Letter 79
It's human nature that people who stammer end up talking more — they keep going out of embarrassment at their own stumbling. That's my situation: I have an overwhelming urge to write, even when I've run out of things to say.
Two messengers were leaving at the same time, and I didn't think it would be proper to waste a double opportunity on a single letter. Whether this makes me a chatterbox or simply dutiful — that's for you to judge. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
Related Letters
1. I write to remind you of the request which I made to you as a sincere friend when you were here, that you would not refuse to send a letter of mine to our holy brother and fellow presbyter Jerome; in order, moreover, to let your Charity know in what terms you ought to write to him on my behalf. I have sent a copy of my letter to him, and of h...