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| The Design of Establishing a Common Household with His Friends is Speedily Hindered.
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Chapter XIV.—The Design of
Establishing a Common Household with His Friends is Speedily
Hindered.
24. And many of us friends, consulting on and
abhorring the turbulent vexations of human life, had considered and
now almost determined upon living at ease and separate from the
turmoil of men. And this was to be obtained in this way; we were to
bring whatever we could severally procure, and make a common
household, so that, through the sincerity of our friendship,
nothing should belong more to one than the other; but the whole,
being derived from all, should as a whole belong to each, and the
whole unto all. It seemed to us that this society might consist of ten persons, some
of whom were very rich, especially Romanianus,474
| 474 Romanianus was a relation of Alypius (Aug.
Ep. 27, ad Paulin.), of talent which astonished Augustin
himself (C. Acad. i. 1, ii. 1), “surrounded by affluence
from early youth, and snatched by what are thought adverse
circumstances from the absorbing whirlpools of life”
(ibid.). Augustin frequently mentions his great wealth, as
also this vexatious suit, whereby he was harassed (C. Acad.
i. 1, ii. 1), and which so clouded his mind that his talents were
almost unknown (C. Acad. ii. 2); as also his very great
kindness to himself, when, “as a poor lad, setting out to foreign
study, he had received him in his house, supported and (yet more)
encouraged him; when deprived of his father, comforted, animated,
aided him: when returning to Carthage, in pursuit of a higher
employment, supplied him with all necessaries.” “Lastly,”
says Augustin, “whatever ease I now enjoy, that I have escaped
the bonds of useless desires, that, laying aside the weight of dead
cares, I breathe, recover, return to myself, that with all
earnestness I am seeking the truth [Augustin wrote this the year
before his baptism], that I am attaining it, that I trust wholly to
arrive at it, you encouraged, impelled, effected” (C.
Acad. ii. 2). Augustin had “cast him headlong with himself”
(as so many other of his friends) into the Manichæan heresy
(ibid. i. sec. 3), and it is to be hoped that he extricated
him with himself; but we only learn positively that he continued to
be fond of the works of Augustin (Ep. 27), whereas in that
which he dedicated to him (C. Acad.), Augustin writes very
doubtingly to him, and afterwards recommends him to Paulinus, “to
be cured wholly or in part by his conversation” (Ep.
27).—E. B. P. | our townsman, an intimate friend of
mine from his childhood, whom grave business matters had then
brought up to Court; who was the most earnest of us all for this
project, and whose voice was of great weight in commending it,
because his estate was far more ample than that of the rest. We had
arranged, too, that two officers should be chosen yearly, for the
providing of all necessary things, whilst the rest were left
undisturbed. But when we began to reflect whether the wives which
some of us had already, and others hoped to have, would permit
this, all that plan, which was being so well framed, broke to
pieces in our hands, and was utterly wrecked and cast aside. Thence
we fell again to sighs and groans, and our steps to follow the
broad and beaten ways475
of the world; for many thoughts
were in our heart, but Thy counsel standeth for ever.476
Out of which
counsel Thou didst mock ours, and preparedst Thine own, purposing
to give us meat in due season, and to open Thy hand, and to fill
our souls with blessing.477
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