Letter 356: I am delighted at receiving what you write, but when you ask me to reply, I am in a difficulty. What could I say in answer to so Attic a tongue, except that I confess, and confess with joy, that I am a pupil of fishermen? About this page Source.
Your letters are always a pleasure to receive. But when you ask me to write back, I'm at a loss — what could I possibly say in reply to such a perfectly Attic pen [Attic Greek: the gold standard of classical prose style], except this: I'm a student of fishermen [the apostles Peter, Andrew, etc.], and I admit it gladly.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
[Πρός: Βασίλειος Λιβανίῳ]
Δεχομένοις μὲν ἡμῖν ἃ γράφεις, χαρά· ἀπαιτουμένοις δὲ πρὸς ἃ γράφεις ἀντεπιστέλλειν, ἀγών. τί γὰρ ἂν εἴποιμεν πρὸς οὕτως ἀττικίζουσαν γλῶτταν, πλὴν ὅτι ἁλιέων εἰμὶ μαθητής; ὁμολογῶ καὶ φιλῶ.
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