Letter 1634: Many people are greatly reproaching you: that you speak most pleasantly with those whom it is not even right to look...
Those who sin after the most revered baptism, and are not willing to enter even upon the path toward virtue which our ancestors trod, wish to persist in wickedness, though they seem unworthy of any mercy. To Anatolius. The company of the wicked must be avoided. Certain people strongly accuse you, saying that those whom it is not even fitting to look upon, you converse with most pleasantly. Those with whom it is most shameful to speak, you have made your intimates. Those whom it would be disgraceful to honor even when present, you love even when they are absent. If, therefore, these people speak the truth, repent; but if not, make it clear to us so that we may stop the mouths of those who delight in your slanders. To Nilus, Peter, and Paul. Patience in the face of insults greatly benefits the soul. If I knew it to be profitable but difficult, I would be entirely vexed, fearing to lose what is advantageous by fleeing the effort involved. But since it is both easy and excellent — for to pursue vengeance is both troublesome and more laborious, and fills the soul with storm — it is better to practice philosophy.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
ρΡοϑί ἰοεραπὶ φγαιἰϑιηαια ροοοδηϊῖ, ἃς η6 Υἱῷ αυϊάσιη δ ογ μαῖα, φιδη) πηΔ[ ΟΓ ποϑβίγὶ ᾿παγοδϑὶ διμὶ, νοίϊυηϊ ἰηδ᾽ϑίογο, χυδηδπὶ ἣὶ ἀϊφηὶ πιϊ δου ον ΐα Υἱ- ἀοδηέυτγ ὈΧΥ͂. --- ΑΝΑΤΟΙΟ.. Ῥγἠαπάα ἱπιρτοϑογμπι σοπιπιογεῖα. Λίαν σέ τινες αἰτιῶνται, ὅτι οὗς μὲν οὐδ᾽ ὁρᾶν θέμις, τούτοις ὡς ἥδιστα λαλεῖς. Οἷς δὲ λαλεῖν αἴσχιστον, τούτους συνήθεις πεποίησαι. Οὖς δὲ παρ- ὄντας τιμᾷν ἀτιμίας ἄξιον, τούτους χαὶ ἀπόντας Αςουϑδιι [ φιΐάαπι, φυοὰ Π6 ἀϑβρίοεγο αι ϊ- ἄδη) 8ἰ1 , ουμὴ ἰΐ8 πὶ ἔπ Π 55ΐ πιὸ ΟΟἸ]ΟηιϊιΔτίβ. Ουπὶ αυΐθυ8 ν ΓΟ οΟἸοαιΐ τ Γρ πηππὶ ', [δπι - ᾿ἰδγογ αἱλΥῖθ. Ή1108 ν6ΓῸ ργθϑοη ὨΟΠΟΤΆΓΟ ἱΠΓΡῸ ἀγαπᾷς. Εἰ τοίνυν ἁληθεύουσι, γνωσιμάχει" εἰ δὲ αὶ 5ἷ1, Πο5. ᾿ἰδοῇ δυδεηιβ δίδιια5. Βεδὶρίβοο μὴν δήλου ἵνα ἐπιστομίσωμεν τοὺς ἐπὶ ταῖς σαῖς διαδολαῖς ἀγαλλομένους. ΦΙΩ". -- ΝΕΙΔΩ, ΠΕΤΡΩ, ΠΑΥΛΩ. Ἔγζο, ναγὰ ἢ πάγοι ; βίη βδθοιβ, οϑίθμι! [Ἀ , ἅ [ Οθίυγόηλυ8 αυΐ [ ἴῃ ἴθ ΘΑ] υἹηΠ οχϑυ!ίδηι. ᾿ ὮὍΧΥΙ. --- ΝΟ, ΡΕΤΒΟ εὐ ΡΑῦΠ0. δὲ γαιἰοπι τ ϑθηο. Ἡ ἐπὶ ταῖς ὕόρεσιν ἀνεξιχαχία λίαν τὴν ψυχὴν ὠφελεῖ ἣν εἰ () συμφέρουσαν μὲν δειν, χαλεπὴν δὲ γενέσθαι, χομιδῇ ἂν ἡχθέσθην " μὴ τὸ τὴν προσοῦ- σαν πραγματείαν φεύγειν, τὸ λυσιτελὲς προέσθαι" εἰ δὲ χαὶ ῥᾳδία χαὶ βελτίστη τυγχάνει. Τὸ γὰρ ἐπ- ἐξιέναι χαὶ δύσχολον χαὶ ἐργωδέστερον, χαὶ χειμῶνος τὴν Ψυχὴν πληροῖ" ἄμεινον τὸ φιλοσοφεῖν.
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