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| Julian to Basil.
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Letter XXXIX.2048
| 2048 To be placed
probably in 362, if genuine. |
Julian2049
| 2049 These Letters
are placed in this order by the Ben. Editors as being written, if
genuine, before Basil’s episcopate. Maran (Vita S.
Bas. Cap. ii.) is puzzled at Basil’s assertion in xli.
that he learned the Bible with Julian, and points out that at Athens
they devoted themselves to profane literature. But this may
have allowed intervals for other work. In 344, when Basil was
at Cæsarea, Julian was relegated by Constantius to the
neighbouring fortress of Macellum, and there, with his elder
half-brother Gallus, spent six years in compulsory retirement.
Sozomen tells us that the brothers studied the Scripture and became
Readers (Soz. v. 2; Amm. Marc. xv. 2, 7). Their seclusion, in
which they were reduced to the society of their own household (Greg.
Naz., Or. iii., Julian, Ad. Ath. 271 c.), may not have
been so complete as to prevent all intercourse with a harmless
schoolboy like Basil. “Malgré
l’authorité de dom Maran, nous croyons avec Tillemont,
Dupont et M. Albert de Broglie, que cette lettre a été
réellement adressée par Julien, non a un homonyme de St.
Basile mais à St. Basile lui-même.” Étude
historique et littéraire sur St. Basile.
Fialon. | to
Basil.
The proverb says “You are
not proclaiming
war,”2050
| 2050
i.e.“your words are friendly.”
cf. Plat., Legg. 702 D. οὐ
πόλεμόν γε
ἐπαγγέλλεις,
ὦ
Κλεινία. | and, let me add,
out of the comedy, “O messenger of golden
words.”2051
| 2051 ὦ χρυσὸν
ἀγγείλας
ἐπῶν. Aristoph., Plut.
268. | Come then;
prove this in act, and hasten to me. You will come as friend
to friend. Conspicuous and unremitting devotion to business
seems, to those that treat it as of secondary importance, a heavy
burden; yet the diligent are modest, as I persuade myself, sensible,
and ready for any emergency. I allow myself relaxations so
that even rest may be permitted to one who neglects nothing.
Our mode of life is not marked by the court hypocrisy, of which I
think you have had some experience, and in accordance with which
compliments mean deadlier hatred than is felt to our worst foes;
but, with becoming freedom, while we blame and rebuke where blame is
due, we love with the love of the dearest friends. I may
therefore, let me say, with all sincerity, both be diligent in
relaxation and, when at work, not get worn out, and sleep secure;
since when awake I do not wake more for myself, than, as is fit, for
every one else. I am afraid this is rather silly and trifling,
as I feel rather lazy, (I praise myself like Astydamas2052
| 2052 A playwright
of Athens, who put a boastful epigram on his own statue, and became
a byword for self-praise. Vide Suidas
s.v., σαυτὸν
ἐπαινεῖς. | ) but I am writing to prove to you that to
have the pleasure of seeing you, wise man as you are, will be more
likely to do me good than to cause any difficulty. Therefore,
as I have said, lose no time: travel post haste. After
you have paid me as long a visit as you like, you shall go on your
journey, whithersoever you will, with my best
wishes.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
