Letter 7

To Theodorus and his Sister. How do you think I felt when a rumor swept through town that you were battling a dangerous — possibly catastrophic — case of ophthalmia, and that you were on the verge of losing your sight? Fortunately, the story turned out to be false. Some scoundrel seized on the word "ophthalmia" and inflated it into a tragedy. May everything he said falsely about you come back on his own head. Thank God we have had better news since. But honestly — are we supposed to read the stars to find out how you are? Or rely on whatever gossip drifts our way? We ought to have you here with us, but failing that, the least you could do is write. We could learn about your affairs from you instead of from rumor. You really do neglect us. Perhaps God wills it so.

Letter 7: A False Rumor [1] To Theodorus and his Sister How do you think I felt in my heart's depths when the rumor was spread about town that you were struggling with a dangerous or even worse than dangerous attack of ophthalmia, and that you were threatened with the loss of your eyesight? [2] Soon, however, the story was proved false. I suppose some downright rascal took advantage of the word ophthalmia in order grossly to exaggerate the report and to make out a tragic situation. May all that he said falsely about you return upon his own head! God be praised that he has granted us to hear better news of you! [3] But after all, do you expect us, as the proverb goes, to read news of you in the stars? Or to find out what rumor has to say? We ought indeed to have you with us, but failing that, we might at least be favored with letters from you, and learn about your own affairs from yourself. You really neglect us too much. Perchance it is God that so wills it.