Letter XVII. To Tiberio (a fragment)

He exhorts him itot to leave the Conffregaiion.

I WISHED that Germanico should have gone away a good deal later, in order that you also might have remained awhile longer without being perplexed between flesh and blood, between the love of mother and brothers, having the example of Saints Marcus and Marcellianus, who, after they had had strength for so many martyrdoms, moved at last by father, mother, and children, were near denying Christ, if St. Sebastian had not strengthened them with his holy words. As to your alleging the great expense, I know not how, in Bologna or where else you may go to study, you will contrive not to spend much more. And as to health, I do not see how you will be able to go through with the law, seeing that as soon as you set to work at literary pursuits you did ... so that according to my poor judgment you will do miracles, especially in a study so laborious. Your wish to assist your family in their affairs is a wish to return to the world and leave Christ, whom when you had borne a little while, you would say, ' How good and sweet the Lord is! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity* What great thing will it be that you should be able to . . . for notwithstanding that your brothers may be goodnatured, especially when you shall see them spending the money, and yourself toiling hard • . • Verunt dimissia omnibus, if you lose your spirit, instead of showing yourself liberal, you will be extremely avaricious, and good reason too when • . • what with relations and property, you will be very carnal . . . the same melancholy to such a pitch, that it may be God's will, I pray it may not be so, that your mother will die shortly after having taken you from the path of God. You know well, my Tiberio, the trouble which you had in being received into the house; and at last for the sake of your soul, and your perseverance, and because of the good disposition you showed in every respect, and your other qualities, particularly of those of learning and wealth, we were . • • Now it lies with you to decide whether you will remain where you are or return to us, for we do not want persons here by force ; I tell you, however, that Paolo Camillo should put you to shame, et haee sufficient. The long and short of it is, without Christ you can never have any good thing which is really good.