§2Sed ad hunc articulum causa perducta est, ut, quoniam uenit et quantum cognouimus sponte uenit, non sit huic ecclesiae infructuosus eius aduentus.
But the matter has been brought to this point, so that, since he has come and as far as we know has come spontaneously, his coming may not be fruitless for this church.
aut enim, quod magis optamus et cupimus, etiam de illius salute uobiscum in catholica pace gaudebimus, aut si, quod abominamur et detestamur, ipse in illa pertinacia perdurauerit, debetis uos eius praesentia melius nosse, quid intersit inter catholicam pacem et haereticam dissensionem.
For either, which we more desire and wish, we shall rejoice with you in Catholic peace also over his salvation, or if, which we detest and loathe, he himself should persist in that obstinacy, you ought by his presence to know better what is the difference between Catholic peace and heretical dissension.
partis enim Donati episcopus est, sed Donatistis huius ciuitatis ordinatus; quos Donatistas in nomine Christi in gremium catholicum iam magna ex parte suscepimus, ita ut paene omnes communioni catholicae sociatos esse gaudeamus.
For he is a bishop of the Donatist party, but ordained for the Donatists of this city; which Donatists we have already received in the name of Christ into the Catholic bosom for the most part, so that we rejoice that almost all are joined to Catholic communion.
sed quoniam et qui iam communicarunt non quidem uniuersi, sed quidam uidentur de ipsa, ut paulo ante dixi, catholica ueritate dubitare, quidam uero non saltem dubitant, sed adhuc corde positi in parte Donati praesentiam nobis exhibent corporalem, siue uiri siue feminae carne intus, spiritu foris, bonum esse aestimamus episcopum ipsorum interrogare, ut, si habet aliquid quod pro ipsa parte adhuc dicat, post factam apud Carthaginem omnibus notam collationem si habet aliquid quod adhuc dicat, dicat sine praeiudicio partis Donati, quod tamen prodesse existimet nobis, in quorum ciuitate pro uestra in Christo salute se existimat ordinatum, et nos respondebimus sine praeiudicio catholicae, quoniam modo nullas partes defensionis imposuit, quod tamen, sicut existimamus et uolumus, prodesse uobis possit praesentibus contra praesentem, ut, si seductus est, non seducat, si autem nos seducebamus, ipso praesente, qui foris fortasse multa iactitat, arguamur refellamur conuincamur doceamur.
But since even of those who have already communicated, indeed not all, but some seem to doubt, as I said a little before, the Catholic truth itself, while some indeed do not even doubt, but still placed in heart in the party of Donatus exhibit to us a bodily presence, whether men or women inside in flesh, outside in spirit, we judge it to be good to question their bishop, so that, if he has anything that he can still say for that party after the conference made at Carthage and known to all, if he has anything that he can still say, he may say it without prejudice to the party of Donatus, which nevertheless he may think to be of benefit to us, in whose city he thinks he was ordained for your salvation in Christ, and we shall answer without prejudice to the Catholic church, since just now his party has imposed no role of defense on him, which nevertheless, as we think and wish, can be of benefit to you who are present against him who is present, so that, if he is deceived, he may not deceive, but if we were deceiving, in the presence of him who perhaps boasts of many things outside, we may be reproved, refuted, convicted, and taught.
hoc propterea dixi, ne ideo loqui nolit, quia potest dicere: nullas mihi modo pars mea partes defensionis imposuit. \' non enim post ipsam collationem non loquebatur aut post illam collationem non ad istam ciuitatem uenit aut de ista prouincia aliquando discessit aut credimus eum omnino post illam collationem nulli homini uerbum pro parte Donati fecisse.
I have said this for this reason, lest he should be unwilling to speak because he can say: "My party has just now imposed no role of defense on me." For it was not that after that conference he did not speak, or after that conference he did not come to this city, or at some time departed from this province, or that we believe he did not speak a word at all to any man for the party of Donatus after that conference.
noui quae nobis dicebantur — uos alloquor qui ex ipsa uenistis —, noui quid dicebatur uobis, nos cognitoris emisse sententiam.
I know what was being said to us — I address you who have come from that party —, I know what was being said to you: that we bought the judgment of the arbitrator.
noui dictum esse uobis, quod ille fuerit communionis nostrae et propterea istos loqui omnia quae uellent minime permisit et eos potestate potius oppressit quam probitate quod loquebantur non accepit.
I know it was said to you that he was of our communion and therefore did not permit them to speak all that they wished at all, and oppressed them by power rather than not accepting what they spoke by integrity.
ista omnia iactata sunt post collationem siue ab ipso siue ab hominibus communionis illius.
All these things were boasted after the conference either by himself or by the men of that communion.
quid interest a quo uos perturbemini, quos uolumus in catholica pace esse tranquillos? si absens esset, dicerem de illo uobis: qui autem conturbat uos, portabit iudicium, quicumque est ille.
What difference does it make by whom you are disturbed, whom we wish to be tranquil in Catholic peace?
haec enim quae dixi beati Pauli uerba sunt aduersus absentes, a quibus simplices turbabantur.
If he were absent, I would say of him to you: "But he who disturbs you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is." For these which I have said are the words of the blessed Paul against those who were absent, by whom the simple were being disturbed.
nunc autem praesens est: modo nobis dignetur dicere quare uenerit.
But now he is present: let him now deign to tell us why he has come.
§3Frater Emerite, praesens es.
Brother Emeritus, you are present.
collationi (no)biscum interfuisti.
You were present at the conference with us.
si uictus es, quare uenisti? si autem te uictum esse non putas, loquere unde tibi uictor esse uidearis.
If you were defeated, why did you come?
tunc enim uictus es, si ueritate uictus es.
But if you do not think you were defeated, speak from what you seem to yourself to be the victor.
si autem uideris uictus potestate et uicisti ueritate, non est hic potestas qua uictus uideris;
For you were defeated then, if you were defeated by truth.
audiant ciues tui unde te uictorem praesumis esse.
But if you seem to have been defeated by power and you conquered by truth, there is no power here by which you seem to have been defeated; let your citizens hear from what you presume yourself to be the victor.
at si nosti aduersus te uictricem fuisse ueritatem, quid adhuc respuis unitatem? Emeritus episcopus partis Donati dixit: Gesta indicant si uictus sum aut uici, si ueritate uictus sum aut potestate oppressus sum.
But if you know that the truth was victorious against you, why do you still reject unity?
Augustinus episcopus ecclesiae catholicae dixit: Quare ergo uenisti? Emeritus episcopus partis Donati dixit: Ut hoc dicerem quod requiris. Augustinus episcopus ecclesiae catholicae dixit: Requiro quare ueneris.
Emeritus, bishop of the Donatist party, said: "The records indicate whether I was defeated or I conquered, whether I was defeated by truth or oppressed by power." Augustine, bishop of the Catholic church, said: ¦10 "Why then did you come?" Emeritus, bishop of the Donatist party, said: "To say this which you ask." Augustine, bishop of the Catholic church, said: "I ask why you came.
hoc non quaererem, si non uenisses. Emeritus episcopus partis Donati dixit notario qui excipiebat: Fac.
I would not ask this if you had not come." Emeritus, bishop of the Donatist party, said to the notary who was taking down: "Record (it)."