Letter 1528
Isidore of Pelusium→Unknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: Theophilus
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore urges generosity now rather than having wealth seized by enemies later.
What you will often leave to your enemies against your will — give it willingly now. Turn necessity into generosity, so you will not weep over what cannot be undone. Send your possessions ahead into the ageless world, where they will be of use to you. The man who clutches his wealth here will find it claimed by enemies; the man who releases it in acts of mercy will find it waiting for him where neither moth nor thief can touch it.
Αὐα εἰοεπιυενπαηε ἐοτίαἴμγ. .--- δῶρ. δρίδι. εἰ . θυξ γ6] ποϊθπβ ἐπί πιὶςὶβ βθροπυμιεγο το φθογίβ, Β ἄα πυης νο]θΠ8, δἰηπ6 ποορϑϑιίδίο βοθΟΥΪβ ΔῸ Υἱῦ- (υἱἷς διυάΐαπι οἰῖοα,, πὸ πο ροηϊοηἀδ ἀθρίογοβ, ρεροδ)ϊθης5 ἰῃ υἱίϑιη : (6ΓΏΔΠ , Ο0η56- ᾳυλνῖβ σφ υ . ΟΧΙΥ. -- ΤΠΕΟΡΗ͂ΙΟ. Ἃ καὶ ἄχων πολλάχις ἐχθροῖς καταλείψεις, ἑχὼν δός" καὶ τὴν ἀνάγχην ποίησον φιλοτιμίαν, ἵνα μὴ ἀμεταμέλητα θρηνήσειας - ἀλλὰ προπέμψας αὑτὰ εἰς τὸν ἀγήρω αἰῶνα, ἕξεις χρησιμδύοντα.
◆
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: Theophilus
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore urges generosity now rather than having wealth seized by enemies later.
What you will often leave to your enemies against your will — give it willingly now. Turn necessity into generosity, so you will not weep over what cannot be undone. Send your possessions ahead into the ageless world, where they will be of use to you. The man who clutches his wealth here will find it claimed by enemies; the man who releases it in acts of mercy will find it waiting for him where neither moth nor thief can touch it.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.