After writing these verses, on the sixth day before the Nones of October (Oct. 2), at the tenth hour, I entered my boat with my guide, and left that once most rich and flourishing, now half-starved, perjured, lying, wily, greedy, rapacious, avaricious, vain-glorious city; and after forty nine days of ass-riding, walking, horse-riding, fasting, thirsting, sighing, weeping, groaning, I came to Naupactus, which is a city of Nikopolis.
And here my, guide deserted me after placing us on two small ships, and committing us to two imperial messengers who were to being me by sea to Hydronto. But since their Orders did not include the right of levying from the Greek princes, they were everywhere repulsed ; so that we were not supported by them, but they by us. How often did I revolve within me that verse of Terence : “They themselves need help whom you do choose to defend you.”
River Offidaris
On the ninth day before the Calends of December, then (Nov. 23), we left Naupactus and I arrived at the river Offidaris in two days – my companions not remaining in the ships, which could not hold them, but advancing along the shore. From our position on the river Offidaris we looked over to Patras, eighteen miles distant, on the other shore of the sea.
This place of apostolic suffering, which we had visited and adored on our way to Constantinople, we now omitted-I confess my fault-to visit and adore. My unspeakable desire, my august lords and masters, of returning to you and seeing you was the cause of this; and if it had not been for this alone, I would, I believe, have forever perished.
A storm from the south rose against me-madman that I was,-disturbing the sea to its lowest depths with its ragings. And when it had continued to do this for several days and nights: on the day before the Calends of December (Nov. 30)-on the very day, namely, of His passion-I recognized that this had happened to me of my own fault. Trouble alone taught me to give ear to its meaning. Famine, indeed, had begun to violently oppress us. The inhabitants of the land thought to kill us, in order to take our goods from us.
The sea, to hinder our flight, was raging high. Then, betaking myself to the church which I saw, weeping and wailing, I said: “Oh holy apostle Andrew, I am the servant of your fellow fisherman, brother and fellow apostle, Simon Peter; I have not avoided the place of your suffering or kept away from it through pride; the command of my emperors, the love of them, urges me to return home. If my sin has moved you to indignation, may the merit of my august masters lead you to mercy.
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