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Against the Donatists

St Optatus of Milevis, tr. Vassall-Phillips, 1917

Book 1, The Letter of the Numidian Bishops Against Felix, the Consecrator of Caecilian

Meanwhile, out of the fountain of their own crimes, which had gushed forth amongst them in channels¹ of many kinds of wickedness, they thought that a single one----that of Betrayal----might be spared² with which to calumniate the consecrator of Caecilian. For, since, as they foresaw, slander would not be able to occupy herself at the same time with two charges of a similar nature, they endeavoured to blacken the life of another man, that by this means they might consign their own crimes to silence. And, through fear that they should themselves be convicted by the innocent, they strove to convict the innocent instead. To this end they distributed on all sides a letter,³ inspired by their hatred.⁴ (This letter we have placed, together with the other Acts, in the Appendix.⁵)

As they were still at Carthage, they sent their letters before them,⁶ that by untruthful reports they might plant their falsehood in the ears of all. Rumour spread the lie broadcast amongst the people. Thus, whilst these calumnies were noised abroad about one man only, their own most certain crimes were hidden away in silence.

It often comes to pass that sin is blushed for, but at that period there was no one for whom to blush, since, with the exception of a few Catholics, all had sinned,⁷ so the wickedness which had been committed by many wore the cloak of innocence. The shame of Betrayal, which admittedly had been committed by Donatus of Mascula and the others whom we have mentioned, seemed but of small account. To this Betrayal they added the enormous wickedness of schism.⁸

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