10. Cf. Ps. cxliii. 11-15.
270 ST. AUGUSTINE ing out of this into that, their sheep fruitful in young, their oxen fat, their property spoiled by no breach of wall, no outcry of quarrehng heard in their streets' ^^—in that case, yours are no true virtues, and theirs no true happiness. That respectful attitude of mine which you praised with kind words in your letter should not prevent me from speaking the truth. If, as I say, any administrative act of yours, endowed with the virtues which I have listed, is limited to this end and aim, that men may suffer no undue distress according to the flesh, if you think it is not incumbent on you that they should make a return for that tranquility which you try to secure for them, that is, not to speak in riddles, that they should worship the true God in whom is all the fruition of the peaceful life, such effort on your part will bring you no return in true happiness.
It seems that I am here speaking disrespectfully, and, in a sense, as if I had forgotten the usual form of my intercession. But, if respect is merely a certain fear of displeasing someone, I am not showing respect by fearing in this case. I should first of all, and with good reason, fear to displease God, and secondly to displease that friendship which you have been so kind as to confer on me, if I were less free in warning you where I think a salutary warning is needed. I should certainly be more respectful when I intercede with you for others, when, in fact I intercede for you yourself, if I spoke freely in proportion to my friendship, and the more faithful I am, the better friend I am, yet I would not say this to you if it were not to show my respect. And if this, as you say, *is a most successful way of overcoming difficulties
10. Cf. Ps. cxliii. 11-15.