The Epistles of Cyprian 79
79 The Answer of Felix, Jader, Polianus, and the Rest of the Martyrs, to Cyprian PL 4, 422
Argument.—The Martyrs Above Spoken of Acknowledge with Gratitude the Assistance Sent to Them by Cyprian.
To our dearest and best beloved Cyprian, Felix, Jader, Polianus, together with the presbyters and all who are abiding with us at the mine of Sigua, eternal health in the Lord. We reply to your salutation, dearest brother, by Herennianus the sub-deacon, Lucian and Maximus our brethren, strong and safe by the aid of your prayers, from whom we have received a sum under the name of an offering, together with your letter which you wrote, and in which you have condescended to comfort us as if we were sons, out of the heavenly words. And we have given and do give thanks to God the Father Almighty through His Christ, that we have been thus comforted and strengthened by your address, asking from the candour of your mind that you would deign to have us in mind in your constant prayers, that the Lord would supply what is wanting in your confession and ours, which He has condescended to confer on us. Greet all who abide with you. We bid you, dearest brother, ever heartily farewell in God. I Felix wrote this; I Jader subscribed it; I Polianus read it. I greet my lord Eutychianus.
ARGUMENTI esse ejusdem cum praecedenti, verba ipsa epistolae demonstrant, atque adeo non Lucii Romani Pontificis, sed Lucii martyris et episcopi Africani epistola est, multo minus autem Cypriani ad Lucium Papam.
Cypriano fratri et collegae, Lucius et qui mecum sunt fratres, omnes in Domino salutem. Exultantibus nobis et laetantibus in Deo quod nos ad congressionem armaverit et in praelio victores sua dignatione fecerit, supervenerunt litterae tuae, frater charissime, quas per Herennianum hypodiaconum et Lucianum et Maximum et Amantium acolythos misisti nobis; quibus lectis, recipimus in vinculis laxamentum, in pressura solatium et in necessitate praesidium, et excitati sumus et robustius animati ad si quid amplius fuerit poenarum. Nam ante passionem a te sumus ad gloriam provocati, qui prior nobis ducatum ad confessionem nominis Christi praebuisti. Nos vero, secuti vestigia confessionis tuae, parem gratiam tecum speramus. Nam qui prior est in cursu prior est et ad praemium; et qui prior occupasti de quo coepisti, inde hoc nobis communicasti, demonstrans scilicet individuam charitatem, quia semper nos dilexisti; ut quibus unus fuit spiritus in conjunctione pacis, esset precum tuarum gratia et una corona confessionis.
Accessit autem tibi, frater charissime, ad confessionis coronam retributio operum abundans mensura, quam accipies a Domino in die remunerationis, qui et te nobis litteris tuis repraesentasti, ut pectus illud tuum candidum et beatum, quod semper novimus, manifestares, et secundum latitudinem ejus nobiscum laudes Deo diceres, non quantum nos meremur audire, sed quantum tu potes dicere. Tuis enim vocibus et quae minus in nobis instructa erant exornasti et coufirmasti ad sustentationem earumdem passionum quas patimur, securi de praemio coelesti et de corona martyrii et de regno Dei, ex prophetia quam litteris tuis Spiritu sancto plenus spopondisti. Hoc totum fiet, dilectissime, si nos orationibus tuis in mente habueris, quod te facere confido, sicut et nos utique facimus.
Accepimus itaque, frater desiderantissime, id quod a Quirino et a te ipso misisti sacrificium ex omni opere mundo. Sicut et Noe obtulit Deo, et delectatus est Deus in odorem suavitatis, et respexit in sacrificium ejus, ita et in vestrum respiciat et delectetur reddere vobis hujus tam boni operis mercedem. Peto autem ut litteras quas ad Quirinum fecimus transmitti praecipias. Opto te, frater charissime ac desiderantissime, semper bene valere et nostri meminisse. Saluta omnes qui tecum sunt. Vale.