Letter 108: I am very much astonished to hear that, after the kind promises which you made and which were only such as might be expected from your generous character, you have now forgotten them and are putting violent and stern pressure on our sister. What to think, under the circumstances, I really do not know. I know from many who have experienced your l...

To Fantinus, guardian of Julitta's heirs — I'm astonished. You made kind and generous promises — exactly what I'd expect from someone of your character — and now you've forgotten them entirely. Instead, you're putting harsh pressure on our sister. I honestly don't know what to make of it. I've heard from many people who've experienced your generosity firsthand, and I remember clearly what you promised in front of me and the ex-prefect [a former provincial governor]. You said you were putting a shorter deadline in the written agreement, but that in practice you'd grant a longer grace period — out of consideration for the widow's situation, since she's being forced to pay such a large sum all at once from her own resources. What changed? I have no idea. Whatever the reason, I'm asking you: remember who you are. Think about the Lord, who repays kindness. Grant the extension you originally promised, so the family can sell their property and pay off the debt. I also remember clearly that you agreed, once you received the settlement amount, to return all the legal documents to the widow — both the ones filed with the magistrates and the private papers. So please — honor your word. You'll earn great blessing from the Lord for it. And remember: you're human too. The day will come when you'll need God's help yourself. Don't cut yourself off from that help by being harsh now. Show kindness and mercy to people who are suffering, and God's mercy will come to you in return.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the guardian of the heirs of Julitta. I am very much astonished to hear that, after the kind promises which you made and which were only such as might be expected from your generous character, you have now forgotten them and are putting violent and stern pressure on our sister. What to think, under the circumstances, I really do not know. I know from many who have experienced your liberality, and bear testimony to it, how great it is; and I remember the promises which you made before me and the ex-prefect. You said that you were naming a shorter time in writing, but that you would grant a longer term of grace, from your wish to meet the necessities of the case, and do a favour to the widow, who is now compelled to pay out of her substance such a large sum of money at once. What is the cause of this change I cannot imagine. However, whatever it is, I beg you to be mindful of your own generous character, and to look to the Lord Who requites good deeds. I beg you to grant the time of remission, which you promised at the outset, that they may be able to sell their property and discharge the debt. I perfectly well remember that you promised, if you received the sum agreed on, to restore to the widow all the stipulated documents, as well those which had been executed before the magistrates as the private papers. I do beg you then, honour me and win great blessing for yourself from the Lord. Remember your own promises, recognizing that you are human and must yourself look for that time when you will need God's help. Do not shut yourself off from that help by your present severity; but, by showing all kindness and clemency to the afflicted, attract God's pity to yourself.

[Πρός: Τῷ κηδεμόνι τῶν κληρονόμων Ἰουλίττης] Ἐθαύμασα ἀκούσας ὅτι, τῶν χρηστῶν ἐκείνων καὶ πρεπόντων τῇ σῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ ὑποσχέσεων ἐπιλαθόμενος, νῦν σφοδροτάτην καὶ ἀπαραίτητον ἐπάγεις τὴν ἀπαίτησιν τῇ ἀδελφῇ τῇδε· καὶ τί εἰκάσω ἐκ τῶν λεγομένων οὐκ ἔχω. σοί τε γὰρ πολλὴν παρὰ τῶν πεπειραμένων σου μαρτυρουμένην ἐλευθερίαν σύνοιδα, καὶ τῶν ὑποσχέσεών σου μέμνημαι ὧν ἐποίησας ἐπʼ ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦδε, λέγων ἐλάττονα μὲν γράφειν χρόνον, πλείονα δὲ συγχωρήσειν διὰ τὸ βούλεσθαι συμπεριφέρεσθαι τῇ ἀνάγκῃ τοῦ πράγματος, καὶ συγγνώμην παρέχειν τῇ ἐλευθέρᾳ ἀναγκαζομένῃ τοσοῦτον ἀθρόως ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας προΐεσθαι χρῆμα. Τίς οὖν ἡ αἰτία δι’ ἣν ἡ τοσαύτη μεταβολὴ γέγονεν ἐγὼ νοεῖν οὐκ ἔχω. πλὴν ὅπερ ἂν ᾖ, παρακαλῶ σε, μεμνημένον τῆς σεαυτοῦ ἐλευθεριότητος καὶ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον ἀπιδόντα τὸν ἀμειβόμενον τὰς χρηστὰς προαιρέσεις, δοῦναι τὸν καιρὸν ὃν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὑπέσχου τῆς ἀνέσεως, ἵνα δυνηθῶσι συμπωλήσαντες τὰ ἑαυτῶν διαλῦσαι τὸ χρέος. δῆλον δὲ ὅτι κἀκείνων μέμνημαι, ὅτι ὑπέσχου, εἰ λάβοις τὸ ὁμολογηθὲν χρυσίον, πάντα τὰ ὁμολογηθέντα χαρτία, καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων πραχθέντα καὶ τὰ ἰδιωτικῶς γενόμενα, παραδώσειν τῇ προειρημένῃ. Παρακαλῶ οὖν, καὶ ἡμᾶς τίμησον καὶ κτῆσαι παρὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ μεγάλην ἑαυτῷ εὐλογίαν, ἀναμνησθεὶς τῶν σεαυτοῦ ὑποσχέσεων, γινώσκων ὅτι ἄνθρωπος εἶ καὶ αὐτὸς ἀναμένειν ὀφείλεις τοὺς καιροὺς ἐν οἷς δεηθήσῃ τῆς παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀντιλήψεως· ἣν μὴ ἀποκλείσῃς σεαυτῷ διὰ τῆς παρούσης σκληρότητος, ἀλλʼ εὐτρέπισον τοὺς οἰκτιρμοὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπὶ σαυτόν, πᾶσαν χρηστότητα καὶ ἐπιείκειαν τοῖς καταπονουμένοις ἐπιδειξάμενος.