LETTER LIV. [A.D.392.]

THE Eusebius to whom  this and the following letters are addressed is probably not the Bp. of Bologna who took a leading part in the Council of Aquileia, though he appears to be also connected with Bologna, (Lett. lv. 2.). S. Ambrose does not write to him in the style in which he would address an eminent Ecclesiatic. He was probably a layman, on very intimate terms with S. Ambrose, as the whole tone of the Letters implies. Both are on affairs of private life, both, especially the latter, are written in a tone of playful pleasantry and a not irreverent adaptation of sacred things, such as has often marked the familiar correspondence of a great Bishop.

Eusebius seems to have had a son Faustinus, and this son a large family, of whom another Faustinus an Ambrosius and an Ambrosia are here mentioned. It was to this Eusebius, on the occasion of Ambrosia's dedication as a professed Virgin, that S. Ambrose wrote the treatise 'De Institutione Virginis.' She is the 'sancta soror,' the ' holy sister' of Lett. liv.

AMBROSE TO EUSEBIUS.

1. The Secretary of the Prefecture, who had got into trouble on account of the works at Portus  06-2  2. a The adjective Portuensis generally refers to the town called Portus, which grew up in the times of the Emperors on the harbour of Ostia. It is probable therefore that the reference is to some work of which the person spoken of had the superintendence. is now safe in port. He came at the right moment, for as soon as I received your letters I saw the Prefect, and interceded for him; and he immediately pardoned him, and ordered the letter which he had dictated for the sale of his goods to be recalled. Even if his arrival had been less speedy, no man would more readily have admitted the embarrassments attending that work of repairing the port than he who would have made shipwreck therein had he not had you for his pilot; and from whence he could otherwise only have escaped with his bare life.

2. The little Faustinus is suffering from a cough, and has come to his holy sister to be cured, and came willingly, for he found that the complaint of his stomach is better cared for here. He also considers me to be a physican and looks to me for his dinner. So he has his medicine here twice a day, and he had begun to get strong, but while from their too great love they keep him away, his stomach-cough has returned, worse than before, and unless he returns to his medicines he will still suffer from it. Farewell: love me, for I also love you.

EPISTOLA LIV.

 Remissam apparitori offensam, nec non Faustini tussim recrudescentem Eusebio nuntiat. 

AMBROSIUS EUSEBIO.

1. Apparitor praefecturae, qui propter operas  1167B Portuenses offensam contraxerat, jam in portu navigat. Opportune autem advenit; nam simul ut accepi litteras tuas, vidi praefectum, rogavi pro eo: ignovit illico, jussit retrahi epistolam, quam de facultatibus ejus publicandis dictaverat. Quod si tardius venisset, nemo magis probasset inexplicabile illud opus esse portus reformandi, quam iste, qui 1004 illic naufragium fecerat, nisi te habuisset gubernatorem; ut aliter non posset inde nisi nudus exire.

2. Faustinus parvulus tussi laborat, ad sanctam sororem curatum venit, et venit sponte; expertus enim est melius sibi ventrem curari. Denique et me medicum putat, exspectat prandium. Itaque hic bis ad diem curatur, et coeperat pulchre valere: sed  1167C dum eum nimio amore abstinere gestiunt, tussire de ventre plus coepit; et laborabit adhuc, nisi ad medicamenta sua revertatur. Vale, et nos dilige; quia nos te diligimus.