64

having considered the perilous nature of human affairs, the temporary and brief and easily passed by. 163 Then again he dismantles his own encomium. For lest he seem to be doing something great, see what he says: 31,26a Do we not see the shining sun being eclipsed, 26b and the moon waning? For it is not up to them. "This bright light," he says, "perishes and vanishes and is not seen." Do you see what sort of reason he gives for the change of the luminaries? Therefore, creation is sufficient for us for philosophy, not only for the knowledge of God. When you see that the sun is great, marvel at the creator. When you see that it is eclipsed, learn the corruptible nature of human affairs. For if that which is brighter than all things on the earth ceases and diminishes and comes to an end, much more all the rest. If that which is so useful and necessary, and without which it is not possible to live, undergoes change, much more the superfluous things which are not necessarily attached to us. 31,27a And if, he says, my heart was secretly enticed, 27b and if I put my hand to my mouth and kissed it, 31,28a then let this be counted to me as a great iniquity, 28b because I have been false to the Lord most high. Some say this was said concerning idolatry, but I am not persuaded; for he would not have placed this among his greatest achievements. But it seems to me, which is what those who are romantically inclined do when their beloveds meet them; they kiss their own hands with their mouth, or concerning wealth or concerning things which they might marvel at. Because I have been false, he says, before the Lord most high, "now saying these things." Or that "I am not lying before God"; for this is a falsehood, to be so suspended from human affairs. 164 31,29a And if I rejoiced at the fall of my enemy 29b and if I said to my heart: Well done! Well done!, 31,30a then let my ear hear my curse, 30b and let me be spoken of while suffering evil by the people. Through his works he fulfilled that which says: If your enemy falls, do not rejoice over him, and at his stumbling do not be exalted. Then also how gently he was disposed toward his servants: 31,31a And if my maidservants also often said, he says: 31b Who would give us to be filled with his flesh? 31c since I was exceedingly kind. For from this comes all gentleness, when one is kind toward a subordinate and not violent. 31,32a And outside, he says, a stranger did not lodge, 32b and my door was open to every traveler. 31,33 And if having sinned willingly I hid my sin; 31,34a for I was not turned aside by the great number of my people from confessing before them. This is great philosophy. Do you see that he looked to nothing for the sake of glory nor did he act for the sake of others? For one who so disdains their glory as to proclaim even his willing sins—; for even an ordinary person might speak of his unwilling sins, since he is about to receive pardon from his hearers. For I was not turned aside, he says, by the great number of my people. That is: of those subordinate, of those who know, of those who understand even the very nature of the sin. This is truly philosophy. For you, tell your sins first, that you may be justified. "Therefore, I made no one a witness of my good achievements, but of my sins and failings I wanted everyone to be conscious." This is the greatest philosophy, this is a rule of virtue, to hide one's achieve165 ments, but to make a show of one's sins. But those of today do the opposite. 31,34b And if I also allowed, he says, a needy person to go out my door with an empty bosom. He did not say: "I gave to one who came," but: "I did not even permit one who wished to." He used force on those who came even wishing to run past him; for he knew the matter, that it is abundance. Therefore, as much effort as the poor now make in annoying those who ought and are able to extend a hand, so much did he then exert in annoying those who ought to be well-treated. 31,35a Who would grant me, he says, one who hears me? 35b and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord, 35c and the indictment which I had against someone, 31,36 I would put it on my shoulders and read it as a crown, 31,37a and if I did not tear it up and give it back 37b having taken nothing from my debtor, 31,38a if

64

ἐπεσκεμμένον τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων τὸ ἐπίκηρον, τὸ πρόσκαιρον καὶ βραχὺ καὶ εὐπαρόδευτον. 163 εἶτα πάλιν καθαιρεῖ αὐτοῦ τὸ ἐγκώμιον. ἵνα γὰρ μὴ δόξῃ μέγα τι ποιεῖν, ὅρα τί φησιν· 31,26a ἦ οὐχ ὁρῶμεν ἥλιον τὸν ἐπιφαύσκοντα ἐκλείποντα, 26b σελήνην δὲ φθίνουσαν; οὐ γὰρ ἐπ' αὐτοῖς ἐστιν. «τὸ λαμπρὸν τοῦτο φῶς», φησίν, «ἀπόλλυται καὶ ἀφανίζεται καὶ οὐχ ὁρᾶται.» ὁρᾷς, οἵαν αἰτίαν φησὶ τῆς μεταβολῆς τῶν φωστήρων; ἄρα ἀρκεῖ πρὸς φιλοσοφίαν ἡ κτίσις ἡμῖν, οὐχὶ πρὸς θεογνωσίαν μόνον. ὅταν ἴδῃς, ὅτι μέγας ὁ ἥλιος, θαύμασον τὸν δημιουργόν. ὅταν ἴδῃς, ὅτι ἐκλείπει, τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων τὸ εὔφθαρτον καταμάνθανε. εἰ γάρ, ὃ πάντων ἐστὶ λαμπρότερον τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τοῦτο λήγει καὶ μειοῦται καὶ τελευτᾷ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὰ λοιπὰ πάντα. εἰ τὸ οὕτω χρήσιμον καὶ ἀναγκαῖον καὶ οὗ χωρὶς ζῆν οὐκ ἔνι μεταβολὴν δέχεται, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὰ περιττὰ καὶ οὐκ ἀναγκαίως ἡμῖν προσκείμενα. 31,27a καὶ εἰ ἠπατήθη, φησίν, λάθρᾳ ἡ καρδία μου, 27b εἰ δὲ καὶ χεῖρά μου θεὶς ἐπὶ στόματί μου ἐφίλησα, 31,28a καὶ τοῦτό μοι ἄρα ἀνομία λογισθείη μεγάλη, 28b ὅτι ἐψευσάμην ἔναντι κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου. τινές φασιν περὶ εἰδωλολατρίας τοῦτο εἰρῆσθαι, ἀλλ' οὐ πείθομαι· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐν μεγίστοις κατορθώμασι τοῦτο τέθεικεν. ἀλλ' ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, ὅπερ πάσχουσιν οἱ ἐρωτικῶς διακείμενοι ἀπαντώντων τῶν ἐρωμένων· τὰς χεῖρας ἑαυτῶν καταφιλοῦσι τῷ στόματι, ἢ περὶ πλούτου ἢ περὶ πραγμάτων ὧν ἂν θαυμάζωσιν. ὅτι ἐψευσάμην, φησίν, ἔναντι κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου, «νῦν ταῦτα λέγων». ἢ ὅτι «οὐ ψεύδομαι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ»· τοῦτο γὰρ ψεῦδός ἐστι τὸ οὕτω τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἐκκρέμασθαι πραγμάτων. 164 31,29a εἰ δὲ καὶ περιχαρὴς ἐγενόμην ἐπὶ πτώματι ἐχθροῦ μου 29b καὶ εἰ εἶπον τῇ καρδίᾳ μου· εὖγε εὖγε, 31,30a ἀκούσαι ἄρα τὸ οὖς μου τὴν κατάραν μου, 30b θρυληθείην δὲ ὑπὸ λαοῦ κακούμενος. διὰ τῶν ἔργων ἐκεῖνο ἐπλήρου τὸ λέγον· ἐὰν πέσῃ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, μὴ εὐφραίνου ἐπ' αὐτῷ, ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑποσκελίσματι αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπαίρου. εἶτα καὶ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκέτας πῶς ἡμέρως διέκειτο· 31,31a εἰ δὲ καὶ πολλάκις εἶπον, φησίν, αἱ θεράπαιναί μου· 31b τίς ἂν δῴη ἡμῖν τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ πλησθῆναι; 31c λίαν μου χρηστοῦ ὄντος. ἐντεῦθεν γὰρ ἡ ἐπιείκεια πᾶσα, ὅταν πρὸς τὸν ὑποτεταγμένον φιλάνθρωπός τις ᾖ καὶ μὴ βίαιος. 31,32a ἔξω δέ, φησίν, οὐκ ηὐλίζετο ξένος, 32b καὶ ἡ θύρα μου παντὶ ὁδοιπόρῳ ἀνέῳκτο. 31,33 εἰ δὲ καὶ ἁμαρτὼν ἑκουσίως ἔκρυψα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν μου· 31,34a οὐ γὰρ διετράπην πολυοχλίαν λαοῦ μου τοῦ μὴ ἐξαγορεῦσαι ἐναντίον αὐτῶν. πολλὴ τοῦτο φιλοσοφία. ὁρᾷς, ὅτι οὐδὲν πρὸς δόξαν ἑώρα οὐδὲ διὰ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἐποίει; ὁ γὰρ οὕτως αὐτῶν ὑπερορῶν τῆς δόξης ὡς καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας τὰς ἑκουσίους ἐξαγγέλλειν-· τὰς μὲν γὰρ ἀκουσίους κἂν ὁ τυχὼν εἴποι ἅτε μέλλων συγγνώμης ἀπολαύσεσθαι παρὰ τῶν ἀκροατῶν. οὐ γὰρ διετράπην, φησίν, πολυοχλίαν λαοῦ μου. τουτέστιν· τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων, τῶν εἰδότων, τῶν γινωσκόντων καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ εἶδος τῆς ἁμαρτίας. τοῦτό ἐστιν ἀληθῶς φιλοσοφία. λέγε γὰρ σὺ τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου πρῶτος, ἵνα δικαιωθῇς. «τῶν μὲν οὖν ἀγαθῶν κατορθωμάτων οὐδένα μάρτυρα ἐποιούμην, τῶν δὲ ἁμαρτημάτων καὶ τῶν πταισμάτων πάντας ἐβουλόμην εἶναι τοὺς συνειδότας.» τοῦτο μεγίστη φιλοσοφία, τοῦτο κανὼν ἀρετῆς, τὰ μὲν κατορθώ165 ματα κρύπτειν, ἐκπομπεύειν δὲ τὰ ἁμαρτήματα. οἱ δὲ νῦν τοὐναντίον ποιοῦσιν. 31,34b εἰ δὲ καὶ εἴασα, φησίν, ἀδύνατον ἐξελθεῖν τὴν θύραν μου κόλπῳ κενῷ. οὐκ εἶπεν· «ἐλθόντι ἔδωκα», ἀλλ'· «οὐδὲ βουλομένῳ συνεχώρησα». βίαν ἐποίει τοῖς καὶ ἥκουσι βουλομένοις αὐτὸν παρατρέχειν· ᾔδει γὰρ τὸ πρᾶγμα, ὅτι εὐπορία ἐστίν. ὅσην τοίνυν οἱ πένητες νῦν ποιοῦνται σπουδὴν διενοχλοῦντες τοὺς ὀφείλοντας καὶ δυναμένους χεῖρα ὀρέξαι, τοσαύτην ἐκεῖνος ἐτίθετο τότε διενοχλῶν τοὺς ὀφείλοντας εὖ παθεῖν. 31,35a τίς δῴη μοι, φησίν, ἀκούοντά μου; 35b χεῖρα δὲ κυρίου εἰ μὴ ἐδεδοίκειν, 35c συγγραφὴν δέ, ἣν εἶχον κατά τινος, 31,36 ἐπ' ὤμοις περιθέμενος ὡς στέφανον ἀνεγίνωσκον, 31,37a καὶ εἰ μὴ ῥήξας αὐτὴν ἀπέδωκα 37b οὐδὲν λαβὼν παρὰ χρεωφειλέτου μου, 31,38a εἰ