§1Gloriosissimis imperatoribus Honorio duodecimo et Theodosio octauo consulibus duodecimo Kalendas Octobres Caesareae in ecclesia maiore cum Deuterius episcopus metropolitanus Caesariensis una cum Alypio Tagastensi, Augustino Hipponiensi, Possidio Calamensi, Rustico Cartenitano, Palladio Tigabitano et ceteris episcopis in exedram processissent praesentibus presbyteris et diaconibus et uniuerso clero ac frequentissima plebe, adesset etiam Emeritus partis Donati episcopus, Augustinus episcopus ecclesiae catholicae dixit: Fratres carissimi, qui ab initio catholici fuistis et quicumque ad catholicam ex Donatistarum errore uenistis et pacem huius sanctae ecclesiae catholicae cognouistis et ueraci corde tenuistis et qui adhuc forte de catholicae unitatis ueritate dubitatis, audite nos sollicitos pura dilectione pro uobis.
In the consulship of the most glorious emperors Honorius for the twelfth time and Theodosius for the eighth time, on the twelfth day before the Kalends of October, at Caesarea in the greater church, when Deuterius, metropolitan bishop of Caesarea, together with Alypius of Thagaste, Augustine of Hippo, Possidius of Calama, Rusticus of Cartennae, Palladius of Tigabis and the other bishops, had proceeded into the exedra, in the presence of the priests, deacons, all the clergy, and a very crowded assembly of the people, and while Emeritus, a bishop of the Donatist party, was also present, Augustine, bishop of the Catholic church, said: Most beloved brothers, you who have been Catholics from the beginning, and whoever of you have come to the Catholic church from the error of the Donatists and have known the peace of this holy Catholic church and held it with a truthful heart, and you who perhaps still doubt the truth of Catholic unity, hear us who are anxious for you with pure love.
quando uenit ad hanc ciuitatem die nudiustertiana frater noster Emeritus Donatistarum adhuc episcopus, perlatum est ad nos subito eum esse praesentem.
When our brother Emeritus, still a bishop of the Donatists, came to this city the day before yesterday, it was suddenly reported to us that he was present.
et quoniam caritate quam deus uidet desiderabamus eius praesentiam, ad eum uidendum continuo conuolauimus.
And since we desired his presence with a love that God sees, we immediately rushed to see him.
inuenimus eum stantem in platea; facta inuicem salutatione admonuimus, quod durum esset ac turpe eum in platea remanere, ut ad ecclesiam nobiscum ueniret.
We found him standing in the square; having exchanged greetings, we admonished him that it was hard and shameful for him to remain in the square, and that he should come to the church with us.
at ille nobis sine ulla recusatione consensit; ubi nos putauimus eum ita communionem catholicam non recusaturum, quemadmodum uel spontaneum obtulit aduentum uel ad ecclesiam uenire minime dubitauit.
But he agreed with us without any refusal; whereupon we thought that he would likewise not refuse Catholic communion, just as he had either offered his coming spontaneously or did not hesitate at all to come to the church.
illo autem in peruersitate haeretica quamuis intra ecclesiam catholicam diutius remorante allocutus sum dilectionem uestram, sicut meminisse dignamini.
But since he delayed for a longer time in heretical perversity, although within the Catholic church, I addressed your love, as you deign to remember.
multa dixi, quae audistis et quae sine dubio quantum potestis etiam meministis, multa de pace, multa de caritate, multa de sanctae ecclesiae catholicae quam deus promisit et praestitit unitate.
I said many things, which you heard and which without doubt you also remember as much as you can: many things about peace, many about love, many about the unity of the holy Catholic church which God promised and provided.
in quo meo sermone et uos alloquebar et illum exhortabar et, quantum in me poterant uiscera caritatis, omnes in periculo animae suae constitutos in illo meo sermone parturiebam et parere domino cupiebam.
In that sermon of mine, I was both addressing you and exhorting him, and, as much as the bowels of love were able within me, I was in travail in that sermon of mine for all those who were set in danger of their souls, and I desired to give birth to them for the Lord.
hoc enim et beatus Paulus apostolus dixit quibusdam: filioli mei, quos iterum parturio, donec Christus formetur in uobis. sed etiam post sermonem nostrum cum adhuc in illa sua perduraret pertinacia, nec sic desperandum putauimus; sed nec de quoquam, quamdiu uiuit in hoc corpore, homine desperandum putamus.
For this also the blessed Apostle Paul said to certain people: 'My little children, for whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you.' But even after our sermon, while he still persisted in that obstinacy of his, we did not think we should despair even so; indeed, we do not think that we should despair of any man as long as he lives in this body.
neque enim sic dixi nudiustertius me non desperasse, ut hodie audeam desperare.
For neither did I say the day before yesterday that I had not despaired in such a way as to dare to despair today.