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| To Paula.
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Letter XXXIII.
To Paula.
A fragment of a letter in which Jerome institutes a
comparison between the industry as writers of M. T. Varro and Origen.
It is noteworthy as passing an unqualified eulogium upon Origen, which
contrasts strongly with the tone adopted by the writer in subsequent
years (see, e.g., Letter LXXXIV.). Its date is probably 384 a.d.
1. Antiquity marvels at Marcus Terentius Varro,749
because of the countless books which he
wrote for Latin readers; and Greek writers are extravagant in their
praise of their man of brass,750
| 750 The epithet χαλκέντερος
, “heart of brass,” is applied by Suidas to the grammarian
Didymus, who, according to Athenæus, wrote 3,500 books. Of these
not one is extant. | because he has
written more works than one of us could so much as copy. But since
Latin ears would find a list of Greek writings tiresome, I shall
confine myself to the Latin Varro. I shall try to show that we of
to-day are sleeping the sleep of Epimenides,751
| 751 Which lasted 57
years. | and
devoting to the amassing of riches the energy which our predecessors
gave to sound, if secular, learning.
2. Varro’s writings include forty-five books of
antiquities, four concerning the life of the Roman people.
3. But why, you ask me, have I thus mentioned Varro and
the man of brass? Simply to bring to your notice our Christian man of
brass, or, rather, man of adamant752
| 752 ᾽Αδαμάντιος
—Origen is so called by Eusebius (H. E. vi. 14, 10). It appears
to have been his proper name. | —Origen,
I mean—whose zeal for the study of Scripture has fairly earned
for him this latter name. Would you learn what monuments of his genius
he has left us? The following list exhibits them. His writings comprise
thirteen books on Genesis, two books of Mystical Homilies, notes on
Exodus, notes on Leviticus, * * * * also single books,753
| 753 “They may have
been detached essays on particular subjects.”—Westcott. | four books on First Principles, two books
on the Resurrection, two dialogues on the same subject.754
| 754 All the works
mentioned have perished except the treatise on First Principles, and
this in its completeness is extant only in the Latin version of
Rufinus. The version made by Jerome has perished. |
* * * * * * * * * * *
4. So, you see, the labors of this one man have
surpassed those of all previous writers, Greek and Latin. Who has ever
managed to read all that he has written? Yet what reward have his
exertions brought him? He stands condemned by his bishop, Demetrius,755
| 755 Origen left Alexandria
for good in 231 a.d., and it was in that or
the following year that Demetrius convoked the synod which condemned
not so much his writings as his conduct. He appears to have been
excommunicated as a heretic. | only the bishops of Palestine, Arabia,
Phenicia, and Achaia dissenting. Imperial Rome consents to his
condemnation, and even convenes a senate to censure him,756
| 756 For Origen’s
condemnation in a synod held at Rome this passage is the principal
authority. It is more than doubtful whether such a synod ever met; if
it did it must have been when Pontianus was pope, in 231 or 232 a.d. Jerome may only mean that the great men of Rome
all agreed in this condemnation. | not—as the rabid hounds who now
pursue him cry—because of the novelty or heterodoxy of his
doctrines, but because men could not tolerate the incomparable
eloquence and knowledge which, when once he opened his lips, made
others seem dumb.
5. I have written the above quickly and incautiously, by
the light of a poor lantern. You will see why, if you think of those
who to-day represent Epicurus and Aristippus.757
| 757 Both these
philosophers were hedonists, and the latter was a sensualist as well.
Jerome is probably satirizing the worldly clergy of Rome, just as in
after-years he nicknames his opponent Jovinian “the Christian
Epicurus.” | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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