do YOU know what time it is?

well, neither do i. but do you know who manlius theodorus was? well, he was the dedicatee of augustine's dialogue 'de beata vita', written in 386 during a bit of otium liberale. manlius had set a precedent for such a retirement, according to peter brown in 'augustine of hippo', in 383, when he withdrew from public life for a time to write books on philosophy and a treatise on classical meter. he was an admirer of plotinus and a catholic. moreover, the discussions on which the 'de beata vita' is based may have taken place in his house!