Here or nowhere, but in peace and unity
Augustine is addressing the congregation at Caesarea, explaining the meaning of their acclamation 'here or nowhere' and expressing hope that Emeritus, who is present, will be won to Catholic unity.
I have said all this to your love because of what you cried out: here or nowhere. For this is what we too want: here, here—but in peace; here, here—but in unity; here, here—but in the fellowship of love. Then here is good. For if it is not so, nowhere is better than here. But may the Lord grant that it be here rather than nowhere. If it is not here, far be it that it be not elsewhere—far be it. Here or elsewhere. You have heard; he has heard. What God has done in his soul, he himself knows. For we strike the ear from outside; he knows how to speak within. He preaches peace within, and he does not cease to preach, if only he will listen. His mercy will be present, with your prayers helping, so that our labor may be fruitful. Yet if he is unwilling to communicate today, although we must not grow weary—but we must press on as much as we can—even so we must not grow weary. We can postpone; we cannot and must not take away our insistence. He who led him here to us will be present, to make us rejoice with him in unity with you and in his peace.
Latin
Haec locutus sum caritati uestrae propter illud quod dixistis: aut hic aut nusquam. hoc enim et nos uolumus, ut 'hic hic' sed in pace, hic hic' sed in unitate, 'hic hic' sed in caritatis societate. tunc bene (hi c). nam (si non sic), melius 'nusquam' quam hic). sed praestet dominus, ut hic) potius quam 'nusquam'. si non 'hic', absit ut non alibi, absit. hic aut alibi. audistis, audiuit. quid in eius animo deus egerit, ipse nouit. nos enim aurem forinsecus percutimus, ille nouit intus loqui, ille intus praedicat pacem nec cessat praedicare, si audiatur. aderit misericordia eius adiuuantibus orationibus uestris, ut sit fructuosus labor noster. tamen si hodie communicare noluerit, quamuis fatigari non debeamus, sed instare quantum possumus debeamus, nec sic tamen fatigari debemus. differre possumus, auferre instantiam nostram nec possumus nec debemus. aderit ille qui huc illum ad nos perduxit, ut nos faciat cum illo in unitate uobiscum et in sua pace gaudere.