Letter 3: 1. When I took your letter into my hand, I underwent an experience worth telling. I looked at it with the awe due to a document making some state announcement, and as I was breaking the wax, I felt a dread greater than ever guilty Spartan felt at sight of the Laconian scytale.

To Candidianus 1. When I picked up your letter, I had an experience worth telling. I looked at it with the kind of awe you would give an official government dispatch, and as I was breaking the seal, I felt a dread greater than any guilty Spartan ever felt at the sight of a coded military message. Once I opened it and read it through, though, I could not help laughing — partly from relief at finding nothing alarming, and partly because your situation reminded me of Demosthenes. You remember how Demosthenes, when he was funding a chorus of dancers and musicians, insisted on being called not Demosthenes but "choragus" — the sponsor of the show. You, however, are always the same whether you are playing the sponsor or not. You are a choragus to soldiers numbering far more than the performers Demosthenes supplied, and yet when you write to me you do not stand on your rank but keep to the old familiar style. You have not given up your love of learning. As Plato put it, in the middle of the storm and tempest of public affairs, you stand apart under a strong wall and keep your mind clear of all disturbance — and more than that, as far as it is in your power, you do not let others be disturbed either. Such is your life: admirable to everyone who can see it, and yet not surprising to anyone who knows the whole course of your character. Now let me tell you my own story — extraordinary, yes, but only what you might expect. 2. One of the farm workers at our property in Annesi, after my servant died, without claiming any breach of contract, without coming to me, without making any complaint or asking for payment, without any threat of what he would do if he did not get it — suddenly, with a gang of men as reckless as himself, attacked my house, beat the women who were looking after it, broke down the doors, took some of the contents for himself, promised the rest to anyone who wanted it, and carried off everything. I do not want to be regarded as the ultimate target for anyone who feels like attacking me. So please, show me now that same practical support you have always shown in my affairs. My peace of mind depends entirely on knowing that your energy is on my side. From my point of view, it would be punishment enough if the man were arrested by the local magistrate and locked up briefly in jail. I am not just angry about what happened — I need security for the future.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Candidianus. 1. When I took your letter into my hand, I underwent an experience worth telling. I looked at it with the awe due to a document making some state announcement, and as I was breaking the wax, I felt a dread greater than ever guilty Spartan felt at sight of the Laconian scytale. When, however, I had opened the letter, and read it through, I could not help laughing, partly for joy at finding nothing alarming in it; partly because I likened your state of affairs to that of Demosthenes. Demosthenes, you remember, when he was providing for a certain little company of chorus dancers and musicians, requested to be styled no longer Demosthenes, but choragus. You are always the same, whether playing the choragus or not. Choragus you are indeed to soldiers myriads more in number than the individuals to whom Demosthenes supplied necessaries; and yet you do not when you write to me stand on your dignity, but keep up the old style. You do not give up the study of literature, but, as Plato has it, in the midst of the storm and tempest of affairs, you stand aloof, as it were, under some strong wall, and keep your mind clear of all disturbance; nay, more, as far as in you lies, you do not even let others be disturbed. Such is your life; great and wonderful to all who have eyes to see; and yet not wonderful to any one who judges by the whole purpose of your life. Now let me tell my own story, extraordinary indeed, but only what might have been expected. 2. One of the hinds who live with us here at Annesi, on the death of my servant, without alleging any breach of contract with him, without approaching me, without making any complaint, without asking me to make him any voluntary payment, without any threat of violence should he fail to get it, all on a sudden, with certain mad fellows like himself, attacked my house, brutally assaulted the women who were in charge of it, broke in the doors, and after appropriating some of the contents himself, and promising the rest to any one who liked, carried off everything. I do not wish to be regarded as the ne plus ultra of helplessness, and a suitable object for the violence of any one who likes to attack me. Show me, then, now, I beg you, that kindly interest which you have always shown in my affairs. Only on one condition can my tranquillity be secured — that I be assured of having your energy on my side. It would be quite punishment enough, from my point of view, if the man were apprehended by the district magistrate and locked up for a short period in the jail. It is not only that I am indignant at the treatment I have suffered, but I want security for the future. About this page 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/3202003.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.