Letter 158
To Chryso-.
Odysseus, after receiving from Aeolus the stored-up winds, was approaching rocky Ithaca and could already hear the sounds of home — when his companions, thinking the bag held treasure, untied it and unleashed a storm that blew them back across the sea.
Something similar has happened to me. I was on the very point of coming to visit you when circumstances conspired to blow me off course. The visit that seemed so close has become impossible. Forgive me — I will try again when the winds are more favorable.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
Related Letters
Rusticus, a young monk of Toulouse, (to be carefully distinguished from the recipient of Letter CXXII.) is advised by Jerome not to become an anchorite but to continue in a community. Rules are suggested for the monastic life and a vivid picture is drawn of the difference between a good monk and a bad. Incidentally Jerome indulges his spleen aga...
1. The holy presbyter Innocentius, who is the bearer of this letter, did not last year take with him a letter from me to your Eminences, as he had no expectation of returning to Africa. We thank God, however, that it so happened, as it afforded you an opportunity of overcoming [evil with good in requiting] our silence by your letter.