and modest confutation
of Arianism, which we have under the title of his Three Books to King
Thrasimund. The prince was pleased with the work, and granted him
permission to reside at Carthage; till upon repeated complaints from the
Arian bishops of the success of his preaching, which threatened they
said, a total extinction of their sect in Carthage, he was sent back to
Sardinia in 520. Being ready to go aboard the ship, he said to a
catholic, whom he saw weeping: "Grieve not, Juliatus!" for that was his
name, "I shall shortly return, and we shall see the true faith of Christ
flourish again in this kingdom, with full liberty to profess it; but
divulge not this secret to any." The event confirmed the truth of the
prediction. His humility concealed the multiplicity of miracles which he
wrought, and he was wont to say: "A person may be endowed with the gift
of miracles, and yet may lose his soul: miracles ensure not salvation;
they may indeed procure esteem and applause; but what will it avail a
man to be esteemed on earth, and afterwards be delivered up to hell
torments?" If the sick, for whom he prayed, recovered, to avoid being
puffed up with vain-glory, he ascribed it wholly to the divine mercy.
Being returned to Cagliari, he erected a new monastery near that city,
and was exceedingly careful to supply his monks with all necessaries,
especially in sickness; but would not suffer them to ask for any thing,
alleging, "That we ought to receive all things as from the hand of God,
with resignation and gratitude." Thus he was sensible how conducive the
unreserved denial of the will is for perfecting ourselves in the paths
of virtue.

King Thrasimund died in 523, having nominated Hilderic his successor.
Knowing him inclined to favor the orthodox, he exacted from him an oath,
that he would never restore their profession. To evade this, Hilderic,
before the death of his predecessor, signed an order for the liberty of
the orthodox churches, but never had the courage to declare himself of
the same belief; his lenity having quite degenerated into softness and
indolence. However, the professors of the true faith called home their
pastors. The ship which brought them back, was received at Carthage with
the greatest demonstrations of joy: the shore echoed far and near with
repeated acclamations, more particularly when Fulgentius appeared on the
upper deck of the vessel. The confessors went straight to the church of
St. Agileus, to re