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1. While Orosius refers to his treatise throughout as a “memorandum” (commonitorium ), Augustine in his Retractationes II.44 (70) terms it an “inquiry” (consultatio ). The present editor, Daur, includes both in the title. 2. As Daur and others have noted, this was an especially busy time in Augustine ’s life as a theologian and writer. In his letter to Evodius, dated to 415, he lists several important works with which he was involved during this period. They included De civitate Dei and De Trinitate. 3. The hierarchy, to Orosius’s mind, is here clearly established: he the priest; his fellow Iberians, the bishops Eutropius and Paul; and the eminent, well-known prelate, Augustine. Daur’s identification (p. 157) of this Eutropius with Eutropius , author of Ep. de contemnanda hereditate, has met with little support. More likely, both Eutropius and Paul were countrymen of Orosius with whom he was familiar, if not well-acquainted, as well as possible recipients of Augustine’s treatise De perfectione iustitiae hominis. 4. Cf. Mt 3.10, 7.19. 5. Cf. Mt 15.13. OROSIUS’S INQUIRY OR MEMORANDUM1 TO AUGUSTINE ON THE ERROR OF THE PRISCILLIANISTS AND ORIGENISTS rosius to the most blessed father Augustine, bishop. 1. I had, indeed, broached the subject to your Holiness earlier, but even then I was intending to present a memorandum on the subject I spoke of—once I was aware that you had been freed from other matters demanding your attention.2 Since my masters, your sons, the bishops Eutropius and Paul,3 were motivated by the same concern for the salvation of all people as I, your child, and have already furnished a memorandum concerning several heresies, though they did not indicate them all, it was necessary for me promptly to reveal and gather into a pile all the trees of perdition, with their roots and branches, and offer them to your ardent spirit,4 so that, after you had seen their array and contemplated their evil, you might measure exactly what disposition of virtue you can employ. You, most blessed father , just remove and cut down the evil plantings5 or grafts of the 168 6. Cf. 1 Cor 3.7. 7. Cf. Rev 2.17; 2 Macc 2.4–8. 8. Cf. Mt 13.8, 13.23. 9. An allusion to the recent upheavals on the Iberian peninsula caused by the invasions, beginning in the autumn of 409, of various Germanic tribes, notably the Vandals, Alans, and Suevi. 10. In contrast to Orosius’s rather grandiose, providential claims here is his later declaration in the Historia (3.20). See my comments on this in the introduction. 11. Cf. Gen 16.9. 12. Cf. Mt 13.45–46. 13. Cf. Lk 15.19, 15.21. 14. See note 9 above. 15. Contemporary sources agree that while the Manichaeans rejected the Old others, and sow the true seed for us who will water them from your fountains.6 I pledge God as my witness, and I hope for the increase of your work, since that land now produces poor fruits because of improper cultivation. Yet, if you visit it with that hidden manna,7 entrusted to my keeping and restoring it, the land will bear fruit up to a hundredfold,8 once your richness has been poured out upon it very profusely. Through you, blessed father, through you, I say, may the Lord our God correct by the word those whom he has chastened by the sword.9 I have been sent to you by God. Through him I place my hope in you, while I ponder how it happened that I have come here. I do recognize why I have come. It was not by choice, not by necessity, and not by common agreement that I departed from my native land. Rather, I was prompted by some hidden force, until I was delivered to the shores of this land. Here, at last, I have come to the realization that I was being ordered to come to you.10 Do not judge me impudent , but receive me as I make my confession. Allow me to return to my beloved mistress11 as a proper merchant who has found the pearl,12 and not as a runaway servant who has squandered his fortune.13 We have been more gravely wounded by evil teachers than by the most bloodthirsty of enemies.14 We, for our part, admit the blow; you, for yours, clearly discern the wound. Dispense, with the help...

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