Letter LXXIV.

(a.d. 404.)

To My Lord Præsidius, Most Blessed, My Brother and Partner in the Priestly Office, Truly Esteemed, Augustin Sends Greeting in the Lord.

1. I write to remind you of the request which I made to you as a sincere friend when you were here, that you would not refuse to send a letter of mine to our holy brother and fellow-presbyter Jerome; in order, moreover, to let your Charity know in what terms you ought to write to him on my behalf. I have sent a copy of my letter to him, and of his to me, by reading which your pious wisdom may easily see both the moderation of tone which I have been careful to preserve, and the vehemence on his part by which I have been not unreasonably filled with fear. If, however, I have written anything which I ought not to have written, or have expressed myself in an unbecoming way, let it not be to him, but to myself, in brotherly love, that you send your opinion of what I have done, in order that, if I am convinced of my fault by your rebuke, I may ask his forgiveness.

EPISTOLA LXXIV . Augustinus Praesidium rogat ut superiorem epistolam curet Hieronymo reddendam, utque sibi eumdem suis etiam litteris placet.

Domino beatissimo, et merito venerando fratri, et consacerdoti PRAESIDIO, AUGUSTINUS, in Domino salutem.

1. Sicut praesens rogavi Sinceritatem tuam, nunc quoque commoneo, ut litteras meas sancto fratri et compresbytero nostro Hieronymo mittere non graveris. Ut autem noverit Charitas tua quemadmodum etiam tu illi pro mea causa scribere debeas, misi exemplaria litterarum, et mearum ad ipsum, et ad me ipsius, quibus lectis pro tua sancta prudentia facile videas et modum meum, quem servandum putavi, et motum ejus, quem non frustra timui. Aut si ego quod 0251 non debui, vel quomodo non debui, aliquid scripsi; non ad illum de me, sed ad me ipsum potius fraterna dilectione mitte sermonem, quo correctus petam ut ignoscat, si meam culpam ipse cognovero.