but since every place here is filled with murders, chaos, blood, and conflagrations—the Isaurians consuming everything with iron and fire—and we are changing from place to place, we deemed it necessary to send him away, demanding of my most reverend lord, the deacon Theodotus, that he provide for him constantly, and apply himself to this with great energy and diligence. If you also strive for this, that your son may attain it, you will certainly praise our counsel, and will owe us a great debt of gratitude for this admonition.
LXII. To Castus, Valerius, Diophantus, and Cyriacus, presbyters of Antioch.
BThat the most honorable and reverend presbyter Constantius has left us, I grieve; but that he has betaken himself to you, I rejoice, and I rejoice more at this than I grieve at that. For I do not doubt that he has put into a quiet harbor, that is, into your charity. For although six hundred tumults surround you on all sides and stir up great waves, yet your circumstances are in such a state that, because of the fortitude, constant charity, and affectionate spirit with which you are endowed, you enjoy great tranquility even in the midst of storms. Therefore, when he comes to your presence, grant him everything that is fitting. For you know what great reward awaits you, if you make it your concern to support one who is being unjustly harassed. For we ask nothing else of you than this: that he himself be not unjustly oppressed, nor rashly dragged hither and thither, nor harassed and torn before the tribunals of judges for the very cause for which he ought to be crowned and celebrated by public proclamation. We ask this on his behalf; on our own behalf, that you write to us frequently and keep us informed of your health. For even though we are separated from you by a long distance, we never cease to carry you in our minds, and to be with you and live among you daily. For such are the eyes of love in those who know how to love sincerely—and this you know clearly, since you yourselves know how to love sincerely.
LXIII. To Tranquillinus.
CEverything else yields to time and contracts age and decrepitude—flourishing bodies, great buildings, meadows, orchards, and finally everything that springs from the earth. Charity alone is immune from such decay; it not only does not wither with the passage of time, but is not even interrupted by death itself. On this account, we too, though we have been absent from your sweetness for a long time, retain a flourishing love for you—now in language, but always in spirit. For this reason, we have sent letters to your piety as often as possible.
Since, however, we are very eager to know the state of your health (for you yourself know how much we desire your well-being), if it is possible and you can easily find someone who may bring letters to us, I would like you to inform us of it, as the nature of your duty requires. For he who delivers this letter to you will relate to your sincere and ardent charity our affairs and those things which are happening in Armenia and Thrace.
LXIV. To Cyriacus the Bishop.
DMy lord Sopater, the prefect of this Armenia in which we are now held captive, presided over Armenia like a father, but showed more duty toward us than one would expect from a father. Wishing, therefore, to repay this kindness of his, and seeking how to do so, I think I have found the best way—namely, your own solicitous and vigilant spirit, through whose efforts I shall be able to show him grace. How, then, and in what manner? His son has been staying there for a long time for the sake of his studies. If you strive to see him with a glad and eager mind, as befits your charity, and confer some benefit upon him, you will have repaid all the debts owed by us. Therefore, accomplish this, and bring him to the notice of those who hold office, as well as your own familiars, who can make a foreign region more pleasant for him than home. For thus you will receive gratitude from him, from me, and even from yourself, by aiding an honest and kind man and a common harbor for the poor through his son.
LXV. To Marcianus and Marcellinus.
A sufficiently large comfort for the grief which, as I have received from your letters, you are enduring, is this philosophical mind of yours, and your sublime, firm, and constant affection. For just as even tranquility and a fair course can bring no great benefit to a soft and dissolute man, so a heavy storm never disturbs a firm, solid, and vigilant man, but renders him more bright and illustrious. For such is the nature of temptations, that for those who bear them with a brave heart, they bring forth many rewards and splendid crowns. Since these things are therefore clear to you, my most reverend and noble lords, and since you have this sufficiently large consolation in bitter circumstances, may none of these things which are happening disturb your minds, and I would like you to write to us as often as possible. We would indeed most especially desire to see and embrace you in person. But since many things are an impediment to this being possible now, do not be grieved to write to us without intermission and keep us informed of your health. For you know how much gratitude you will earn from us, and with how much pleasure you will fill us, if you do this.
LXVI. To Castus, Valerius, Diophantus, and Cyriacus, presbyters of Antioch.
In language I have written to you rarely; but in spirit, frequently and often. Therefore do not think that our letters are only as many as you have received by paper and ink, but as many as we have desired to send to you. For if you were to consider the matter that way, six hundred letters have truly been sent to you by us. But if there is no one to carry them, our silence should be attributed not to our sloth, but to the difficulty of circumstances.