Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose 62
62.0 Letter LXII: To Theodosius, Urging Him To Be Merciful PL 16, 935
St. Ambrose excuses himself for having omitted an opportunity of writing to the Emperor, but is now sending a letter by the hands of a deacon, requesting forgiveness for some of Eugenius’ followers who had sought the protection of the Church, especially in consideration of the miraculous aid which had been vouchsafed to the Emperor.
Ambrose, to the Emperor Theodosius.
62.1 Letter LXII: To Theodosius, Urging Him To Be Merciful PL 16, 1188
1. Although I lately wrote to your Clemency even a second time, it did not seem to me that I had responded sufficiently to the duty of intercourse by answering as it were in turn, for I have been so bound by frequent benefits from your Clemency, that I cannot repay what I owe by any services, most blessed and august Emperor.
Quamvis proxime scripserim augustae clementiae tuae etiam secundo, mihi tamen non satis fuit velut pari vice sermonis officium reddidisse; cum beneficiis clementiae tuae tam frequentibus oppigneratus sim, ut nullis officiis possim compensare quae debeo, beatissime atque augustissime Imperator.
62.2 PL 16, 1188
2. And so just as the first opportunity was not to be lost by me, when, through your chamberlain, I was able to thank your Clemency and to pay the duty of an address, especially lest my not having written before should seem to have been owing to sloth rather than necessity, so, too, I had to seek some manner of rendering to your Piety my dutiful salutations.
Itaque ut prima occasio non praetermittenda fuit, qua per cubicularium tuum clementiae tuae gratias agerem, et alloquii mei officium 1022 repraesentarem; maximoe ne desidiae putaretur fuisse potius quam necessitatis, quod tempore superiore non scripserim. Itaque requirenda mihi causa fuit, qua pietati tuae deferrem debitum salutationis obsequium.
62.3 PL 16, 1188
3. And rightly do I send my son, the deacon Felix, to bear my letter, and, at the same time, to present to you my duty, in my place, and also a memorial on behalf of those who have fled to the Church, the Mother of your Piety, seeking mercy. I have been unable to endure their tears without anticipating by my entreaty the coming of your Clemency.
Merito autem ad praeferendam epistolam meam filium meum Felicem diaconum misi, simul ut mei vicem officii repraesentaret, memoratum quoque pro his qui ad matrem pietatis tuae Ecclesiam, petentes misericordiam, confugerunt; quorum lacrymas sustinere non potui, quin adventum clementiae tuae meis obsecrationibus praevenirem.
62.4 PL 16, 1188
4. It is a great boon that I ask, but I ask it from him to whom the Lord has granted great and unheard-of things, from him whose clemency I know, and whose piety I have as a pledge. For your victory is considered to have been granted to you after the ancient manner, and with the old miracles, a victory such as was granted to holy Moses, and holy Joshua, son of Nave, and Samuel, and David, not by human calculations, but by the outpouring of heavenly grace. Now we expect an equal amount of gentleness with that by virtue of which so great a victory has been gained.
Grande est quod petimus, sed ab eo cui Dominus inaudita et admiranda concessit, ab eo cujus clementiam novimus, et obsidem pietatem tenemus. Unde plus exspectare nos confitemur; quoniam ut te virtute vicisti, ita etiam tua te vincere debes pietate. Victoria enim tua antiquo more vetustisque miraculis, qualis sancto Moysi, et sancto Jesu Nave, et Samueli, atque David, non humana aestimatione, sed coelestis gratiae effusione tibi collata censetur: hic pietatem aequalem poscimus, cujus merito tanta victoria ipsa quaesita est.