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Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

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To <strong>The</strong>odorus.<br />

Letter CXXIV. 2406<br />

It is sometimes said that slaves to the passion of love, when by some inevitable necessity<br />

they are separated from the object of their desire, are able to stay the violence of their passion<br />

by indulging the sense of sight, if haply they can look at the picture of the beloved object.<br />

Whether this be true or not I cannot say; but what has befallen me in your case, my friend,<br />

is not very different. I have felt a disposition towards your godly <strong>and</strong> guileless soul, somewhat,<br />

if I may so say, of the nature of love; but the gratification of my desire, like that of all other<br />

blessings, is made difficult to me by the opposition of my sins. However, I have seemed to<br />

see a very good likeness of you in the presence of my very reverend brothers. And if it had<br />

been my lot to fall in with you when far away from them, I should have fancied that I saw<br />

them in you. For the measure of love in each of you is so great, that in both of you there is<br />

a plain contest for the superiority. I have thanked God for this. If any longer life be left me,<br />

I pray that my life may be made sweet through you, just as now I look on life as a wretched<br />

thing to be avoided, because I am separated from the companionship of those I love best.<br />

For, in my judgment, there is nothing in which one can be cheerful when cut off from those<br />

who truly love us.<br />

2406 Placed in 373.<br />

To <strong>The</strong>odorus.<br />

563

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