being, and that you are not affected with any sadness by the evils brought upon you, but rather that the plots which are being made against you bring material for even greater joy. For if we receive a letter bringing us such tidings, it will be to us a consolation, a remedy, and a healing for the solitude, the famine, the pestilence, the Isaurian wars, and all the diseases by which we are now being troubled. Thinking, A therefore, of the great favor you will be conferring upon us, we beg you to write to us, and to write such things as may fill us with great gladness, even though we sit at so great a distance from you.
CVIII. To Bassus the bishop.
What is this? Are you the one who showed such great love toward us both in the previous time and lately in Constantinople, and yet, having heard that we are your neighbors, you have not deigned to honor us with your letters? Do you not know how we are disposed toward your piety, and how we are bound to you by the bonds of friendship? For my part, I expected that you would come here and console us in this solitude. For what could be more desolate than Cucusus, with its solitude and the incursions of the Isaurians by which it is besieged? But if this seems arduous—whether through the fear of the robbers or the difficulty of the road—at least do not hesitate to write, and to let us know of your health, B so that, even while we live in a strange land, we may draw great consolation thence.
CIX. To Anatolius, bishop of Adana.
I, for my part, longed to associate with your excellency, having heard from many of the warm affection which you have toward us, and that even without having met with us. Since, however, there is as yet no hope for this, I amend the lack of meeting by the exchange of letters, granting myself the greatest benefit. For although Cucusus, to which we have now been carried away, is a most deserted place, full of many dangers, and besieged by the constant incursion of robbers, none of these things disturbs or confuses us as long as we enjoy your benevolence. For even if we are separated in body, we are bound to you by the strongest bonds of the soul, and we seem to inhabit your tranquil and peaceful region rather than Cucusus, C as we are always occupied with you in our disposition, and wherever we may be, we carry you about in our mind and thoughts.
CXII. To Theodorus the bishop.
If it had been possible to come and embrace your reverence, and to enjoy your love through your presence, I would have done so with great diligence and speed; but since this is not in our power now, we fulfill this same thing through letters. For although to your very ...