As I keep hearing the Epistles of the blessed Paul read,
and that twice every week,
and often three or four times,
whenever we are celebrating the memorials of the holy martyrs,

gladly do I enjoy the spiritual trumpet,

and get roused and warmed with desire
at recognizing the voice so dear to me,

and seem to fancy him all but present to my sight,
and behold him conversing with me.

But I grieve
and am pained,

that all people do not know this man,
as much as they ought to know him;

but some are so far ignorant of him
as not even to know for certainty
the number of his Epistles.

And this comes not of incapacity,
but of their not having the wish
to be continually conversing with this blessed man.

For it is not through any natural readiness
and sharpness of wit
that even I am acquainted with as much as I do know,
if I do know anything,

but owing to a continual cleaving to the man,
and an earnest affection towards him.