To me you are still the Prefect, even after your term is done — because I measure things differently from most people — because you carry within yourself every prefectoral virtue. Many of those who sit on high thrones are, to my mind, low; all those whose conduct makes them base and the slaves of those they are supposed to govern. But many who stand in a lowly place are high and lofty in truth — those whom virtue raises up and makes worthy of a greater rule than any they have been given.
But what does any of this matter to me now? The great Olympius is with us no longer. He no longer steers by our ropes. We are undone. We are abandoned. We have become the Second Cappadocia again, after he had made us the First.
Of others I will not speak. But who will take care of the old age of your Gregory? Who will soften his weakness with the warmth of honors and make him more useful because he can obtain kindness for many from you? Now depart on your journey with your escort and your pomp — and leave us behind with many tears, and carry with you much wealth; but wealth of a kind that few prefects carry away: a good name, and the fact that you are inscribed in all our hearts, pillars that will not easily be moved.
If you are set over us again with greater and more illustrious rule — and this is what our longing dares to hope for — we shall give to God more perfect thanks.
Ep. CLIV.
To me you are Prefect even after the expiry of your term of office — for I judge things differently from the run of men — because you embrace in yourself every prefectoral virtue. For many of those who sit on lofty thrones are to me base, all those whose hand makes them base and slaves of their subjects. But many are high and lofty though they stand low, whom virtue places on high and makes worthy of greater government. But what have I to do with this? No longer is the great Olympius with us, nor does he bear our rudder-lines. We are undone, we are betrayed, we have become again the Second Cappadocia, after having been made the First by you. Of other men's matters why should I speak? But who will cherish the old age of your Gregory, and administer to his weakness the enchantment of honours, and make him more honourable because he obtains kindness for many from you? Now then depart on your journey with escort and greater pomp, leaving behind for us many tears, and carrying with you much wealth, and that of a kind which few Prefects do, good fame, and the being inscribed on all hearts, pillars not easily moved. If you preside over us again with greater and more illustrious rule, (this is what our longing augurs), we shall offer to God more perfect thanks.
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Source. Translated by Charles Gordon Browne and James Edward Swallow. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 7. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1894.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3103c.htm>.
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To me you are still the Prefect, even after your term is done — because I measure things differently from most people — because you carry within yourself every prefectoral virtue. Many of those who sit on high thrones are, to my mind, low; all those whose conduct makes them base and the slaves of those they are supposed to govern. But many who stand in a lowly place are high and lofty in truth — those whom virtue raises up and makes worthy of a greater rule than any they have been given.
But what does any of this matter to me now? The great Olympius is with us no longer. He no longer steers by our ropes. We are undone. We are abandoned. We have become the Second Cappadocia again, after he had made us the First.
Of others I will not speak. But who will take care of the old age of your Gregory? Who will soften his weakness with the warmth of honors and make him more useful because he can obtain kindness for many from you? Now depart on your journey with your escort and your pomp — and leave us behind with many tears, and carry with you much wealth; but wealth of a kind that few prefects carry away: a good name, and the fact that you are inscribed in all our hearts, pillars that will not easily be moved.
If you are set over us again with greater and more illustrious rule — and this is what our longing dares to hope for — we shall give to God more perfect thanks.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.