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| To Rufinus.
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Letter
LXXXI. To Rufinus.
A friendly letter of remonstrance written by Jerome to
Rufinus on receipt of his version of the περὶ
᾽Αρχῶν see the preceding
letter). Being sent in the first instance to Pammachius this latter
treacherously suppressed it and thus put an end to all hope of the
reconciliation of the two friends. The date of the letter is 399 a.d.
1. That you have lingered some time at Rome your own
language shews. Yet I feel sure that a yearning to see your spiritual
parents2488
| 2488 Chromatius and
Eusebius of Aquileia. | would have drawn you to your
native country,2489
| 2489 Concordia, near
Aquileia. | had not grief
for your mother deterred you lest a sorrow scarce bearable away might
have proved unbearable at home.
As to your complaint that men listen only to the
dictates of passion and refuse to acquiesce in your judgement and mine;
the Lord is witness to my conscience that since our reconciliation I
have harboured no rancour in my breast to injure anyone; on the
contrary I have taken the utmost pains to prevent any chance occurrence
being set down to ill-will. But what can I do so long as everyone
supposes that he has a right to do as he does and thinks that in
publishing a slander he is requiting not originating a calumny? True
friendship ought never to conceal what it thinks.
The short preface to the books περὶ
᾽Αρχῶν which has been sent to me
I recognize as yours by the style. You know best with what intention it
was written; but even a fool can see how it must necessarily be
understood. Covertly or rather openly I am the person aimed at. I have
often myself feigned a controversy to practise declamation.2490
| 2490 See the introduction
to Letter CXVII. | Thus I might now recall this well-worn
artifice and praise you in your own method.2491
But far be it from me to imitate what I blame in you. In fact I have so
far restrained my feelings that I make no charge against you, and,
although injured, decline for my part to injure a friend. But another
time, if you wish to follow any one, pray be satisfied with your own
judgement. The objects which we seek are either good or bad. If they
are good, they need no help from another; and if they are bad, the fact
that many sin together is no excuse. I prefer thus to expostulate with
you as a friend rather than to give public vent to my indignation at
the wrong I have suffered. I want you to see that when I am reconciled
to anyone I become his sincere friend and do not—to borrow a
figure from Plautus2492
| 2492 Plautus, Aul. ii.
2, 18. | —while
offering him bread with one hand, hold a stone in the other.
2. My brother Paulinian has not yet returned from home
and I fancy that you will see him at Aquileia at the house of the
reverend pope Chromatius.2493
| 2493 Paulinian (of
whose ordination an account is given in Letter LI.) had been sent to
Italy by Jerome in a.d. 398 partly to
counteract the proceedings of Rufinus and partly to sell the family
property at Stridon (see Letter LXVI. § 14.) | I am also
sending the reverend presbyter Rufinus2494
| 2494 Rufinus the
Syrian, to be carefully distinguished from his more famous namesake (to
whom this letter is addressed) of Aquileia. He was a monk in
Jerome’s monastery at Bethlehem. | on business to Milan by way of Rome, and
have requested him to communicate to you my feelings and respects. I am
sending the same message to the rest of my friends; lest, as the
apostle says, ye bite and devour one another, ye be consumed one of
another.2495
It only remains for you and your
friends to shew your moderation by giving no offence to those who are
disinclined to put up with it. For you will hardly find everyone like
me. There are few who can be pleased with pretended eulogies.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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