|
16. Him, therefore, had I lighted upon at Rome, and he clung to
me by a most strong tie, and accompanied me to Milan, both that he
might not leave me, and that he might practise something of the law he
had studied, more with a view of pleasing his parents than himself.
There had he thrice sat as assessor with an uncorruptness wondered at
by others, he rather wondering at those who could prefer gold to
integrity. His character was tested, also, not only by the bait of
covetousness, but by the spur of fear. At Rome, he was assessor to
the Count of the Italian Treasury. There was at that time a most
potent senator, to whose favours many were indebted, of whom also many
stood in fear. He would fain, by his usual power, have a thing
granted him which was forbidden by the laws. This Alypius resisted;
a bribe was promised, he scorned it with all his heart; threats were
employed, he trampled them under foot, all men being astonished
at so rare a spirit, which neither coveted the friendship nor feared
the enmity of a man at once so powerful and so greatly famed for his
innumerable means of doing good or ill. Even the judge whose
councillor Alypius was, although also unwilling that it should be
done, yet did not openly refuse it, but put the matter off upon
Alypius, alleging that it was he who would not permit him to do it;
for verily, had the judge done it, Alypius would have decided
otherwise. With this one thing in the way of learning was he very
nearly led away, that he might have books copied for him at
praetorian prices. But, consulting justice, he changed his mind for
the better, esteeming equity, whereby he was hindered, more gainful
than the power whereby he was permitted. These are little things, but
"He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in
much." Nor can that possibly be void which proceedeth out of the
mouth of Thy Truth. "If, therefore, ye have not been faithful in
the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who
shall give you that which is your own?" He, being such, did at that
time cling to me, and wavered in purpose, as I did, what course of
life was to be taken.
17. Nebridius also, who had left his native country near
Carthage, and Carthage itself, where he had usually lived, leaving
behind his fine paternal estate, his house, and his mother, who
intended not to follow him, had come to Milan, for no other reason
than that he might live with me in a most ardent search after truth and
wisdom. Like me he sighed, like me he wavered, an ardent seeker
after true life, and a most acute examiner of the most abstruse
questions. So were there three begging mouths, sighing out their
wants one to the other, and waiting upon Thee, that Thou mightest
give them their meat in due season. And in all the bitterness which by
Thy mercy followed our worldly pursuits, as we contemplated the end,
why this suffering should be ours, darkness came upon us; and we
turned away groaning and exclaiming, "How long shall these things
be?" And this we often said; and saying so, we did not relinquish
them, for as yet we had discovered noth ing certain to which, when
relinquished, we might betake ourselves.
|
|