Letter 47: (The division of the civil Province of Cappadocia into two Provinces in the year 372 was followed by ecclesiastical troubles. Anthimus, the Bishop of Tyana, the civil metropolis of the new division of Cappadocia Secunda, maintained that the Ecclesiastical divisions must necessarily follow the civil, and by consequence claimed for himself that th...
I hear you're being troubled by this latest innovation — harassed by the same old sophisticated scheming from those in power. I'm not surprised. I was never blind to their envy, or to the fact that many of the people around you are using you to further their own interests, fanning the spark of pettiness.
But I have no fear of seeing you respond to this in any way unworthy of yourself — or of me. On the contrary, I think this is exactly the moment when my Basil will be revealed, when the philosophy you've spent your whole life cultivating will show itself and rise above the abuse like a great wave, and you'll stand unmoved while everyone around you is shaken.
If you think it would help, I'll come in person. Perhaps I can offer some useful counsel — though suggesting the sea needs more water is absurd. But at the very least, I'll benefit from the visit: I'll learn philosophy by sharing in the trouble.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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(Gregory was not able, owing to the serious illness of his Mother, to carry out the promise at the end of Ep. LIX.; so he writes to explain and excuse himself.) The Carrying Out of your bidding depends partly on me; but partly, and I venture to think principally, on your Reverence. What depends on me is the good will and eagerness, for I never y...
(Perhaps about a.d. 357 or 358; in answer to a letter which is not now extant.) I have failed, I confess, to keep my promise. I had engaged even at Athens, at the time of our friendship and intimate connection there (for I can find no better word for it), to join you in a life of philosophy.
You have not yet ceased to be offended with me, and so I tremble as I write. If you have cared, why, my dear sir, do you not write? If you are still offended, a thing alien from any reasonable soul and from your own, why, while you are preaching to others, that they must not keep their anger till sundown, have you kept yours during many suns?
Twice cabbage is death, says the unkind proverb. I, however, though I have called for it often, shall die once. Yes: even though I had never called for it at all!
I know you will often write, Here is another Cappadocian for you! I expect that you will send me many. I am sure that you are everywhere putting pressure on both fathers and sons by all your complimentary expressions about me.