Epistle III.26    Oxford ed.; Ep. ix.

To the Presbyters and Deacons Abiding at Rome. a.d. 250.

Argument.—This is a Familiar and Friendly Epistle; So that It Requires No Formal Argument, Especially as It Can Be Sufficiently Gathered from the Title Itself. The Letter of the Roman Clergy, to Which Cyprian is Replying, is Missing.

1. Cyprian to the elders and deacons, brethren abiding at Rome, sends, greeting. When the report of the departure of the excellent man, my colleague,27    Fabian, bishop of Rome. [Cyprian’s “colleague,” but their bishop. See Greek of Philip. ii. 25. He is an example to his brethren: such the simple position of a primitive Bishop of Rome.] was still uncertain among us, my beloved brethren, and I was wavering doubtfully in my opinion on the matter, I received a letter sent to me from you by Crementius the sub-deacon, in which I was most abundantly informed of his glorious end; and I rejoiced greatly that, in harmony with the integrity of his administration, an honourable consummation also attended him.  Wherein, moreover, I greatly congratulate you, that you honour his memory with a testimony so public and so illustrious, so that by your means is made known to me, not only what is glorious to you in connection with the memory of your bishop, but what ought to afford to me also an example of faith and virtue. For in proportion as the fall of a bishop is an event which tends ruinously to the fall of his followers, so on the other hand it is a useful and helpful thing when a bishop, by the firmness of his faith, sets himself forth to his brethren as an object of imitation.

2. I have, moreover, read another epistle,28    The foregoing letter, Ep. ii. in which neither the person who wrote nor the persons to whom it was written were plainly declared; and inasmuch as in the same letter both the writing and the matter, and even the paper itself, gave me the idea that something had been taken away, or had been changed from the original, I have sent you back the epistle as it actually came to hand, that you may examine whether it is the very same which you gave to Crementius the sub-deacon, to carry. For it is a very serious thing if the truth of a clerical letter is corrupted by any falsehood or deceit. In order, then, that we may know this, ascertain whether the writing and subscription are yours, and write me again what is the truth of the matter. I bid you, dearest brethren, ever heartily farewell.

EPISTOLA III. (Erasm., III, 21; Pamel., IV; Rig., Baluz., Paris., III; Oxon., Lips., IX.)AD PRESBYTEROS ET DIACONOS ROMAE CONSISTENTES.

0228B

ARGUMENTUM.---Epistola haec familiaris est; quare argumento non indiget, potissimum cum ex titulo ipso id satis colligi queat. Desideratur autem epistola Cleri Romani ad quam respondet Cyprianus.

I. Cyprianus presbyteris et diaconibus Romae consistentibus fratribus salutem. Cum de excessu 0229A boni viri collegae mei rumor apud nos incertus esset, fratres charissimi, et opinio dubia nutaret, accepi a vobis litteras ad me missas per Crementium hypodiaconum, quibus plenissime de glorioso ejus exitu instruerer; et exultavi satis quod, pro integritate administrationis ejus, consummatio quoque honesta processerit. In quo vobis quoque plurimum gratulor quod ejus memoriam tam celebri et illustri testimonio prosequamini, ut per vos innotesceret nobis quod et vobis esset circa praepositi memoriam gloriosum, et nobis quoque fidei ac virtutis praeberet exemplum. Nam quantum perniciosa res est ad sequentium lapsum ruina praepositi, in tantum contra utile est et salutare cum se episcopus per firmamentum fidei fratribus praebet imitandum.

0229B II. Legi etiam alias litteras in quibus nec quis scripserit, nec ad quos scriptum sit, significanter expressum est. Et quoniam me in iisdem litteris et scriptura et sensus et chartae ipsae quoque moverunt ne quid ex vero vel subtractum sit vel immutatum, eamdem ad vos epistolam authenticam remisi, ut recognoscatis an ipsa sit quam Crementio hypodiacono perferendam dedistis. Perquam etenim grave est si epistolae clericae veritas mendacio aliquo et fraude corrupta est. Hoc igitur ut scire possimus, et scripturam et subscriptionem an vestra sit recognoscite, et nobis quid sit in vero rescribite. Opto vos, fratres charissimi, semper bene valere.