The Letters of St. Jerome 33
33.0 To Paula PL 22, 446
A fragment of a letter in which Jerome institutes a comparison between the industry as writers of M. T. Varro and Origen. It is noteworthy as passing an unqualified eulogium upon Origen, which contrasts strongly with the tone adopted by the writer in subsequent years (see, e.g., Letter LXXXIV.). Its date is probably 384 a.d.
33.1 To Paula PL 22, 446
1. Antiquity marvels at Marcus Terentius Varro, because of the countless books which he wrote for Latin readers; and Greek writers are extravagant in their praise of their man of brass, because he has written more works than one of us could so much as copy. But since Latin ears would find a list of Greek writings tiresome, I shall confine myself to the Latin Varro. I shall try to show that we of to-day are sleeping the sleep of Epimenides, and devoting to the amassing of riches the energy which our predecessors gave to sound, if secular, learning.
Varro et Chalcenterus copiosissimi Scriptores. --Marcum Terentium Varronem miratur Antiquitas, quod apud Latinos tam innumerabiles libros scripserit. Graeci Chalcenterum miris efferunt laudibus, quod tantos libros composuerit, quantos quivis nostrum alienos sua manu describere non possit. Et quia nunc otiosum est apud Latinos, Graecorum voluminum indicem texere, de eo qui latine scripsit, aliqua commemorabo; ut intelligamus nos Epimenidis dormire somnum, et studium quod illi posuerunt in eruditione saecularium scripturarum, nos in congregandis opibus ponere.
33.2 PL 22, 447
2. Varro’s writings include forty-five books of antiquities, four concerning the life of the Roman people.
Scripsit itaque Varro quadraginta quinque libros Antiquitatum: quatuor de vita populi Romani . . . . .
33.3 PL 22, 447
3. But why, you ask me, have I thus mentioned Varro and the man of brass? Simply to bring to your notice our Christian man of brass, or, rather, man of adamant—Origen, I mean—whose zeal for the study of Scripture has fairly earned for him this latter name. Would you learn what monuments of his genius he has left us? The following list exhibits them. His writings comprise thirteen books on Genesis, two books of Mystical Homilies, notes on Exodus, notes on Leviticus, * * * * also single books, four books on First Principles, two books on the Resurrection, two dialogues on the same subject.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Origenes. --Quorsum Varronis, et Chalcenteri mentio facta sit quaeritis? Videlicet, ut ad Adamantium, nostrumque Chalcenterum veniamus: qui tanto studio in sanctarum Scripturarum labore sudavit, ut juste Adamantii nomen acceperit. Vultis nosse quanta ingenii sui reliquerit monimenta? sequens titulus ostendit. 154 Scripsit in Genesim libros tredecim. Mysticarum Homiliarum libros duos. In Exodum Excerpta. In Leviticum Excerpta . . . . . . Item Monobiblia. Περὶ Αρκῶν libros quatuor. De Resurrectione libros duos. Et alios de Resurrectione dialogos duos . . . .
33.4 PL 22, 447
4. So, you see, the labors of this one man have surpassed those of all previous writers, Greek and Latin. Who has ever managed to read all that he has written? Yet what reward have his exertions brought him? He stands condemned by his bishop, Demetrius, only the bishops of Palestine, Arabia, Phenicia, and Achaia dissenting. Imperial Rome consents to his condemnation, and even convenes a senate to censure him, not—as the rabid hounds who now pursue him cry—because of the novelty or heterodoxy of his doctrines, but because men could not tolerate the incomparable eloquence and knowledge which, when once he opened his lips, made others seem dumb.
Videtisne, et Graecos pariter, et Latinos unius labore superatos? Quis enim unquam tanta legere potuit, quanta ipse conscripsit? Porro hoc sudore quid accepit pretii? Damnatur a Demetrio Episcopo, exceptis Palestinae, et Arabiae, et Phoenicis atque Achaiae Sacerdotibus. In damnationem ejus consentit urbs Romana: ipsa contra hunc cogit senatum, non propter dogmatum novitatem, non propter haeresim, ut nunc adversus eum rabidi canes simulant: sed quia gloriam eloquentiae ejus, et scientiae ferre non poterant, et illo dicente, omnes muti putabantur.
33.5 PL 22, 447
5. I have written the above quickly and incautiously, by the light of a poor lantern. You will see why, if you think of those who to-day represent Epicurus and Aristippus.
Haec quare scripserim, et ad pauperis lucernae igniculum, cito sermone, sed non cauto dictaverim, potestis intelligere, si Epicuros et Aristipos cogitetis.