Letter 344: I am dissuaded from writing often to you, learned as you are, by my timidity and my ignorance. But your persistent silence is different. What excuse can be offered for it?
I am discouraged from writing to you -- learned as you are -- by my timidity and my ignorance. But your persistent silence is a different matter entirely. What excuse can there be for it? If anyone reflects that you are slow to write to me, a man who lives at the very center of letters, he will conclude that you have simply forgotten me. A man who is ready at speaking is never unprepared to write. And if such a man stays silent, it is clear that he acts either from forgetfulness or from contempt.
I will, however, repay your silence with a greeting. Farewell, most honored sir. Write if you like. If you prefer, do not write.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
[Πρός: Βασίλειος Λιβανίῳ]
Τὸ μὴ συνεχῶς με γράφειν πρὸς τὴν σὴν παίδευσιν, πείθουσι τό τε δέος καὶ ἡ ἀμαθία· τὸ δέ σε καρτερικώτατα σιωπᾷν, τί τῆς μέμψεως ἐξαιρήσεται; εἰ δέ τις λογίσαιτο τὸ καὶ ἐν λόγοις σε βιοῦντα ὀκνεῖν ἐπιστέλλειν, καταψηφιεῖταί σου λήθην τὴν πρὸς ἡμᾶς. ᾧ γὰρ τὸ λέγειν πρόχειρον, καὶ τὸ ἐπιστέλλειν οὐκ ἀνέτοιμον. ὁ δὲ ταῦτα κεκτημένος, εἶτα σιγῶν, εὔδηλον ὡς ὑπεροψίᾳ ἢ λήθῃ τοῦτο ποιεῖ. ἐγὼ δέ σου τὴν σιωπὴν ἀμείψομαι προσρήσει. χαῖρε τοίνυν, τιμιώτατε, καὶ γράφε εἰ βούλοιο· καὶ μὴ γράφε, εἰ τοῦτό σοι προσφιλές.
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