Letter 152: If I were to fail to write to any one else I might possibly with justice incur the charge of carelessness or forgetfulness. But it is not possible to forget you, when your name is in all men's mouths. But I cannot be careless about one who is perhaps more distinguished than any one else in the empire.
Basil of Caesarea→Victor, Commander|c. 366 AD|Basil of Caesarea|Human translated
imperial politics
To Victor, Commander
I could perhaps be forgiven for neglecting to write to others — forgetfulness or carelessness might explain the silence. But forgetting you is simply not possible; your name is on everyone's lips. And being careless about someone of your standing in the empire would be equally unthinkable.
The reason I held back was simple: I didn't want to impose on a man so busy and so prominent. But if you're willing not only to receive my letters but to actually ask why they haven't come — well, here I am, writing gladly, and I intend to keep writing. I pray God rewards you for the honor you've shown me.
As for the Church [the Christian community in Caesarea and the surrounding region], you've already done everything I would have asked before I even had the chance to ask it. And what you do, you do to please God — not me, not anyone else. He is the one who has honored you; He has given you good things in this life, and He will give you more in the life to come, because you have walked faithfully in His way and kept your heart fixed in the right faith from beginning to end.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Victor, the Commander.
If I were to fail to write to any one else I might possibly with justice incur the charge of carelessness or forgetfulness. But it is not possible to forget you, when your name is in all men's mouths. But I cannot be careless about one who is perhaps more distinguished than any one else in the empire. The cause of my silence is evident. I am afraid of troubling so great a man. If, however, to all your other virtues you add that of not only receiving what I send, but of actually asking after what is missing, lo! Here I am writing to you with joyous heart, and I shall go on writing for the future, with prayers to God that you may be requited for the honour you pay me. For the Church, you have anticipated my supplications, by doing everything which I should have asked. And you act to please not man but God, Who has honoured you; Who has given you some good things in this life, and will give you others in the life to come, because you have walked with truth in His way, and, from the beginning to the end, have kept your heart fixed in the right faith.
I could perhaps be forgiven for neglecting to write to others — forgetfulness or carelessness might explain the silence. But forgetting you is simply not possible; your name is on everyone's lips. And being careless about someone of your standing in the empire would be equally unthinkable.
The reason I held back was simple: I didn't want to impose on a man so busy and so prominent. But if you're willing not only to receive my letters but to actually ask why they haven't come — well, here I am, writing gladly, and I intend to keep writing. I pray God rewards you for the honor you've shown me.
As for the Church [the Christian community in Caesarea and the surrounding region], you've already done everything I would have asked before I even had the chance to ask it. And what you do, you do to please God — not me, not anyone else. He is the one who has honored you; He has given you good things in this life, and He will give you more in the life to come, because you have walked faithfully in His way and kept your heart fixed in the right faith from beginning to end.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)