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| To Olympias.
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to
olympias.
Having risen from the very
gates of death I address this letter to the discreet lady; and I am
very glad that thy servants have met me just as I am anchoring at
last in harbour. For had they met me when I was still tossing on
the open sea, and experiencing the cruel waves of bodily sickness,
it would not have been easy for me to deceive your cautious spirit,
by sending good tidings instead of sorrowful. For the winter, which
has become more than commonly severe, brought on a storm of
internal disorder even more distressing, and during the last two
months I have been no better than one dead, nay worse. For I had
just enough life to be sensible of the horrors which encircled me,
and day and dawn and noon were all one night to me as I spent all
my time closely confined to my bed, and in spite of endless
contrivances I could not shake off the pernicious effects of the
cold; but although I kept a fire burning, and endured a most
unpleasant amount of smoke, and remained cooped up in one chamber,
covered with any quantity of wraps, and not daring to set a foot
outside the threshold I underwent extreme sufferings, perpetual
vomiting supervening on headache, loss of appetite, and constant
sleeplessness. Thus restlessly did I pass through my long dark sea
of troubles. But not to distress thy mind by dwelling upon my
miseries, from all of them I am now relieved. For as soon as spring
approached, and a little change in the temperature took place, all
my troubles spontaneously vanished. Nevertheless I still require
great care as regards diet; therefore I put only a light load on my
stomach, so that it may be able to digest it easily. But it has
occasioned me no little concern to learn that my discreet mistress
was brought to the verge of death. Nevertheless in consideration of
my great affection, and anxiety, and solicitude for your welfare I
was relieved from this care, even before the arrival of your
letters, many persons having come from thence who brought me
tidings of your restoration to health.
And now I am exceedingly glad and delighted to
hear, not only that you have been released from your infirmity, but
above all that you bear the things which befall you so bravely,
calling them all but an idle tale; and, which is indeed a greater
matter, that you have applied this name even to your bodily
infirmity, which is an evidence of a robust spirit, rich in the
fruit of courage. For not only to bear misfortunes bravely but to
be actually insensible to them, to overlook them, and with such
little exertion to wreathe your brows with the garland prize of
patience, neither labouring, nor toiling, neither feeling distress
nor causing it to others, but as it were leaping and dancing for
joy all the while, this is indeed a proof of the most finished
philosophy.948
| 948 Here, as often elsewhere, St. Chrysostom uses the
word φιλοσοφία in the sense of Christian
training and moral discipline. The monastic form of life was
commonly called ἡ
φιλοσοφιὰ, the “philosophy.” | Therefore I
rejoice, and leap for joy; I am in a flutter of delight, I am
insensible to my present loneliness, and the other troubles which
surround me, being cheered, and brightened, and not a little proud
on account of your greatness of soul, and the repeated victories
which you have won, and this, not only for your own sake, but also
for the sake of that large and populous city,949
where you are like a tower, a
haven, and a wall of defence, speaking in the eloquent voice of
example, and through your sufferings instructing either sex to
strip readily for these contests, and descend into the lists with
all courage, and cheerfully bear the toils which such contests
involve. And the wonder is that without thrusting yourself into the
forum, or occupying the public centres of the city, but sitting all
the while in a small house and confined chamber you serve and
anoint the combatants for the contest, and whilst the sea is thus
raging round you, and the billows are rising to a crest, and crags
and reefs, and rocky ledges and fierce monsters appear on every
side, and everything is shrouded in the most profound darkness you,
setting the sails of patience, float on with great serenity, as if
it was noonday, and calm weather, and a favourable breeze wafting
you on, and so far from being overwhelmed by this grievous tempest
are not even sprinkled by the spray; and very naturally so; such is
the force of virtue as a rudder. Now merchants and pilots, and
sailors and voyagers when they see clouds gathering up, or fierce
winds rushing down upon them, or the breakers seething with an
abundance of foam keep their vessels moored inside harbour; and if
they chance to be tempest-tossed in the open sea they do their
best, and devise every means to bring their ship to some anchorage,
or island or shore. But you, although such innumerable winds, and
fierce waves burst upon you together, and the sea is heaved up from
its very depths owing to the severity of the storm, and some are
submerged, others floating dead upon the water, others drifting
naked upon planks, you plunging into the mid ocean of calamities
call all these things an idle tale, sailing on with a favourable
breeze in the midst of the tempest; and naturally so; for pilots,
even if they are infinitely wise in that science, nevertheless have
not skill sufficient to withstand every kind of storm; consequently they often
shrink from doing battle with the waves. But the science which you
have is superior to every kind of storm—the power of a
philosophic soul—which is stronger than ten thousand armies, more
powerful than arms, and more secure than towers and bulwarks. For
the arms, and bulwarks, and towers which soldiers have, are
serviceable for the security of the body only, and this not always,
nor in every way; but there are times when all these resources are
baffled, and leave those who fly to them for refuge destitute of
protection. But thy powers do not repel the weapons of barbarians,
nor the devices of hostile men, nor any assaults and stratagems of
that kind, but they have trampled under foot the constraining
forces of nature, put down their tyranny and levelled their
citadel. And whilst ceaselessly contending with demons, you have
won countless victories, yet have not received a single blow, but
stand unwounded in the midst of a storm of darts and turn the
spears which are hurled at you back upon those who discharge them.
Such is the wisdom of your art; by the sufferings which you undergo
you take vengeance on those who inflict them; by the plots of which
you are the subject you put your enemies to pain, possessing in
their malice the best foundation for the materials of fame. And
you, knowing these things well yourself, and having gained
perception by experience, naturally call them all an idle tale. For
how, pray, should you not call them by that name, possessing as you
do a mortal body, and yet despising death as if you were hastening
to quit a foreign country, and return to your own land; a chronic
sufferer from the most severe infirmity, and yet more cheerfully
disposed than the thriving and robust, not depressed by insults,
nor elated by honours and glory, the latter being a cause of
infinite mischief to many who after an illustrious career in the
priesthood, and after reaching extreme old age, and the most
venerable hoar hairs, have fallen into disgrace on this account,
and become a common spectacle of derision for those who wish to
make merry. But you on the contrary, woman as you are, clothed with
a fragile body, and subject to these severe attacks, have not only
avoided falling into such a condition yourself, but have prevented
many others from so doing. They indeed before they had advanced far
in the contest, even at the very outset and starting point, have
been overthrown; whereas you, after having gone countless times
round the farther turning post, have won a prize in every course,
after playing your part in manifold kinds of wrestling and combats.
And very naturally so; for the wrestlings of virtue do not depend
upon age, or bodily strength, but only on the spirit and the
disposition. Thus women have been crowned victors, while men have
been upset; so also boys have been proclaimed conquerors, while
aged men have been put to shame. It is indeed always fitting to
admire those who pursue virtue, but especially when some are found
to cling to it at a time when many are deserting it. Therefore, my
sweet lady, you deserve superlative admiration, inasmuch as after
so many men, women, and aged persons who seemed to enjoy the
greatest reputation have been turned to flight, all lying prostrate
before the eyes of the world, and this not after a severe
onslaught, nor any alarming muster of the enemy’s force, but
overthrown before the encounter and worsted before the struggle,
you on the contrary after so many battles and such large muster of
the enemy are so far from being unstrung, or dismayed by the number
of your adversities, that you are all the more vigorous, and the
increase of the contest gives you an increase of strength. For the
recollection of what has been already achieved becomes the ground
of cheerfulness, and joy, and greater zeal. Therefore I rejoice,
and leap for joy; for I will not cease repeating this, and taking
about with me everywhere the material of my joy; so that although
my separation from you distresses you, yet you have this very great
consolation arising from your successful exploits; for I also who
am banished to so great a distance gain no small cheerfulness from
this cause,—I mean your courage.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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