Augustine

Question 1

Inde sermo eius devolutus est ad monasteriorum greges et mores suaveolentiae tuae et ubera deserta heremi, quorum nos nihil sciebamus. Et erat monasterium Mediolanii plenum bonis fratribus extra urbis moenia sub Ambrosio nutritore, et non noveramus. Pertendebat ille et loquebatur adhuc, et nos intenti tacebamus.

Answer 1

Then his story got around to the flocks of the monasteries and their customs a sweet fragrance to you and the fertile barrenness of the desert, of which we know nothing. And there was a monastery in Milan full of good brothers it was outside the city walls with Ambrose as its carer, and we did not know it. And he was continuing to speak thus and we were listening in attentive silence.

Question 2

Unde incidit ut diceret nescio quando se et tres alios contubernales suos, nimirum apud Treveros, cum imperator promeridiano circensium spectaculo teneretur, exisse deambulatum in hortos muris contiguos atque illic, ut forte combinati spatiabantur, unum secum seorsum et alios duos itidem seorsum pariterque digressos; sed illos vagabundos inruisse in quandam casam ubi habitabant quidam 10 servi tui spiritu pauperes, qualium est regnum caelorum, et invenisse ibi codicem in quo scripta erat vita Antonii.

Answer 2

from there he began to tell us about some time or another when he and his three other comrades, at Trier for a matter of fact, when the emperor was held by the morning show at the circus went off in order to walk in the gardens near the walls. and there, as they chanced to walk two by two, one separately with him and the other two in the same way apart wandered off on their own; but as they were wandering, these two came upon a certain cottage where some of your servants, poor in spirit, of those to whom belongs the kingdom of Heaven, were living and found there a book in which was written the life of Anthony.

Question 3

Quam legere coepit unus eorum et mirari et accendi, et inter legendum meditari arripere talem vitam et relicta militia saeculari servire tibi. Erant autem ex eis quos dicunt agentes in rebus. Tum subito repletus amore sancto et sobrio pudore, iratus sibi, coniecit oculos in amicum et 15 ait illi, “dic, quaeso te, omnibus istis laboribus nostris quo ambimus pervenire? Quid quaerimus? Cuius rei causa militamus? Maiorne esse poterit spes nostra in palatio quam ut amici imperatoris simus? Et ibi quid non fragile plenumque periculis? Et per quot pericula pervenitur ad grandius periculum? Et quando istuc erit? Amicus autem Dei, si voluero, ecce nunc fio.”

Answer 3

One of them began to read it and to become amazed and to be kindled, and while reading, he meditated on seizing such a life and giving up his secular military service to serve you. But they were from a group whom they call special agents/military officers. Then suddenly having been filled up with a holy love and sober shame, angry with himself, he cast his eyes on his friend and said to him ‘Tell me, I beseech you, in all these works of ours what are we striving to attain? What are we seeking? For whose cause are we fighting? Can our hopes in the palace rise higher than to be friends of the emperor? And is there anything there which is not fragile and full of dangers? And through how many dangers should we pass to reach a greater danger? And when will this be? But if I wish to be a friend of God, look I become one now.’

Question 4

Dixit hoc et turbidus 20 parturitione novae vitae reddidit oculos paginis. Et legebat et mutabatur intus, ubi tu videbas, et exuebatur mundo mens eius, ut mox apparuit. Namque dum legit et volvit fluctus cordis sui, infremuit aliquando et discrevit decrevitque meliora, iamque tuus ait amico suo, “ego iam abrupi me ab illa spe nostra et Deo servire statui, et hoc ex hac hora, in hoc loco aggredior. Te si piget imitari, noli adversari.”

Answer 4

So he spoke and struggling to give birth to a new life he turned his eyes back to the pages. And he was reading and internally changed, where you were looking, and his mind was shaking off the world, as soon became clear. For while he was reading and reflecting on his heart’s fluctuations, he raged at himself sporadically and he determined and decided on a better course, and now he is yours and says to his friend, ‘now I have broken myself free from these hopes of ours and I am determined to serve God, and I enter into this from this time in this place. If it troubles you to imitate, do not oppose me.’

Question 5

Respondit ille adhaerere se socium tantae mercedis tantaeque militiae. Et ambo iam tui aedificabant turrem sumptu idoneo relinquendi omnia sua et sequendi te. Tunc Ponticianus et qui cum eo per alias horti partes deambulabat, quaerentes eos, devenerunt in eundem locum et invenientes admonuerunt ut redirent, quod iam declinasset dies. at illi, narrato placito et proposito suo quoque modo in eis talis
30 voluntas orta esset atque firmata, petiverunt ne sibi molesti essent si adiungi recusarent. Isti autem nihilo mutati a pristinis fleverunt se tamen, ut dicebat, atque illis pie congratulati sunt, et commendaverunt se orationibus eorum et trahentes cor in terra abierunt in palatium, illi autem affigentes cor caelo manserunt in casa. Et habebant ambo sponsas quae, posteaquam hoc audierunt, dicaverunt etiam
35 ipsae virginitatem tibi.

Answer 5

His friend responded that he would stick close to his companion in pursuit of such a prize and such a military contest. And now they both belong to you and were building a tower with sufficient expense by giving up everything and following you. Then Ponticianus and his companion who had walked with him in the other part of the garden searching for them came to the same place and finding them warned/advised them to return because the day was now declining. But they, relating their resolution and proposition, and how their choice had arisen and become settled, they requested that if they declined to join them that they would not be irksome to them. But they changed not at all from their former course still wept, as he (Pont) says, and congratulated them sincerely, and committed themselves to their prayers and dragging their heart in the dust left for the palace, but the others fixing their heart on the heavens, remained in the cottage. And both of them had brides who, after they heard this, also dedicated their virginities to you.