well-tested, the zeal with which you undertake the duty of providing for the poor, and the eagerness you always display toward this noble negotiation, while you bestow—and bestow with pleasure—you thereby acquire a double crown, more splendid both for your mercy and for the purpose of your soul, from which the very liberality itself originates. Since, therefore, the most reverend presbyter Domitianus, to whom the care of the widows and virgins there has been entrusted, has signified to us that they are almost vexed by famine, we flee unto your hands as to a certain harbor, so that they may be rescued by you from this shipwreck of famine. I beg you, therefore, and I beg you vehemently, that by sending the presbyter, you may be willing to be of aid to them as much as it is possible. For the alms which are provided now acquire a much greater reward than that which might be provided at another time, by as much as those who seek this to be given to them—being destitute of their habitual resources—are buffeted by a more grievous tempest and storm. Since, therefore, you understand the utility of the matter, and how great is the accession made by the condition of the time, suffer yourself to be entreated, so that you may perform what is your part. For there is nothing more that needs to be said, seeing that we are writing to a most clement and benign man; for you know that you even owe us A *sportulae*. Yet if you perform this which you owe in their name, we shall think it paid in full to us. And I would wish you also to write to us that you have assented to our petition, and to make us certain concerning your own health and that of your entire blessed household.
CCXVIII. To Euthymius the presbyter.
Let it not sadden you at all that you have been driven from the school, but, reflecting in your minds how great a reward you have received from this, and in what way your crowns are being increased, rejoice and exult on account of such afflictions and plots. For these heap up much gain for you in heaven, and render you more illustrious, and constitute greater prizes. For the B way that leads to life is narrow and straight. Do not be weary of writing to us frequently concerning your health. For you know by what bonds of charity we are bound to you, and in what way, wherever in the world I may be, I carry you about in my mind, and always burn with love for you; and now indeed I burn so much the more, by as much as you have become more illustrious through such afflictions.
CCXIX. To Severina and Romula.
If I did not have clear insight into your sincere charity and the zeal which you always display toward us, I would accuse you of no C moderate negligence on account of this long silence of yours—even though you have received frequent letters from us—which you maintained. But since I know that whether you are silent or whether you write, you are equally affected toward us, for this reason I would not dare to reproach you for the sake of this silence, even though I wonderfully desire to receive your letters often, by which I might be made certain concerning your health. For there is no cause for you to take refuge in this excuse, that you do not find messengers so often; for I know that the most desired and sweet Salustius, dear to us, could have served you in this. Nevertheless, I do not even so accuse you, because I trust greatly in your charity. We therefore, as often as it shall be permitted, will not cease to send frequent letters to you, as to those for whom the sincerity and ardor of your benevolence is known and tested.
CCXX. To Paanius.
We have breathed, we have exulted, we do not deem that we inhabit an external or foreign region any longer, since your Sublimity has returned to the city which has suffered so many things. We are D suffused with this pleasure, not because a greater dignity has fallen to you—for your dignity is the virtue of your soul, and no one was able to take it from you before, nor has it now been restored (for how could it, when it was not taken away at all?)—but we exult because your return to that city has brought a great occasion of consolation to those who were vexed, slaughtered, and cast into chains, since you are their common protector, and all those flee to you as to the widest harbor. For you know how to harvest profit from whence profit ought to be harvested. Do you, however, henceforth write of the magnitude of your right actions, and signify clearly how many lying down you have raised up, how many who had fallen you have erected, whom who were wavering you have steadied, to whom who were toiling for so long you have been a support, how many who had become sluggish you have rendered diligent, whom who were diligent before you have rendered more diligent; in short, set forth your every noble deed in this struggle one by one. For I know all these things even before I receive your letters, as one who has known your soul, a generous athlete and a marvelous warrior; but nevertheless, I wish to learn all things from your tongue that is most dear to us. Therefore, assent to this petition of ours, while you understand by how great a benefit you are to bind us to yourself while you do this.
CCXXI. To Constantius the presbyter.
About to depart from Nicaea on the fourth day of the month of Panemus, I have given these letters to your piety, exhorting you to that which I never ceased to exhort: even if a more grievous storm is present in the current tempest, and greater waves are encroaching, that you do not cease to fulfill the things that are of your office, in that administration which you began from the beginning: I speak of the extermination of Greek superstition, the buildings of the churches,