Letter 107: I was grieved to find on reading your ladyship's letter that you are involved in the same difficulties. What is to be done to men who show such a shifty character, saying now one thing now another and never abiding in the same pledges? If, after the promises made in my presence, and in that of the ex-prefect, he now tries to shorten the time of ...
Basil of Caesarea→Anonymous Widow|c. 363 AD|basil caesarea
grief deathimperial politicsproperty economics
Travel & mobility; Military conflict
To Julitta,
I was sorry to read in your letter that you're still dealing with the same problems. What can you do with a man like this? He says one thing, then another, and never keeps his word. After the promises he made — right in front of me and the former prefect — he's now trying to cut short the grace period as if nothing was ever agreed to. Honestly, he seems to have lost all shame, at least as far as I'm concerned.
Still, I've written to him — I called him out and reminded him what he promised. I also wrote to Helladius, who works in the prefect's household, so he can bring your case to the prefect's attention through the right channels. I didn't feel comfortable approaching the prefect directly myself, since I've never once written to him about my own private affairs, and I worry he'd react badly. You know how it is — powerful men get irritated easily when people come to them with these things.
But if anything good is going to come of this, it will be through Helladius. He's an excellent man — well-disposed toward me, devout, and has easy access to the prefect.
God is able to deliver you from all this trouble — if only we truly and sincerely place all our hope in Him.
[Context: Basil is intervening in what appears to be a financial or legal dispute on behalf of Julitta, a widow. A man who owed her something — likely related to property or debt — had agreed to a repayment timeline but is now reneging. Basil is working his network of contacts in the provincial government to pressure the man to honor his commitments. The "prefect" was the Roman governor of the province.]
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To the Widow Julitta.
I was grieved to find on reading your ladyship's letter that you are involved in the same difficulties. What is to be done to men who show such a shifty character, saying now one thing now another and never abiding in the same pledges? If, after the promises made in my presence, and in that of the ex-prefect, he now tries to shorten the time of grace as though nothing had been said, he does seem to have lost, as far as I am concerned, all sense of shame. Nevertheless I wrote to him, rebuking him, and reminding him of his promises. I wrote also to Helladius, who is of the household of the prefect, that information might be given through him about your affairs. I hesitated myself to make so free with an officer of such importance, on account of my never having yet written to him about my own private affairs and my fearing some adverse decision from him, great men, as you know, being easily annoyed about such matters. If, however, any good is to be done in the matter, it will be through Helladius, an excellent man, well disposed towards me, fearing God, and having perfectly free access to the prefect. The Holy One is able to deliver you from all affliction, if only truly and sincerely we fix all our hope on Him.
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Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202107.htm>.
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To Julitta,
I was sorry to read in your letter that you're still dealing with the same problems. What can you do with a man like this? He says one thing, then another, and never keeps his word. After the promises he made — right in front of me and the former prefect — he's now trying to cut short the grace period as if nothing was ever agreed to. Honestly, he seems to have lost all shame, at least as far as I'm concerned.
Still, I've written to him — I called him out and reminded him what he promised. I also wrote to Helladius, who works in the prefect's household, so he can bring your case to the prefect's attention through the right channels. I didn't feel comfortable approaching the prefect directly myself, since I've never once written to him about my own private affairs, and I worry he'd react badly. You know how it is — powerful men get irritated easily when people come to them with these things.
But if anything good is going to come of this, it will be through Helladius. He's an excellent man — well-disposed toward me, devout, and has easy access to the prefect.
God is able to deliver you from all this trouble — if only we truly and sincerely place all our hope in Him.
[Context: Basil is intervening in what appears to be a financial or legal dispute on behalf of Julitta, a widow. A man who owed her something — likely related to property or debt — had agreed to a repayment timeline but is now reneging. Basil is working his network of contacts in the provincial government to pressure the man to honor his commitments. The "prefect" was the Roman governor of the province.]
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.