Letter
CXII. To Augustine.
On receiving Letter CIV. together with duly
authenticated copies of Letters LVI. and LXVII. Jerome in three days
completes an exhaustive reply to all the questions which Augustine had
raised. He explains what is the true title of his book
On
Illustrious Men
, deals at great length with the dispute between
Paul and Peter, expounds his views with regard to the Septuagint, and
shews by the story of “the gourd” how close and accurate
his translations are. His language throughout is kind but rather
patronising: indeed in this whole correspondence Jerome seldom
sufficiently recognizes the greatness of Augustine. The date of the
letter is 404
a.d.