here are many things damaging its health (for there is a scarcity of physicians, and a lack of necessary things, for nothing is for sale here, and there is no supply of medicines), and the inclemency of the air (for the summer causes us no less distress than the cold, as it mimics the intensity of the cold in the opposite way), and a heavy and perpetual blockade, and the frequent fear of Isaurian incursions; these, I say, are all things, along with many others, that undermine our health. Nevertheless, we have now been delivered from heavy danger and from a sickness of this kind, and have obtained a certain moderate state of health.
Do you, however, make it your business to write to us frequently, and keep us informed about your health without any intermission. For we consider your love to be of the nature of the greatest relief, the greatest solace, and a treasure teeming with many goods; and when the thought of your sincere benevolence, your constancy of spirit, and your firm love comes into our mind (and it never ceases to come), we reach for port as if from many calamities into a certain wide and tranquil harbor.
CXLVII. To Anthemus.
A Some congratulate you for the sake of your consulship and prefecture; I, however, congratulate those very magistracies and commands on account of your magnificence. For they did not adorn you; rather, they were adorned by you. Since the very nature of virtue is such that it does not borrow honors from elsewhere, but carries them within itself, indeed providing honor to these dignities, rather than receiving it from them. And for that reason, we have added nothing now to our love for you. For nothing more has accrued to you; we do not love a prefect and consul, but my most sweet master Anthemus, filled both with great prudence and with huge philosophy. And therefore we also call you blessed—not because you have been raised to this throne, but because you have received a more abundant opportunity to demonstrate your prudence and humanity. And we congratulate all those who are being treated unjustly, as we gaze upon the wide harbor of your soul, which is able to dispel countless shipwrecks and cause those who have encountered a most atrocious storm to sail according to their heart's desire. Therefore we exult and are filled with joy, deeming your rule to be a common festival for those who are being wronged. And we ourselves enjoy this even now, as we fashion a pleasure for ourselves out of the magnitude of your virtues.
CXLVIII. To Cyriacus, Demetrius, Palladius, and Eulysius, Bishops.
Blessed are you, and thrice blessed, and more than blessed, on account of the B glorious struggles, contests, calamities, labors, and dangers that you have undergone for all the Churches of the world, and for the glory and splendor you have obtained thereby, both on earth and in the heavens. For all men who are in their right mind proclaim you and adorn you with crowns, marveling even to the point of astonishment at the strength of your mind, your fortitude, your endurance, and your constancy. But the kind God, who always establishes rewards far greater than the labors, will repay you for as many great goods as it is right to be repaid by God to those who fight so strenuously for the peace of the whole world. Therefore, we too do not cease to call you blessed, continually taking pleasure in the memory of you, and carrying you about in our minds, even though we be separated from you by a long distance of travel. C Now, the most reverend deacon Cyriacus could not sail at this time, being exhausted by much labor. But indeed, my lords, the most religious priest Joannes and the most reverend deacon Paulus, as they were vexed on every side and had nowhere the power to stop and lay low, thought it necessary to take themselves to your love and be there with you. Wherefore, receive them with love, and show them the benevolence which is their due.
CXLIX. To Aurelius, Bishop of Carthage.
My dear friend, what a thing is a generous soul, teeming with the fruits of love and piety; that, even though you are separated from us by such a great distance of travel, you have embraced us and bound us to yourself as though you were present and living with us! For the ardor of your love, and that fragrance which flows from your freedom of speech and your piety, has penetrated even to us, who are situated in the furthest recess of the world. Therefore we give you great thanks; therefore, I say, we call you blessed, because, having undertaken great labor and sweat for all the Churches of the world, you have stored up for yourself the greatest of crowns before the kind God. And we exhort you to persevere in this noble contest: for it does not escape you what sort of rewards arise from this. For if anyone, by relieving a single person who is treated unjustly and harmed contrary to right, obtains an ineffable reward from God, I would have you consider what great reward you yourself are about to receive, you who, through such egregious zeal, free so many Churches that have been disturbed from tumults and perturbation, and strive to cause them to reach the tranquil harbor of peace.
CL. To Maximus, Bishop.
When I contemplate in my mind those labors and sweats that you have undergone over a long period of time, I take not an ordinary, but a most ample consolation—for those injuries by which I have been afflicted with the highest criminality—in your, indeed, so very ardent and genuine love, your sincere care, and your keen…