His character had also been tested, not only
by the bait of covetousness, but by the spur of fear. At Rome he
was assessor to the secretary of the Italian Treasury. There was
at that time a very powerful senator to whose favors many were
indebted, and of whom many stood in fear. In his usual highhanded
way he demanded to have a favor granted him that was forbidden by
the laws. This Alypius resisted. A bribe was promised, but he
scorned it with all his heart. Threats were employed, but he
trampled them underfoot -- so that all men marveled at so rare a
spirit, which neither coveted the friendship nor feared the enmity
of a man at once so powerful and so widely known for his great
resources of helping his friends and doing harm to his enemies.
Even the official whose counselor Alypius was -- although he was
unwilling that the favor should be granted -- would not openly
refuse the request, but passed the responsibility on to Alypius,
alleging that he would not permit him to give his assent. And the
truth was that even if the judge had agreed, Alypius would have
simply left the court.
There was one matter, however, which appealed to his love of
learning, in which he was very nearly led astray.
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