hope." I read, and glowed; nor found I what to do to those deaf and dead, of whom myself had been, a pestilent person, a bitter and a blind barker against those writings, which are honied with the honey of heaven, and luminous with Thine own light: and I "consumed away" over the enemies of this Scripture.

When shall I recall all which passed in those days of leisure? Yet neither have I forgotten, nor will I pass over the severity of Thy scourge, and the wonderful swiftness of Thy mercy. Thou didst at that time excruciate me with pain in my teeth; and when it had grown so bad, that I could not speak, it rose up into my heart to bid all my friends who were there, to pray for me to Thee, the God of all manner of health. And I wrote it on the waxen tablet, and gave it them to read. So soon as with suppliant devotion we had bent our knees, that pain fled. But what pain? or how fled it? I was afraid, I confess it, O my Lord, my God; for I had never, from my earliest age, suffered the like. Thus in this deep was Thy will discovered to me, and rejoicing in faith, I praised Thy Name. And that faith suffered me not to be at ease about my past sins, which had not yet been remitted to me by means of Thy Baptism.

CHAPTER V.

S. Ambrose advises him to study the prophecies of Isaiah which, as yet, were too hard for him.

WHEN

THEN the Vintage vacation was over, I intimated to the Milanese that they should appoint some other seller of words for their scholars, both because I had chosen to become Thy servant, and because I was no longer equal to that profession, by reason of the difficulty of breathing, and the pain in my chest. And by letters I signified to Thy Prelate, the holy man Ambrose, my former errors and present solemn purpose, that he might advise me what portion of Thy Books I ought especially to read, to become readier and fitter for receiving so great grace. He recom

mended Isaiah the Prophet: I believe, because he is clear, beyond others, in foretelling the Gospel and the calling of the Gentiles. But I, not understanding the first lesson of

this book, and imagining the whole to be like it, laid it by, to be resumed when more exercised in the Lord's inspired word.

CHAPTER VI.

His Baptism with Alypius and Adeodatus. The character of Adeodatus.

THE

`HENCE, when the time was come, wherein I was to give in my name, we left the country and returned to Milan. It pleased Alypius also to be with me born again in Thee, being already clothed with the humility befitting Thy Sacraments; and a most valiant tamer of the body, even to the point of treading barefoot, with unwonted daring, the icy soil of Italy. We joined with us the boy Adeodatus, the son, after the flesh, of my sin. Excellently hadst Thou made him. He was not quite fifteen, and in wit surpassed many grave and learned men. I confess unto Thee Thy gifts. O Lord my God, Creator of all, and abundantly able to reform our deformities: for I had no part in that boy, but the sin. For that we brought him up in Thy discipline, it was Thou, none else, had inspired us with it. I confess unto Thee Thy gifts. There is a book of ours entitled The Master; therein he converses with me. Thou knowest, that all which is there put into the mouth of my interlocutor were his ideas, in his sixteenth year. Much besides, and yet more admirable, I found in him. That talent struck awe into me. And who but Thou could be the artificer of such wonders? Soon didst Thou remove his life from the earth and I now remember him with the greater confidence, fearing nothing for his childhood or youth, nor for him at all.

Him we joined with us, to reckon his birth in Thy grace from the same time with us, to be brought up in Thy discipline; and we were baptised, and anxiety about our past life fled away. Nor was I sated in those days with the wondrous sweetness of considering the depth of Thy counsels concerning the salvation of mankind. How did I weep, in Thy Hymns and Canticles, sharply affected by the voices of Thy Church that sweetly resoundeth! Those tones flowed into mine ears, and the Truth distilled into my heart, whence the affections of my devotion overflowed, and tears ran down, and it was well with me with them.

CHAPTER VII.

The rise of Chanting at Milan. The Arian persecution under Justina stayed upon the discovery of the bodies of S. Gervasius and Protasius.

NOT

OT long had the Church of Milan begun to practise this kind of consolation and exhortation, the brethren giving great care to the tuneful harmony of voices and hearts. For it was a year, or not much more, since Justina, mother of the Emperor Valentinian, a child, persecuted Thy servant Ambrose, on account of her heresy, to which she had been seduced by the Arians. The devout people kept watch in the Church, ready to die with their Bishop Thy servant. There my mother Thy handmaid, bearing a chief part of those anxieties and watchings, lived in prayers. We, though as yet unmelted by the heat of Thy Spirit, were nevertheless excited by the alarm and tumult of the city. Then it was first instituted that according to the custom of the eastern regions, Hymns and Psalms should be sung, lest the people should faint through the fatigue of sorrow; and from that day to this the custom has been retained; and to-day many, indeed almost all Thy congregations throughout other parts of the world follow us herein.

Then didst Thou by a vision discover to Thy renowned Bishop, where the bodies of Gervasius and Protasius the martyrs lay hid, which Thou hadst in Thy secret treasury kept hidden, and incorrupt throughout so many years, whence Thou mightest in due season bring them forth, to stay this feminine but royal fury. For when they were discovered and dug up, and with fitting honour translated to the Ambrosian Basilica, not only were those whom unclean spirits vexed cured, and the devils made to confess themselves, but a certain man, who had for many years been blind, a citizen, and well known throughout the city, as soon as he had enquired and heard the reason of the tumultuous rejoicing of the people, leaped up, and begged his guide to lead him thither. When led there he entreated to be admitted to touch with a handkerchief the bier of the "death of Thy Saints, precious in Thy sight" (Ps. cxvi. 5). And when he had done this, and put it to his eyes, they forthwith were opened. Thence did fame spread abroad; thence did Thy praises more brightly shine; thence the mind of that enemy,

though not enlarged to the soundness of faith, was yet restrained from the fury of persecution. Thanks to Thee, O my God. Whence and whither hast Thou thus led my remembrance, that I should confess these things also unto Thee, which, great though they be, I had passed by in forgetfulness? And yet then, when "the savour of Thy ointments" was so fragrant, did we not run after Thee" (Cant. i. 3, 4). Therefore did I weep the more at the singing of Thy hymns, who once panted after Thee, and at length breathed in Thee, as far as breath of life can gain access to this our house of grass.

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CHAPTER VIII.

He relates the incidents of his mother's early life and education.

THOU

HOU" that makest men of one mind to dwell in one house (Ps. lxviii. 6), didst unite with us Euodius also, a young man of our own city. He while discharging the office of agent of public affairs, was converted to Thee and baptised before us, and abandoned his worldly warfare to gird himself for Thine. We were together about to dwell together in our holy resolution. We enquired what place would more usefully engage us as Thy servants; and were together on our way back to Africa. And when we had come to Ostia on the Tiber, my mother died. Much I omit, as hastening much. Receive my confessions and thanksgivings, O my God, for innumerable things whereof I am silent. But I will not omit whatsoever my soul would bring forth concerning that Thy handmaid, who brought me forth, both in the flesh, that I might be born to this temporal light, and in heart, that I might be born to Light eternal. Not her gifts, but Thine in her, will I speak of; for neither did she make nor educate herself. Thou didst create her nor did her father and mother know what a one should come from them. And the rod of Thy Christ, the discipline of Thine only Son, in a faithful household, a good branch of Thy Church, taught her in Thy fear. Nevertheless she was wont to lay her training not so much to the account of her mother's diligence, as to that of a certain decrepit maid-servant, who had carried her father when a child, as little ones are often carried on the backs of older

girls. For which reason, and for her great age, and excellent conversation, she was in that Christian household held in great respect by the heads of the family. On this account the charge of her master's daughters was committed to her, and she heedfully exercised it, and was earnest, in restraining them when necessary with a holy severity, in teaching them with sober judgment. For, except at those hours wherein they were most temperately fed at their parents' table, she would not suffer them, though parched with thirst, to drink even water; guarding against the formation of a bad habit, and adding this wholesome advice; "You drink water now, because you have not wine in your power; but when you come to be married, and be made mistresses of cellars and pantries, water will seem insipid; but the habit of drinking will remain." By such reasonable instruction, and her authority to command, she curbed the greed of childhood, and regulated the very thirst of the girls to a becoming moderation, so that they no longer wished for what they should not.

And yet there had stolen upon her (so Thy handmaid told me, her son), there had stolen upon her a craving for wine. For when she, in the usual way, as though a sober maiden, was bidden by her parents to draw wine out of the cask, holding the cup under it, she would sip with the tips of her lips, where it lies open above, before pouring the wine into the flask, just a little drop, for she could not do more, from the reluctance of her feelings. Nor did she do this from any desire of drinking too much, but out of the overflowing extravagances of youth, which bubbled up in playful impulses, and which in youthful spirits are generally repressed by the gravity of their elders. And thus by adding daily littles to that little (for "he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little Ecclus. xix. 1), she had fallen into such a habit, as greedily to drink off her little cup brim-full almost of wine. Where was then that discreet old woman, and that her earnest restraint? Would aught avail against a secret disease, unless Thy healing care, O Lord, kept watch over us? Father, mother, and teachers absent, Thou present, who createdst, who callest, who also by those set over us, workest something towards the salvation of our souls, what didst Thou then, O my God? how didst Thou cure her? how heal her? didst Thou not out of another soul bring forth a

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