SANCTI AMBROSII MEDIOLANENSIS EPISCOPI EPISTOLAE IN DUAS CLASSES DISTRIBUTAE. PRIOR EAS CONTINET, QUAS IN ORDINEM CHRONOLOGICUM LICUIT DIGERERE POSTE

 PRIMA CLASSIS.

 751 GRATIANI AD AMBROSIUM EPISTOLA .

 EPISTOLA PRIMA .

 EPISTOLA II.

 EPISTOLA III .

 EPISTOLA IV .

 EPISTOLA V .

 EPISTOLA VI .

 EPISTOLA VII .

 EPISTOLA VIII .

 806 EPISTOLA IX.

 EPISTOLA X.

 EPISTOLA XI.

 EPISTOLA XII.

 EPISTOLA XIII.

 EPISTOLA XIV .

 EPISTOLA XV .

 EPISTOLA XVI.

 EPISTOLA XVII.

 RELATIO SYMMACHI URBIS PRAEFECTI.

 833 EPISTOLA XVIII.

 EPISTOLA XIX.

 EPISTOLA XX.

 860 EPISTOLA XXI.

 SERMO CONTRA AUXENTIUM DE BASILICIS TRADENDIS.

 EPISTOLA XXII.

 EPISTOLA XXIII.

 888 EPISTOLA XXIV.

 892 EPISTOLA XXV.

 894 EPISTOLA XXVI.

 898 EPISTOLA XXVII.

 902 EPISTOLA XXVIII.

 EPISTOLA XXIX.

 EPISTOLA XXX.

 EPISTOLA XXXI.

 EPISTOLA XXXII.

 EPISTOLA XXXIII.

 EPISTOLA XXXIV.

 259 EPISTOLA XXXV.

 929 EPISTOLA XXXVI.

 EPISTOLA XXXVII.

 EPISTOLA XXXVIII.

 944 EPISTOLA XXXIX.

 EPISTOLA XL.

 956 EPISTOLA XLI.

 EPISTOLA SYRICII PAPAE AD MEDIOLANENSEM ECCLESIAM.

 EPISTOLA XLII.

 EPISTOLA XLIII.

 EPISTOLA XLIV.

 EPISTOLA XLV.

 EPISTOLA XLVI.

 EPISTOLA XLVII.

 990 EPISTOLA XLVIII.

 EPISTOLA XLIX.

 EPISTOLA L.

 EPISTOLA LI.

 EPISTOLA LII.

 1002 EPISTOLA LIII.

 EPISTOLA LIV.

 EPISTOLA LV.

 1006 EPISTOLA LVI.

 EPISTOLA DE CAUSA BONOSI EX CAPUANAE SYNODI DECRETO JUDICANDA.

 1010 EPISTOLA LVII.

 1013 EPISTOLA LVIII.

 EPISTOLA LIX.

 EPISTOLA LX.

 EPISTOLA LXI.

 EPISTOLA LXII.

 EPISTOLA LXIII.

  1219 

  1219 

 EPISTOLA LXV.

 EPISTOLA LXVI.

 1057 EPISTOLA LXVII.

 EPISTOLA LXVIII.

 1061 EPISTOLA LXIX.

 EPISTOLA LXX.

 EPISTOLA LXXI.

 1071 EPISTOLA LXXII.

 EPISTOLA LXXIII.

 EPISTOLA LXXIV.

 EPISTOLA LXXV.

 EPISTOLA LXXVI.

 EPISTOLA LXXVII.

 EPISTOLA LXXVIII.

 1095 EPISTOLA LXXIX.

 EPISTOLA LXXX.

 EPISTOLA LXXXI.

 EPISTOLA LXXXII.

 EPISTOLA LXXXIII.

 EPISTOLA LXXXIV.

 EPISTOLA LXXXV.

 EPISTOLA LXXXVI.

 EPISTOLA LXXXVII.

 EPISTOLA LXXXVIII.

 EPISTOLA LXXXIX.

 EPISTOLA XC.

 EPISTOLA XCI.

 LETTER III. [A.D.380.]

THIS graceful little letter, written in a tone of playful affectionateness, is addressed to Felix, who was, as the next letter shews, Bishop of Comum. It tells its own story.

AMBROSE TO FELIX.

1. I HAVE received your present of mushrooms; they were of an extraordinary size, so large as to excite admiration. I did not like to keep them hidden, as the saying is, in my bosom, but preferred shewing them to others also. Therefore I gave part to my friends, part I reserved for myself.

2. An agreeable present, but not of weight enough to repress my just complaint against you for never visiting one who has so long loved you. And take heed lest you hereafter have to bear yet heavier fungus-growths  01-52 52. 1 tubera of sorrow; for such things have a double signification; sent as gifts they are agreeable, in the body or the mind they are irksome. Prevail with yourself to cause me less sorrow by your absence, for my longing for you is the cause of my distress: make yourself, if you can, less necessary to me.

3. I have made my statement, proved my case. I am forced to assail you with that expression; no ordinary weapon, but one which will hit home  01-53 53. a Amentata illa non manipularis sententia. Ed. Ben. refers to Junius, Adagiorum Centuriae 3, 10, who says 'Amentatam sententiam dixit D. Am-brosius pro valida et haud vulgari firmisque argumentis roboratit. Est antem amentum lori genus quo hasta praeligata validius certiusque libratur evibraturque: hinc amentata senten-tia ea est quae neutiquam trivialis est et pedanea, cujusmodi manipularis vocatur, velut a gregario milite profecta, sed eximia et artificio vallata.' He quotes two passages from Cicero, De Orat. 1 57, 242. Brut. 78. 271, in both which places he uses 'amentatae hastae' of arguments, and also Tertull. adv. Marc. iv. ,33 where he says that our Lord amentavit [Phariseis] hanc sententiam, non potestis Deo servire et mammonae, where it plainly means, 'gave them this home-thrust.' . You certainly shewed alarm; but see now that I am not so much grieved but that I can be playful about it. Hereafter however you must not excuse yourself, though your present excuse is to be a profitable one to me. Yet it were an ill judgment of you, and of me no better, to suppose that your absence is to be compensated by presents, or that I am to be bought off by them. Farewell: love me, as I do you.

EPISTOLA III .

FELICIS  munusculum praedicat, sed eum quod se a longo tempore non inviserit, arguens; ut non tamdiu procrastinetur, petit. 

AMBROSIUS FELICI.

1. Misisti mihi tubera, et quidem mirae magnitudinis, ut stupori forent ea tam grandia. Nolui in sinu, ut aiunt, abscondere: sed aliis quoque demonstrare malui. Itaque partem direxi amicis, partem  0888B mihi reservavi.

2. Suave munus, non tamen ita praepollens, ut comprimeret querelam meam jure excitatam, quod nos tamdiu amantes tui nequaquam revisas. Et cave posthac ne majora invenias doloris tubera. Nam hujus nominis diversa ratio; ut enim grata in munere, ita in corpore atque in affectu molesta sunt. De te impetra, quominus te abesse doleam; nam causa commotionis meae, desiderium est tui. Effice, si potes, ut minus gratus sis.

3. Rem exposui, causam probavi. Intorquenda est amentata illa non manipularis sententia. Metuisti certe: sed vide quam movear, ut delectet jocari. Postea tamen ne excusaveris: etenim quamvis tua haec vectigalis mihi sit excusatio; male tamen de te  0888C judicat, nec de me 763 melius, si aut tuam absentiam muneribus compensandam, aut me muneribus redimendum putes. Vale, et nos amantes tui dilige.