Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

To Hesychius. 2258
Letter LXXII. 2257
I know your affection for me, and your zeal for all that is good. I am exceedingly anxious
to pacify my very dear son Callisthenes, and I thought that if I could associate you with me
in this I might more easily achieve my object. Callisthenes is very much annoyed at the
conduct of Eustochius, and he has very good ground for being so. He charges the household
of Eustochius with impudence and violence against himself. I am begging him to be propitiated,
satisfied with the fright which he has given the impudent fellows and their master,
and to forgive, and end the quarrel. Thus two results will follow; he will win the respect of
men, and praise with God, if only he will combine forbearance with threats. If you have
any friendship and intimacy with him, pray ask this favour of him, and, if you know any in
the town likely to be able to move him, get them to act with you, and tell them that it will
be specially gratifying to me. Send back the deacon so soon as his commission is performed.
After men have fled for refuge to me, I should be ashamed not to be able to be of any use
to them.
2257 Placed at about the same period as the preceding.
2258 cf. Letter lxiv. Letters lxxii. and lxxiii. illustrate the efforts made by Basil to mitigate the troubles caused
by slavery, and to regulate domestic as well as ecclesiastical matters.
To Hesychius.
496
168