Letter 23

To Ecdicius, Prefect of Egypt. Some men have a passion for horses, others for birds, others for wild animals. I, from childhood, have been consumed by a passionate longing to acquire books. It would therefore be absurd for me to allow these to be seized by men whose greed for wealth not even gold can satisfy, and who shamelessly plan to steal books as well. Do me this personal favor: search for all the books that belonged to George [the murdered Arian Bishop of Alexandria, who had amassed an enormous library]. There were many works of philosophy, many of rhetoric, and many on the teachings of the impious Galileans [Christians]. The last category I would gladly see destroyed — but I fear that the more valuable works might be lost along with them. So search for all of them without exception, carefully and thoroughly. George's secretary can help you with this. Tell him that if he preserves them faithfully, he will be set free; but if he tries any tricks, he will be put to the torture. I know these books — I saw many of them when George was still alive, since he lent them to me in Cappadocia to copy.

To Ecdicius, Prefect of Egypt 3 [362 end of January, Constantinople] Some men have a passion for horses, others for birds, others, again, for wild beasts; but I, from childhood, have been penetrated by a passionate longing4 to acquire books. It would therefore be absurd if I should suffer these to be appropriated by men whose inordinate desire for wealth gold alone cannot satiate, and who unscrupulously design to steal these also. Do you therefore grant me this personal favour, that all the books which belonged to George be sought out. For there were in his house many on philosophy, and many on rhetoric; many also on the teachings of the impious Galilaeans. These latter I should wish to be utterly annihilated, but for fear that along with them more useful works may be destroyed by mistake, let all these also be sought for with the greatest care. Let George's secretary 1 take charge of this search for you, and if he hunts for them faithfully let him know that he will obtain his freedom as a reward, but that if he prove in any way whatever dishonest in the business he will be put to the test of torture. And I know what books George had, many of them, at any rate, if not all; for he lent me some of them to copy, when I was in Cappadocia,2 and these he received back. 3 See Introduction, under Ecdicius. 4 A proverbial phrase; cf. Vol. 1, Oration 4. 130c, Vol. 2, Oration 8. 251d; Plato, Menexenus 245d. For Julian's love of books, Vol. 1, Oration 3. 123d. foll. 1 Perhaps to be identified with Porphyrius, to whom Julian wrote the threatening Letter 38, p. 123. 2 i.e. when he was interned for six years by Constantius at Macellum in Cappadocia. George was then at Caesarea near Macellum.