Postumianus on a Man Who Cannot Forgive

At this Postumianus exclaimed, “Let that well-known man who lives close by us listen to this example. In his wiser moments he takes no notice of things present or things to come, but if he has been offended he flies into a fury and has no control over himself. Then he rages against the clergy and makes bitter attacks on the laity, and he stirs up the whole world for his own revenge. He will keep up this quarrel for three years without a break, and he will not be softened either by time or by reason. The man’s condition is to be lamented and pitied, even if this were the only incurable evil that afflicted him. But you, my Gallic friend, ought often to have reminded him of such examples of patience and calm, so that he might know both how to be angry and how to forgive. And if he happens to hear this speech of mine, which has been briefly slipped into our conversation and is aimed at him, let him know that I spoke no more with the lips of an enemy than with the mind of a friend. For I would wish, if it were possible, that people should speak of him as being like the bishop Martin rather than the tyrant Phalaris. But let us leave him, since mentioning him is far from pleasant, and let us return, Gaul, to our friend Martin.” [a]