LETTER LXXXVII. 

A Letter of commendation.

AMBROSE TO BISHOPS SEGATIUS AND DELPHINUS.

1. My son Polybius, on his return from Africa, where he discharged the duties of the proconsulship with credit, passed some days with us, and inspired my heart with singular affection towards him.

2. Then, when he wished to go from hence, he requested me to write to both of you. I promised to do so, and having dictated a letter delivered it to him superscribed with both your names. He asked for another; but I said that I had directed this to both of you according to our custom and usage, forasmuch as your holy minds are gratified not by the number of letters but by the association of names, and that, united as you were in feeling, you would not allow yourselves to be separated in name; farther, that to employ this compendious form of love was a prescribed part of my duty.

3. Why need I say more? He asked for another, and I gave it, but so as neither to deny him what he asked, nor to change my accustomed mode of action. Thus he has a letter to deliver to each of you, for this was all he put forward, his having nothing for one, when he had delivered his letter to the other. And this office of undivided affection I may render to you without any danger of offence, or thought of division; especially since this form of writing is Apostolical, so that either one may write to many as Paul to the Galatians, or two to one, as we read,  Paul a   Prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon. 

Health to you; love me and pray for me, for I love you.

EPISTOLA LXXXVII.

 Laudat Polybium, cujus rogatu se binas ad Segatium et Delphinum epistolas scripsisse significat. 

AMBROSIUS SEGATIO et DELPHINO episcopis.

1. Polybius filius noster cum de Africanis regressus partibus, in quibus proconsularem jurisdictionem egregie repraesentavit, aliquantulos nobiscum exegisset dies, summa gratia se meis visceribus infudit.

1107 2. Deinde cum abire hinc et demeare vellet, poposcit ut utrique vestrum scriberem. Promisi futurum. Itaque dictavi epistolam, et utriusque conscriptam  1283C nomine dedi. Postulavit alteram. Dixi ad utrumque vestrum datam more, usuque nostro; eo quod sancta mens vestra non epistolarum numero, sed conjunctione nominum delectaretur: nec perpeti posset, ut fieret vocabulorum separatio, quorum affectus conveniret; idque praescriptum nostro muneri, ut uteremur charitatis compendio.

3. Quid plura? Exegit alteram, dedi; ut neque illi negarem, quod posceret: nec mihi immutarem, quod in usum venerat. Ita et ille habet quod utrique reddat; quia id solum praetendit, ne cum alteri  1284A reddidisset, alteri vacuus foret. Et ego vobis indivisae gratiae munus sine ullo dependam offensionis periculo, et divisionis scrupulo; cum praesertim etiam haec forma scriptionis Apostolicae sit, ut et unus ad plures, ut Paulus ad Galatas: et duo ad unum possint scribere, sicut scriptum est:  Paulus vinctus Jesu Christi,  et Timotheus frater, Philemoni (Philem., I). Salutem vobis dico: diligite nos, et orate pro nobis; quia ego vos diligo.