Letter 245: Patience in bearing injuries benefits the soul more than any revenge could benefit the pride.

To Ophelius the Grammarian. With good reason, my admirable friend, do you now lament the city of the Pelusians, the very city you once called blessed. For when, like a mother in birth-pangs over her noble-born children, she gloried in the patronage of the renowned Ammonius, who was a bishop in the true sense, she was with good reason called blessed, since she was full both of divine and of human goods. But when a foul and alien and man-shaped beast was entrusted with her governance, and she was brought down to the uttermost desolation, with good reason is she worthy of dirges. For under that man, just as the bees encircle the queen of the swarm among the flowers in the cheerful meadows, so did all attend upon him and dance about him. For he was truly honey-flowing both in his discourse and in his voice, and he possessed a charm that won men over. But under this one [the present bishop] -- though I wish to say nothing harsh -- those who are left behind, having exchanged their festal attire, lament their own calamities. And the cause, as they say, is this: that under the former man the divine altar enjoyed its fitting consecration, with holy priests attending upon it, whereas under this one the polluted are admitted, while the zealous are driven away. Since, therefore, the essential things have been thrown out of order, all the rest too has been corrupted. For when the sanctuaries are trodden by foul men, the city also has with good reason become unapproachable to the many. Do not, then, O sacred head, only lament her, but pray as well, that she may run back to her ancient virtue and prosperity.

Εἰκότως, θαυμάσιε, τὴν Πηλουσιωτῶν νῦν κατάθρηνεις πόλιν, καὶ τὸ πρότερον μακαρίσας. Ὅτε μὲν γὰρ, οἷα δὴ μήτηρ ἐπ’ ἀριστοτόκοις παισὶν ὠδῖσι, τῇ τοῦ ἀοιδίμου Ἀμμωνίου τοῦ ὄντως ἐπισκόπου προστασίᾳ ἐνηβρύνετο, εἰκότως ἐμακαρίζετο, ἅτε δὴ καὶ τῶν θείων, καὶ τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἀγαθῶν ἀνάπλεως οὖσα. Ὅτε δὲ μιαρὸν καὶ ξένον καὶ ἀνθρωπόμορφον θηρίον τὴν οἰκονομίαν αὐτῆς ἐνεχειρίσθη, καὶ εἰς ἐσχάτην ἐρημίαν κατηνέχθη, εἰκότως ὀλοφυρμῶν ἐστιν ἀξία. Ἐπ’ ἐκείνου μὲν γὰρ, ὥσπερ αἱ τῇ βασιλίδι τοῦ σμήνους ἐν εὐθρόσοις λειμῶσιν ἄνθεσι περιζώννουσι μέλιτται· οὕτω πάντες αὐτὸν περιεῖπον, καὶ περὶ αὐτὸν ἐχόρευον. Ὄντως γὰρ ἦν καὶ τὴν ὁμιλίαν, καὶ τὴν φωνὴν μελισταγής, καὶ χειρωτικὸν ἐκέκτητο θέλγητρον. Ἐπὶ δὲ τούτου, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲν βούλομαι δυσχερὲς εἰπεῖν· οἱ ὑπολειφθέντες τὸ πανηγυρικὸν ἀμείψαντες σχῆμα κατάθρηνοῦσι τὰς σφῶν συμφοράς. Τὸ δὲ αἴτιον, ὥς φασι, τουτέστι, τὸ ἐπ’ ἐκείνου μὲν τὸ θεῖον θυσιαστήριον τῆς προσηκούσης τυγχάνειν ἁγιστείας, ἱερέων αὐτῷ περιεπόντων εὐαγῶν, ἐπὶ δὲ τούτου τοὺς μὲν ἐναγεῖς ἐγκρίνεσθαι (9)· τοὺς σπουδαίους δ’ ἀπελαύνεσθαι. Ὡς τῶν ἀναγκαίων τοιγαροῦν ἀῤῥυθμημένων, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα διέφθαρται. Τῶν γὰρ ἀδύτων ὑπὸ μιαρῶν ἀνθρώπων πατουμένων, ἄβατος καὶ ἡ πόλις εἰκότως τοῖς πολλοῖς γεγένηται. Μὴ τοίνυν, ὦ ἱερὰ κεφαλή, κατάθρηνει μόνον αὐτήν, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὔχου, ὅπως εἰς τὴν ἀρχαίαν ἀρετήν τε καὶ εὐημερίαν ἀναδράμοι.