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they make a tragedy of it; but I in summary teach your magnificence, that his fatherland is Libya, long sung of by all, his city the renowned Carthage, his fraternity and family the most illustrious council; and his wealth was great and flowing beyond need. But all these things are now a myth, and a narrative stripped of its reality. For the barbarian war deprived him of all those things. Such is the good fortune of men, not willing to remain always with the same people, but hastening to pass on to others. I introduce this man to your magnificence, and I beseech that he may enjoy the generosity sung of by all. And I ask that all those in authority and the most wealthy may come to know him through your admirableness; so that you may become a benefactor of gain for them also, and may receive greater rewards from the philanthropic God. 34 TO PATRICIUS THE COUNT. All forms of virtue are indeed praiseworthy; but philanthropy adorns the others as well. We constantly ask for this from the God of all; through this alone we receive forgiveness when we sin; this prepares wealth to look out for the poor. Knowing that your magnificence is made splendid by this, I confidently recommend the most admirable and magnificent Celestiacus, a man who was the master of much money and many possessions, but suddenly became destitute of them, yet bearing his poverty with ease, as few bear wealth. The plot of this drama of misfortune is Libya and Carthage, and the evils of the barbarians. I, therefore, have introduced him to your greatness; but you, show him to others, and move them to pity. For you will gain more by teaching philanthropy to many. 35 TO IRENAEUS THE BISHOP. You shine, master, with many and various forms of virtue, and not least do philanthropy and disdain for money and a right hand gushing forth help for the needy adorn your holiness. And you differently deem those who were raised in prosperity, but have fallen into hardship, as worthy of greater providence, most God-beloved. Knowing this clearly, I make known to your piety the most admirable and magnificent Celestiacus; whom wealth and power once showed to be illustrious in Carthage; but now, stripped of these, piety and philosophy adorn him; for he bears his apparent misfortune with good cheer, since it has also become for him an occasion for the salvation of his soul. He came to us with letters that taught of his former prosperity; and having spent many days with us, he provided the testimony of experience. For which reason we also recommend him more earnestly to your holiness, and we beseech that he be made known to the wealthy of the city through your love of God; for it is likely that they, having learned his circumstances and fearing a similar misfortune, will strive through compassion to escape the punishment. For he is forced to wander about, since he is in need of greater expenses; for with him are his wife and children and the servants who escaped the hands of the barbarians. 36 TO POMPEIANUS, BISHOP OF EMESA. I know both clearly, both the scarcity of funds and the magnanimity

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τραγῳδοῦσιν· ἐγὼ δὲ τὴν σὴν ἐν κεφα λαίῳ διδάσκω μεγαλοπρέπειαν, ὡς πατρὶς μὲν αὐτῷ ἡ πάλαι παρὰ πάντων ᾀδομένη Λιβύη, πόλις δὲ ἡ περίβλεπτος Καρ χηδών, συμμορία δὲ καὶ πατριὰ ἡ λαμπροτάτη βουλή· πλοῦτος δὲ πολὺς καὶ ῥέων ὑπὲρ τὴν χρείαν. Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πάντα μῦθός ἐστι νῦν, καὶ διήγημα τῶν πραγμάτων γεγυμνωμένον. Πάντων γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐκείνων ὁ βαρβαρικὸς ἐστέρησε πόλεμος. Τοιαύτη δὲ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἡ εὐκληρία, οὐκ ἀεὶ τοῖς αὐτοῖς προσμένειν ἐθέλουσα, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς ἑτέρους μεταβαίνειν ἐπειγομένη. Τοῦτον πρὸς τὴν σὴν μεγαλοπρέπειαν ξεναγῶ, καὶ τῆς παρὰ πᾶσιν ᾀδομένης φιλοτιμίας αὐτὸν ἀπολαῦσαι παρακαλῶ. Ἀξιῶ δὲ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐν τέλει καὶ εὐπορωτά τους διὰ τῆς σῆς αὐτὸν γνῶναι θαυμασιότητος· ἵνα κἀκείνοις πρόξενος γένῃ τοῦ κέρδους, καὶ μείζους παρὰ τοῦ φιλανθρώ που θεοῦ κομίσῃ τὰς ἀντιδόσεις. 34 ΠΑΤΡΙΚΙΩ ΚΟΜΗΤΙ. Ἅπαντα μὲν ἀξιέπαινα τὰ εἴδη τῆς ἀρετῆς· ἡ δὲ φιλανθρω πία καὶ τὰ ἄλλα κοσμεῖ. Ταύτην αἰτοῦμεν διηνεκῶς τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεόν· διὰ ταύτην μόνην συγγνώμης ἀπολαύομεν πλημμε λοῦντες· αὕτη διακύπτειν πρὸς τοὺς πένητας παρασκευάζει τὸν πλοῦτον. Ταύτῃ λαμπρυνομένην εἰδὼς τὴν ὑμετέραν μεγα λοπρέπειαν, θαρρῶν συνίστημι τὸν θαυμασιώτατον καὶ μεγα λοπρεπέστατον Κελεστιακόν, ἄνδρα πολλῶν χρημάτων καὶ κτημάτων δεσπότην γεγενημένον, ἔρημον δὲ τούτων ἐξαπίνης γενόμενον, φέροντα δὲ τὴν πενίαν εὐκόλως, ὡς ὀλίγοι τὸν πλοῦτον. Τοῦ δὲ τῆς συμφορᾶς δράματος ἡ ὑπόθεσις Λιβύη καὶ Καρχηδών, καὶ τὰ τῶν βαρβάρων κακά. Ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸ ὑμέτερον ἐξενάγησα μέγεθος· ὑμεῖς δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις ὑποδείξατε, καὶ πρὸς οἶκτον κινήσατε. Κερδανεῖτε γὰρ μείζονα, πολλοὺς φιλανθρωπίαν διδάσκοντες. 35 ΕΙΡΗΝΑΙΩ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΩ. Πολλοῖς μὲν καὶ ἄλλοις, δέσποτα, διαλάμπεις εἴδεσιν ἀρε τῆς, οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ κοσμεῖ σου τὴν ὁσιότητα φιλανθρωπία καὶ χρημάτων ὑπεροψία καὶ δεξιὰ τὴν τῶν δεομένων ἀναβλύζουσα θεραπείαν. ∆ιαφόρως δὲ τοὺς ἐν εὐπραξίᾳ τεθραμμένους, εἰς δυσκληρίαν δὲ μεταπεσόντας, πλείονος ἀξιοῖς, θεοφιλέστατε, προμηθείας. Τοῦτο σαφῶς ἐπιστάμενος, γνώριμόν σου τῇ θεοσεβείᾳ ποιῶ τὸν θαυμασιώτατον καὶ μεγαλοπρεπέστατον Κελεστιακόν· ὃν πάλαι μὲν ἐν Καρχηδόνι πλοῦτος ἐδείκνυ καὶ δυναστεία λαμπρόν· νῦν δὲ τούτων γεγυμνωμένον εὐσέβεια καὶ φιλοσοφία κοσμεῖ· φέρει γὰρ τὴν δοκοῦσαν δυσπραξίαν εὐθύμως, ἐπειδὴ καὶ τῆς ψυχικῆς αὐτῷ σωτηρίας γεγένηται πρόξενος. Οὗτος ἀφίκετο μὲν πρὸς ἡμᾶς μετὰ γραμμάτων τὴν προτέραν αὐτοῦ διδασκόντων εὐημερίαν· συχνὰς δὲ παρ' ἡμῖν διατρίψας ἡμέρας, παρέσχεν τῆς πείρας τὴν μαρτυρίαν. Οὗ δὴ χάριν αὐτὸν καὶ σπουδαιότερον τῇ σῇ συνιστῶμεν ἁγιωσύνῃ, καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν καὶ τοῖς τῆς πόλεως εὐπόροις δῆλον αὐτὸν διὰ τῆς σῆς γενέσθαι φιλοθείας· εἰκὸς γὰρ αὐτούς, τὰ κατὰ αὐτὸν μεμαθηκότας, καὶ τὴν ἴσην δείσαντας συμφοράν, σπου δάσαι διὰ τῆς συμπαθείας τὴν τιμωρίαν διαφυγεῖν. Ἀναγκά ζεται γὰρ περινοστεῖν, ἅτε δὴ πλειόνων δαπανημάτων δεόμε νος· σύνεστι γὰρ αὐτῷ καὶ γαμετὴ καὶ παιδία καὶ οἱ συμφυγόντες οἰκέται τῶν βαρβάρων τὰς χεῖρας. 36 ΠΟΜΠΕΙΑΝΩ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΩ ΕΜΕΣΗΣ. Ἀμφότερα οἶδα σαφῶς, καὶ τῶν χρημάτων τὴν σπάνιν καὶ τὴν μεγαλοψυχίαν