Letter 260: Audax asks Augustine to send fuller letters.

To the truly praiseworthy lord, deeply respected father Augustine, to be followed with every kind of praise: Audax sends greetings in the Lord. I thank Your Blessedness for gladly taking up the trial of my speech. Sons of good faith are given boldness when they have been watered by the rains of a father's spring. So I challenged you, sweet bishop, not so that I might receive a tiny sip from an overgenerous heart, but so that I might drink deeply from the great river of a rich one. I desired the treasury of wisdom, but received less than I wished. Yet it should not be called less, but a gift, because Augustine has offered an oracle of law: consecrator of justice, restorer of spiritual glory, steward of eternal salvation. The worldly globe is as well known to you as it is marked by you; you are as recognized by it as you are approved by it. I therefore wish to be fed by the flowers of wisdom and watered by the draughts of the living spring. Give to one who desires what will surely help. Even the covering of a half-naked strength can become green again if it deserves to be enlarged gradually by your flowing streams. I promise the presence of my humility, not so much by pen as by desire, if I may read the writings of Your Venerability in place of seeing you. May divine mercy keep you for countless years, venerable lord. Why has the spring of the world flowed to me in such a small stream? Did it think my heart too narrow for its waters? Since my whole mind lies open to the flood and looks for the speaking help of religion, give welcome rains to my senses, the rains a faith full of Christ, hanging from his stock, awaits.

EPISTOLA 260 Scripta post a. 395. Audax Augustino, quaerens se de illius sapientiae thesauro minus accipere quam cupiat et flagitans prolixiores codicillos. DOMINO VERE PRAEDICABILI AC NIMIUM SUSPICIENDO, OMNIQUE LAUDUM GENERE PROSEQUENDO PATRI AUGUSTINO, AUDAX, IN DOMINO SALUTEM. 1. Habeo gratiam Beatitudini tuae, quod libenter mei sumpseris tentamenta sermonis: tunc enim bonae fidei filiis datur audacia, cum paterni fontis imbribus fuerit irrorata. Provocavi itaque te, dulcis antistes, non ut praelargi pectoris pusillum libamen acciperem, sed ut ingens divitis ubertim flumen haurirem. Thesaurum sapientiae desideravi, sed minus accepi quam volui, licet minus non debet dici, sed munus, quod oraculum legis contulerit Augustinus, sacrator iustitiae, instaurator spiritalis gloriae, dispensator salutis aeternae. Tam tibi mundanus orbis notus est, quam notatus; tam tu ei cognitus, quam probatus. Opto itaque sapientiae floribus pasci, et vivi fontis haustibus irrigari: praesta cupienti quod utique prosit. Potest enim seminudi roboris velamen genitale viridari, si meruerit tuis sensim fluentis augeri. Itaque humilitatis meae praesentiam spondeo non tam stilo quam voto, si Venerabilitatis tuae scripta pro visu, relegero. Divina te clementia tueatur annis innumeris, domine venerabilis. Cur mihi fons orbis parvo sermone meavit? An minus apta suis speravit corda fluentis? Cum pateat mens omnis aquis, spectetque loquacem Religionis opem gratos da sensibus imbres, Exspectat quos plena fides Christi de stipite pendens.