I.

Cyprian to his brethren the presbyters and deacons assembled at Rome, greeting. Havingascertained, beloved brethren, that what I have done and am doing has been told to you in a somewhat garbled and untruthful manner, I havethought it necessary to write this letter to yon,wherein I might give an account to you of my doings, my discipline, and my diligence; for, as the Lord's commands teach, immediately the first burst of the disturbance arose, and the people with violent clamour repeatedly demanded me, I, taking into consideration not so much my own safety as the public peace of the brethren, withdrew for a while, lest, by my over-bold presence, the tumult which had begun might be still further provoked. Nevertheless, although absent in body, I was not wanting either in spirit, or in act, or in my advice, so as to fail in any benefit that I could afford my brethren by my counsel, acccording to the Lord's precepts, in anything that my poor abilities enabled me.