dressed letters CLXXXV and CCXX, was governor
276 ST. AUGUSTINE labor,' and many other points which you made in the same edict, so that it is clear that, though you wear the girdle of an earthly judge, you are thinking for the most part of the heavenly country. If
I have aimed at speaking to you at too great length about true virtue and true happiness, I beg you not to regard it as an intrusion on your duties, as, indeed, I trust it is not, since you show a disposition so strong and so marvelously worthy of praise that you do not sUght the earthly cares while busying yourself more willingly and more intimately with the heavenly ones.
C. Advice and Reproof for a Military Commander:
Letters to Count Boniface
My Noble Lx)rd and Justly Distinguished and Honourable Son, Augustine sends greetings in the Lord.
a. Letters, CLXXXDC, 1-3.
1. Count Boniface, to whom St. Augustine also addressed letters CLXXXV and CCXX, was governor of the province of Africa under Placidia, who for twentyfive years ruled the empire in the name of her son Valentinian. By his perficUous rival Aetius, Boniface was persuaded to disobey the order of Placidia, when, imder Ihe instigation of Aetius himself, she recalled him from the government of Africa. The necessity of powerful allies in order to maintain his position led him to invite the Vandals to pass from Spain into Africa. They came, under Genseric, and the fertile provinces of Northern Africa fell an easy prey to their invading armies. When the treachery of Aetius was discovered, Placidia received Boniface again into favour, and he devoted all his military talents to the task of expelling the barbarians whom his own invitation had made masters of North Africa. But it was now too late to wrest this Roman province from the Vandals; defeated in a great battle, Boniface was compelled in 430 to retire into Hippo Regius, where he succeeded in resisting the besieging army for fourteen months. It was during this siege, and after it had continued three months, that Augustine died. Reinforced by troops from Constantinople, Boniface fought one