Letter 15: We received Cardamas with the joy of love and the blessing of sweetness, bringing us every good thing — letters that...

Paulinus to Amandus, his holy, deservedly venerable, and most beloved brother. We received Cardamas in the joy of charity and the blessing of sweetness, as he brought us every good thing: a letter that betokened your good health, gladdening our hearts and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, whose sweetness penetrated our inmost parts like oil. Our humbled bones rejoiced, and in a voice of exultation we said to the Lord: We have received, O God, your mercy, by which you have delivered the poor man from the mighty one and the lowly from the hand of one stronger than he. From every side reasons for thanksgiving rushed together into our soul: that we were receiving your letter, that we proved you mindful of us, that we heard you were safe and sound according to our wish, that we learned that our lord and father [Delphinus, bishop of Bordeaux] had been healed of a grave and long illness. We were equally gladdened over both of you, because, just as one and the same tribulation that had worn him down in body had worn you down in heart, so too one and the same visitation that had brought him divine aid upon his bed of pain had brought you the refreshment of relief upon your couch of fellow-suffering. Yet nonetheless, as we considered his sicknesses, our affection also pricked your heart, in that during that time of your tribulation we had perhaps been healthy and even glad. But thanks be to the Lord, who relaxes the guilt of ignorance and did not deal with us as we deserved, anticipating our sadness with cause for rejoicing, when he deigned so to provide that we should learn of the flight of your sickness by the very same messenger who would at the same time announce also the return of your health. What shall I say of that work of your holiness, by which you have contributed as much to us toward the increase of present grace as to yourselves toward the abundance of eternal reward? I mean the matter of the holy presbyter Basilius, whose mourning you turned into joy, and whose old age you set at rest in plentiful mercy. There has been made in his tabernacle a voice of gladness and salvation, and he does not cease, rejoicing together with his whole household, to bless the Lord with the harmonious thanksgivings of the church, who looked upon his lowliness and bound up his afflictions and overwhelmed with confusion those who rejoiced at his misfortunes, but girded him himself, the sackcloth of his sadness torn away, with the vigor of gladness. Wherefore on behalf of these our brothers, whose entreaty we had earlier requested, we now ask your oneness of mind that you love them beyond your accustomed affection, and if perhaps they themselves should come, as they are wont, to Bordeaux, that you render thanks to them in person, on account of the affection of our feelings and of our heart. Or if the opportunity to do so be slow, then, when the first occasion presents itself, deign to send them the thanksgiving owed and the deserved blessing for their work, so that they may know and understand how acceptable a sacrifice they have offered to God by this obedience of their faith, with which they received our petition, made entreatable through your intervention, granting us indeed present joy by their devotion, but providing for their own salvation an eternal benefit. For even though they did but their duty in acknowledging justice, in ordering that what belonged to another be restored, nevertheless they are worthy to have grace bestowed on them generously, on account of that very affection of good will by which they were able to transgress and yet did not transgress, and preferred to do what was expedient rather than what was permitted, and because they deigned to obey us with so absolute and pure a heart that there could be no disputing about their kindness, since they ordered that his house be restored to the holy presbyter without difficulty, even though they did not acknowledge it as his own, so that, if he could not possess it by his own right, he might nonetheless possess it by their gift. Nor did they lose the favor of this most holy generosity; for that most holy man himself, for whom the Lord, according to his merit, provided you as intercessors, gives thanks and proclaims it as though he had received an undeserved gift. But we have for the moment deferred replying to these our brothers, because, through their men who pass to and fro rather often from Campania, more suitable occasions will not be lacking, which may straightway be directed to them, wherever they are. Concerning Cardamas himself we profess that we owe no small thanks to your oneness of mind, since we received him advanced not only in his ministry but also progressing in spirit. For when he arrived during the days of Lent, and we had received him with brotherly affection as a cleric, he did not shun the daily fasts, and as an evening guest he did not shrink from our poor little table, and, what is more remarkable, he was content with our cups, so that we understood that he had been corrected, as indeed he has, in your presence, being trained according to the Apostle, and now made drunk not on the bushel but on a little wine, by which the belly is not distended but the heart is gladdened, made drunk unto sobriety, with a spiritual surfeit belching forth to God a hymn, which he chants not with the speaking mouth alone but also with the silent heart, he who receives the will of the Lord with faithful hearing, recounts it with pious speech, and fulfills it with vigorous deed. Blessed be the Lord, who works wonders, who turns the rock into waters, who made Cardamas both a cleric, as we have seen, and sober, as we have believed. For as the Paschal solemnity recalled the days of midday meals, he began around noon to murmur to us, saying: My throat has dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue has cleaved to my jaws. My soul and my belly have fainted, and from hunger and thirst my bones have cleaved to my flesh. To him indeed it was answered: Son, endure in lowliness, and let not the cravings of the belly take hold of you, for man does not live by bread alone but by every word of God. But he, like a deaf man, was not hearing, and like deaf asps he stopped his ears against us, but in vain. He longed at midday to fill his belly, and no one gave him even a husk, until the day declined toward evening and, the hymn being said, however sad on account of the hunger of the midday meal, he was appeased with us by the refreshment of supper. But lest by joking at too great length we seem to do injury to his gravity, which now rejoices more in the dripping of little cups than in the drunkenness of streams, I shall speak in earnest about his interests: he asserts that his wife is feeble and therefore of no use to him. If this is so, I ask that some little servant be granted to him.

XV. SANCTO ET MERITO VENERABILI AC DILECTISSIMO FRATRI AMANDO PAVLINVS. Excepimus Cardamatem in gaudio caritatis et benedictione dulcedinis adferentem nobis omnia bona, litteras indices sanitatis uestrae laetificantes corda nostra et dulciores super mei et fauum, quarum suauitas sicut oleum penetrauit interiora nostra; exultauerunt ossa humiliata, et in uoce exultationis diximus domino: suscepimus, deus, misericordiam tuam, qua liberasti pauperem de potente et humilem de manu fortioris eius. concurrebant undique in animum causae gratulationum, quod accipiebamus litteras 6] (Luc. 16, 9). 13] Ps. 18, 9 et 11. 15] Ps. 50, 10. 16] Ps. 47, 10. 17] Ps. 71, 12. Ps. 31, 10 sec. Ps. Rom. 1 mcitate L et om. U 3 habiti ex habitati L 4 tui om. x 5 iuxtam U habitaculo F 6 pauperis Jiosw., pauperes FOPUx7 pauperibus LM sancti sui scripsi, sanctis aJV, sancti Rosw . 7 parauerunt] oro te ualere in domino add. PU, finit quaita add. 0, gratia di tecum ut est, in aeternum maueat, pat in do xpo dfiS uere uuianime merito uenerabilis et beatissime. am. finit epistula paulini eJTx add. X . FLMOPU . — incipit epistola uigesima prima ad eundem F, iteiu ad que supra - XXVI. L, ad eundem - XXXIIII • M, incipit ad eundem VI. 0, t* ad eundem VI. P, epistola sancti pauli episcopi ad amandum presbiterum ubi de sospitate eius et episcopi sui dalphini et graui languore detenti plurimum Ictus deo gratias agit et de quodam basilio ueuerabili presbitero in suo negotio ab eius intuitu sui adiuto, ubi etiam de epistolis transmissis et earum latore nimium gratulatur U 10 Paulinus] epistola XXI. add. F 16 exultationes O 17 quia LM liberas FPIJ 18 concurrebat 0 19 acciebamus U uestras, quod nostri memores probabamus, quod ad uotum nostrum audiebamus incolumes, quod domuum meum patrem nostrum ex graui et longa infirmitate sanatum cognoscebamus. de utroque uestrum pariter laetificati sumus, quia, qua eadem tribulatio quae illum corpore, te corde confecerat, ita et eadem uisitatio, quae illi diuinam opem supra lectum doloris, et tibi refrigerium securitatis in cubili conpassionis adtulerat. sed nihilominus cogitantes nos illius aegrimonias et animum tuum stimulabat noster affectus, quod in illo tribulationis uestrae tempore nos forsitan sani atque etiam laeti fuissemus. sed gratias domino, qui ignorantiae culpam relaxat nec, ut meruimus, fecit nobis, praeueniens tristitiam nostram gratulatione, cum ita prouidere dignatus est, ut aegritudinis uestrae fugam eodem indice nosceremus, qui pariter nuntiaret et reditum sanitatis. Quid de illo uestrae sanctitatis opere dicam, quo tantum nobis etiam ad praesentis gratiae cumulum quantum uobis ad mercedis aeternae copiam contulistis? id est de sancti presbyteri Basili negotio, cuius planctum. conuertistis in gaudium et senectutem conposuistis in misericordia uberi. facta est in tabernaculo eius uox laetitiae et salutis, neque cessat cum tota domo sua gaudens consonis ecclesiae gratulationibus benedicere dominum, qui respexerit humilitatem eius et religauerit contritiones eius et eos qui gratulabantur malis eius confusione perfuderit, ipsum uero conscisso tristitiae sacco laetitiae uigore praecinxerit. 6] Ps. 40, 4. 19] Ps. 29, 12. 20] Ps. 91, 11. 21] Ps. 117, 15. 23] (Luc. 1, 48). 25] (Ps. 146, 3; et 34, 26). (Ps. 29,12 sec. Ps. Rom. et uetus). 1 quod nos nostri M, quod uos nostri uel quos nostri fort . 2 incolomes 0 domnum LO, dominum cet . meum Ov, nostrum cet . 4 quia qua scripsi, quia OJ, quia sicut M v eadem] est add. OJ v 5 te le Rosw., et M, et eet . conficerat PU 6 super LM 10 uestri F i > 11 ignorantio (\' * m. 2) M, ignorantia L 12 metuimus F3 uobis F 13 est om. U 15 redditum PU 17 nobis FPU 19 basilii FLMU e 22 domu 0 23 respexit FPU 24 alligauerit M os L 26 praeciiuerat Ul Vnde pro ipsis fratribus nostris, quos ante rogari poposceramus, nunc unanimitatem uestram petimus, ut eos ultra solitum affectum diligatis et si forte ipsi Burdigalam, ut solent, uenerint, praesentibus gratias etiam de nostrorum sensuum ac uiscerum affectione reddatis. aut si tarda fuerit eorum copia, cum prima adfuerit occasio, dignamini eis gratulationem debitam et meritam benedictionem operis sui mittere, ut sciant et intellegant quam acceptum deo sacrificium dederint hac oboedientia fidei suae, quacum petitionem nostram in uestro interuentu exorabiles receperunt, nobis quidem gaudium praesens de sua deuotione praestantes, sed saluti suae aeternum commodum prouidentes. nam etsi debitum fecerint agnoscendo iustitiam, ut alienum reddi iuberent, tamen gratia largiter habenda digni sunt pro ipso bonae uoluntatis affectu, quo potuerunt transgredi et non sunt transgressi et maluerunt id facere, quod expediebat quam quod licebat, et quod tam absoluto et puro corde nobis parere dignati sunt, ut de beneficio eorum disputari non posset, quandoquidem domum suam sancto presbytero, etiamsi propriam non probaret, restitui tamen sine difficultate iusserunt, ut eam, si de suo iure non posset, de illorum tamen munere possideret. neque perdiderunt huius tam sanctae liberalitatis gratiam; nam uir ipse sanctissimus, cui dominus iuxta meritum uos \\interuentores prouidit, ita gratulatur et praedicat, tamquam indebitum munus acceperit. sed ipsis fratribus nostris modo respondere distulimus, quia per ipsorum homines saepius de Campania commeantes oportuniores occasiones non deerunt, quae statim ad ipsos, ubicumque sunt, dirigant. 15] (Eccli. 31, 10). * - 1 rogati (r r m . 2) M, rogare 0 2 petimus uestram U 3 solutum U 3 burdegalam LtM 4 de] dõ 0 6 affuerit PU, fuerit F 6 eius U 7 sui mittere] submittere LM 9 quacum scripsi, quaqua 0, cum qua FLMU, qua Pv in om. LM 11 salutis FPU 12 fecerunt LM 15 maluere FU 17 sunt om. FU 18 possit LM 22 liberalitatis v, libertatis M 27 opportuniores PU 28 dirigantur LM De Cardamate ipso non modicam nos unanimitati tuae gratiam debere profitemur, quem non solum ministerio prouectum sed et spiritu proficientem recepimus. nam cum in diebus Quadragesimae aduenisset et eum ut clericum fraterno excepissemus affectu, cotidiana ieiunia non refugit et pauperem mensulam uespertinus conuiua non horruit et, quod magis mirum est, calicibus nostris contentus fuit, ut intellegeremus illum apud sanctitatem uestram emendatum, sicut est, apostolo erudiri nec iam modio sed modico uino, quo non uenter distenditur, sed cor laetificatur, inebriari ad sobrietatem, spiritali crapula ructantem deo hymnum, quem non solo ore uocali, sed et tacito corde decantat, qui uoluntatem domini fideli recipit auditu, pio narrat eloquio et strenuo inplet effectu. benedictus dominus, qui facit mirabilia, qui conuertit rupem in aquas, Cardamatem et clericum fecit, ut uidimus, et sobrium, ut credidimus. nam ut sollemnitas paschalis reuocauit dies prandiorum, incipiebat nobis circa meridiem murmurare dicens: exaruit sicut testum guttur meum, et lingua mea adhaesit faucibus meis. defecit anima mea et uenter meus, et a fame et siti adhaeserunt ossa mea carni meae. respondebatur illi quidem: fili, in humilitate sustine, et concupiscentiae uentris non adprehendant te, quia non in pane solo uiuit homo sed in omni uerbo dei. ille autem sicut surdus non audiebat, et sicut aspides surdae obturabat nobis aures suas, sed frustra. ad prandium cupiebat inplere uentrem suum, et nemo 8] (I Tim. 5, 23). 14] Ps. 71, 18. Ps. 113, 8. 18] Ps. 21, 16. 20] Ps. 101, 6. 21] Eccli. 2, 4 et 23, 6. 23] Deut. 8, 3; Matth. 4, 4; Luc. 4, 4. 24] Ps. 57, 5. 26] (Luc. 15, 16). de 1 nos ona. FPU unianimitati 0 2 habere 0 3 et om. LM recipimus OPU 4 quadraginsimae 0 5 excepissimus 0 6 conuih uia L aborruit L, abhorruit M 8 emendato 0, e mandato v est Ov, ex cet, apostoli v medio U 10 inebria 0 11 diiö LM uocali LM, uocalis cet . 12 quo 0 13 affectu FU 15 facit 0 uidemus LM 16 credidimus 0, credimus cet . 17 reuocabat LM 18 testa (s in ras. L) LMv 20 et a] a M 21 equidem LM 22 concupiscentia v adprehendat 0, appraehendat v 23 solo pane FP,U XIVllII. Panlioi Nol. epistulae . 8 illi uel siliquam dabat, donec ad uesperum declinaret dies et hymno dicto quamlibet tristis de fame prandii placaretur nobis de refectione cenandi. sed ne diutius iocando uideamur iniuriam facere grauitati eius, quae iam stillicidiis poculorum magis laetatur quam in ebrietate riuorum, de commodis eius serio loquar: mulierem suam debilem et ideo inutilem sibi adserit. quod si ita est, peto ut ei aliquod mancipiolum praestetur.