Chapter IV.—Commendation and exhortation.
Now it occurs to me to mention, that the report is true which I heard of thee whilst thou
wast at Rome with the blessed father901 Linus, whom the deservedly-blessed Clement, a
hearer of Peter and Paul, has now succeeded. And by this time thou hast added a hundred-
fold to thy reputation; and may thou, O woman! still further increase it. I greatly desired to
come unto you, that I might have rest with you; but “the way of man is not in himself.”902
For the military guard [under which I am kept] hinders my purpose, and does not permit
me to go further. Nor indeed, in the state I am now in, can I either do or suffer anything.
123
Wherefore deeming the practice of writing the second resource of friends for their mutual
encouragement, I salute thy sacred soul, beseeching of thee to add still further to thy vigour.
For our present labour is but little, while the reward which is expected is great.
901 The original is πάπᾳ, [common to primitive bishops.]
902 Jer. x. 23.
Chapter IV.—Commendation and exhortation.
343
Chapter IV.—Commendation and exhortation.