Epistola Sebast. Curionis ad amplissimum Collegium Iurisconsult. Patavinae civitatis

dignity if he had behaved more humanely, more kindly, and indeed more modestly toward him, as was fitting? But Augustinus made use of my benefit, he says. He always held this before him, and if it had not been so, he would never have had him as a friend once he recognized his wickedness. We have many witnesses to this: most noble students and citizens, and men of all orders and all nations. For he preferred to confess that he owed him something than to appear ungrateful to anyone. But let him tell me: when he first began to harass him, had he felt him to be ungrateful in any matter, unless it was that he associated with a most illustrious man? Ought he, in order to be grateful to him alone, to be ungrateful to all others, or to bear infinite insults heaped upon himself and his father because of a small benefit? He [the father] also made use of benefits from him that were far greater than those Augustinus received. Should the things he conferred upon Augustinus be placed before the fortunes of life and, what is greatest of all, before honor? But let us see what kind of benefit it is. That he helped Augustinus, who was ill for his sake, when at his own request he had accompanied him in difficult times from Bononia Bologna to his homeland, with a small amount of money, which he nevertheless often wished to return to him. An outstanding benefit, that can be compensated with money, and a small amount at that! A benefit that he himself had never before judged to be a benefit. But what other benefit could be received from a man stripped of all humanity? Augustinus was, in the opinion of most illustrious men among many distant, diverse, and barbarous peoples, tossed by various fortunes, often both ill and without money, among men who were both barbarous and unlearned. Yet, by the help of God, the Best and Greatest, he was always judged by everyone—both for the splendor of his family and for those ornaments which are in him—to be worthy