difficile se d magna s unt p r aem i a

, , .

CXXVI I
AD P R I NC I P I A M V I R G I NE M DE V ITA S ANC TA E
M A R C E L LA E

1 . et multum flagit as V irgo Chri s ti Prin

SA E P E ,

cipia ut memoriam sanctae fe m inae M ar c ellae

,

litteri s r e c olam e t bonum quo diu fruiti s um us etiam , ,

ceteris nos c e nd um im it and um q ue d esc r ib am Satis .

que doleo quod ho rt ar is …

, m et me
a r b it r ar is indi ge r e p r e c ib us qui ne tibi quidem in ,

1 T hi s le tter is M arcella t he nob le lady

real ly a memoir of
J
,

i n whos e ho use on t he A v e nt ino erom e use d t o mee t hi s

f emal e di s c i pl e s w hi le he w as liv ing i n R o me The chi ef .

f ac t s o f he r l i fe ar e giv en here by er om e w ho c oncludes J

AD
,

with anac c ount of t he sack of R om e in 4 10 In408 t he . . .

G o ths w ho had bee n se ttled in Dalm

,
’
ati a by T heo d os ius ,

( 37 9 taking a dvantage of S tili cho s de ath m arche d into

I
,

taly und er Al ari c and f orce d R ome t o pay rans om The

,
.

p r o c es s w a s re e at ed i n t he n
p e x t y ear an d i n 4 10 t h e c it y

w as st orm e d a nd s acke d althoug h t he Go ths w ho wer e

, ,

4 38
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JEROME .

eiu s d ile c t io ne concedam m ulto q ue plus ac c ipi am

quam t rib uam b e ne fic if t antaru r e c o rd atio ne m
_ _
- ‘l f

v i rt ut um .Nam ut huc usq ue r e t ic e r e m e t bien

nium pr ae t e r ir e m silentio non fuit d issim ul at io ni s
, ,

ut male a esti m as sed t ris tit iae inc r e di b ilis quae ita
, ,

meum ob p r essi t anim um ut melius i udi c ar e m tacere

,

n r ae s e n ar u m quam ni hil di num illin s l audi b us

i p t i , g
di cere Neque vero M arc e llam tuam immo meam
.
,

et ut v éri us lo q uar no st r am o m nium q ue sancto rum

, , ,

et proprie Rom anae urbi s inc lit um decus ins tit ut is ,

r he t o r um r a e di c ab o u t e x o nam illu s trem fam iliam

p p , ,

alti s anguinis decus et s te m mata per consules e t

p r ae fe c to s p r ae to r io d e c ur r e ntia Nihil in illa lau .

dabo nisi quod proprium e s t et in eo nob ilius quod

, ,

o ib us e t n obilitate con t e m t a facta est au ert at e

p p p p
et hum ili tat e nob ili or .

2 Orbata patri s morte viro quoque post nupti as

.

septimo mens e privata est C um q ue eam C e r e alis .

,

cuius c lar um inter consules nomen est propter ,

ae t at e m e t antiquitatem familiae et i n si n m quod

g
—
e

maxime viri s placere c o nsue vi t decorem corporis ac —

i ns igne m t em p e r ant i am am b i t io s i us
p e t e r e t s uas q ue

lo ngae v us p ol lic e r e tur di v it ias et non qu asi in uxorem

s e d quasi in fili am vellet d o n at i o nem t r ansf und er e
A l b inaq ue mater tam l
c ar u m praesidium v id ui tati
domu s ul tr o a
pp e t er e t , illa r es
p ndi
o t : Si v e ll e m

440
 LETT E R CXXVI I

your en treaties seeing that I do not y ield even

,

to you in love fo r her In recording her signal .

virtues I s hall indeed receive more benefit my s e lf

than I con fer upon others That I have kept s ilence .

up till now and have allowed two years to pas s

,

wi thout s peaking has not been due to any wi s h to

,

repre s s my feelings as you wrongly think but

, ,

rather to my incredible grief w hic h has so over

whelm ed my mind that I j udged it better to rema…
silent for t he moment than to produce s omething
unworthy of he r fame A nd even now I s hall
.

not follow the rules o f rhetoric in praising your ,

mine o r to s peak more truly o ur M arcella

, , ,

t he glory of all t he s aints and peculiarly of the

city of R ome I s hall not de s cribe he r illu s triou s
.

house hold the s plendour of h e r ancient lineage

, ,

and the long s erie s o f cons ul s and praeto rian pre

feets w ho have been he r ance s tors I s hall prai s e .

nothing in h e r save th at which is her o wn the ,

more noble in that despis ing wealth and rank, ,

by poverty and lowli ness she has won higher

mo b ili ty .

’
On her father s death she w as left an orp han and ,

s he al s o lost her h usband s even mont hs after marriage .

Thereupon C e r e alis a man of high consular rank

, ,

paid he r as siduou s court attrac te d by her youth, ,

h e r ancient f ami ly her mode s t c haracter and t ho s e

, ,

personal charms which al w ay s find such f avour with

men Being an old man he promis ed he r all his
.

money and o ffered to make over his fortune as

,

though she were hi s daughter not his wife H er , .

mother Albina w as exce s s ively anxiou s to s ec ure s o

illus trious a protector for t he widowed hous ehold ,
’
but M arcella s answer was this : If I wis hed to
44 1
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

nub er e e t no n ae t e r nae me c up e r em p udic itiae dedi

’
care uti ue m arit um q uae r e r e m non he r e di tat em
, , .

Illo q ue mandante po s s e et senes diu vivere et i uv e ne

cito mori elegan t er l usi t : Iuv e ni s quidem potest
’
cito mori s e d senex diu vivere non potest
, Qua .

sententia r e pudi at us exemplo ceteris fuit ut eius ,

nupt ias d e sp e r ar e nt L e gim us in evangelio secu m

.

dum Lueam : Et erat Anna pr ophet issa fili a ,

Phanuhe lis de tribu Aser e t haec pr o v e c t ae ae tatis

,

in diebus plurimis Vi x e r at q ue cum viro anni s

.

septem a virginitate s ua e t erat vidua annis octo

ginta q uatt uo r nec r e c e d eb at de templo i e iunns je t
’
o b s e c r at i o ni b us servien s nocte ac die Nec m ir um .
,

si v id e r e meruit s alv ator em quem tanto labore ,

q uae re b at C o nfe r am us septem anno s sep t em men

.

s ib us sperare C hr i s t u
, m et tenere nat a m c onfit e r i et ,

in c r uci fix um credere p ar v ul um no nnegare et virum

,

gaudere r e gnant e m : non facio nllam inter s anc tas

’
fe m inas di fle r e nt iam quod nonnulli inter s anc to s
,

viros et e cc le si ar um principes st ult e facere c onsuer unt ,

sed tendi t ads e r t io ut q uar um unus labor unum

°

.
, , ,

et pr ae m ium s it .

3 Difficile est in male di ca civitate et in urbe in

.
,

qua orbis quondam po pulu s fuit palm aq ue v i tior um ,

si honestis d e tr ahe r e nt et pura ac munda m ac ulare nt ,

nonal iq uam sini s tri r um o r is f ab ulam t r ahe r e U nde .

1
S t L uke
.
, n 36
. .

44 2
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST JERO ME .

qua s i rem d iffic illim am ac p ae ne inpossib il e m o

p t at

ro
p p h e ta
p o ti us quam w Beati it d i c e ns :
’
inm ac ul a t i in via , qui ambulant in lege domini ,

i nm ac ul at os in v ia hui us app ell ans s ae c ul i quo s ,

nulla obscena r um or is aura m ac ul ari t qui ob pr o ,

b r i um non ac c e p e r int adversus p r o x im o s suo s De .

’
quibus e t salvator in evangeli o : Esto inq ui t ‘
'

, ,

b e ni v ol us sive bene s e nt ie ns
—
de adversario
’
tuo d um es cum illo in vi a
, Quis umquam de hac .

muliere quod di 5pli c e r e t audi vi t ut c r e d e r e t ?

, , ,

Qui s c r e didi t u t non magis se ipsum m ali gni tat is et

,

infam i ae c o nd e m nar e t ? Ab hac primum confusa

en t ili t as e s t dum omnibus patui t quae es s et vi
g , ,

d uit as C hri s tiana quam et c o ns c ie nt ia et habitu

,

p m
ro i t t e b at .

Il lae enim solent p urp urisso et cerus sa o ra depin

’

gere s erieis mitere v es tib us splendere ge mm is

, , ,

aurum portare c e r vic ib us e t aur ib us p e rfo r atis R ubri

M ari s pr e ti osis sim a grana s usp e nd e r e flagr ar e m ure , ,

* tandem d omi nat u vir orum s e c ar ui s s e lae t e nt ur

q uae r ant q ue alios non quibus i ux t a Dei s e nt e nti am
'

s e r v i an t s e d q uibu s imperent
, U nde et p aup e r e s .

e l igun t ut nomen tantum v ir o r um habere v id e ant ur

, ,

qui patienter rivale s s us tine ant si m ussi tav er int ilic o , ,

r o ic i e n di No s tra vidua tal ib us usa est v e s tib us

p .
,

quibus o b s t ar e t f r igus non membra nud ar e t aurum

, ,

u s que ad anuli s ignac ul um r e pudi ans et magi s in _

ven t ri b us e ge no r um quam in m ars uppns r ec o nde ns .

Nus q uam sine matre nullum c l er ic o r um e t mon ,

P s al m c xi x .
2
St . M atthe w , v . 25 .

444
 LETT ER CXXVI I

it is fo r a thing difficult and almost impos sible

that the prop het hopes rather than t hinks to w in ’

when he says : Blessed are the und e file d in the

‘

’1
way who walk in the law o f the Lo rd He .

’
means by the und e fll e d i n this world s way tho s e
whom no breath of sc andal has sul lied and w ho have
incurred no reproach from their neighbo urs So t oo .

the Saviour in the Gospel say s : Agree with ! or

be kindly to ] thine advers ary whil st thou art in t he
’2
way wi th him . Whoever heard anything di s '

pleasing about M arcella that deserved be lief ? W h o

that believed such a tale di d not rather convict him
s elf o f malice and backbiting ? S h e put t he Genti les
to conf usio nby sh owing t o all w hat sort of thing
that Christian w i do w t is which she revealed i n
i
every thought and look .

Gentile widows are wont to paint their faces with

rouge and white lead to flaunt in silk dresses to
, ,

deck themselves in gle aming j ewels to w ear gold ,

necklaces to hang fr om their pierced ea rs the

,

costliest R ed Sea pearls and to reek o f musk, .

R ej o ic iiag that they h ave at length e s c aped from a

’
husband s domi nion t& y ook abo ut for a new mate
,
=
,

intendi ng not to yield him obe dience as G od ordai ned , ,

but to b e his lord and mas ter W ith this obj ect .

they ch oose poor men husbands only in name w ho

, ,

mus t pati ently put up with rivals and if they murmur ,

can be kicked out on t he spot O ur widow on the .

,

other hand wore clothe s th at were meant to keep

,

out the cold not to reveal her bare lim bs Even a

, .

gold signet ring sh e rej ected pre f erring to store her

,

mone y in the stomach s o f t he needy rather t han

hi de it in a purse Nowhere would s he go wi thout
.

her mother never would she interview wi thout

,
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

ac hor um— quod am pl ae domus int e r dum e x igeb at

necessitas vi di t absque arb itris Semper inc omit at u
—
.

s uo v ir in
g e s ac vi duas et ip s as gr av e s f e m inas habuit
'

sciens e x lascivia puellar um saepe de d ominarum

m or ib us i udi c ar i et q ualis q uae q ue si t t alium , ,

cons or tio d el e c t ar i .

4 D iv inar um s c r ip tur ar um ardor incr e d ib il is sem

.
,

perque c antab at : In corde meo ab sc ondi eloq ui a tua ,

ut nonp e c c e m tibi , et illud de perfecto viro : Et in
lege domini voluntas eius et in lege eiu s m edi tab it ur
’
di e ac nocte m e di t at io ne m legis non replicando
, ,

quae scripta s unt ut Iud ae or um ae s t im ant Phar is aei

, ,

s e d in opere i n t e ll e ge ns i ux t a illud ap ost olic um

Sive c om e di tis s ive b ib i tis sive qui d agit is omnia ,

in gloriam domini fac ie nt es et prophe t ae verba

’
di c e ntis : A m and at is tuis i nt elle x i ut pos t q uam , ,

mandata c o npl e ss e t t une se s c ir e t m er e r i int e lle

,

en t i am s c r i t ur ar um Quod et alibi l e im us
g
g p .

’
Q
_
g ia c o e i t Iesus facere et docere
_ p E r ub e s c i t enim .

u am v i s r ae c l ar a doctrina quam propria re re

p
q p ,

bendit c onsci e nt ia fr us tr aq ue lingua p r ae d ic at pau

,

e r tat em e t docet e le m o s nas qui Croesi d i vi t us

p y ,

t um e t v iliq ue o p e r t us p alli ol o p ugnat contra tineas

v e s t i um s e r i c ar um M oderata i e i uni a c ar nium ab

.
,

s tin en t i a vini odor magis quam gustus propter s t o

,

1 P m
s al c xi x . Il .
2
P s alm i 2 . .

3
1 C ori nthi ans , x . 31 .
4
P salm c xix . 104 .

5
A cts i
, . l .

44 6
 SELE CT LETT E RS OF ST : JERO ME

machum e t frequentes infirm i t at e s R aro pro .

c e d e b at ad publicum e t maxim e n ob ilium matro

"

narum vi t ab at domus ne c oge r e t ur V idere quod con , ,

t e m p s e r at ap ostol o r um et m ar ty r um ba s ilicas s e c r e t is
,

c e l e b r ans o r ationi b us et quae populorum f r e q ue nt i am

d ecl inar e nt M atri in tantum ob o e di e ns ut i nt e r d um
.
,

fac e r e t quod nol e b at

, Nam cum illa suum dilige r e t
.

sanguinem et absque filiis ac ne p o t ib us vellet in

fr atr is libero s universa c o nfe rr i i s ta paup e r es eli ,

ge b at e t tamen matri contraire non p o t e r at monilia

et quicquid mn
, ellecii li s fuit di v i tib us p er it um
. ,

c on c e d en s m a i s ue volen s ec uni am perdere quam

g q p
parenti s anim um contristare .

5 Nulla eo tempore no b ili um f e m inar um no v e r at

.

R omae propositum monac horum nec aud eb at propter

rei novi tat em ignom iniosum ut tunc p utab atur e t , ,

vile in p o pul is nomen ads um er e Haec ab Alexan .

d r inis s ac e r d o tib us p ap aq ue A thanasio e t postea

Petro qui p e rs e c utio nem A r r ianae he r e s e os de oli
,

nante s quasi ad t utissim um c om m unio nis s uae p or tum

R oman c o nf uge r ant vitam beati A nt o nii adhuc tunc
,

v iv e n tis m o nas t e r i aq ue in Thebaide Pac hum ii et

v ir gin um ac v id uar um di d ic it di s ciplinam nec e r ub uit
p r o fit e r i quod Christo placere c ogno v e r at
, Hanc .

m ultos po s t annos imitata e s t Sop hronia et aliac ,

quibu s r e c tiss im e illud E nnianum apt ar i pote st

1
1 T i mo hy , t
23 v . .

2
Fo r A hanas i s see
t A W u F . . right , L ater Gr eekLi teratur e,
pp 33 1 33 3
.
—
P e e s uc ce e de d
. tr hi m a t A l e x andri a For .

P o pe c f p 308 , n 2
. . . .

44 8
 LETT ER CXXVI I

frequent i nfir m it ie sShe seldom appeared in public

.
1

and carefu lly avoided the houses of ladies o f rank ,

that s he might not be forced to see there w hat sh e

herself had rej ected ; but she frequently vi sited the
churches of the apostles and martyrs for quiet
’
prayer avoiding the people s throng To h e r
,
.

mother s he w as so obedi ent that occasionally she

di d for her sake things that went again s t her o w n
inclination For example Albina w as devoted to
.
,

her own kinsfolk and wi s hed to leave all her property

,
’
to her brother s children cutting o ut her sons and,

grandso ns : M arcella would have preferred to give

i t to the p oor but still she could not go agains t
,

he r mother and h anded over her necklaces and

,

other e ff ec ts to people already rich for them to

s quander . S he c hose rat her to s ee money lost than
’
to v e x her mother s feelings .

At that t ime no great lady in R ome knew any

thing of the monastic li fe nor ventured to call he r ,

self a nun The thing itself w as s t range and the

.

name was com monly accounted ignominious and

degradi ng It was from some priests o f Ale xandria
.

and from Pop e Ath anasiu s 2 and from Peter a fter

wards w ho to e s cape the pers ecution of t he Arian
,

heretics had all fle d to R ome as being t he sa f est

refuge for their communion that M arcella w as told ,

o f t he li f e of t he ble ss ed Anto ny t h en still in t hi s ,

world and o f t he monasteries founded by Pac hum i us

,

in the Thebaid and o f the discipline laid down th ere

,

for v irgins and widows S he w as not as hamed to

.

profess a life which she knew w as ple asi n to Christ ; g

and many years later h e r example w as f ollowed by

Sophroni a and by some other ladi e s to w hom t he ,

lines of Enni u s may mo s t fitly be applied

44 9
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

’
U tinam ne in mem o r e Pelio . Huins am i c it us fruita
e st Paula venerabilis in huius , nutrita cubiculo E us to
c hium v irginit atis decu s ut facilis ae st im atio sit
, , ,

u ali s magistra ubi tales d i i ul

q , sc
p ae .

Rid e at for s it ani nfid e lis lector me in m uli e r c ùl ar um

laud ib us i nm or ar i : qui si r e c o r d e t ur s anc t as f em inas ,

comite s domini s alv ator is quae m ini str ab ant ei de ,

s ua substantia et tres M arias s t ant e s ante cr uc em

,

M ari am q ue proprie M agdalenen quae ob seduli ,

tatem e t ar dor e m fid e i t ur ri t ae nomen acc e pi t et

prima ante apostolos C hr ist um v id e r e meruit resur
ge mtem s e potins s up e r b i ae quam nos c o nd em nab it
,

i ne p t i ar um qui v ir t ut e s non s e x u s e d animo i udi

,

camus U nde et Iesus Iohannem e v ange li s t am

.

am ab at
pl ur im um qui propter generi s nob ili t at e m
,

erat notus ponti fici et Iud ae or um in s idias non time

bat in tantum ut Pe tr um int r o d uc e r e t in a trium e t
, ,

s t ar e t s olus a o s t o lor um
p ante c r uce m m at r e m q ue
s alv at o r is in s ua r e c i e r e t
p ut her e di t at e m virginis
,

domini v ir gine m m atr e m filius v irgo s usc ip e r e t .

6 Annis igitur plurimis s ic s uam tr ans e gi t ae t at e m

.
,

u t ante s e v e t ul am c e r ne r e t quam ad ul esc e nt ul am ,

fui s s e m e m inis s e t laud ans illud Plat onic um qui

, ,

h il o s o hi am m e di t at i on m mortis esse d i x i sse t

p p e .

U nde et noster ap ost olus : C o tidi e m or ior per v e s

’
tram s alut e m e t dominus iux t a antiqua exemplaria
,

Ni si qui s t ul e r it c r uc e m s uam cotidie et s e c ut us

1
The phrase, use d here as ane x p res si ono f reg re t f or the l os s
of t w o n o ble w om e n c o me s f rom t he o p en i ng line s of E nn
‘
, i us
trans lationof t he M edea ( E nni us M ed ea, fr 1 utina m ne i n

\
.

nemor e P elia secur ibue C aes a aceid zsset abi egna ad ter ram trabes ) .

2
M agd ala m e an s tower ’
S t J o hn, x vi ii 1 5 1 6
" . .
—
.

P
.

lato , P ha ed o, 6 7 E 7 43 dvn a pa
. . o i dp9 riì g (fit/ O

a o òo îì vr e s dwoflvfi ax c w
p e Àer dì a cv .

5
1 Co ri n thi ans x v 3 1
, . .

4 50
 SELE CT LE TTERS O F ST JERO ME .

’
fuerit me non potest meus esse discipulus m ul to q ue
, ,

ante per pr ophe t am Spiritus Sanctus : Propter te

mor ti fic am ur tota di e a e st im at i s um us ut ove s ,
' '
o è à s io m s e t post multas ae t at es illa sententia
M emento semper diem mortis et num q uam p e c c a
°

’
bis d is e r tiss im iq ue pr ae c ept um satirici :
,

Vive m em or leti , f ugit hora , hoc , quod lo q uor ,

’
inde e s t .

Sic ergo ut di cere co e p er am us ae t atem d ux it et

— —

v i x it ut semper se c r e d e r e t esse m or itur am Sic

, .

induta e s t ve stib us ut m em ini ss e t s epulc hri o ff er e ns

, ,

hos ti am r at io nab il e m vivam , pl ac e nt em Deo , .

7 B enique cum et me R omam c um sancti s ponti

.
,

fic ib us Paulino et E p iph an i o ecclesiastica t r ax is se t

neces sitas quorum alter A nt ioc he nam S y r iae alter
—
,

S al am iniam C y pr i r e x it e cc les iam e t v e r e c und e —

nob iliar um fe m inar um oculos declinarem , ita eg_1 t_ ,

’
i npo r t une o o r t un
‘
secundum apostol a m p e ut , ,

p ud o r e m meum s ua s up er ar e t industria Et qui a .

al ic uius tunc nomini s aes t im ab ar super studi o scrip

t ur ar um numquam c o nv gni t quin de sc r ipt uris

, ,

aliquid i nt e r ro gar e t nec statim ad q ui esc er e t s e d ,

m o v e r e t e contrario quaestiones non ut cb nt e nd e r e t , ,

sed ut q uaer e nd o d isc e r e t e ar um s ol utione s quas ,

O pponi po s s e i nt e ll e ge b at Quid in illa vir t utum .

,

quid ingenii quid s anc tit at is quid pur i tat is inv e

, ,

nerim v er eo r dicere ne fid e m c r e d uli t atis excedam

, ,

1
St Luk i
. e, x v . 2 7. 2
P m x liv 2 2
sal . .

E l i ti u
c c e s as c s , v ii 3 6 P ersi us V 1 53 . .

InA D 3 8 2 T
. . ,
5
. . . 2 i mothy iv 2 , . .

4 52
 LETT ER CXXVI I
’1
cannot be my di sciple Indeed age s ago the
.

Holy Sp iri t by t he mout h of t he prop he t declared :

For t hy sake are we kil led all t he day long ; we
’
are counted as s heep for the slaughter 2 And .

agai n after many generations we have the proverb :

R emem ber ever the day o f death and you will
’3 ’
never go wrong L astly t here is the satiri s t s
.

s hrewd precept :
Live thou remem bering deat h for t ime flies fast ,
.

’ ’ ’
4
Thi s moment s speech I snatch before tis pa ts .

W ell then as I began to

, sa
y , M arcella in all t he
days of he r life remembered that she mus t di e .

Her very dress reminded he r o f the tomb and she ,

o ffered herse lf as a living s ac ri fic e reasonable and ,

acceptable unto God .

Lastly when the needs of the Church brough t me al s o

,

to R ome in company with the holy ponti ffs Paulinus

5

and E p iphani us di rectors re s pectively of the c hurche s

,

of S y rian Antioc h and of Salami s in Cyprus I in m ,

modesty was inclined to avoid the gaze of ladi e s of

rank But M arcella w as s o urgent both in season
.

’6
and out of season as the apostle says, that he r
,

persis tence overcam e my timi di ty At that time I .

had some repute as a student o f t h e Sc rip t ures and ,

s o s he never met me w it hout aski ng me s ome ques

tion about them nor would s he rest conte nt at once

, ,

but would bring forw ard po ints o n the other side ;

this however w as not for the sake o f argument
, , ,

but that by questioning she might learn an an s wer

t o such obj ec t io n
'

s as she saw mig ht be raised W hat .

virt ue and intellect what holiness and purity I f ound

,

in he r I am afraid to say both le s t I should exceed

,
’
the limi ts of men s belief and als o tha t I may not
,

4 53
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

e t tibi m aio r em dolorem incutiam r ec or d ant i quanto ,

bono c ar ue r is Hoc s olum di c am quod quicquid

.
, ,

in nobis longo fuit s tudio c o ngr egatum et m e d it atio ne

diuturna qua si in naturam v e rsum hoc illa lib av it , ,

ho c di di c it atque p o ss e di t ita ut post p erf e c t ione m ,

mostram si aliq uo testimonio s cr ip t ur ar um e s set

,

ob o r t a c on t e nt io ad ill am i udic e m p e r ger e t ur

, Et .

qui a valde prudens erat et nov e r at illud quod appel ,

'
lant p hilosophi r ò 7rpe1r ov id e st decere quod faci as , , ,

sic interrogata r e spo nd eb at ut etiam s ua non sua ,

di c e r e t s e d v e l mea vel c uiuslib e t al terius ut et in

, ,

ipso quod d o c e b at s e di sc ipul am fat e r e tur sc ie b at

, ,
—

enim dictum ab apostolo : Docere autem m ulie r i

non p e rm it to ne virili s e x ui et i nt e r d um sacer
—

d o tib us de o b s c ur is e t am b iguis s c isc it ant ib us facere

v id e r e t ur i niur i am .

8 . In nostrum locum s tatim audi v irnus te illius

a dha e s is s e c o nso r t i o et numquam ab illa ne tran s

v e r s um quidem ungui s ut d ic i tur r ec e s sis se eadem

, ,

domo e o d em cubiculo una u s am c ub ili et om nibus in

, ,

urbe c l ar is sim a notum fie r e t et te m at r em et illam

filiam r e pp e ris s eî S ub ur b anus ager vobis pro mona
s t e r io fuit et r us e le c t um propter solit udi nem .

M ul to q ue ita v i x isti t empore ut im i t at io ne v e s t r i et ,

c on v ers at io ne m ul t ar um gaud e r e m us R omam fac t am

Hie r o solym am Crebra v ir ginum m onas te ria mona

.
,

c horum i nnum e r ab ilis m ul tit udo ut pro fr e q ue ntia ,

1
l Ti m o hy , ii 1 2
t . .

4 54
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF S T JEROME .

s e r vi e nt ium qu od prius ignom iniae fue r at

Deo , ,

e ss et pos tea glor iae Interim ab s e nti am nostri .

m ut uis s ol ab am ur adlo q uiis et quod c arne non ,

p o t e r am us s piritu r e dd e b arnus
, Semper se o b vi ar e .

e p is t ul ae su e ,
o fli c iis s al ut at io ni b us p r ae v e nir e , .

Non multum p er d e b at quae i ugib us sibi litteri s ,

i ungeb at ur .

9 In h ac t r anq ui lli t at e et domini s e r v it ut e h er e t ic a

.

in his pr o v incii s exorta t em p es t as cuneta t urb av it e t

in tantam r ab ie m concitata est , ut nec sibi nec ulli
bonorum p ar c er e t Et quasi parum esset hic uni
.

ver s a m o v is se , nav em ple nam b l as phe m iar um R omano

i nt ulit p o r t ui inv e ni t q ue p r o t inus patella operculum
e t Rom anae fid e i p ur issim um fontem l uto s a c ae no
p e r m is c ue r e vestigia Nec m iru m , s i in
.
p l a t e i s et

in foro rerum v e nali um us s t ul to r um …

v e r b e r e t mat e s et obtorto fuste dentes m or d e n t i um
u a t i at , cum venenata s u r 0 a ue doctrina R omae
q p q
inv e ne r it , quo s i nd uc e r e t Tune li b r or um 7r ep ì dpx<î w.

infami s i nt e rpr e t at io , t une discipulu s 5À flw s vere

nomini s sui , s i in talem m agistr um non i np e giss e t ,
t un e no s t ro r um 8t ci7rvp o s contradictio et P hari
s a eo r um turbata sc h ola Tunc sancta M arcella , quae.

di u c o niv e r at , ne per aem ul at ione m q uippi am facere

c r e der e tu o s t uam s en s i t fid e m apo s tolico ore
r,
p q
la ud at am in pl e ri s q ue v i o lar i , ita u t s acerdote s
1
The m o v ement , l e d by R ufinus and M ac ar i us t o b ring
R II
,
’
Ofi ge ns te aching be f ore t he om anpubli c Cf A pp , p 49
8fi . . . .

L J
.

’
2
i ke t o l ike , a fav ourit e pro v e rb with er o m e .

O
For rig en( AD
1 85 2 54 ) and his wr itin
. .
—
gs see F A Wrig ht, . .

L ater G r eekL ite rature, p p 3 1 7 3 2 0 Th e De P r i n c ip iis i s t he

—
.

C
.

fi rs t s yste m atic ac c o unt o f hristian theol ogy and the m os t

ro f o un d w or k o f s eri o us p hil os op hy w hi c h t he t hir d c e n tu ry
p
pro d uc e d
J
.

M ac ar i us ( uax cipw s,
ero m e here , as o ft en , p l ay s

up o nword s .

4 56
 LETT E R CXXVI I
n ame whic h pre vi ously had been a term o f reproach
, ,

w as now one of h ono ur . M eanwhile w e consoled

ourselve s for our s eparation by an interchange of
conversation dischargi ng in th e s pirit the debt
,

t hat we could not pay in th e flesh Our letters .

always cro s sed o ut xi e d in cour t esies anticipated

, ,

in greetings Separation brought no great loss

.
,

since it was bridged by a continual correspondence .

In th e midst of this tranqui llity and se r vi ce

rendered to God t here aro s e in these province s a
,

tempest which threw everyt hing into confu s ion

1
,

and finally swelled to such heigh ts of ma dness that

it s pared neither itse lf nor anyt hing that was good .

As though it were not enough to have di s turbed all

our community here it despatched a s hip laden
,

with blas phemies to the port o f R ome There the .

di sh s oon found a cover to match it 2 and muddy ,

feet fouled t he clear fountai n o f t he R oman faith .

It is not s urpri s ing t hat in the s treets and market

places o f the city a painte d quack can s trike fools
o nt he buttoc ks and knoc k o ut t h e teet h of obj ectors

with a blow from hi s stick s ee ing t hat t his poisonous

,

and filthy teaching f o und dupe s at R ome to lea d

astr ay Th en came t he disgrace ful vers ion of
.

’
Origen s boo k OnFirs t Princip le s 3 and t hat di s ciple 4
,

w ho mig ht truly h ave been called Feli x if h e had

never fallen in w it h s uch a teacher Next followed
.

’
my s upporters fie ry confutation which threw the
whole schoo l o f t he Phari see s into confusion .

Finally our saintly M arcella w ho for a long tim e

,

had closed her eyes to all t hi s lest s he s hould b e

though t to put h ers elf in r i v ahy finding tha t t he
,

f ait h which the apostle once praised was now in

many people being endangered came forward ,

4 57
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

quoque nonnullo s monac horum m ax im e q ue s ae c uli

homines in ad s e nsum sui t r ahe r e t he r e t ic us ac sim
l i c i t a t i inl ud e r e t epi scopi q ui de s uo ingenio c e t e r o s
p ,

ae s t im ab at publice r es ti t i t malen s Deo placere quam

,

ho mi nib us .

10 . L audat s alvator in evangelio v ilic um i niq ui tatis ,

quod contra dominum quidem att am e n pro se pru ,

denter fe c e r it C e m e nt es he r e t ic i de parva scintilla

.

maxima incendi a c onc it ar i et supp o sit am d ud um

flamm am iam ad culmina perveni s se nec pos s e latere ,

quod m ulto s d ec e p e r at p e t unt et i np e t r ant eccle

,

s i as tic as e p is tu l as ut communicantes e cclesiae

.

di scedere v id er e ntur Non multum tempu s in .

medi o s uc c e d it in ponti fic at um v ir insignis Ana s

,

t asius quem diu R oma habere non meruit , ne orbi s

,

caput s ub tali ep iscopo t r unc ar e tur ; i mmo i dc ir c o

raptus atque t ransl at us e s t ne semel latam sen ,

t e nt iam p r e c ib us s uis fle c t e r e c o nar e t ur dicente

domino ad Hie r emi am : Ne o r av e r is pro populo
i s to neque d e pr e c e r is in bonum quia s i i ei unav er int , , ,

non e x audi am preces eorum et si ob t ule r int h ol u ,

c aus t a et v ic t im a s non s usc i i am eas ; in gladio en i m

, p ,
’ ’
l zî rî îe e t p e s t il e nt i a ego con s umam eos
'

Dicas .

Quo hoc ? ad laud e m M ar c e llae D am natio nis .

he r e t ic o r um haec f uit principium dum add uc it ,

teste s qui prius ab eis eruditi et postea ab he r e tic o

,

f ue r ant errore c or r e c ti dum o s t e ndi t m ul ti t udi nem

,

1
P o pe S iric ius S t Luke 2 x vi. 8 2
AD 39 8
R
. . . . . .
,

The h ea d o f t he wor ld is o m e , s ac ked i n4 1 0 .

5
J e e r mi ah , x iv . Il .

4 58
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST J ERO ME .

d e c e pt o r nm , dum inpia 7rcp ì dpxàìv inge r i t volumina ,

quae emendata mann scorpii m o ns tr antnr dum ,

acc i t i fr e ue n t ib us litteris he r e t ic i nt s e d e fe nd e r e nt
q , ,

venire non an s i sunt t ant aq ue vi s conscientiae fuit ,

ut magis absentes d am nar i quam pr ae s e nt e s co

argui m al ue r int Huins tam glor io s ae v ic to r iae.

origo M arcella e s t tuqu e caput horum et causa

bonorum quae scis me vera narrare quae nosti
,

vix de multis p anc a dicere ne l e ge nti fg stidi um ,

fac iat odiosa r eplic at io e t v id e ar apud m alivol òs é îib

occ asione landi s alterius s t om ac hum meum (fi
Pergam ad r eliq ua .
… .

1 1 De o c c id e ntis partibus ad orientem turbo tran s

.

r e ss n m i ni t ab at ur plurimis magna n a uf a i
g s r
ga .

Tune i npl e tum e s t : Putas v e niens fi lius hominis ,

i nve ni e t fid em s u er t e rr am ? R efrigerata c ar i t at e
multorum pauci q ui am ab ant fid e ì v e ri t at e m no s tro
, ,

lateri iungeb ant ur quorum publice p e t e b at nr caput , ,

contra quos omne s O pes p ar ab ant ur ita nt Barnabas ,

’
quoque ad duc er e t ur in illam sim ulat io ne m immo ,

apertum p ar r1 c 1 mm quod non v i r ib us s e d voluntate ,

c o m m is it Sed ecce univers a t em p e s t as domino

.

flant e deleta e s t et e x pl e t nm v at ic inium pr ophe tal e :

Auferes spiri tum eorum et d e fic i e nt et in pnlv er em
suum r e v er tent nr In illa die p er ib unt omne s .

’
c o i t at io ne s eorum et illud e v an e lic um : S t ul te
g g , ,

hac nocte aufe r t n r anima tua abs te ; quae aute m

p r ae par as ti cuiu s e r unt ?

,

1
R nfinn s . S uke , x v i 8 2
t . L ii . .

5
G alat ians n 1 3
J J
. .
,

The a ll us io nis pe hap s t o o hno f e usale m , w h whom

r r it
J r
e om e was f eq ue n ly at v a iance : b ut
r hi s i s only a
t r t
c on j e c ure, houg h a p ob able one
t t r
P
.

5
s alm c i v 2 9 .P s alm c xl 4 ( sli gh ly al e ed )
. vi . t tr .

S Luke , x 2 0
t . ii . .

4 60
 LETTER CXXVI I

brandi shed in the ir faces t he impious books OnFir st

’ 1
P r inc i le s
p which
, as emended by that sco r pion s

h and were t h en openly on vi ew It was she finali .

w ho in a succession o f letters c h allenged t h e heretics

to defend the m s elves ; a c hall enge whic h they did
not dare to accept for so strong w as th e ir con s cious
,

ness o f s in that they pre ferred to be condemned in

t heir ab s ence rather than appear and be proved
guilty For t his glorious victo r y M arcella w as
.

re s ponsible ; she wi t h you was the source and caus e

o f t h is great blessing Yo u who know th at my
.
,

sto ry is true understand tha t I am only mentioning

,

a few incident s out o f many lest a tedi ou s repetition ,

should weary the reader M oreover I do not wi s h .

,

mali gnant people to t hink t hat under pretence of

prais ing another I am gi vi ng vent to my own r anc o nr .

I wi ll now proceed to t he re s t o f my tale .

The h urrica ne p assed from t h e W estern world

into the East and threatened very many wi th di re
s hip w reck The nw er e f ulfille d t he words : Thinkest
‘
.

thou that when th e son of man cometh he shall find

f aith on earth ? 2 The love of many grew cold ,

but a few who loved the truth of faith ralli ed to my

side Their lives were openly sought and every
.

means was used to attack th em so t hat indeed ,

Barnabas also was carried away with their d is

’3
s imulation and comm itted plain murder 5 in wish
, ,

at leas t if not i n deed But 10 ! the Lo rd blew and

.

all t he tempe s t p as sed away and the predi ction o f ,

the prophet was f ulfille d : Thou takest away t heir

’5
breath they die and ret urn to t heir dust
, , In t hat .

’5
very d ay t heir thoughts peri sh W ith it als o t h e .

Go spel words were accompli s h ed : Thou fool t hi s ,

night t hy s oul s hall be req uired o f thee then who s e

s hall those t hings be which thou h ast provided ? 7
,

4 61
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST J ERO ME .

12 .Dum h aec agunt ur in Ieb us t e rrib ilis de oc c i ,

dente rumor adfe r t ur ob sid e ri R omam et auro

s al ut e m civium redimi s oli at o s ue r ur s um circum
p q
dari ut po s t sub s tantiam vitam quoque ami tt e r e nt
, .

Hae r e t vox e t singultus int e r èipi unt verba dic t ant is .

C ap it ur u rbs quae totum cepit o rb em immo fame

, ,

perit ante quam gladio et vix pauci q ui c ap er e nt nr , ,

inventi sunt Ad nefandos c ib o s er upit e sur ie ntium

.

rabies et s ua invic em membra l aniarunt dum mater ,

non p ar cit l ac t anti i nfanti ae et r e c ipit utero quem ,

paulo ante e ff ud e r at Nocte M oab capta e s t nocte

.
,

c e c i di t muru s eius Deus v e ne r unt gentes in here

.
,

di t at e m tuam po lluer unt templum sanct um tuum

, ,

o s ue r un t H i e r us al e m in o m o r um cu s todiam
p p ,

p o s ue r unt c ad av e r a s e r vo r um t uo r um escas volati

libu s caeli carnes sanctorum t uor um b estus terrae
, .

E ffud e r unt sangu inem ip s or um sicut aquam in cir

’
cn it u Hie r us al e m et non erat qui s e p e lir e t , .

Quis c la de m illin s nocti s qui s

fando , fune r a
E x plic e t aut p o ss i t l ac r im is ae q uar e dolorem ?
U rbs antiqua ruit m ulto s dominata per annos
Plurima perque vias sp arguntur inertia passim
Corpora perque domos et plurima mortis imago ,
.

13 . C um interim ut tanta confus ione rerum

, ,

M arc e llae quoque d om urn cruentus victor ingre

1 The C a naani te name fo r J rue s ale m .

2
I saiah x v l 2
P s alm l xxi x 1 3 .
—
.

Virg il A eneid I I
. .
,

, , . 36 1 — 5 nd 369
a .

4 62
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST J ERO ME .

’
di tur Sit mi hi fas audita lo q ui immo a sancti s ,

viris vi s a narrare qui i nt erfue r e pr aese nt e s qui te

, ,

di c unt in periculo quoque ei fuisse soc i atam intre —

pido v ul tu e x c epis se di c it ur intr ogr essos ; cumque

p o sc e r e tur aurum et d e fo ss as opes vili e x c us ar e t
tunica non tamen fecit fid em v ol unt ar iae p aup er tat is
, .

C ae s am f us tib us flagellis q ne aiunt non s e nsiss e to r

menta s e d ho c lac r im is hoc pedi bu s eorum e ss e
'

, ,

p r o s t r at am ne te a s uo c o nsor t io se p ar ar ent ne s us
, ,

t ine r e t ad ul e sc e nt i a quod senilis aetas t imere non

,

p o t e r at Christus dura corda m ollivi t et inter

.

cruento s gl adios invenit locum pietas C um q ue et .

ill am et te ad beati Pauli b as ilic am barbari d e d ux is

sent nt v el s alut em vobis os te nd er e t vel se pulc hr um
, ,

in tantam l ae t it iam di c it ur e r upisse ut grati as age r e t ,

Deo quod te s ibi integram r e se rv asse t quod pau

, ,

perem illam non fe c iss e t c ap tiv it as s e d inv e nis se t , ,

quod e ge r e t cotidiano cibo qu od saturata Chri s to ,

non s e ntir e t e suri em quod et voce et ager e loque ,

r e t ur : Nuda e x ivi de ventre matris m e ae nuda e t ,

r e d e am S ic ut domi no visum e s t i ta et factum est

.
,
.

’
Sit nomen domini b e ne di c t nm .

1 4 Po s t aliquot mense s s ana integra v e ge t o q ue

.
,

c or usc ulo d o rm iv i t in domi no et te p aup e r t at ul ae

p
s ua e 11 a , per te p aup e r e s r eliq uit heredes c laud e ns
oculos in m anib us tui s reddens spir i t um in tui s ,

o sc ul is dum inter l ac r im as tuas illa r id e r e t con s ci

,

1
Virgi l A ene id ,2 6VI
6 2
J ob , i 2 1
T
. . . .
,

hi s pas s ag e m ay ha e n s p ed t he li ne s by S
v i ir ir W ill iam
5

J on es ( 1 7 4 6— 1 7 9 4 ) t o a f ie nd o nhis b
’
hd ay
r irt
Onp a e n s knee a nake d newbo nc h ld
r t r i
’
W e e ping ho u sa t s t , w hile all a o und hee s m ile d ;
t r t
’
S o l v e ha t s in
i t king t o t hy l if e s las t s l ee p,
C talm ho u m ay s t s m ile , whil e all a o un d h e e we e p ’
r t .

C f Le tter L X
. . 13 .

4 64
 LETTE R CXXVI I
’1
it mi ne to s ay what I have heard
Be ,

nay ra ther to relate what was seen by those holy

,

men w ho were present at that hour and found you , ,

Principia at her side in t he t ime of danger They

,
.

tell me t hat she confronted t h e intruders with fear

less face and when they asked her for gold and
,

hi dden treas ures pointed to her coars e gown How .

ever they would not give credence to her sel f

,

chosen po verty but beat he r with sticks and whi pped

,

her S he felt no pa in but throwing herself in tears

.
,

at the ir feet begged t hem not to take you from h e r

o r force your youth t o endure the fate which her old

age had no oc casion to fear Chris t softened their .

hard h ear ts , and even among bloo d stained swords -

a s en s e of duty found place The barbarians escorted

.

both her and you to t he ch urch o f t he apo s tle Paul ,

for y o u to find there eith er safety or a tomb There .

s he burst into cries o f j oy t ha n king God for h aving

,
’ ’
kept you unharmed for he r By heaven s grace.
,

she s aid captivi t y has found me a poor woman

, ,

not made me o ne Now I s hall go in want o f daily

.

bread but I sh all not feel hunger s inc e I am f ull of

,

C hr ist and can say in word and deed : Naked came

’
I out of my moth er s womb and naked shall I return ,

thit her : t he Lo rd gave and the Lord h ath taken

”
away ; bles ed be e n ame of the Lord
s t h 2
.

Some months after this she fell asleep in the

Lo rd sound in mind and not su fferi ng fr om any
,

malady with he r poor body still active She made

, .

y o u t h e he ir o f her po verty o r ra ther sh e made ,

t he po or h e r heirs t hrough you In your arms .

she closed her eyes your lip s received h e r la s t

,

breath ; you were weeping but she smiled 3 con , ,

scious of ha vi ng lived a good life and hoping for a

4 65
H H
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

entia vitae bonae et pr ae m us f ut ur o r um Haec tibi .

,

M arcella venerabilis e t h aec tibi Principia filia una

, , ,

et brevi l uc ub r at io ne d ic t av i no n e lo q unv e nust at e sed

voluntate gr at issim i in v o s animi et Deo et l e ge nt ib us
placere d esid er ans .

CXXVIII
A D PA C A TULA M

CAU S A d iffic ilis p ar v ul a e quae non

sc r i b ere ,
i nt e lle gat quid l o q uar is cuius animam ne sc ias de
, , ,

cuiu s p e r ic ul os e voluntate pr om i tt as ut secund um ,

r a e c l ar i o r at o r is exor di um spes magi s in e a lau

p
danda quam res sit Quid enim horter is ad conti
.

ne nti am quae placentas de siderat quae in sinu

, ,

matris garrula voce b alb ut t it cui d ulc ior a sunt mella

,

quam verba ? A nd iat profunda apo stoli quae anili ,

b us magis fab ulis d e l e c t at ur Pr ophe t ar um a ivfyp ar a .

s en t i at
, quam t ris t io r ge r ulae v ul tus e x agit at ?
E v angelii i nt ell e gat m aie st at e m ad cuius f ulgura ,

omni s m or tal ium heb eb at ur sen s us ? U t parenti

s ub ic i at ur ,
horter , quae manu tenera r id e nt e m
v e r b e r at m atr e m ? Itaque Pac at ul a nos tra hoc
e p i s t ul ium post lectura sus c ip iat ; interim modo
l it t e r ul ar um e l e m e nt a c ogno sc at i ungat syllaba s , ,

1
Ci cero De Rep ublica f r
, , . 5 .

4 66
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JERO ME .

d isc at nomina verba co nsoc ie t atque ut voce

, , ,

tinnula i s ta m e di t e t ur pr op onat ur ei c r us tnl a m nlsi

,

r a e m i a et quicquid gus tu suave est quod v e m at

p , ,

in flor ib ns quod r ut ilat in gemm is quod b landi tnr

, ,

in pupis acc e pt ur a f e stine t ; interim e t tenero

,

t e m p t e t pollice fila d e d uc e r e r um p at saepe stamina , ,

ut aliq uando non r ump at pos t laborem l usib us ,

ge s t iat de matris p e nd e at collo rapiat o s cula pro

, ,

pi nq uor um p salm os mercede d e c ant e t amet quod

, , ,

c o itu
g r di cere nt non , opus sit sed d e l e c t ati o non
, ,

neces s itas s e d voluntas

, .

2 Solent quaedam cum futuram vi r gine m sp o

.
,

on d e r in t pulla tunica eam i n d u e r e et fur v o o e r ir e

p
p ,

alliol o a uf rr e linteamina ni hil in collo n i hil in

p , e , ,

capite auri s iner e re vera bono consilio ne habere ,

di sc at in tenero quod po s tea d e po ne r e c o np e ll at ur

,
.

’
Alu s contra videtur Quid enim aiunt
. si , ,

ip s a non hab uer i t hab e ntes alias non v id eb it ?

,

e m ine um e s t mu
'
<I> 1À o x ocr ov genus f l t as ue etiam
p q
in signi s pudi c itiae q uam v is nulli v ir or um tamen
, ,

s ibi sc im us lib e n t e r o rnar i Quin potins habendo .

s at ie tur et cernat laudari alias quae ista non ,

hab e ant . M e li us q ue est u t s at iata c ont e m nat , ,

’
quam non habendo habere d e sid e r e t Tale quid .

4 68
 LE TTER CXXVI II
repeat her lessons in her little shrill voice she must
have a prize of a honey cake o ff ered to he r S he .

will do he r work qui ckly if she i s going to receive

as reward some s weetmeat or brig ht flower o r , ,

glitte ring bauble or pretty doll M eanwhi le t o o

, .
, ,

sh e must learn t o spin dr aw i n down t h e t hreads

,

with tender fingers ; and thoug h at first sh e may

often break the yarn she wi ll o ne day ceas e to do
,

so
. Then wh en work is over she may indulge in
, ,
’
play hanging on h e r mother s neck and snatching
,

kisse s from h e r relations L et her be rewarded for .

singi ng t he psalms aloud so that she may love ,

what s he i s forced to do and it b e not work but ,

pleas ure not a matter o f necessity but o ne o f free

,

will .

Some mothers when th ey have vowed a daughter

,

t o vi rgini ty are wont to dres s h e r in dark clot h es

, ,

to wrap he r up in a little black cloak and to let h e r ,

wear no gold ornaments o n her head and neck In .

reali ty this method is a wise one for t h e chi ld does ,

not th en become accustomed to t hing s which a ft er

wards she mus t lay aside Oth er mothers think .

’
di fle r e ntly What is the use th ey say of h e r
.
, ,

not having pretty thi ngs ? W ill s he not see other

g irls ha vi ng them ? The toilette appeals to all
women and we know that many whose c hastity is
,

beyond reproach take pleas ure in dr essing not for

men but for th emselves Nay rather let he r grow .
,

sated w ith having and let her s ee that others are

,

prais ed who have not

, And i t is better that.

she should despis e t hrough being sated than that ,

’ ’
by not having she should want to h ave This .
,

they argue is the plan th at t he Lord us ed with

,

t h e people of I srael They craved a fter t h e flesh

.

4 69
 SELE CT LETT ERS OF ST JEROM E .

et Isr ahel e t ic o fe c is se dominum populo ut c up i e nti ,

bus A e gy p tias carne s u s que ad nau s eam et v om itum

p r ae b e r e t examina c o r tur nic um m ul to s q ue sacculi ,

priu s homines f ac ilius carere experta corpori s

v o l u t at e quam e o s
p qui a p ne r i ti a l ib i di n
, e m nesci

ant ; ab alii s enim nota calcari ab aliis ignota appeti ,

illo s v i tar e p aèni t e ndo s uavit at is insidias qu as ,

f uge r unt b o s carnis i nl e c e b r is et dulci t itill at io ne

,

corporis b landi e ntis dum mella putant v e ne na no x i a

,

reperire ; mel enim di stillare labus m e r e t ric is

m uli e r is quod ad tempus inpingue t v e sc e nt i um
,

fauces et po s te a am ar ius felle inv e niat ur U nde et .

in domini mel s ac r ific us non o ffe rr i c e r aq ue con

t e m p t a quae mellis ho spitium e s t oleum accendi in
, ,

templo Dei quod de amaritudi ne e x pr irnit ur oli

,

varum pascha quoque cum am ar it udinib us comedi

,
’
in a zy m is s inc e r i tat is et v e r itatis quo s qui hab ue ri t , ,

in sacculo p e r s e c utio nem s ustineb it U nde et pro .

h e ta mystice c an t at : Solus s e d e b am quia amari

p ,
’
t udi ne re
p l e tus s um .

3 .Quid igitur ? L ux ur iand um est in ad ul esc e nti a ,

u t postea luxuria fortin s c o nt e m nat ur ? Abs it ,

’
inq ui unt ; Unus q uis q ue enim i n qua v oc at io n e , ,
’ ’
v o c at us e s t in e a p e rm ane at
, C ir c um c isus qui s .
,
’
id e st virgo v o c at us est : no nadd uc at pr aep uti um
, ,

hoc e s t non q uae r at pe llic i as tunica s nup tiar um ,

quibus Adam e ie c tus de para diso v i rginitat is ind ut us

1
Pr rbov e s, v 3 2
1 Co rinthi ans v . 7, 8 .

J r mi h
. .
,

( S e pt uag int )
2
e e a xv 17
G
. .
,

1 Co rinthi ans , vii . 24, 18 .

5
enesis ii i
, . 21 .
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST JERO ME
.

’
est . In pr aep utio qui s v o c at us e st hoc e s t haben s ,

u xorem e t matrimonio pelle c irc um d at us : non

q uae r at v ir gi nit at is e t ae t e r nae p udi c i tiae nud itat e m ,

quam semel h abere d esiv it s e d ut atur vase suo in ,

s an c t i fic at io ne et pudicitia b ib at ue de f on t i b us suis
q
et non q uaer at ci s tern as l up anar ium d issip at as quae ,

u r is s im as aquas u d ic i t i a e c ont i n r e non ossumt

p p e
p ,

U nde et idem Paulus in e od em capitulo de v ir gini

tate e t nuptiis disp nt ans servos carnis vocat in ma tri
monio c onstit uto s liberos e os qui absque ullo
, ,

nup ti ar um i ngo tota domino s e r viunt libertate .

Quod l o q uim ur non in universum lo q uim ur s e d

, ,

in parte t r ac t am us nec de omnibu s s ed de quibus

, ,

dam di c im us Ad utr um q ue se x um non solum ad

.
,

v as i n firm i us noster sermo di r igit n

, r Virgo es : quid .

te m ulie r is d el e c tat societas ? Quid fragilem et

s ut il e m ratem magnis c o m m i t ti s fluc tib us e t grande

periculum nav igationi s incertae s ec ur us as c e ndis ?

Ne sc is quid d e s id e r e s et tamen sic ei i unge ris
, , ,

quasi aut ante d e sid er av er is aut ut l e v issim e dic am —

—
poste a d e sid e r at ur us s is Sed ad ministerium.

’
iste s exus e st ap t io r Elige ergo anum elige de
.
,

formem elige pro b at ae in domino c o ntine ntiae

, .

Quid te adul e sc e ntia quid pulchr a quid luxurio s a

, ,

d e l ec t at ? U t e r is b alne is cute ni tida r nb ic und us

, ,

i nc e dis , c ar ni b us v esc e r is , afll nis divi t iis , p r e t io sa

veste c ir c um d ar is et i ux t a s erpentem mortiferum

1
1 T hess alonians , iv . 4 .
2
C f 1 C ori nthi ans ,
. vu . 22 .

4 72
 LETTER CXXVII I
unci rcumcis ion that is having a wi fe and covered
—
,

wi th the skin of ma trimony : let hi m not s eek t he

nakednes s of virgini ty and of t hat eternal c has tity
which he has forfeite d once for all L et him rather .

poss ess his vess el i ns anc ti fic ati o n and honour ; 1 let

hi m drink fi om hi s own founta in and not seek i n
brothels thos e cis terns of vice w hi ch can never con
tain t he p ure water of chas ti ty There f ore Paul .

again in t he s ame chapter when he is di s cus sing the

,

question of virginity and marriage calls tho s e who ,

ar e married slaves o f th e fle s h but w h ose who are

,

not under the yoke o f wedlock fi e e m e n se rving th e

Lord inall liberty 2 .

What I am s ayi ng now I am not sayi ng as a

universal tr uth ; I am treating o f but a p art of t hi s
s ubj ect and am speakin
, g of s ome men only not of ,

all M oreover my words are address ed to both

.
,

s e xes ; not merely to the weaker vessel You my .

,

brother are a vi rgi n : w hy th en do you find pleas ur e

,
’
i n a woman s soc iety ? Why do you risk your
fi ail patc hed barque in hea vy seas and ligh tly f ace
, ,

the danger of a h az ardous voyage ? You know not

w hat you desire and yet your union is as close as
,

t hough you either de s ired h e r before o r to put it ,

as leniently as possible were going to desire he r in

,
’
the fut ure H er s e x you will say is p articularly
.
, ,
’
s ui ta ble for hous ehold service Ch oos e an old
.

woman then chose o ne who is mi sshapen choo s e

, , ,

on e of proved conti nence in t h e Lo rd W hy sh ould .

you take pleas ure in a young girl pre t ty and v o lup ,

tuons ? Yo u fi e q ue nt the baths you walk abroad ,

wi th rosy c h e c ks and s leek s kin you eat meat and ,

you abound in riches you dres s in costly clothes ;

,

and do you fancy that you can s leep safe beside a

4 73
 SELE C T LETTERS OF ST JERO ME
.

s e c ur um do rmire te c r e dis ? An non habita s in

c o d e m ho sp i t io in nocte d um t ax at ?
, Ceterum totos
dies in huiusc e mo di c o nfab ulatio ne c o ns um e ns
quare solu s cum sola et non cum arb itr is sedes ?
Cum etiam ipse non peeces aliis peccare vi de ar is , ,

ut exemplo sis m is e r is qui nomini s tui auctoritate ,

d e linq uant Tu quoque virgo v el vidua cur tam

.
, ,

longo viri sermone r e t ine r is ? C nr cum solo r elict a

non m e t uis ? S al tim alvi te e t ve s icae cogat ne c e s si
t as ut e x e as fora s ut d ese r as in hac re c um quo
, , ,

l ic e nt ius quam cum germano multo v e r e c undi us

”

e gis ti cum mari to Sed de sc r ip tur is sanctis aliquid

.

interroga s : interroga publice ; andi ant p e d is e q uae ,

an di ant comite s tuae Omne quod m anife s t at ur

.
, ,
’
lux e s t Bonu s s ermo secret a non q uae r i t quin
.
,

potin s d el e c t atur l aud ib us sui s et testimonio pluri

morum M agister e gr e gi us c o nt e m ni t viros f ratres
.
,

d e sp ic i t et in uniu s m ul i e rc ul ae secreta e r ud itio ne

d e sud at .

4 .Declinavi p ar um p er de v i a occasione aliorum

et dum i nfant em Pac at ulam in s tituo immo e nutrio
, , ,

m ul t ar um subi t o male mi hi p ac atar um bella s usc e pi .

R e v e r t ar ad propositum Sexu s f e m ine us s uo i unga

.

tur s e x ui ne sc i at immo t im e at c um pueris l ud e r e

,
.

Nullum i np udi c um verbum no v e r it et si forte in ,

t um ul tu familiae d isc ur r e nt is aliquid turpe audi e r i t ,

1 E phesians v , . 13 .

2
P a catula , ma le p aeatae a play o nwords .

4 74
 SELE CT LE TT ERS OF ST JERO ME
.

non int e lle gat M atris mut um pro verbi s ac moni

.

tum pro imperio hab e at Amet ut p ar e nt e m subi .

,

c iat ur ut dominae t im e at u t m agis tr am Cum

, .

autem v irgunc ulam e t r ud e m e d e nt ul am septimus

ae ta t is annus e x c e e r i t e t c o e e r it e r ub e sc er e scire
p p , ,

quid t ac e at dubitare qui d dic at disc at memoriter

, , ,

psalteri um et usque ad annos p ub er tati s libros Salo

monis evangeli a apostolos ac p rophe tas sui cordis
, ,

t he s aur um f ac iat Nec liberius p ro c ed at ad publi

.

cum nec semper e c c le siar um q uae r at c e l e b r it ate m .

In cubiculo s uo t o tas delicias hab e at Num q uam .

i uv e nc ul o s numquam c inc innato s vi d e at voei s dulce

,

dine per aure s animam v ulne rante s Puellar um .

quoque lascivia r e pe ll at ur quae quanto lic e nti us ,

a d e un t tanto di fli c ilius e vi tant ur et quod did ic erunt

, , ,

secreto docent i ncl us am q ue Danaen vulgi s e rm o nib us

violant Sit ei magistra come s p ae d agoga cu s tos
.
,

non multo vino de di ta non i ux t a ap o s tol um o t ios a,

ac verbosa s e d sobria gravis l ani fic a et e a tantum

, , ,

lo q ue ns quae an ,
i m nm p uellar um ad v ir t ut e m insti
tuant U t autem aqua in areola digi tum sequitur
.

p r a e c e d e nt e m ita aeta s mollis et tenera in ut r am q ue

,

partem fle x ib ilis e s t et q uoc um q ue d ux e r is t rahit ur

, , .

Solent lascivi e t c om p t uli i uv e nes b l andi m entis ,

a ffab ili t a t e m unusc ulis adi t um sibi per nutr ic e s ad

,

alumnas quaerere et cum c le m e nt e r i ntr av e rint de

, ,

sc i nt ill is incendia concitare p aul at im q ue pr o fic e r e ad

1
Danae w as impris o ne d by t r
her f a he to ke ep he r nn
m arri e d .

2
1 T im othy , v . 13 .

4 76
 LE TTER C X XVI I I
’
not understand it Her mother s nod should be as
.

’
goo d as speech her moth er s ad vice equivalent to
,

a comm and She should love her as he r parent

. ,

obey her as her m istres s fear her as her teach er ,

.

At firs t s he will be but a shy little maid without all

her teeth but as soon as she has reached her seventh
,

year and has learned to blush knowing what s he ,

should not s ay and doubting what she should say

, ,

she s hould commi t the p s alter to memory and un til ,

sh e i s grown up she s h ould make t h e book s o f

Solomon the Gospels the apostles and the proph ets

, , ,

the treas ure of her heart S he should not appear in .

publi c too freely nor always seek a crowded c hurch .

L et her fin d all her pleasure in her ow n room S he .

mus t never look at foppish youths or curled cox

combs w ho wound th e soul t hrough t he ears with
,

t heir honeyed talk S he must be protected also

.

from the wantonness of other g irls The more free .

dom o f acce ss such p ersons h ave the more difficult ,

they are to shake o ff ; the knowledge they have

acqui red they impart in s ecret and corrupt a secluded
D anaé with vulgar gossip 1 L et h er teac h er be her .

companion her attendant he r guardian and let her

, ,

b e a woman not given to muc h wine one who as , ,

t he apo s tle s ay s i s not idle nor a tattler 2 but s ober

, , ,

grave skilled in s pinning say ing only such word s

, ,
’
as will train a girl s mind in virtue For as water .

follows behind a finger in th e sand so s oft and tender ,

youth is pliable for good or evil and can b e drawn ,

wherever you guide it Spruce gallants often try .

’
the e ffect of soft words aflab le manners and t ri fling
, ,

gifts upon a nurs e in order to wi n access to he r

c harge After succee ding in a gentle approac h
.
,

t hey blow th e spark into a flame and become

4 77
 SELE CT LETTERS OF ST JERO ME
.

i npud e nt i am et neq uaq uam p o s se

p ro hib e r i illo in
se v er sic ulo c o nprob ato : A e gr e r e pr ehe nd as ,
’
quod sinas c onsuesc e r e Pud e t dicere et tamen
.

d i c e nd um e s t : nobiles f e m inae nob ilior e s hab it ur ae

procos vil issim ae c ondi c io ni s hom inib us et s er v ulis
c o ul an t ur ac s ub nomine r e li io n i s et umbra conti
p g
ne nt iae i nt e r d um deserunt viros Helenae sequuntur ,

Alexandros nec M ene l aos p e r tim e sc unt Vi d e nt ur .

haec planguntur e t non v indic ant ur quia m ul tit ud o

, ,

pe c c a ntium p e c c andi li c e ntiam s ub m ini s tr at .

5 .Pro nefas orbis t e rr ar um ruit et in nobis peccata

,

non c o r uunt U rbs inclita e t R omani imperii caput

.

uno hansta e s t incendio Nulla regio quae non .

,

e xules e ius hab e at In c iner e s ac favillas saerae

.

quondam ecclesiae c onc id e r unt et tamen s t ud e m us

av ar i t i a e Vi vi m us qua s i altera d ie morituri et
.

ae d ific am us quas i semper in ho c v i c t ur i s ae c ul o .

Auro pariete s auro laquearia auro fulgent capita

, ,

c o l um n ar um et nud us atque e s uri e ns ante fores

no s tras in p aup e r e Chri s tu s moritur L e gim us .

A aron po nt ific e m i ss e obviam f ur e nt ib us flamm is et

ac c e n s o t ur ib ulo Dei iram c o hib uiss e ; s t e t i t inter
mortem et vitam s acerdos maximu s nec ultra ve s tigia
eius igni s procedere ansus est M oy s i loquitur .

’
Dimi tt e me et d e le b o populum i s t um
‘
Deus : .

’
Quando dicit d im i tte me o s te nd it se teneri n e
‘

, ,

1
P ub lili us Sy m s , S ent 1 8 0, , r dy
al e a q uo t ed , cf.
p 3 58 . .

2
2 Num b e s , x v i 4 6 4 8
r .
—
.
2
Ex o d us , xxxii 1 0 . .

4 78
 SELE CT LE TTERS OF ST J ERO ME
.

f ac iat , quod m inat usDei enim p o t e ntiam servi e st ;

prece s inp edie b ant Qui s putas ille sub caelo e s t qui.
, , ,

nunc irae Dei p o ssi t o cc ur r e r e qui o b viar e flamm is ,

e t i ux ta apos tol um dicere : Op t ab am ego anathema

e s s e pro fr at rib us mei s Pe r e unt cum p asto r ib us
grege s quia s icut populus sic sacerdos M oy s es
, , , .

c o n assi o n i l o ue b at ur aff e c t u: Si dimittis populo

p s
q
’
huie dimi tt e ; s in autem dele me de libro tuo
, , .

Vult perire cum p e r euntib us nec propria salute con

’
t e nt us e s t Glori a quippe regis m ul t it ud o populi
. .

His Pac atula est nata temporibus inter haec cre ,

pundia primam c arp it ae t at e m an t e l ac rim as s ci t ur a

quam ris um prius fle tum s ensur a quam gau di um
, .

Ne c d um introitus iam exitus ; talem semper fuiss e ,

putat mundum Ne sci t pr ae t e rit a fugit praesentia

.
, ,

futura desiderat Quae nt tumultuario sermone .

d ic t ar e m e t post meces am ic o r um l uc t um q ue per

p e t u nm infanti s enex longo postliminio s c r ib e r e m ,

tua me Gaudenti fr at r i i np nli t caritas ; m al uiq ue

, ,

parum quam nihil o m nino p osc e nt i dare quia in ,

altero voluntas oppre s sa l uc tn in altero am ic itiae ,

dis sim ul at io est .

1
R o mans , ix . 3 .
2
Ex o d us , x x x u.
’
32 .

2
P r o ve r b s , x iv . 28 .
1
‘
Pacat ul a s t r
fa he .

4 80
 LE TTER CXXVI II
from carryi ng o ut his threa t ; for the prayers of His
’
servant hindered God s power W ho think you is
.
, ,
’
t here now under heaven able to face God s wrath ,

to meet th e flames and to s ay wi th the

,

I could wish tha t I myself were accu rsed

brethren 1 Flocks and sh epherds p eri sh togeth er ,

beca us e the priest is now even as the people M oses .

in his compassionate love s aid : Yet now if th ou

wilt forgive their s in; and if not blot me I pray
, , ,
’2
thee out of thy book
, He wi s h ed to peris h wi th
.

t he perishi n ,g and was not content t o win salvation

for hi ms elf ; for i ndeed in the multitude of people
’ ’2
is the king s honour .

Such are the ti mes in to which o ur Paca t ula has

been bo rn th ese are the rattles of he r infancy S he
, .

wi ll know o f tear s before laughter sh e will feel,

sorrow sooner than j oy Scarcely has she trod the

.

s tage before th e curtain f alls S he t hinks t hat t h e

.

world was ever thus sh e knows not o f th e pa s t sh e

, ,

sh rinks fi om the present sh e fixes h e r desire s on what

,

is to come Aft er mourning incessantly for my dead

.

friends I have at length recovered compos ure and my ,

ff , a n
a ection for you brother G ud e ti us has induced
4
,

me to dictate this rough discours e and in my old

age write a le tter to an infant I preferred to .

answer your request inadequately rather th an no t

to answer it at all As it is my o w n inclinati ons
.
,

have been paraly s ed by my gri ef in th e ot her c as e ,

u might h ave doubted t he s i ncerity of my friend

s lp
y
i
.
p

481
 APPE NDIX I

At the time o f hi s second visit to R ome in that ,

year there was already established ont he Aventine

,

M ount a community o f women presided over by ,

Albina and her daughter M arcella leadi ng a form ,

o f conventual life t h e first impulse to which a t R ome

,
1
had been given many years before by Athanasius ,

t he famou s opponent of Ariani s m who had been ,

driven from his s e e at Alexandria about 34 1 and spent

s ome years in exile at R ome He and two Egyptian .

h
monks w o accompani ed him I sidore and Ammon
2
, ,

had been welcomed and entertai ned by Albina a ,

noble and rich widow at her palace on t he Aventine

, ,

and her daughter M arcella though only a child , ,

was deeply impressed by t he personalities of the

Eastern bishop and his companions and by their
tales of t he wonderful lives led by the hermits and
cenobites men and women w ho already peopled
, ,

t he deserts o f Syr ia and Egypt When Athanasius .

departed he left with the c hild as a parting gi ft

his life o f St Antony the study of which inspired
.
,

her with a deep admiration and desire for t he monastic

life M arcella grew up and married but when her
.
,

husband died a ft er only seven months of married

,

life leaving her a chil dl ess widow she refus ed all

, ,

furth er o ff ers o f marriage and while continuing , ,

to transact the necessary business connected with

her household and property she henceforth tried ,

t o le ad though staying at home wit h her mother

, ,

1 L e tter C XXVII 5
Pr o ba b ly t he m onk o f Nitri a referre d t o inLe tte r XXI I
. .

2 .

33. W hen P aul a vi s ite d A le x andr ia in 38 5 he w as g o verno r

’
of t he p il grims ho spi ce there ; l at er he w as in vo lved inthe
q uarrel b e twee n Jero me and J o hn B isho p o f J erus alem and , ,

d ie d a v ery o ld m an in403
, , .

4 84
 APPE NDIX I

th e kind o f lif e for which she had always longed .

She wore th e plainest of clothes fas ted often and ,

devoted mo s t o f he r ti me to prayer and study o f

th e sc r ipture s Gradually sh e collected around
.

her a n umber o f like m inded w omen virgins and -

,

widows who all lived toget her and looke d up to

,

Albina as a common mother Among t hes e was .

M arcel lina th e s ister o f Ambrose Bishop o f Milan

, , ,

w ho wrote fo r he r his famous treati ses on vi rgin ity .

She had received t he veil fi o m Pope Liberius in

352 but lived for many ye ars a ft er wi t h he r o w n
,
’
mother and only after her death j oined M arce lla s
,

comm unity Ot her members o f t he household

.
,

Sophronia Felicita and another M arcella are known

, ,

to us by name only but of A s ella more is told , She .

w as perh aps a sister 1 o f M arcella perhaps only a ,

kins woman but w hen a mere child o f ten s he vowed

,

herself to a life of vi rgini ty and when her mother ,

refused t o buy her t he plain bro w n dress w orn by

those dedicated to t he religi ous life J erome tells ,

us how the child sold her gold chain and bo ught

t he clothin g for herself Thence forward she lived .

a lif e o f fas ti n and o f prayer har dl y seein he r o w n

g g
’
,

s ister only go i ng out to vi sit the martyrs s hrines

, ,

and maki ng for herse lf a hermitage in t he midst o f

t he busy li f e o f R ome 2 Such so litude and austerity
.

were e xceptional and M arcella herse lf kept in touch

,

w ith t he world and welcomed as vi s itors at her

home women whose ta stes and interests were the
s ame as her o w n f
One o these fri ends was Le a
.
3
,

a widow w ho was at the head of another comm uni ty

,

1
Le tter XL V . 7. 2
Le tte r XX I V .

Ci Lette r
. XX I I I .
 APPENDIX I

of women ; others such as Titiana and her daughter ,

Furia were still living their normal life in t he R oman

,
1
s ociety o f the day Another member o f the circle
.

was Fabiola who had married young and unhappily

, ,

and after divorcing her first husband had married

again Strictly speaking t he Church did not recog
.

nize such a union but legally it was valid and no , ,

slur seems to h ave rested upon her A ft er her .

’ ’
second husband s death however Fabiola s con , ,

science troubled her for having contracted the mar

ria e and she astounded t h e world o f R ome by
g ,

publicly appearing as a penitent to expiate the sin

of her second marriage After receiving abs olu tion .

sh e devoted h e r li f e and fortune to t he care of t he

sick and poor not only at R ome but throughout

, ,

Italy 2 .

’
But o f all M arcella s circle the most f amous was ,

her kinswoman the rich patri cian Paula 3 Her .

parents Rogat us and Blesilla were probably both

, ,

1 L tte r L I V
e .

2
C f Le tte r L XXVI I The d ate o f thi s p ub li c pe nanc e
.

is unc ert ain Jero m e s ac c ount s ee ms t o make it c l ear t ha t

.

it too k pl ac e be fore her vi si t t o Pal es tine in 394 ’and it is

.

te mpting t o pl ace it d ur ing o r so o n af ter Jerome s stay i n

,

, ,

R o me ( 3 8 2 5 ) and t o asc ri be i t t o his i n

— fluence The d es cri p .

t io no f t he ceremony sugg es ts t he pub l ic ac t o f pe nance whi ch

Bi sho p A m brose e x acte d fr om the E mpero r T heo do sius in39 2
an d it may hav e bee n i ns pired by that M T hierry ( Lif e .

J er ome I I p 2 0 ff ) thinks it t oo k p lac e af te r Fa bi o l a s

.

’
of 8 .

visi t t o Palestine and c o nnects it w ith a l etter ( L V ) writte n

. . .
,

by Jero me t o the pries t A mand us in39 4 inanswe’r t o a q uery

.

a bo ut t he v al id ity o f s uch a m arriage as F ab io l a s

P I
.

5
Fo r nd her f amily c f
aul a a G ibb on C b s XXX and .

XXXV II I
. .
,

: als o Le tter C V I ] l G r ac c ho r um st irps ,

P
. . .

s ub o l e s s c ipio num aul i h er es , ,

c ui us v o c ab ulum tra hit ,

m aec iae Pap ir iae m atri s Afri ca ni

, ,
vera et germ ana proge nie s .

4 86
 APPENDIX I

M arcella whose instruction and example

, con had
firm e d her natural bent Paula sympathised with .

thi s de sire but it w as strongly opposed by the

,
’ ’
child s uncle Hy m et ius her fat her s brother He , .

had been a favourite of the Emperor J uli an and he

and his wi fe Pr ae t e x t at a held f ast to the old religion ,
’
and their influence and authority kept Paula s
only so n t he young To x o tius at t hi s time a child
, , .

o f nine or ten fi o m becoming a Christian

, They .

invited E ust o c hium to visit t hem and by dressing ,

her in fine clothe s and giving her a glim pse o f th e

social li fe in whic h she would naturally take part ,

they tried to detach her from opinions whi ch to t hem

s eemed fanatical and unnatural To modern minds .

the scheme seems but a natural attempt to let the

child she was only fourteen or fift e e n s e e some
— —

thing o f t he world which she was so determined to

abj ure but J erome writing of t he incident twenty
, ,

ye ars later exults in its f ailure and denounced the

,

wickedne s s o f the worldly uncle and aunt whose ,

death whi ch occurred soon after he ascribes to the

, ,

direct j udgment o f Heaven for thi s attempt t o turn

the young virgin fi om her chosen path 1 .

M arcella and her cir cle were not only all wealthy
and well born but they were also women of cultivated
2
intellect and the vi sit of t he Eastern bishops with
,

whom J erome came to R ome in 382 was an event

o f great interest to them J erome at first as he .
,

tells us himself avoided t he society o f women but

, ,

M arcella and her fi ie nds longed to mee t and to be

1
L tt r C VI I 5
e e
P ul inu f Anti I
. .

2
a s o o ch ( cf ntrod
.
p . viii ) a nd E piphani us
II I
,

of S alami s inCyp rus . C f Le tter C V

. . 6 .

4 88
 APPENDIX I

taug ht by one whos e reputation for s anctity and

le arni ng stood so hi gh The letters writt en from .

hi s hermita ge had been circul ated i n t he West as

we ll as in the East and like the treatises o f Ambrose
,

o f Mi lan and o f Pope Damas u had formed part

1
s
’
of the reading o f M arcell a s circle M any years .

la t er J erome te lls us how Fabiola knew by heart

2

and recited to hi m the letter in prais e of the ascetic

li fe which he had written to his fr iend He li o d o rus
in 37 4 He could no t refus e to teach such eager
.

’
disciples and in respons e to M arcella s e am es t
,

reques t he gave a series of lectures and re adi ngs

to her and he r fi i e nds and finally be came t heir
3
director and spiritual guide He found his pupils .

intelligent and sympathetic and intens e interested

in all ques tions o f s cript ural interpretation and
theo logi cal controversy Probably they all knew .

Greek and Paula and he r da ughters studi ed Hebrew

as well so as to be able t o help him in his gre at
‘
,

work of translating the Bible into the vulgar tongue .

Lo ng letters to M arcella Paula and others 5 e xplain ,

passages o f sc ripture or po ints o f doctrine an d

some essays on J ewish obs ervances originated inthe
eager ques tions of Fabiola 5
Not only many o f .

’
J erome s letters but some of his mos t important
t reatis es were i nsp ired by M arcella and he r fi i e nds .

During his stay in Ro me a certai n Helvi di us a lay ,

1
Cf p 1 02
. . and no te 3 .

2
Le tte r L XXV 9 writte n3 99 II . .

Paula )
,
2
Cf es p Le tte r XXX 1 4 ( t o
. . .
, sal ut a re li q um
u
c as t i t atis c ho d omes t icam tua m ecc les iam
rum et
iL Le tters XXX I X an d CV I I I
.

E g Le tt e rs XXX II] and XXX IV al so L X I V

. .

5
. .

Lett e rs L XIV and L XX V II I and p 329 note

. .

. . . .
, ,
 APPENDIX I

man wro t e an attack o n the celibate life e xtolled

, ,

by J erome as t he highest placing the estate o f ,

1
marriage above it Such an attack struck at t he
.

root o f the lif e o f celi bacy which M arcella and her

fr iends were leading and trying to induce others
to lead and it was probably in respon s e to their
,

entreaties that he wrote in 383 his tre ati s e ag ainst

’
Helvi di us It w as certainly at M arcella s request
.

that ten years later J erome fi om his monastery ,

at Bethlehem denounced the similar teachi ng o f

,

t he renegade monk J ovinian w ho again made an ,

attempt to discre di t t he celibate life which J erome

had done so much to encourage and with such ,

success that by that t ime as he exultantly writes , ,

Italy was full o f nunneries and the number of monks

in R ome was pas t counting 2
.

But interesting as these general treatises and

letters ar e i t is in the more personal letters o n li fe
,
’
and conduct th at the influence of J erom e s ardent
and magnetic personality on his di sciples is best
seen That influence was especially strong o n
.

Paula and her family He confirmed the young .

’
E us t o c hium Paula s third daughter in her desire
, ,

to take the veil and his famous letter to her in

3
,

prais e o f vi rginity much of which reads strangely

,

when we remember that it was addr ess ed to a chi ld

o f fourteen o r fifteen w as really intended for a larger
,

public and was a defence o f the celibate li fe and

an attack o nits O pponents The marri age of Pauli na .
,
’
Paula s second daughter to his friend the senator ,

1
Cf es p .XXIV 1
Le tte r
Letter CXX V I I 8 C f als o Pall adins de
. . .

2
Opiano .

Letter XXI I wri tte nin38 4

. . .

2
. .
,

4 90
 APPE NDIX I

months later she di ed The populace ascribed her .

illness to the fasting and asceticism advocated by

J erome and clamoured for the expulsion o f the
,

monk 1 whose au stere teaching w as held responsible

fo r her death 2
Darker accusations still were broug ht
.

against him and it was openly declared that t he

,
’
fri ends hip between him and t he dead girl s mother
3
h
w as only t e cloak for a more guilty relation .

J erome exposed the li e and the slanderer confe ssed

hi s falsehood but no doubt an atmosphere o f sus
,

i c io n remained and as he now no longer had t h e

p ’
,

Pope s friends hip and protection J erome decided ,

t o leave R ome He embarked at Osti a wi th his

.

brother Paulinus and his friend t he priest Vincentius

in August 38 5 and wrote t hence a lett er of fare
,

well to his women friends and di sciples which he ,

addressed not to Paula o r M arcella but to the

, ,

v irgin Asella ‘ perhaps because she ab s orbed in a

, ,
’
life o f prayer and contemplation was unaflec t e d by ,

the atmosphere o f slander and sus picion which was

surroun di ng him .

’
A few months after J erome s departur e Paula ,

finally made np her mind to start o nher long wi s hed -

for j ourney to the East The storm of anger and .

di sapproval which the death o f Ble silla and her

friendship with J erome had brought upon her added ,

t o her natural grief at the loss o f he r child had ,

1
Cf L tt r XXXI X 6
. e e . .

2
L t t r XXX V I I I nd XXXI X
e e s . a .

2
Cf L tt r XL V 2 wh r
. e e Jr . mewhat e e e o me d
all u e s so

o b scure t o thi s in ci d e nt W ho t he ac c user w as i s nu .

known A p pare ntly l eg al p rocee ding s were t aken ag a inst

.

h im f or t he sland er , a nd t he menti onof to rtur e sugg e sts t hat

he w as a sl av e .

Le tter XL V .

492
 APPENDIX I

reduced her to a condition o f deep depression and

despair fi om which J erome had tried in vain to r ouse
her and he hi ms elf seems to have been sincer e
1
,

fond of his young disciple whose memory he pro , ,

mis e d sho uld be kept alive wherever hi s works

,

were re ad 2 Paula and E us t oc hi um and the band

.

o f wi dows and virgi ns w ho went with them were

e s corted to the port o f embarkation by a crowd of

friends and relations hoping we may t hink even , , ,
3
t o t he last to di ssuade them from the j ourney .

J erome movi ne describes how t he young To x ot ius

s tood on the s hore s tretchi ng o ut his arms to his
mother as he implored he r t o re t urn and ho w her ,

younges t daughter v ainly begged her to sto p till

she should be settled in marriage But no family .

ties co uld now keep her bac k fi o m her pil grimage .

Such j ourneys were not wi thout pre cedent ;

about thi rteen ye ars be fore M elani a a wealt hy , ,

widow o f Spanish origi n had left Rome abandoning , ,

her home there and her only child t o travel in the ,

East and establish a convent o nthe M ount of Olives

associated with her o n he r travels and in her lif e at
’
J erus alem was Rufinus t he fri end o f J crome s ,

youth and later his bitter enemy J erome was

, .

perhaps at Ro me when M elania th us e x iled hers elf ,

thoug h there is no certain evidence t hat he knew

her o r had influenced her conduct but he no doubt ,

1
L tt r X X XI X writt n t
e e .
, e o P aula o nt he d eath o f Bles ill a .

2
Op it ti n7
c sec o
L tt r CV I I I
. . .

e e .

Th f t th t M lani
’
e ac f a e a s r eed man Hyl as w as o ne of t he
ba nd f o ti with J r m
as ce cs e o e at Aq uil e ia and acco mpa ni ed
knew M e l ania when in R o m e
,

him t o Syri a su gg est s that he

st ud e n
,

as a t .

4 93
 APPENDIX I

had used thi s precedent to confirm Paula in her

purpo se for in his eyes as hi s letters prove 1 no
, , ,

home ties or duties s hould prevail once the vocation

for the reli gi ous life had been felt There still .

exists a guide written for t he assistance o f such

pilgrims as Paula and M elani a which gave a list o f
inns and hospices and t he best route to follow 2 ,

and perhaps aided by some such itinerary Paula ,

and he r companions made their way through t he

A e gae an islands to Salamis in Cyprus where they ,

stayed with the venerable Bishop E piphani us and ,

t hence to Antioc h where they met J erome and his ,

monks who accompanied them to Egypt where

, ,

t he monk Isidore entertained t h em and afterwards ,

to J erusalem Here t hey probably stayed at t he

.

’
monasteries o n the M ount of Oli ves with J crome s
o ld friend Rufin us and M ela n ia whose exp eriences ,
’
had been so like Paula s o wn life 3
But this is not .

expressly told us ; when J erome wrote the history

‘
o f the s e travels t he bitterness of t h eological con
,

1
Cf es p Le tter X I V
. .

e wri tten333 A D
.

2
I ti ner a ri urna B ord igala H i er us al em u s qu

( e d T o bler and M olini er G ene v a

, . .

.
, ,
2
I t w as t he death of her hus band and t w o of her children
whic h had l ed M elani a t o l eav e her home in R o me and her
on l y re main in g chi l d and to go o n a pilgri mag e t o the E ast
where she liv ed for nearl y q uarter o f a century Jerome
,

c oupl es t he n ames o f t he t w o wo me n t o gethe r in a l et te r

writtenin38 5 ( L e tter X L V 4 and b ut t he m ost s triking
.

’
parallel s in their l ives were thens til l in t he futur e P aul a’s
—

j o urney to the E as t her c’onvent at Be thlehem bes ide Jcrome s

m o nas tery l ike M elania s at J e rus al em be side the m onas tery
,

M elania however rev is i te d R ome in 39 7 and

,

o f R ufinu s .
, ,

l ive d the re with her s o n Pub l ic o l a and hi s famil y f or e l eve n .

ye ars ul timate persuading her grand daug hte r t he yo ung er

,
-

M el ania and her hus b and Pi n i anus t o re turnwith her t o t he E as t .

Le tter CV III ci rc .
, .

4 94
 APPENDIX I

second m arri age 1 instruc ti ng others on the educa tion

,
2
and upbringing o f their c hildren condoling with ,

others o nthe loss o f fii e nds or relations 3 .

Paula too kept in close touch wit h h e r children

and felt deeply the successive loss of thos e whom
s he had left in Ro me Her youngest daughter .

’
R ufina had died a year or two after he r mot her s
dep arture 4
and in 3 94 her second daughter Paulina
died Pamm ac hius heartbroken at t he death of
.
,

his young wife gave away all her fortune to t he

,

p oo r and himself assumed t he habit o f a monk ;

t hough he continued to take his seat in the senate
and f ulfil his public duties he devoted hi s li f e to ,

the care o f t he poor and j oined with Fabiola till ,

her death in 39 9 in maintai ning a hostel for pilgrims

,

at Ostia 5
. The marri age o f To x ot ius brought
Paula some comfort Soon after her departure he .

became a Christian and a fterwards married Lae t a

, ,

a devout Christian t hough her father Albinus , ,

’
M arcella s co usin was a pagan There was one
, .

child o f this marriage a second Paula w ho was ,

dedicated to the cloister from her b irth Her .

mother asked J erome for advice o n her education

and it was by his counsel that she was sent to
Bethlehem to be brought up in the convent there .

But be fore t hi s her father and grandmother were

’
both de ad The peace of Pau la s l as t years had
.

been disturbed no t only by t he death o f he r childr en ,

e a fter the ot her and by her o wn ill h ealth ca u

,

on , s ed
1
Letter L IV .

2
Letters C VI I and C XXVI I I
. .

2
Letters L XVI and LXXVI I. .

Letter CVI I I
Cf Le tters L XV I and L XXVI I 1 0 Le tter C VI I
.

5 .
. . . .
 APPENDIX 1

by the aus terities but als o b y

the t heological disputes which had ali enated J erome
fi o m his ea rly fri end Rufinus and which ca used
di ss ension throughout t he Chris ti an world .

’
After Pa ula s death in 404 E us toc hi um took over
the government of the nunnery and conti nued to ,
’
work as J crome s s ecre tary ; his correspondence
was as ac tive as ever wi th Rome Gau] Spa in and
—
, ,

Africa In 4 1 8 E us t oc hi um t oo di ed and was

.

succeeded by her ni e ce the younger Paul a and it ,

w as she who nursed the aged J erome in his last

ill ness inthe fo llowing year .

Nd e —
In d di ionto t he wo ks e fe ed to , pp
a t r r x v i , an
rr xv —

“ J
. .

Ro m e is g eninM r s
’
in e est ng acco un o f c ome s c c le
tr i t r ir in iv
Oi a t “iv M I
.

’ ”
l ph n s Make s o f od e
r rn
R o me , C ha I V , and _ n .
—
i
O
. .

’ ”
Lady H e be s W es and Mo he s in t he l d en Time
r rt t r
( Be ley ,
nt

497
 A PPE ND IX II

JEROME A ND O R IGENIS M
TH E
tempest 1 which disturbed the earlier
’
years of J crome s monastic life in Bethleh em aro s e
fi o m the re vival of Origenism 2 in the East 2 and t h e
attempt to introduce its doctrines in t he W est ; t he
theological controversy led to personal quarrels with
his old friend and fellow student Rnfinns and with -

J ohn Bi shop of J er us al em 5 the bitterness o f which

, ,

was reflected in many references to them in his later

letters 6
.

J erome in his earlier ye ars had been an enthusiastic

admirer o f Origen ; he had translated some o f
1
Le tte r C XXVI 9 c f L XXV I . 8 II . .

Orig
.

’
2
The f oll o wi ng were t he c hief po ints of ns
e te ac hi ng
whic h were dee med hereti cal t he pre e xiste nce o f soul ; t he -

d eni al o f t he re surrec ti onof t he body ; t he limitati onof e te rnal

p un i s hme nt ; and t he p oss i bili ty o f salvation eve n f or t he
d evil C f Lette r L I E p iphanius t o J ohn o f Jerus alem trans
.
,

l at e d by J ero me
. .

2
Ori g ens works had always been much admired in hi s
’

nativ e c o untry Egypt and many of t he monks there were

Orig enis ts
, ,

us ( o f A q uil eia ) ( 0 344 4 1 0) w as a me m ber o f Jer ome s

.

’
R ufin .
—

fi rs t b and o f as c etic s at A q uil eia ; when this broke up he

ac co mpan i ed Melania t o P ale stine and fo unded with her
m onastic e stablis hments o n t he M ount o f O lives where he
, ,

c arri ed o n li te rary an d e duc ational work He w as still on .

f rie nd ly te r ms with J ero m e in39 2 .

5
S ince 385 .

2
In h t is vo lume c f .
pp 4 3 1 , 4 6 1 ,
. note 4 .

4 98
 APPENDIX I I
against the teachings of Origenism 1 and fi nally
secured its condemnation in t he East 2 .

’
While J e r om e s di s pute with Bi shop J ohn was still
at its height Rufinus ( of Aquileia) decided t o d e av e
,

Pale s tine and return with M elania to Italy ; before

his departure h e was solemnly reconciled to J erome
at Ea s ter 397 perhaps through the intervention of
,
3
M elani a .

Th e reconciliation between J erome and Rufinus

w as probably sincere but it did not s tand the test o f ,

a further controversy o n Orige n i s m which arose i n

Italy On his arrival t here Rufinus was strongly
.
,

urged to translate t he speculative works of Origen

into Latin by a certain M ac ar i us of Pinetum a ,

R oman o f good position perhap s a senator 4 The , .

recrudescence o f Origeni sm in t he East had aroused

intere s t in his works all over t he Chri s tian world and ,
’
in spite o f J er om e s translation s t he W estern Church ,

seems to h ave known little about him 5 Rufinus .

,

who alway s remained his fervent admirer was glad ,

of t he opportunity to make his works known and ,

’
translated two books of t he D e Principizs Origen s
'

most controversial work softening down o r altering ,

many passages which had been condemned as bereti

cal o nthe ground that these were not in t he original
,

J e o trans late d the encycli cals o f The ophilus into

r me
Latin( Le tte rs L XXXV L XXXVI and Letter
. .

C XXVII allu des t o thi s

,

InA D 4 00 Le tte rs X C X G I and X C I I

.

Jerome A p ol 1 1 1 33 For Melani a s part in it c f

. . . . .
,
3 ’
. . . .

Palladi ns H ist L a w c h 1
,

C f p 4 57 and Le tte r L XXX ( from R ufinus t o M ac ar ius )

. . . .
, ,

P o pe A nastas i us when he c o nd e m ne d Orig ens w orks as

. . .

5 ’

heret ic al state d t hat he had nev er read them ( Le tte r to J ohn

,

o f Je rus ale m )
,

50 0
 APPENDIX I I

work 1 He publis hed thi s work in the spring of 398

.
,

and added a preface in which he clearly referred to

J erome t hough not by name speaking of him in
, ,

terms o f t he highe s t prais e as a translator and

a dmirer of O r igen 2 Such a de s cription t hough true
.
,
’
o f J crome s op i nion s a few years before was mani ,

f e st ly misleading in view o f his attitude during the

recent controvers y in Pale st ine and w as s trongly ,
’
resented by J erome s friends in R ome especially '

Pamm ac hi us Oceanus and M arcell a w ho s ent a copy

, ,
’
of Rufinus work to Bethle h em 3 J erome repli ed by .

maki ng a literal translation of the fir s t two books o f

t he D e P r in
'

ci zis and sendi ng it to Pamm ac hi us at

p
Ro me wit h a letter defendi ng hi s o w n ort hodoxy 4 ,

wi th whi ch he enclosed a personal and not unf ri endly

letter to Bufinus 5
This letter h owever whic h
.
, ,

might have averted an open bre ac h never re ached ,

Rufinus

“
When it got to R ome circum s tances t here
.
,

had ch anged ; t he pope Siriciu s never favourably ,

di spo s ed to J erome and hi s circle w as dead and hi s , ,

succe ss or Anas tasius w as under the infl uence o f

, ,
’
J crome s friends ; after considerable controver s y ,

which seem s to s how that t he teac hings of Origen

had made s ome headway in t he W e s t Origeni sm ,

w as f ormally condemned as here tical in Rufinus

had le ft R ome on t he death o f S i riciu s and settled
firs t at M ilan and t hen at Aquileia w h ere he lived on ,

1
S uc h li ce nc e in transla to rs w as not unc o mm on and is
de fe nde d by J erom e ( by whose e x ample R nfinus j us t ifies hi s
o wn m et hods ) in Le tte rs LVI I L XI and L X V I
Lette r LXXX
. .

L
, .

e tte r LX X XIH
3

Letter LXXX IV
.

Lette r LXX XI
.

AD
. .

. . 39 8 .

Le tter X CV In Le tte r CXXVII . 9 nd

a 1 0, J r
e o me
as c ri be s this c hi efly to Mar ce lla .

50 1
 APPENDIX II
’
friendly terms with J crome s fri end Bishop C hro ,

matin s for about ten years It w as t here that he

, .

re ad the attack whic h J erome had made o n him in

t he letter sent to Pam m ac hi us w ho s eems to h ave ,

suppressed t he personal letter addresse d to Rufinus

1
himself A bitter controversy ensued in cons equence
.

between J erome and u usR fin 2

The ir friends tried .

”
in vain to reconcile t hem ; and J erome s anger’

against his former friend did not end even wit h t he

’ 4
latter s death .

1
In A p el 111 2 8,
. ero me . J
d efe nds this acti on o f
Pammac hius
J
.

ero m e , A p o logy , an d R ufinus, A p ology

C
.

hr omati ns o f A q ui le ia ; A ug us tine als o d eplo re d t he

q uarre l ( C X . e lan M ’
i a w as i nc lud e d in erom e s wrath J
( L
e tte r C XXXI I I
AD
.

4 10 Cf r
t he p e fac e to t he co m m entary o nE ze ki el
J
. . . .

( writ te n 4 1 0— 1 4 ) an d to r
e e mi a h 4 17 also
L e tte r C XXV .
(p .
 INDE X OF P R OPE R NA M ES
A ux e nt ius ( is o o f M i lan B
), 17 h p b
C eno it es 1 37
Ce re alia 4 4 1 4 4 3
,

A v ent m e, vui , 4 39 , 4 84 , ,

z
A ov , sea o f , 3 2 9 C e r es 2 4 7 , 36 3
h
C alcis ( deser t of) , v ii , 1 8
,

h
C ald aean, xi , 55, 6 5, 1 6 7 , 4 1 1
B b
C hary d is , 39 , 4 01
h
C i ma e r a , 4 3 3
Bb n y lo 2 3, 6 3 , 6 7 , 1 8 6 , 1 87 , 2 4 7 , C h remes , 2 30, 2 3 1
a

B b nn
,

h B hp
C r omat ins ( is o of A q ui leia) , 1 9 ,
y l o ia , 36 5 2 7 , 3 09 , 502
B hu
a
s, 247 h
C r o nic l e ( of use ius ) , xi i E b
B m
acc
al aa , 32 7 h
C r o ni cl es ( t he) , 305, 31 9
BB kb
ara , 2 6 1 C i cer o, C ic eroni an, xi i , i ii , 1 2 5, 1 2 7 , x
n
ar a as , 4 6 1
Bas il , S t , 4 1 2 Cl eant h es 195
BB h h b
.
,

asl e, xv C l i t om ac hus , 2 7 3
at s e a , 7 7 , 1 9 1 C o l onien s is , x v
B z bub
ee l e , 1 67 C oust ant inop l e , 8 , 2 9 8 , 3 01 , 308
BB h zz
el ial , 1 2 5 C on s t an E
t ius ( m ero r) , 3 9 8 , 39 9 p
e ls a ar , 1 05 C orin t i an hs , 1 53 , 2 1 5 , 303 , 33 9
BB n d n ( di
e e i ct i e e t ion ), C o rn el ia , 2 3 3
enj m n
a i , 1 58 , 1 59 , 2 7 9 C o rn el ius ( en C
tur ion ) , 4 7 , 2 8 1 , 4 01
nn
B ero li e s is , xv G r antor , 2 7 3
mn ( ubs t e o f) , 2 7 3 C
G r as si , rass us , 2 5, 2 7 5
B h h
B ess
e t l e em , i x x ii , 1 7 8 , 2 2 7 , 2 55,
- 2 64 , C r oe s u s , 2 8 7 , 4 1 5, 4 4 7
3 1 3, 330, 3 3 8 , 4 9 0, 4 9 4 , 4 9 5, 4 9 6, 4 99 , C b
y el e , 1 7 5, 36 1
501 C y dnu s , 3 03
Bze al eel , 2 9 1 p B
Cy r i an( is o o f art a e, il . h p C h g
B k
l ac S e a, 33 7
Bl es xl l a ( d of P aul a) , v ii i , ix , 8 3 , 1 58 ,
. Cy p rus, 4 53 , 4 8 8 , 4 9 4
1 59 , 1 6 1 , 1 6 7 , 2 31 , 3 1 1 , 4 8 7 , 4 9 0,
4 91 , 49 2
h
B l esi ll a ( mot er o f P aul a) , 4 8 6
B onos us , v 1i , 2 1 , 2 3
BB h
r a m an s , 2 57
D ac i a . 301
r it ai n
BB g ,

rut i , 2 7 5
2 7 1 , 3 35 DD ah la h , 77
n1 9 301 4 38
B
ur di al a ( or d eaux ) , 4 9 3 D al mat i a, v
al mat ianI s l ands 2 8 3
, ,

.
,

Damas us (Po 366 p v ui , 1 02 ,

e
1 03 , 1 8 3, 4 8 3 , 48 9 , 4 9 1 , 4 9 9
C DD
an ae , 4 7 6 , 4 7 7

C aes ar 3 1 7 C f N e ro an i el , xi , 1 3 , 4 7 , 7 5, 1 1 3, 2 4 7
C amil lus ( Furius ) 2 2 9
,
. . .

D
ar an d
i a , 301
Canaan, 1 3 5
, ,
2 3 3, 33 7
DD
ar iu s , 2 87 , 32 9
d 2 33,
av i , 4 7 , 51 , 7 7 , 1 9 1 , 2 03, 2 1 7 ,
C annae , 1 9
2 7 5, 3 1 9
C anti cl es x i
C ap ito l 34 1
,
bph bh
De o ra , 2 6 1
C app ad oc i an, 2 1 0 Dei o us , 1 6 8
,

C arac alla ( emp eror) , 31 4 Democ r i tu s , 1 9 5, 2 7 3

D h
emost e n es , 2 1 3
C armeli te 4 1 5
C arne ad es 2 7 3
,
Ddd
es i eriu s , 4 83

g
C ar t h a e 1 02 ,
,
Di y mus , xi i , 1 7 0
D h
in a , 1 09 , 3 53
C as p ian 3 2 8 ,

C at o , C ate s , 1 9 5 4 31 ,
DD g d
i o en es , 2 7 3

C aucas us 303 , 3 2 9 iome e , 1 2 0, 1 2 1

,

50 4
 INDEX . OF P RO PE R bî l l N
l lì fì \
Di ves , 97

Domn io , 483 F abiola, 308 —33 7 48 6 48 9 4 9 5

Donatns , Aelius , vi i bb
F a ius ( Q F a ius Maxi mus ) 31 3
. b , , ,

F a ius ( Q F abius Pi cto r) , 29 1

.

Fe lici tas 1 8 7 4 8 5 , ,

Fel ix Cf Macarius
. . .

F el ix ( Mi nuc ius) 2 8 7 ,

F reeman tl e ( Canon ) xi , xv ,

Pro n
t o, 4 1 9
Eg y t,p Eg p
y t ian s , 2 1 , 53, 7 7 , 1 07 , 1 3 5, Furia ( d of . Ti tian
a) , 2 2 8 , 2 2 9 , 2 32 ,
1 69 , 1 8 7 , 2 8 3 , 303 , 3 2 2 , 3 2 7 ,
329 , 335, 34 3, 359 , 41 9 , 4 7 1 , 4 84 , Fur ius. C Cami ll us f . .

4 9 1 , 4 94 , 49 8 Fur ius ( so no f Ti t ian

a) , 48 7
E li , 353
E h
l i j a , 59 , 73, 9 1 , 9 9 , 1 33 , 2 59 , 3 1 9
EE h
l is . 290
li s a, 59 , 7 3 , 9 9
EEp ph
nnius, 29 7 , 44 9 , 4 50 Gabri el 1 4 7 355
a ras , 2 7 7 , ,

Gai nas 300 ,

E p uu
ic r s , 2 1 3
h p Sa lam i s in
Galat ians x i
Gal en 24 5
,

Epi p han ius ( Bis o of ,

Gal l i ( t he) 2 5
pm ) , 4 53, 4 8 7 , 4 88 , 4 9 1 ,
4

g
,

g
Gal lina Qui ntus 213
Ep
, ,

ir us , 301
EB mu
ras s , xv
Gaul xi 29 9 3 7 14 7 2 , 405 , 4 96
ea u
, 2 79 , 423
,

EE hn
, ,

sse es , 1 41
Gaul s ( t he) 3 3 7 ,

st er to ll o f) , 3 6 5
(
Gaza 34 2 34 3
EE hh pp
, ,

t io ia, 57 , 343
Genes i s 1 9 7 ,

n
t i o ia s , 6 7 , 329
Gennesare t ( l a ke) , 41 1
EE nu n
t a, 24 3
Get ae 34 3
G 0t ha , xv
,

t r sca Se a , 32 5 "
Eug nu
e i s , 2 9 8 , 301
h
Got ic ( W ar) , 29 9
Euph rate s, 2 3 , 1 6 7 , 303
h
Go t s , vi i , 2 7 3 , 3 01 , 4 38
Eu p d
r i i es , 2 1 3
h
G racc i , 2 32 , 2 35, 34 9
G racc ho rum s t i rpe ( of Pau la) , 4 8 6
îE u
EEu bb u ( Bb
r ove ,
se i s
ìx
is hop f o
h
Gracc us ( Pr efec t o f ome) , 34 1
G ra t ian, 2 9 8 , 2 9 9
H
u iu (
se s ro th f C h mat in) 1 9
er o ro s
2 7 , 308
, ,
k
G ree , x i , 1 4 3, 1 6 5, 1 9 5, 2 7 3 , 303, 34 9 ,
Eu b u ( f
se i s th f J m ) ii v 4 05, 42 1 , 48 9
g
Eu b u Hi a er o ero e
nym u Cf J m
,
G re ory Nazianzen, v iii , 2 1 1
se i s ero s. . e ro e.
53 , g
Gre or y of N yss a, v ili
2 2 7 , 2 31 , 2 32 , 338 , Gymnoso is t s , 3 57 ph
4 94- 4 96
Eux in e ( lac B k
Sea) , 3, 337
E vagrius , 1 6, 1 7 , 1 9
E v e , 9 3, 99 HH b kkRuk
a a
al ys
61 , 75 ,

E v ilat , 403 ( i v e r , 3 03
)
h p
E x uper ius ( Bi s o of Toul ouse) , H mnnn
a a , 1 01
24 9 , 43 7 HH bh
a a , 34 5, 369 , 4 1 1
Ez k
e i el , x , xi , 7 7 , 1 67 , 2 39 , 502 anni la , 19
Em , 1 8 7 , 365 Hb Hb
e rew , e r ews , 2 7 3 ,

05
 I NDEX OF P R OPE R NA M ES
H ub 2 97 Je r icho 1 97
H n
ec
e le
a,
4 79 J ero me
,

, v 1 i li , 2 , 1 6 , 1 8 , 1 9 , 2 4 , 54 , 7 4 ,
,

H e l i od o rus ( i s B hp
o A lt in
of um) , x i v ,
.

7 7 , 8 8, 1 78 , 1 8 8 , —1 9 2 , 1 9 6 , 2 14 , 2 2 8 ,
2 9 , 1 88 , 1 8 9 , 1 9 9 , 2 6 5, 31 1 , 331 , 4 8 8 2 64 , 3 08 , 309 , 338 , 3 52 , 3 9 6 , 4 30, 4 36 ,
Helv i di us , xi i , 1 01 , 4 89 , 4 9 0 4 3 8 , 4 56 , 4 6 0, 48 3 4 8 4 , 4 8 6 4 9 6 ,
Hp h
-

e t ate uc , 3 6 5 4 9 8— 502
H b
e r e rt , Lad y , 4 9 6 J erusal e m ( Je us ) , v u, 35, 55, 9 7 , 1 1 3, b
HHe rcu l es , 1 7 5 1 2 5, 1 57 , 1 67 , 1 8 1 , 1 8 6, 1 8 7 , 2 03 , 308 ,
e rod ot u s , 32 9 3 2 1 , 32 7 , 33 1 , 4 1 9 , 4 55, 46 3, 4 93 ,
He siod , 1 9 5, 2 9 7 4 94 , 4 9 8— 500
Hzk h
e e i a , 1 05, 1 59 , 305 J esse , 9 3
HH
ie ron E b
ym us , use ius
h
C f Jerome
. . . h
Jews , Jewi s , 53, 55, 1 4 3 , 1 53 , 1 6 1 ,
il ari on( a ermi t) , xi i , x 1i i 1 85, 1 8 6 , 1 8 7 , 2 1 7 , 2 7 5, 357 , 39 9 ,
H hp
i lary ( Bi s o o f Poit i ers , il . 4 01 , 4 1 1 , 44 7 , 4 51
zb
Je e e l , 7 3
2 87 , 36 7
b g
E il e r , xi v , x v J ob , x i , 6 1 , 7 7 , 36 5
HH pp
i E
i as ( o f
pp
lis ) , 2 9 0 h
Jo nof Jerusal em , x ii , 4 60, 4 8 4 , 49 8
i oc rat es , 2 2 5, 4 2 7 500
HH
ira m , 2 9 1 Bp
J ohn( t he a t ist ) , 77 , 1 4 3, 1 6 1 , 2 7 1 ,
o lo f e rn es , 1 01 , 2 6 1
H
ol y Lan d ( the) , 33 1 , 4 9 5 J o hn( t he v a e list) 2 3 1 01 E ng 451
HH
o me r , 1 9 5 J onada 4 1 0 4 1 1
J onah 2 67 32 1
b , ,
, , ,

orace , 1 2 5
H
o rt en s ius , 34 9
,

J o nes S i r W il l iam 4 6 4
,

un
HH
ose a , 2 6 9 , 4 8 3
s , 3 01 , 304 , 3 09 , 3 2 9 , 34 3 , 4 9 5
,

Jord an 2 7 9 32 7 4 09
J osed ech 1 8 7
, , ,
,

H
y l as , 4 8 7 , 49 3 Jos eph 1 59
Jose phus 1 4 3
,
,

H y met ius , Juliu s F es tu s , 351 4 87—4 8 8

H
y rcan i an, 3 3 Jos hua 9 5 1 8 7 2 7 5
J ov e 34 1
,
,

, ,

Jovi an 2 9 9 ,

J ov inian xi i x i il 2 65 4 9 0
, , , ,

Ico nium 1 56 J ov i nus , 1 9

Indi a Ind ians
,
2 71 , 2 7 3 , 34 3, 4 03 Judae a, v ii , 1 05, 2 1 5, 2 6 1 , 4 1 1
In
,

nocent ius 2 , 3
,
h
J uda , 1 31 , 2 7 1
Isaac 1 9 1 2 6 9
,

6
, 2 79 , 3 7
Jud as , 4 7 , 1 4 5, 2 39 , 3 9 9
h
, ,

I sai a , x i , 1 1 1 , 1 4 5, 1 57 , 1 67 , 2 6 1 , 4 3 5 h
Judit , xi , 1 01 , 2 61
h
I s mae l , 2 79 J ulia Cf E us toc hium
. . .

d
I s i ore , 1 35, 4 84 , 4 9 4 Jul ian, 2 3 , 2 5
J ul ianAl s , 301 p
I s is , 3 6 1
I soc rate s , 1 9 5 E
J ul ian( m eror) , 2 9 8 , 2 9 9 , 488 p
Is rae l , 63 , 7 3 , 1 09 , 1 9 1 , 2 6 3, 2 7 1 , 305, p
Ju it er , 53
33 3 , 46 9
I tal y , 2 9 5, 3 2 9 , 4 38 , 4 39 , 4 86 , 4 9 0, 500
K enites , 1 9 7

J
K etur a , 9 7 h
J ac o b 6 1 , 7 7 , 9 7 , 1 3 5, 1 53 , 2 39 , 2 6 9 ,
, L
2 7 5, 33 3 , 4 2 3
J ames , S t , 1 01 L ab r ioll e , P d e, xvi

b
.

Lac edaemoni ans

.

J e us ( c f Jerusal em) , 4 63
. , 303
Je h os h ap hat , 305 L ac tan t ius , 2 87
ph h h
Je t a , 2 7 9 L ae t a ( d au i nl aw of P aul a) , 338 , 339 ,
.
- -

h
J eremi a , x , x ii , 9 9 , 1 4 3 , 1 6 7 , 2 49 , 496
3 9 1 , 4 59 , 502 k
La e Genne saret , 4 1 1

50 6
 INDEX OF P R OPE R NA M ES
N oah
N ol a
7 1 , 95
, P aul a ( g
ra nd -
g
dau hter of the b
a ov e) ,
, 19 338— 3 7 1 , 4 9 6
Nov at ius , 32 1 P aul ina ( d of Paul a I) , 309 , 3 1 1 , 333,
.

Numan t i a, 337 4 9 0, 4 9 5
N yssa . C f G re . g o ry . P aul inian, o r P aul inus ( rot er o f b h
Jerome) , 1 7 8 , 4 9 2
0
b hp
P aul inus ( is o o f Ant ioc ) ,
4 88
h
O ceanus ( ki ns man o f F a iola co rr e b , h
P aul i e re s ( of P aul a) , 4 8 6
s p ondent o f J e rome) 308 309 3 1 1 P aul us ( Luc ius ) , 2 7 5
, , , ,
“
4 83 , 4 9 5, 501 h
Paul us ( a e rmi t) , xi i , x ii 1 , 1 4 2 , 1 43
p
O ed i us , 1 9 5 P elion, 4 50— 4 51
O liv es , M t o f , 4 9 3 , 4 9 4 , 4 9 8
. g
Per amum , 2 1
Peri c les , 2 7 3
Ol lipha n t , Mr s , 4 9 6 .

p
O l ym us , 2 4 3 Pe rs ia, Pe rs ian, 2 7 3, 2 9 8 , 343, 4 2 1
On asu s ( o f Se es ta ) , 1 6 6— 1 6 9 g Pe rs ius , 1 7 1
p
O hi te ( eresy ) , 4 7 h P et er , St , 3 5, 4 7 , 1 33, 1 59 , 2 09 , 2 1 7 ,
g
O r i en o f l e andr ia ( 1 85 A x xi ,
.

3 1 7 , 401 , 4 51
1 7 0, 1 7 1 , 1 73 , 4 56 , 4 57 , 4 9 8 — 502 h x
P et e r ( Pat r iarc o f Al e andria) , 44 8 ,
O ront es , 303 44 9
ph
O r eus , 3 8 7 h
P a nuel , 1 57 , 2 59 , 44 3
Os t ia , 1 7 8 , 309 , 4 9 2 , 4 9 6 h h
P arao , 1 07 , 1 55, 2 53 , 4 01
h
P a re s , 1 9 7
h
P arisee , 32 1 , 4 4 7 , 4 51 , 4 57
P h
P i lemon, x i
P aca t ul a , 4 6 7 , 4 7 5, 4 8 0, 4 8 1 h p
P il i ( of M aced on) , 34 9
P aoh umi us , P ac o mi us ( a! c 3 4 9 ; t he h . .
h
P ilo, 1 4 3
f ound e r o f Monast ic is m i n U e r pp P hiso n, 4 03
Eg y t anp d on e o f t he firs t t o co l l ec t h
P oeni c ia, 303
h g
P y ell us , 1 4 7
so l i t ary asce t ic s un d e r a rul e ; hi s
S i s te r founde d a conv e nt f or P i netum, 500
women P in i an us , 4 9 4
) , xi v , 44 9
x
Pal es tine , i x , , 303 , 309 , 3 7 2 , 4 8 6 , P isos ( t he) , 2 7 5
4 9 5, 49 8 — 501 P it y u s , 3 01

b
P am os ( d 39 3 ; a mon o f Ni t ri a ; h e
. k Plato , 53, 1 43 , 1 9 5, 2 7 3, 2 9 5, 4 51
P l aut us , 1 2 5
en tertain e d Me lan i a on h er v i si t
h
t e r e an d w as a ro mi n en t s up p P liny , xi i1 , 4 1 9
p o rt er o i t h e N icen e d oc t r ine ) , 1 35 p
P om ey , 3 3 7
s ( soninl aw o f P au l a an P od d on i us 2 7 3
Pammac hi u
c orres on p
d ent o f J ero me) , 2 64 , 309 ,
-
d -

g
P ou et , x v‘
3 1 1 , 33 3 , 4 8 3 , 4 9 0, 4 9 6 , 501 , 502 P r ae te xt at a ( wi f e o f H y met i u s ) , 3 51 ,

P annoni a, 1 36 , 301 4 88
p
P a ini an, 3 1 5 p p
Princ i ia ( c om ani on o f Marce ll a) ,
P ap ir ia , M aec ia , 4 8 6
P roco piu 2 9 8 , 301
P api ri us , 33 7
P aris , Paris inus , x v
s,
B
P r oc ul us ( i s o of hp M
ars e il l es) , 43 7

P ar is , 4 7 9 P to l emy , 2 1
P art hians , 335 P ub l iool a , so nof el an M
i a, 4 9 4
P aul , S t , 33, 35, 4 9 , 6 1 , 7 1 , 1 2 5, 1 4 7 , P
P
b
u l ius , 335
ulv ill us , 2 7 5
.

1 53 , 1 56 , 1 58 , 1 59 , 1 69 , 2 1 1 , 2 1 5,
2 1 7 , 2 3 9 , 24 7 , 2 7 9 , 3 1 5 , 339 , 4 6 5,
h g
Pyt a o ras , 1 9 5, 2 7 3, 354 , 355
4 75
P aul a, v i ii x , 1 7 8 , 1 81 1 8 7 , 2 3 1 , 2 32 ,
— -

2 7 7 , 309 , 3 38 , 3 6 7 , 36 9 , 37 1 , 4 50,
4 51 , 4 84 , 4 8 6—4 9 6 , 4 9 9 Q uadi ans , 301

50 8
 INDEX OF P R OPE R NA M ES
Quin t il ian, 419
S harpe ( Re v Fat-her) , xv i
.

Quin tu s F abius , 291 S human i t e , 1 9 1 , 1 9 2 , 1 9 3, 1 9 7

Q uintu s Galli na Of Galli n
a S imoni des , 1 9 5
\ b
. . .

Q ui ntu s Maxi mu s Ci F a ius . S ion, 2 3 , 6 5, 9 7 , 1 8 7

p
. .

Si r icius ( Po e 3 84 nn ,
4 9 1 , 501
So c rates , 2 1 3, 2 7 3
So d om , 5 7
h
Rac e l , 99 , 1 53 So lomon, 57 , 7 9 , 83 , 1 51 , 1 9 3, 2 03 ,
h b
Ra a , 1 4 9 , 1 9 7 2 2 5, 365 , 39 9 , 4 1 9 , 4 3 3 , 4 7 7
R e b 1 9 1 , 4 23
ecca , ph
So ocl es , 1 9 5
ph
So ro nia , 44 9 , 48 5
Bec ha b , 1 9 7
Bed Sea, 1 55, 4 01 , 445 S op hro n ius , 1 1 9
Be mn ou t h, 1 37 p
S ain, 4 96
Rogatus ( f at e r of P au h l a) , 4 86 S p in a l i en si s , xv
Ho me , o man R s , v i i , x ii , x v , 1 7 , 1 9 , 53, ph
St e en, S t , 4 7 .

6 7 , 8 3 , 1 1 9 , 1 2 5, 1 33 , 1 52 , 1 69 , 1 7 5, St es i c ho rus , 1 9 5
1 8 3 , 1 9 5, 2 3 2 , 2 54 , 2 55, 2 6 3 , 2 7 5, h
St ili c o , 4 38
2 77 , 2 9 9 , 301 — 309 , 3 1 6 , 31 7 , 3 2 5
&1 5a n h
D
S t ridon( al mat ia) , v n, 24
na , 1 3, 2 46
33 7, 363 , 364 , 36 7 , 4 05, 4 2 3 , 4 3 6
4 4 1 , 44 9 , 4 53— 46 5, 4 79 , 4 8 3— 4 96 , 500,
-
Syr ia , Sy rians , 1 9 , 1 3 1 , 34 2 , 4 53, 484 ,
501 49 3
R ufin a ( d o f P au l a) , 4 9 5
B ufin us ( of qu
.

A
il e ia) , xii , 4 30, 4 56 ,
4 9 3 , 4 94 , 4 96 , 49 8— 502
B ufin ns , 301 , 4 9 9 Tanai s , 3 2 9
R ust icus ( Bis o o f N ar o n hp ne) , 396 , b Terence 2 30
39 7, 39 9 ,

Tertul lian 1 03 , , 287

Thama r 7 9
b

Th
b ,

Th e ai d ( y p t) Eg , 44 9
Salamis ( inCy p rus ) 4 53 , 4 88 , 4 94 , 499 ec la ,
1 57
h d h
,

Sall ust 305 337 , , T eo os ius ( a ermi t) , v u

Samar ia Samarit ans 53
, , 7 3, 1 6 7 , 1 8 7 , h d
T eo osi us I ( em e ro r 3 7 9 298, p
2 3 1 , 39 9 300, 4 38 , 4 8 6
Samni tes , 33 7 T he0 p hil us ( at r iar c ofPl e an r i a) , h A x d
Samso n, 7 7 , 34 5
S amuel , 2 7 , 34 5, 36 7 , 4 1 1 Th eo phrast us , 19 4
S arac en s, 19
h
S ara , 1 57 , 1 9 1
Sarmat ians 301 ,

Satan 4 5 7 5 1 31
, , , , 1 6 5, 1 8 1 , 1 8 3 , 2 55,
31 7
Sauhes , 1 3 7 Ti mot hy 71 ,
hb
,

Scae v ol as ( t he) , 2 7 5 Tis i te , 3 1 9

Scauri ( t he ) , 2 75 Ti t iana , 2 2 9 , 48 7
p
Sc i i o, 33 7 ; Sc i pionnm sub ol es ( of Ti t us , xi , 339 , 369
P aul a) , 4 8 6
Scy ll a , 39 , 401
b
T o it , xi
Torce ll o , 2 8 2
h
Sc yt ia , 301 , 32 5, 34 3 Toulouse , 2 2 8 , 4 3 6 , 4 3 7
g
Se es ta , 1 69 To x ot ius , u l iu J
s ( u s an o f au h
l a) , b d P
Seneca , i i i x 33 8 , 4 8 6
ph
Se ora, 1 9 1 Tox ot ius ( sono f t he a ov e) , 3 3 8 , 339 , b
p
Sera i s (Tem le of) , 34 2 , 34 3p 3 69 , 4 8 8 , 4 9 3, 4 9 6
h
S aron, 9 3 Ty re , Ty rian, 2 9 1 , 331

50 9
 I NDEX OF P R OPE R NA M ES
Vincentius ( a p ries t , f r iend of Jerome) ,

U zz iah , 1 05
V ir g
il , 33 , 1 2 5
Vol sc i an( Prov ince) , 32 5
V Vul c an, 1 69 , 2 4 3
Val ens 2 9 8 2 99
, ,
W
V al ent inian 2 04 29 8, 2 99
Val erian ( is hop B , ,

of A q u i leia i n W ri gh t, F . A xv i , 44 8 , 4 56
25
V al l ars i , D omini o ,
xv
X
Vand al s 301 ,

Vas h t i 4 2 1 X enoc rat es , 1 9 5

ph
,

Vat icanus x v , X eno on , 2 73

Venet i a 2 8 2 , x
X er es , 307
V enus 1 7 5 2 47
, ,

V ercel l ae , 5
Z
V erona x v ,
Vesuvi us 2 4 3 Z are ph h
at , 1 33 , 2 59 , 4 3 7
h h
,

V ictori nus , 2 87 , 48 3 Z ec a ri a , 1 9 9
V icto r ius C f Marianne
. . . Z en o, 1 9 5
V igil ant ius , x ii Z òc kl er , O , xv .

5 10
 T H E L O E B C L A S S IC A L
L IB R A R Y

V O LUM E S A LR E A DY P UB L I S H E D

Lati n A uth o r s
AP U L E I U S T H E G O L D E N A SS ( M E T A MO R PH O S ES )
W A dli ng ton R evise d by 8 G aselee (41 1: I mp )
. .

. . . .

A U L U S G E L L IUS C R o l le 3 V o ls
'

. . . .

A U S O NI U S H G EvelynW hi te . V ols . . . .

BED E E Ki ng 2 V o ls
. . . .

B O E T H I U S : TR A CT S A ND D E C O NS O L A TIO N E
P H IL O S O PH IA E Rev H F S te wart an d E K Rand . . . . . . .

( 2 fi d I mp ) .

C AESA R C I V I L W A R S A G P k tt
: . . . es e .
( 3r d l mp ) .

C AE S A R GA LL I C W A R : Ed w rd . a s. ( 61 17 Imp ) .

C A T U L L U S F W C rni h T I B U LL U S o s Po s tgateB
/
. . .

A ND PE RV IG IL I U M V EN E R I S W
. .

. . M ac kai l ( gl z .

CI C E RO : DE FINIBUS . H . R ackham. ( 3r d Imp . re

w ir ed .
)
C I C E RO D E NA T U R A D E OR UM
: A C A D E M IC A A ND
I I R kh m
.

. ac a .

C I C E RO D E O FF I C I I S W lt M i ll r ( 3 d l mp )
: . a er e . r .

C I C E RO D E S E N E C T UTE D E A M I C I T IA D E
:

D I V I NA T I O N E W A F l n
, ,

( 3 d Imp ) . . . a co er. r .

C I C E RO D E R E P U B L I C A N D E L E G IBUS
: C li nt n A D o
W Ky
.

. e es.

C I C E RO L E TT E R S TO A TT I C U S
: E 0 W int d t s e
3V l
. . .
.

( V l I 4 1 Imp V l Il 3 d I mp nd I I I nd l mp )
o s. o . . 1 7 .
, o . . r . a . 2 .

C I C E RO L E TT E RS TO H IS FR I EN D S W G lynn
'
:
W illi m 3 V l
. .

a s. o s.

( StJ m)
. er o e
 I RO P H I L I P PI C S W C A K
C CE : . . . . e r.

C I C E RO P RO A RC H IA P O S T R E DIT UM D E D OMO
:

D E H A R US PIC UM R E S PO NS IS P RO PL A NC IO
, , ,

N H W tt
, .

. . a s.

C I C E RO P RO Q U INCTIO P RO RO S C I D A M E R I N O
:

P RO R O S C IO C O M O E DO CO N TR A K U LL U M
, ,

H
Fr
. .
,

e ese .

C I C E RO T U S C U L A N D I S P U T A T I O N S
: E K ing . . .

C I C E RO P RO C A E C INA P RO L EG E M AN IL I A P RO
:

C L U E NTIO P RO R A BI RIO H G
, ,

,H dg . . ro se o e.

C I C E RO P RO M I L O N E I N PIS O NE M P RO S C A U R O
:

P RO FO NTE IO P RO R A BI R IO P O S T U MO P RO
, , ,

M A R C E LLO P RO L IG A RIO P RO R EG E D E IOTA R O

, ,

N H W tt
.
, ,

. . a s .

C I C E RO V E RR I NE OR A T I O N S L H G G nw d
: . ree oo .

Vl Vl I
. . .

2 o s. o . .

CL A U D IA N M Pl tn u Vl . . a a er. 2 o s.

FLOR U S E S F t r nd C OR N E LI U S NEP O S
: . . o rs e a

C R lf
,

. o e.

FR O NTINUS S TR A T A G E M S A ND A Q U E D U CT S C E . . .

B nn t
e e t .

P R O NTO C ORR ES P O ND E N C E C R H in Vl . . . a es. o s.

H OR A C E O D E S N E P O D E S C E B nn tt 9 11 )
: A D . . . e e . 7

I mp i d )
. r ev se .

H OR A C E SA T I R E S E PI S TL ES A R S PO E TC IA
: .

H R F ir l ugh ( 3 d I mp
, ,

. . a l d )
c o . r . r cv zse
‘

] E ROM E S E L E CT E D L
: E TT E R S F A W i g ht . . . r .

V L R R
_

J U E N A N P E S I U S G G A m y D I mp ) . . . a sa . .

L I V Y B 0 F t r 3 V l V l I V ( V l I nd
. . os e . 1 o s. o s . .
— . o . . 2

I mp w . d ) r zse .

L U C AN D D uff . . .

L U CR E T I U S W H D R u ( 3 d I mp i d ) . . . . o se . r . r ev se .

M A RT IA L W C A K .V l ( 3 d Imp i d ). . . er . 2 o s. r . r ev se .

OVI D T H E A RT OF L OV E N O T H E R P O E M S
: A D .

H M zl y . o e .

OV I D F AS T I S ir ] m G Fr z r . a es . a e .

OV I D’ H E RO I D ES N A MOR E S G nt S h w m n
: A D . ra o er a .

( 3r a Imp ) .

OV I D M E TA MOR P H O S E S
: M ill r V l 5 5 Imp . e . 2 o s. 1 .

OV I D TR I S T IA N EX P O N TO A L W h l
: A D . . . e e er.

P E TRO N I U S M H l in ; S EN E C A A POC O L O ese t e :

W H D R u
. .

C YNTO S IS I mp ) . . . . o se . .

2
 G ree k A utho r s
A C H I LL E S T A T I U S S G aselee . . .

A EN EAS TA C TIC US : A S C L E PIO DOT US A N D O NA

S A ND E R The I lli no i s G reek C lub
.

. .

A ES C H I N E S C D Adams . . . .

AES C HY L U S H W eir S myth 2 V o ls ( V o l I 3 1 ! . . . . . . 7 I mp .

,
V ol Il . . I mp .
)
A P OL L O D OR U S S ir ] aines G F raz er 2 Vo ls . . . .

A P O L LO N I U S R H O D IUS R C S eato n (4 11: Imp ) . . . . .

T H E A P O S TOL I C F A T H E R S Kirso pp Lake 2 Vo ls . . .

( V o l I 5tIz I mp V o l I I 41 12 I mp )
. . . , .

AP P I AN S ROM AN IIIS TO R Y H o rac e W hite 4 V o ls

. .

I 3 I mp V o ls I I I I I a nd I V 2 nd l mp )
. . .

V l ’
( o a. . r

A R A T U S C f C A L L I M A C IIU S
.
, . .
,
. . .

A R I S TO PH AN ES B enj amin B ickley R o g ers

. .

3 Vo ls
V“
. . .

’
(3 ra r t n
I mp ) . e se ra s.
A R I S TOTL E A RT OF R H E TOR I C
”
H Fr
: . ees e

A R I S TOTL E M E T APH YS I C S H T d nni k Vl

. .

: . . re e c . 2 o s.
V l Io . .

A R I S TOTL E N I C OM A C H EAN E T H I C S H R kh m . . ac a
A R IS TOT L E P H YS I C S R P W i k d nd F M
.

: e v. c s te e a
C nf rd V l V l I
. . . .

or o . 2 o s. o

A R I S TOTL E P O E T I C S AN I LO NG I NU S W H mi l n
. .

: ) . a to
Fyf ; D E M E TR I U S O N S T Y L E W Rhy R b
.

e . . s o e rts .
’
( n I mp
2 a i d ) r ev se

A R I S TOTL E P OL I T I C S H R kh m
. .

: ac a

A R R IA N H I S TOR Y OF A L EXAN DE R
. . .

N I N D I CA A D
E Ilifi R b n Vl
.
,
'
R ev . . e o so 2 o s.

A T H E NA E U S D E IPNOS O PH IS TA E C B G uli k 7
.

: c
Vl Vl IV
. . . .

o s. —
o s

L Y C O P H RO N A W M ir ;
. .

C A L L IM A C IIU S N A D . a
A R A T U S G R M ir
. .

a .

CL E M EN T OF A L EXAN D R IA R G W B utt rw rth

. . .

. ev . . . e o .

C O L L U TIIUS C f O P PIAN . . .

D A P H N I S N C H LO E T h nl y Tr nl ti nr i d by
’
A D or e s a s a o ev s e
M Ed m nd ; N PA RT H EN I U S S G l ( nd
.

. o s A D . . as e ee . 2
I mp ) .

D E MO S T H EN ES D E CORO NA DE F A L SA : A ND
L E G A TIO NE C A V in nd H V in . ce a ce .

DE MO S T H EN ES O LYN T H I A C S P H I L I P PI C S N
. . .

: A D
M I N OR OR A T I O N S I X V I I H Vi n
,

XX : —
A ND . . ce .

D I O C AS S I U S ROM AN H IS TOR Y E C y 9 V l : . . ar . o s.

(V l I I m I mp )
'
o 27
D I O C H R Y S O S TO M W C h n 4V l V l I
. . .

o oo o s. o . .

C H O ld f h r In 9 V lum
. . .

D IO D O R US S IC U L U S . . . at e . o es.

V ol . I .
D I O G EN E S LA E RTIUS . R . D . H ic ks . 2 V o ls . (V ol . I .

z ud I mp .
)
E PI CT E T U S . W A . . O ld f a t he r . 2 V o s. l
E U R I PI D ES A S W ay 4 V o ls . (V o l I . . I mp , .

III
. . . .

Vol I I Imp V o l IV . . Imp .

,
VOL .
3r d Imp ) .

Vr rn
. . .
,

e se t a s.
E U S EBI U S E C C L ES IA S T I C A L H I S TOR Y :K i pp . r so

L k nd E L O ul n V l
a e a . . to . 2 o s.

G AL E N O N T H E N A T U R A L F A C U L T I ES A
: . .

B k ( nd 1 mp )
r oc . 2 .

T H E G R EE K ANT H O LOG Y W R P n 5 V l . . . ato . o s.

(V l I 3 d Imp V l I I nd I mp )
o . . r .
,
o . . 2 .

G R EE K E L EG Y A N D I A M B U S I TH H A NA C RE W T E
O NTE A M Ed m nd Vl . . o s. 2 o s.

T H E G R E E K B U COL I C P O E T S ( T H E OCR I T U S
BI O N M O S C II US ) M Ed m nd ( Sl /
,

,
ì I mp i d ) . . o s. . r ev se .

H E RO D ES C f T H E O P H R A S T U S C H A RA CT E R S
. . : .

IIE R O DO Î I US A D G d l y 4 V l ( V l I 3 d Imp
'

. . . o e . o s. o r

V l I I I V ud Imp )
. . .
,
— z
o s. . . .

H ESI O D T H E H OM E RI C HY M NS H G E lyn
A ND ve

W hi (41 1 Imp )
. . .

te . 1 .

H I PP O C R A T E S AND H FR AG M EN T S OF H E R A T E
CL E I T U S W I I S J n nd E T W i hi ngt n 4 V l . . . . o es a . . t o . o s.

H OM E R IL I A D A T M ur y : V l (V l I 3 d . . . ra . 2 o s. o . . r

I mp V l I I .
, I mp ) o . . 2 114 7 .

H OM E R O DYS S EY A T M ur y : V l ( 411 Imp ) . . . ra . 2 o s. : .

I S AB U S E W F r t r . . . o s e .

I S OCR A T E S G rg N lin 3 V l V l I nd I I . eo e or . o s. o s. . a .

] OS E PH U S H S t Ib k y 8 V l V l L IV ' '

: . . ac era . o s. o s. —

] U L I AN W il m C v W righ 3 V l
.

.
( V l I M Imp ) er a e t. o s. o

A M H rm n 8 V l V l L IV ( V l I
. . .

L U C I AN . . . a o . o s. o s. —
. o s. .

a nd I I 3 d I mp ) r

LY C O PH RO N C f C A L L I M A C H U S
. .

. .

L Y R A G RA E CA M Edm nd 3 V l ( V l I nd
.

. . o s. o s. o s. . a
II ! Ed
2 1 14 i d n d nl g d ) r ev se a e ar e

LYS IAS W R M L mb
. . .

. . a .

M A RC U S A U R E L I U S C R H in ( 3 d l mp wind )
. .

. a es . r re

M EN AND E R F G A llin n ( nd I mp i d )
. . . .

. . . 50 . 2 . r ev se .

O P PI AN C O L L UTIIUS TR YPH IO DO R US A W M i ar
PAPY R I ( S E L E CT I O NS ) A S H un nd C C Edg
, , . . . .

t a ar .
Vl V l I
. . . . .

2 o s. o

PA RT H EN I U S C f D AP H N I S C H LO E
. .

. . A ND .

PA U S AN IA S D ES C R I PT I O N OF G R EE C E W H 5 : .

5V l nd C m p ni n V l V l I I I nd II I
. . .

j n o es. o s . a o a o o . o s. .
, . a .

( V ol . I . z ud I mp .
)
P H I LO F H C l n nd R G H Whit k Vl o so a e v. a e r. to o s.

V l I IV
. . . . .

—
o s. . .

P HIL OS T R A T US T H E L I F E OF A P OLLO N I U S OF :

T YAN A F C C nyb . V l ( V l I 3 d Imp . . o e are. 2 o s. o . . r .

,

V l II
o . ud I mp ) . z .

PH IL O S TRA T US I M AG IN ES C A LL I S TR A T U S .

DES CR I PT I O N S A F i b nk
.

. . a r a s.

PH IL O S TR A TU S N E UNA PI US L I V ES OF T H E A D :

S O PIIIS TS Wi lm C W igh er a ve r t.

(S /
.

P I NDA R S ir E S ndy . I mp i d ) . a s. l z . r ev se .

P L A TO C H A R M IDE S A LC I BI AD ES H I PPA RC H U S
:

T H E LOV E R S TH E A G E S M I N O S N E PINO M IS
, , ,

A D
W R M L mb
, , .

. . . a .

P L A TO C RA TYL US PA RM EN I D ES G R EA T E R H I P
:

PIA S L E S S E R H I PPIA S H N F wl
, ,

, . . . o e r.

P LA TO E UTH YPH R O A P OLO GY C R ITO PH AED O

:

PHAE D R U S H N F wl r ( 7 l Imp )
, , , ,

. . . o e . l z .

P L A TO L A C H ES P ROT AG OR A S M EN O E UTHY
:

DE M U S W R M L mb
, , ,

. . . . a .

P L A TO L A W S R : R G Bu y V l . ev . . . r . 2 o s.

P LA TO L YS I S SY M P O S I U M G OR G IAS W R M
: . . . .

L mb ( ud Imp i d )
, ,

a . z . r ev se .

P L A TO R E P U B L I C P ul S h r y
: Vl . a o e . 2 o s.

P L A TO S T A T ES M AN P H I L E BUS H N F wl
: . . . o er

I O N W R M L mb
,

. . . . a .

P L A TO T H EAE T E T U S N S O P H I S T H N F wl
: A D . . . o e r.
’
2( n I mp )
a .

P L A TO T I M A E U S C R ITIA S C L IT O PH O M E NE X E
: ,

N U S E PIS T UL A E R R G B u y
, ,

. e v. . . r .
,

P L U TA R C H MORA L I A F C B bbi t 4 V l
: Vl . . . a t . 1 o s. o s.

.I III
—
.

P L U T A RC H T H E PA R A LL E L L I V ES B P ri n : . . er . rr

V l (V l I i l
o s. nd v u; m! I mp )
o s. .
,
.
,
a z .

P OLYB I U S W R P t n 6 V l . . . a o . o s.

P ROCO PI U S H I S TOR Y OF T H E W A R S : H B . . .

D w ing 7 V l
e V l I V ( V l I nd l mp )
. o s. o s. .
—
. o . . 2 .

Q U I N T U S S M Y R N A E U S A S W y V n . . . a . e rse t ra s.

S T BAS I L L E TT E R S R
.
D f : i 4 V l . . e e rrar . o s.

S T ] O H N DA M A S C EN E BA R L AA M AN D IOAS A PH : .

G R W dw d nd H ld M i ng ly
.

R ev . . . oo ar a aro a tt .

SE X T U S E M PIR IC US R R G B ury In 3 V l . e v. . . . o s.

V ol . I .
 L ati n A uth o r s

A MMI A NU S M A R C E L LI NU S C R olfe . . .

C E LS U S W G S penc er
. . . .

C I C E RO I N C A TIL INA M
, P RO F L A C C O P RO
M U R E NA P RO S U L LA B L U llman
, ,

, . . . .

C I C E RO D E OR A TOR E C harles S tuttaford and W E

, . . .

S utto n .

C I C E RO OR A TOR B R U T U S H C aplan
, , . . .

C I C E RO P RO S ES T I O I N V A T IN IU M P RO C A E L IO
,

P RO P RO V INC IIS C O NS UL A RIBUS P RO BA L B O

, , ,

H F reese
.
,
. .

EN NI U S L U C I LI U S and other spe ci m e ns o f Old Lati n

, .

E H W armi ng to n
. . .

M I N OR L A T I N P O E T S Wig ht Dufi .
‘

P L INY NA T U R A L H I S TOR Y W H 8 ] o nes

, … . . . .

P R U D EN T I U S H B ax ter and C. F ord yce . . .

S I D O N I U S L E TT E R S
, P O E M S E V A rnold and W . . . .

B A nderso n
. .

VA L E R I U S FL A C C US u M o zley . . .

DE S C R IP TI VE P R OS PE C TUS O N A PPL IC A TI O N

W I LLI A M H E I NEM A NN
’
G . P U T NA M S S O NS