Letter V.
To Florentius.
Written a few months after the preceding (about the end
of 374 a.d.) from the Syrian Desert. After
dilating on his friendship for Florentius, and making a passing
allusion to Rufinus, Jerome mentions certain books, copies of which he
desires to be sent to him. He also speaks of a runaway slave about whom
Florentius had written to him.
1. Your letter, dear friend, finds me dwelling in that
quarter of the desert which is nearest to Syria and the Saracens. And
the reading of it rekindles in my mind so keen a desire to set out for
Jerusalem that I am almost ready to violate my monastic vow in order to
gratify my affection. Wishing to do the best I can, as I cannot come in
person I send you a letter instead; and thus, though absent in the
body, I come to you in love and in spirit.75
For my
earnest prayer is that our infant friendship, firmly cemented as it is
in Christ, may never be rent asunder by time or distance. We ought
rather to strengthen the bond by an interchange of letters. Let these
pass between us, meet each other on the way, and converse with us.
Affection will not lose much if it keeps up an intercourse of this
kind.
2. You write that our brother, Rufinus, has not yet come
to you. Even if he does come it will do little to satisfy my longing,
for I shall not now be able to see him. He is too far away to come
hither, and the conditions of the lonely life that I have adopted
forbid me to go to him. For I am no longer free to follow my own
wishes. I entreat you, therefore, to ask him to allow you to have the
commentaries of the reverend Rhetitius,76
| 76 A man of some note, as
he was one of the commissioners appointed by Constantine in 313 a.d. to settle the points of issue between the
Catholics and the Donatists. Jerome criticises his commentary on the
Song of Songs in Letter XXXVII. |
bishop of Augustodunum,77
copied, in which he
has so eloquently explained the Song of Songs. A countryman of the
aforesaid brother Rufinus, the old man Paul,78
| 78 See the introd. to
Letter X. |
writes that Rufinus has his copy of Tertullian, and urgently requests
that this may be returned. Next I have to ask you to get written on
paper by a copyist certain books which the subjoined list79
will show you that I do not possess. I beg
also that you will send me the explanation of the Psalms of David, and
the copious work on Synods of the reverend Hilary,80
| 80 I.e. Hilary of
Poitiers. |
which I copied for him81
at Trêves with
my own hand. Such books, you know, must be the food of the Christian
soul if it is to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night.82
Others you welcome beneath your roof, you cherish and
comfort, you help out of your own purse; but so far as I am concerned,
you have given me everything when once you have granted my request. And
since, through the Lord’s bounty, I am rich in volumes of the
sacred library,83
you may command me in turn. I will
send you what you please; and do not suppose that an order from you
will give me trouble. I have pupils devoted to the art of copying. Nor
do I merely promise a favor because I am asking one. Our brother,
Heliodorus,84
| 84 See the introd. to
Letter XIV. |
tells me that there are many parts
of the Scriptures which you seek and cannot find. But even if you have
them all, affection is sure to assert its rights and to seek for itself
more than it already has.
3. As regards the present master of your slave—of
whom you have done me the honor to write—I have no doubt but that
he is his kidnapper. While I was still at Antioch the presbyter,
Evagrius, often reproved him in my presence. To whom he made this
answer: “I have nothing to fear.” He declares that his
master has dismissed him. If you both want him, he is here; send him whither you will. I think I am not
wrong in refusing to allow a runaway to stray farther. Here in the
wilderness I cannot myself execute your orders; and therefore I have
asked my dear friend Evagrius to push the affair vigorously, both for
your sake and for mine. I desire your welfare in Christ.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
