Synesius of Cyrene→Olympius|c. 408 AD|synesius cyrene
To Olympius.
Though absent, you live always present in our memory. Even if we desperately wanted to, we could not forget the sweetness of your disposition and the sincerity of your character, admirable brother. Every gift you send reminds us not of your generosity — which we take for granted — but of the goodness of the soul behind it.
Letter 149: Presents Received
[1] To Olympius
Although absent, you live always present in our memory, for not even if we greatly desired it, could we forget the sweetness of your disposition and your most sincere character, brother admirable in all things. Nothing can be more precious to me than my recollection of you, nothing except the prospect of embracing your revered head again. May God grant this happiness, and may we see you and hear the sweet sound of your voice! [2] You delighted us also by what you sent: we received them all. But you have saddened us more by the thought of the living comrade of whom we are deprived, although not by death. May the moment of good fortune come some day, and may God bring me this good fortune.
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To Olympius.
Though absent, you live always present in our memory. Even if we desperately wanted to, we could not forget the sweetness of your disposition and the sincerity of your character, admirable brother. Every gift you send reminds us not of your generosity — which we take for granted — but of the goodness of the soul behind it.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.