37. From the same zeal proceeded his opposition to
the heretics, when, with the aid of the Emperor’s impiety, they
made their expedition, in the hope of overpowering us also, and adding
us to the number of the others whom they had, in almost all cases,
succeeded in enslaving. For in this he afforded us no slight
assistance, both in himself, and by hounding us on like well-bred dogs
against these most savage beasts, through his training in piety.
On one point I blame you both, and pray do not take amiss my
plainspeaking, if I should annoy you by expressing the cause of my
pain. When I was disgusted at the evils of life, and longing, if
anyone of our day has longed, for solitude, and eager, as speedily as
possible, to escape to some haven of safety, from the surge and dust of
public life, it was you who, somehow or other seized and gave me up by
the noble title of the priesthood to this base and treacherous mart of
souls. In consequence, evils have already befallen me, and others
are yet to be anticipated. For past experience renders a man
somewhat distrustful of the future, in spite of the better suggestions
of reason to the contrary.