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14. Thence, when the time had arrived at which I was to give in my
name, having left the country, we returned to Milan. Alypius also
was pleased to be born again with me in Thee, being now clothed with
the humility appropriate to Thy sacraments, and being so brave a tamer
of the body, as with unusual fortitude to tread the frozen soil of
Italy with his naked feet. We took into our company the boy
Adeodatus, born of me carnal]y, of my sin. Well hadst Thou made
him. He was barely fifteen years, yet in wit excelled many grave and
learned men. I confess unto Thee Thy gifts, O Lord my God,
Creator of all, and of exceeding power to reform our deformities; for
of me was there naught in that boy but the sin. For that we fostered
him in Thy discipline, Thou inspiredst us, none other, Thy
gifts I confess unto Thee. There is a book of ours, which is
entitled The Master. It is a dialogue between him and me. Thou
knowest that all things there put into the mouth of the person in
argument with me were his thoughts in his sixteenth year. Many others
more wonderful did I find in him. That talent was a source of awe to
me. And who but Thou could be the worker of such marvels? Quickly
didst Thou remove his life from the earth; and now I recall him to
mind with a sense of security, in that I fear nothing for his
childhood or youth, or for his whole self. We took him coeval with us
in Thy grace, to be educated in Thy discipline; and we were
baptized, and solicitude about our past life left us. Nor was I
satiated in those days with the wondrous sweetness of considering the
depth of Thy counsels concerning the salvation of the human race. How
greatly did I weep in Thy hymns and canticles, deeply moved by the
voices of Thy sweet-speaking Church! The voices flowed into mine
ears, and the truth was poured forth into my heart, whence the
agitation of my piety overflowed, and my tears ran over, and blessed
was I therein.
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