Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, Vol. LVI: Augustini Epistulae Pars III

FEB 26 1921 Ed. Harrass 2.78 + .90 bd.

GREETINGS TO THE BENEVOLENT READER.

During the most atrocious war in human memory, the professors of the University of Chernivtsi were ejected into exile three times, and stripped by wicked plunder of all things that appeared to have any value to the enemy. Among them, I experienced a particularly dire fate: for nearly four years, burdened by poor health and in exile from my home, I have lacked both the books necessary for my literary studies and the resources I prepared with great effort over decades for editing the letters of Jerome.

Finally, in these very days, I was informed that the barbaric enemies had taken all my goods and assets, but appeared to have spared the monuments of literature, both printed and manuscript. I dare to hope that I might reshape the remainder of my life, unwillingly indeed by the grace of Mercury the Roman god of commerce and gain, but with the favor of Minerva the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts. Therefore, if it pleases the gods, upon returning shortly to Chernivtsi and recovering my Hieronymian papers, I will first energetically proceed to provide an extensive preface to the letters of Jerome. Next, I will compile indices to the corpus of letters so rich that it will be appropriate to publish them together with the preface in a separate volume. I did not wish for this volume, although less extensive, to lie idle any longer in the printer's warehouses. Augustus Engelbrecht, a man who has served my Hieronymian studies excellently, agreed with me and provided aid. Therefore, kind reader, accept in the meantime this recension of this final part of the letters, completed by me before the start of the war in the year 1914, and join me in happily hoping that those things which are still desired may be brought to a successful end after no long interval of time.

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