Epistola Ad Valerium Comitem

Letter to Count Valerius, to whom Augustine sends the first book On Marriage and Concupiscence, inscribed to him. To the illustrious and most excellent lord, and in the love of Christ most dear son Valerius, Augustine sends greetings in the Lord. 1. Although I was long troubled that I had written several times and had merited no reply from your Sublimity, I suddenly received three letters from your Benignity: one given not to me alone through my fellow bishop Vindemialis, and not long after two through my fellow presbyter Firmus; that holy man, joined to us, as you could learn from him, by the most intimate charity, conversing much with us about your excellence and truthfully revealing what he knows you to be in the bowels of Christ, surpassed not only those letters which the aforementioned bishop brought, or which he himself brought, but also those which we complained we had not received. And therefore his account of you was sweeter to us, because he said those things which you yourself could not write back, even if I inquired, lest you become a proclaimer of your own praises, which holy Scripture forbids (Proverbs 27:2). Although I also fear to write these things to you, lest I incur the suspicion of flattery, illustrious and most excellent lord, and in the love of Christ most dear son.

Therefore, what delight and joy it was for me to hear your praises in Christ, or rather the praises of Christ in you, from that man who could neither deceive me because of his faithfulness, nor be ignorant of them because of your friendship. But we have also heard from others, although not so many or so certain, yet we have heard, how sound and Catholic your faith is, how pious your expectation of future things, how great your love of God and of the brethren, how you do not think arrogantly in high honors, nor place your hope in uncertain riches, but in the living God, and are rich in good works; how your house is a rest and solace for the saints, and a terror for the impious; how great is your care that no one should plot against the members of Christ, covered by the veil of the name of Christ, whether among its old or more recent enemies; and how provident you are for the salvation of those same enemies, and hostile to their error. These and similar things, as I said, we are accustomed to hear from others; but now we have learned them more fully and with more testimony through the aforementioned brother.

But concerning conjugal chastity, that we might also praise and love it in you, would we ever hear of it, unless from some intimate friend of yours, who knew your life not on the surface but deeply? Therefore, regarding this good of yours, a gift of God, it also pleases me to speak with you more intimately and at somewhat greater length. I know that I am not a burden to you if I send something lengthy, which, by your reading it, you will be with us longer. For I have also learned this, that among your many and great cares, you readily and willingly read, and take great delight in, our little works, even those we have written to others, if any have been able to come into your hands; how much more so what is written to you, where I will speak as if you were present, and you will deign to note it more attentively and receive it more gratefully! Therefore, from this letter proceed to the book, which I have sent along, which will more conveniently make known to your Reverence both why it was written and why it was sent especially to you, by its own beginning.