Letter 15: The townsmen of our metropolis have conferred on me a greater favour than they have received, in giving me an opportunity of writing to your excellency. The kindness, to win which they have received this letter from me, was assured them even before I wrote, on account of your wonted and inborn courtesy to all. But I have considered it a very gre...
Basil of Caesarea→Arcadius, Imperial Treasurer|c. 358 AD|Basil of Caesarea|Human translated
illnessimperial politics
Imperial politics
The citizens of our capital city have actually done me the bigger favor here — they've given me a reason to write to Your Excellency. The goodwill they're hoping this letter will secure was already guaranteed, even before I wrote, simply by your well-known and natural generosity to everyone.
Still, I consider it a real privilege to address Your Excellency. I pray to God that I may continue to share in the joy of those who receive your kindness, and that your reputation continues to grow as you please Him more and more.
I hope that in due time I'll be able to welcome back the people carrying this letter, and send them off again full of praise — as so many others have been — for the considerate way you treated them. I trust that my recommendation will not have been entirely useless in helping them approach your distinguished office.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Arcadius, Imperial Treasurer.
The townsmen of our metropolis have conferred on me a greater favour than they have received, in giving me an opportunity of writing to your excellency. The kindness, to win which they have received this letter from me, was assured them even before I wrote, on account of your wonted and inborn courtesy to all. But I have considered it a very great advantage to have the opportunity of addressing your excellency, praying to the holy God that I may continue to rejoice, and share in the pleasure of the recipients of your bounty, while you please Him more and more, and while the splendour of your high place continues to increase. I pray that in due time I may with joy once more welcome those who are delivering this my letter into your hands, and send them forth praising, as do many, your considerate treatment of them, and I trust that they will have found my recommendation of them not without use in approaching your exalted excellency.
The citizens of our capital city have actually done me the bigger favor here — they've given me a reason to write to Your Excellency. The goodwill they're hoping this letter will secure was already guaranteed, even before I wrote, simply by your well-known and natural generosity to everyone.
Still, I consider it a real privilege to address Your Excellency. I pray to God that I may continue to share in the joy of those who receive your kindness, and that your reputation continues to grow as you please Him more and more.
I hope that in due time I'll be able to welcome back the people carrying this letter, and send them off again full of praise — as so many others have been — for the considerate way you treated them. I trust that my recommendation will not have been entirely useless in helping them approach your distinguished office.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)