religiosissime, for us, to whom you are most dear, do not cease to pour forth prayers to God, and to write to us as often as possible, if the opportunity is given, and to make us more certain regarding your health. For it does not escape you how great a concern it is to us to hear something about it, even every single day, if it be possible. I would also have you offer much greeting on my behalf to my most reverend and religious lord, the presbyter Asyncritius, and to his most sweet children, and to your whole clergy.
CXV. To Theophilus the presbyter. (Written after he had arrived at Cucusus, A.D. 404.)
This also belongs to your candor and grateful mind, that although you have received nothing from those to whom you were commended by me, yet, estimating the matter from our zeal and readiness of heart, you think that you have received everything. But we should not consider this to be enough by any means: for we have had much conversation concerning this matter both with my lord Theodore the praetorian, who brought us to Cucusus, and when we wrote to many others, we gave instructions in our letters to this effect as well. Wherefore, whether any result arises from our letters, or whether the letters remain merely letters and fail to accomplish anything with those by whom they are received, take care that I may know this as soon as possible. For in this also we admire your love toward us above all else, and we consider it the greatest proof that you have no doubt concerning our love toward you, that you speak to us about these matters. Wherefore, whether any benefit results from this or if no fruit should come of it, let me know, so that if any progress has been made, I may be grateful to those who have deserved well of themselves; for they are giving to themselves more than to you when they do this; but if otherwise, let us devise some shorter and more ready road and method, by which you may fully receive consolation and no longer be caught in any distress henceforth. For we shall be doing very well by ourselves, when we have undertaken the care of your noble and ingenuous soul. I would have you write to us as often as possible, and make us more certain regarding your health and the renown of your name.
CXVI. To Valentinus. (At Cucusus, A.D. 404.)
What is this? Once you were well aware how great a pleasure we take in your goods, and how we exult in your praises and glory, and since it was above all things your duty to signify to us by letter the magnitude of those honors to which you have now been elevated, did you nevertheless endure to let us learn this first from others, and do you think that you have no need of a long apology for this matter, because you have allowed us to lack such greatness of joy for so long as it depended on you? For your true dignity and greatest empire is the virtue of your soul. But since you have learned to use these worldly honors as well for that gain, and the more powerful you become, the wider a harbor you become to those in need, for that reason we now rejoice and exult, yet we do not remit the blame of silence to you. By what manner, then, will you satisfy us well? Undoubtedly if you write often, and frequently make us more certain regarding your health and that of your whole house. Since, therefore, you have received from us the method by which you may clear yourself to us, now add what is your part. For if, having received this letter, you persist in silence, we shall bring against you a charge of great negligence, and we shall take it ill. Nor, indeed, do I doubt that you will consider it as a most bitter punishment that we are in sorrow on this account: for I am not ignorant how sincerely and ardently you love us.
CXVII. To Theodora. (At Cucusus, as is thought, A.D. 404 or 405.)
I write to you rarely for this reason, that I do not easily find those to whom I may give letters: but I do not remember you rarely, but continually. For this is placed in our power, but that is otherwise: for that we should cultivate the memory of you continually rests in our own arbitration; but that letters should be carried, it does not. Wherefore the latter always happens, but the former only when the opportunity is given. And indeed with other letters we used only to greet you, but in this one we also ask for a favor. And what, pray, is this favor? It is that it may bring more gain to you, who give, than to me, who receive, and may benefit the giver before the recipient. For it has been brought to us that Eustathius has offended your mind, and has been cast out of your house, and removed from your sight. But in what way the matter stands, and why you used such great anger against him, I cannot say: for I only know this: but the things which it is fitting for you to hear from us, who are most studious of your salvation, are these. You are not ignorant that the present life is nothing, but imitates vernal flowers and weak shadows, and is nothing other than the fallacy of dreams; but that the things which are to receive us after our departure from this life are true and fixed and stable. These things you have heard from us very often, and you yourself do not cease to philosophize by yourself. Therefore I do not write a long letter; but this I say: If that was done by some people unjustly and by calumny, for you to eject him, let the law of nature move you to correct what has been done; but if justly and deservedly, accomplish this same thing moved by the laws of humanity: for from this too you will carry away more benefit than he. For just as he who was demanding a hundred denarii from his fellow-servant did not so much injure him as inflict a deadly wound upon himself, since for that rigidity of mind which he exercised toward his fellow-servant, he rendered the remission of ten thousand talents void: in the same way, he who overlooks the sins of his neighbor attains this, that more mildly might the accounts be required from him in the future age; and the more and graver sins he has remitted, the greater pardon he himself shall obtain. Nor is the distinction placed in this only, but also in the fact that when he has given a servile duty, he receives a masterly favor. Wherefore do not recount to me that this and that was perpetrated by him. For the more atrocious you show those things which were committed to be, the more necessary you declare the