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11. These things we, who lived like friends together, jointly
deplored, but chiefly and most familiarly did I discuss them with
Alypius and Nebridius, of whom Alypius was born in the same town as
myself, his parents being of the highest rank there, but he being
younger,than I. For he had studied under me, first, when I taught
in our own town, and afterwards at Carthage, and esteemed me highly,
because I appeared to him good and learned; and I esteemed him for
his innate love of virtue, which, in one of no great age, was
sufficiently eminent. But the vortex of Carthaginian customs
(amongst whom these frivolous spectacles are hotly followed) had
inveigled him into the madness of the Circensian games. But while he
was miserably tossed about therein, I was professing rhetoric there,
and had a public school. As yet he did not give ear to my teaching,
on account of some ill-feeling that had arisen between me and his
father. I had then found how fatally he doted upon the circus, and
was deeply grieved that he seemed likely if, indeed, he had not
already done so to cast away his so great promise. Yet had I no
means of advising, or by a sort of restraint reclaiming him, either by
the kindness of a friend or by the authority of a master. For I
imagined that his sentiments towards me were the same as his father's;
but he was not such. Disregarding, therefore, his father's will in
that matter, he commenced to salute me, and, coming into my
lecture-room, to listen for a little and depart.
12. But it slipped my memory to deal with him, so that he should
not, through a blind and headstrong desire of empty pastimes, undo so
[great a wit. But Thou, O Lord, who governest the helm of all
Thou hast created, hadst not forgotten him, who was one day to be
amongst Thy sons, the President of Thy sacrament; and that his
amendment might plainly be attributed to Thyself, Thou broughtest it
about through me, but I knowing nothing of it. For one day, when I
was sitting in my accustomed place, with my scholars before me, he
came in, saluted me, sat himself down, and fixed his attention on the
subject I was then handling. It so happened that I had a passage in
hand, which while I was explaining, a simile borrowed from the
Circensian games occurred to me, as likely to make what I wished to
convey pleasanter and plainer, imbued with a biting jibe at those whom
that madness had enthralled. Thou knowest, O our God, that I had
no thought at that time of curing Alypius of that plague. But he took
it to himself, and thought that I would not have said it but for his
sake. And what any other man would have made a ground of offence
against me, this worthy young man took as a reason for being offended
at himself, and for loving me more fervently. For Thou hast said it
long ago, and written in Thy book, "Rebuke a wise man, and he will
love thee." But I had not rebuked him, but Thou, who makest use
of all consciously or unconsciously, in that order which Thyself
knowest (and that order is right), wroughtest out of my heart and
tongue burning coals, by which Thou mightest set on fire and cure the
hopeful mind thus languishing. Let him be silent in Thy praises who
meditates not on Thy mercies, which from my inmost parts confess unto
Thee. For he upon that speech rushed out from that so deep pit,
wherein he was wilfully plunged, and was blinded by its miserable
pastimes; and he roused his mind with a resolute moderation; whereupon
all the filth of the Circensian pastimes flew off from him, and he did
not approach them further. Upon this, he prevailed with his reluctant
father to let him be my pupil. He gave in and consented. And
Alypius, beginning again to hear me, was involved in the same
superstition as I was, loving in the Manichaeans that ostentation of
continency which he believed to be true and unfeigned. It was,
however, a senseless and seducing continency, ensnaring precious
souls, not able as yet to reach the height of virtue, and easily
beguiled with the veneer of what was but a shadowy and feigned virtue.
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