Liber manet, homines praeterierunt. Note sulla fortuna dell’Epistula 22 di Gerolamo

In 414, Jerome, in his old age, wrote to Demetriades, recalling that he had composed his libellus de uirginitate seruanda (= epist. 22) some thirty years earlier for the instruction of the young Eustochius, with the twofold aim of combating vices and revealing demonic snares. In spite of the numerous accusations he drew on himself for his biting criticism and fierce satire against the customs of Christians, after so many years he notes with satisfaction his victory over the protesters and concludes lapidarily: Liber manet, homines praeterierunt