Letter 7: How do you think I felt when a rumor swept through town that you were battling a dangerous — possibly catastrophic —...
Letter 7: A False Rumor
[1] To Theodorus and his Sister
How do you think I felt in my heart's depths when the rumor was spread about town that you were struggling with a dangerous or even worse than dangerous attack of ophthalmia, and that you were threatened with the loss of your eyesight? [2] Soon, however, the story was proved false. I suppose some downright rascal took advantage of the word ophthalmia in order grossly to exaggerate the report and to make out a tragic situation. May all that he said falsely about you return upon his own head! God be praised that he has granted us to hear better news of you! [3] But after all, do you expect us, as the proverb goes, to read news of you in the stars? Or to find out what rumor has to say? We ought indeed to have you with us, but failing that, we might at least be favored with letters from you, and learn about your own affairs from yourself. You really neglect us too much. Perchance it is God that so wills it.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
Related Letters
I greatly admire the courage of the celebrated Paul — how even when he was on trial, he gave public addresses, and...
You have opened the door to correspondence late.
I interrupt your busy schedule with my steady stream of letters — partly because I enjoy this kind of exchange...
Augustine to Eusebius, my excellent lord and brother, greetings.
1. The good works which spring from the grace of Christ in you have given you a claim to be esteemed by us His members, and have made you as truly known and as much beloved by us as you could be. For even were I daily seeing your face, this could add nothing to the completeness of the acquaintance with you which I now have, when in the shining l...