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| The Wonderful Integrity of Alypius in Judgment. The Lasting Friendship of Nebridius with Augustin.
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Chapter X.—The Wonderful
Integrity of Alypius in Judgment. The Lasting Friendship of
Nebridius with Augustin.
16. Him, therefore, had I lighted upon at
Rome, and he clung to me by a most strong tie, and accompanied me
to Milan, both that he might not leave me, and that he might
practise something of the law he had studied, more with a view of
pleasing his parents than himself. There had he thrice sat as
assessor with an uncorruptness wondered at by others, he rather
wondering at those who could prefer gold to integrity. His
character was tested, also, not only by the bait of covetousness,
but by the spur of fear. At Rome, he was assessor to the Count of
the Italian Treasury.462
| 462 “The Lord High Treasurer of the Western Empire
was called Comes Sacrarum largitionum. He had six other
treasurers in so many provinces under him, whereof he of Italy was
one under whom this Alypius had some office of judicature,
something like (though far inferior) to our Baron of the Exchequer.
See Sir Henry Spelman’s Glossary, in the word
Comes; and Cassiodor, Var. v. c. 40.”—W. W. | There was at that time a most
potent senator, to whose favours many were indebted, of whom also
many stood in fear. He would fain, by his usual power, have a thing
granted him which was forbidden by the laws. This Alypius resisted;
a bribe was promised, he scorned it with all his heart; threats
were employed, he trampled them under foot,—all men being
astonished at so rare a spirit, which neither coveted the
friendship nor feared the enmity of a man at once so powerful and
so greatly famed for his innumerable means of doing good or ill.
Even the judge whose councillor Alypius was, although also
unwilling that it should be done, yet did not openly refuse it, but
put the matter off upon Alypius, alleging that it was he who would
not permit him to do it; for verily, had the judge done it, Alypius
would have decided otherwise. With this one thing in the way of
learning was he very nearly led away,—that he might have books
copied for him at prætorian prices.463
| 463 Pretiis prætorianis. Du Cange says that
“Pretium regium is the right of a king or lord to purchase
commodities at a certain and definite price.” This may perhaps
help us to understand the phrase as above employed. | But, consulting justice, he changed
his mind for the better, esteeming equity, whereby he was hindered,
more gainful than the power whereby he was permitted. These are
little things, but “He that is faithful in that which is least,
is faithful also in much.”464
Nor can that possibly be void which
proceedeth out of the mouth of Thy Truth. “If, therefore, ye have
not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to
your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in
that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is
your own?”465
He, being
such, did at that time cling to me, and wavered in purpose, as I
did, what course of life was to be taken.
17. Nebridius also, who had left his native
country near Carthage, and Carthage itself, where he had usually
lived, leaving behind his fine paternal estate, his house, and his
mother, who intended not to follow him, had come to Milan, for no
other reason than that he might live with me in a most ardent
search after truth and wisdom. Like me he sighed, like me he
wavered, an ardent seeker after true life, and a most acute
examiner of the most abstruse questions.466
| 466 Augustin makes a similar allusion to Nebridius’
ardour in examining difficult questions, especially those which
refer ad doctrinam pietatis, in his 98th Epistle. | So were there three begging mouths,
sighing out their wants one to the other, and waiting upon Thee,
that Thou mightest give them their meat in due season.467
And in all
the bitterness which by Thy mercy followed our worldly pursuits, as
we contemplated the end, why this suffering should be ours,
darkness came upon us; and we turned away groaning and exclaiming,
“How long shall these things be?” And this we often said; and
saying so, we did not relinquish them, for as yet we had discovered
nothing certain
to which, when relinquished, we might betake ourselves.
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