Letter 145: Public executioners commit no crime, for they are the servants of the laws: nor is the sword unlawful with which we punish criminals. But nevertheless, the public executioner is not a laudable character, nor is the death-bearing sword received joyfully. Just so neither can I endure to become hated by confirming the divorce by my hand and tongue.

Public executioners commit no crime — they are servants of the law. And a sword is not unlawful when it punishes the guilty. Yet for all that, no one praises the public executioner; no one welcomes joyfully a death-bearing sword. Just so, I cannot bring myself to become the instrument of hatred by confirming a divorce with my own hand and tongue. It is far better to be the means of union and friendship than of separation and the sundering of a life. I think this is precisely why our admirable governor placed this inquiry in my hands — because he knew I would not proceed to divorce abruptly or without feeling. He proposed me not as a judge but as a bishop, and placed me as a mediator in your difficult situation. I ask you, therefore, to make some allowance for my nature. If the better course prevails, use me gladly as the servant of your wish — I will receive such instructions with joy. But if the harsher and more cruel outcome is to be sought, then find someone more suited to your purpose. I cannot, for the sake of a friendship I greatly value, offend against God — to whom I must give account for every action and every thought. I will trust your daughter when she is able to set aside her fear of you and declare the truth plainly. As things stand, her condition is pitiable: her words she gives to you, and her tears she gives to her husband.

Ep. CXLV. To Verianus. Public executioners commit no crime, for they are the servants of the laws: nor is the sword unlawful with which we punish criminals. But nevertheless, the public executioner is not a laudable character, nor is the death-bearing sword received joyfully. Just so neither can I endure to become hated by confirming the divorce by my hand and tongue. It is far better to be the means of union and of friendship than of division and parting of life. I suppose it was with this in his mind that our admirable Governor entrusted me with the enquiry about your daughter, as one who could not proceed to divorce abruptly or unfeelingly. For he proposed me not as Judge, but as Bishop, and placed me as a mediator in your unhappy circumstances. I beg you therefore, to make some allowance for my timidity, and if the better prevail, to use me as a servant of your desire: I rejoice in receiving such commands. But if the worse and more cruel course is to be taken, seek for some one more suitable to your purpose. I have not time, for the sake of favouring your friendship (though in all respects I have the highest regard for you), to offend against God, to Whom I have to give account of every action and thought. I will believe your daughter (for the truth shall be told) when she can lay aside her awe of you, and boldly declare the truth. At present her condition is pitiable — for she assigns her words to you, and her tears to her husband. To Olympius. Ep. CXLVI. This is what I said as if by a sort of prophecy, when I found you favourable to every request, and was making insatiable use of your gentleness, that I fear I shall exhaust your kindness upon the affairs of others. For see, a contest of my own has come (if that is mine which concerns my own relations), and I cannot speak with the same freedom. First, because it is my own. For to entreat for myself, though it may be more useful, is more humiliating. And next, I am afraid of excess as destroying pleasure, and opposing all that is good. So matters stand, and I conjecture only too rightly. Nevertheless with confidence in God before Whom I stand, and in your magnanimity in doing good, I am bold to present this petition. Suppose Nicobulus to be the worst of men: — though his only crime is that through me he is an object of envy, and more free than he ought to be. And suppose that my present opponent is the most just of men. For I am ashamed to accuse before Your Uprightness one whom yesterday I was supporting: but I do not know if it will seem to you just that punishment should be demanded for one man's crimes from another, though these were quite strange to him, and had not even his consent; from the man who has so stirred his household and been so upset as to have surrendered to his accuser more readily than the latter wished. Must Nicobulus or his children be reduced to slavery as his persecutors desire? I am ashamed both of the ground of the persecution and of the time, if this is to be done while both you are in power and I have influence with you. Not so, most admirable friend, let not this be suggested to Your Integrity. But recognizing by the winged swiftness of your mind the malice from which this proceeds, and having respect to me your admirer, show yourself a merciful judge to those who are being disturbed — for today you are not merely judging between man and man, but between virtue and vice; and to this more consideration than by an ordinary man must be given by those who are like you in virtue and are skilful governors. And in return for this you shall have from me not only the matter of my prayers, which I know you do not, like so many men, despise; but also that I will make your government famous with all to whom I am known.