Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/203

 VII] THE MONASTIC CHARACTER 185 The saint suppressed feelings connected with sense ; but his nature quivers. No stoic, he knows that he feels intensely, and he finds it well to feel. He felt the passion of devotion, which inflames his exhorta- tions for virginity. He felt another love — for saintly Paula and her daughter Eustochium, a love fervent if not impassioned ; but certainly not that of lover for mistress; "Salute Paula and Eustochium, mine in Christ, whether the world will or no,"^ he writes, about to sail for the Holy Land, disgusted with Rome and his disappointed ambitions there, and the scandals touching him and these ladies. They followed him thither, and established convents at Bethlehem, near their teacher's dwelling. The loving friendship of the three gains inspiration from their Christian fervor. Christianity has increased their capacity for feeling, though the passions of mortal love are barred. A different person from Jerome was the great Bishop of Milan, an entirely masculine and authorita- tive personality. Jerome was gifted; Ambrose was great. In him the power of Roman command abides ; he is a Roman Christian, a jurist, a statesman, a consul-bishop. The range, the greatness, of his per- sonality consists in the intelligence which understands and directs, and in fortitude and power and goodness. Like a Roman and a Stoic, he inculcates Christianity and Christian conduct, and is unfaltering in defence of Christian principles against the orthodox Theodo- sius, as he is tireless in upholding Christian dogmas against Arians. 1 Ep. 46, Ad AHllam; and Me his eulogy on Paula, Ep. 108, Ad Exulochium.