NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

Life at Cæsarea; Baptism; and Adoption of Monastic Life.have not failed to foresee that this might be urged in objection to the completeness of hisrenunciation of the world, in their sense, and to counterbalance it, have cited an anecdoterelated by Cassian. 71 One day a senator named Syncletius came to Basil to be admitted tohis monastery, with the statement that he had renounced his property, excepting only apittance to save him from manual labour. “You have spoilt a senator,” said Basil, “withoutmaking a monk.” Basil’s own letter represents him as practically following the example of,or setting an example to, Syncletius.Stimulated to carry out his purpose of embracing the ascetic life by what he saw of themonks and solitaries during his travels, Basil first of all thought of establishing a monasteryin the district of Tiberina. 72 Here he would have been in the near neighbourhood ofArianzus, the home of his friend Gregory. But the attractions of Tiberina were ultimatelypostponed to those of Ibora, and Basil’s place of retreat was fixed in the glen not far fromthe old home, and only separated from Annesi by the Iris, of which we have Basil’s ownpicturesque description. 73 Gregory declined to do more than pay a visit to Pontus, and sois said to have caused Basil much disappointment. 74 It is a little characteristic of the imperiousnature of the man of stronger will, that while he would not give up the society of hisown mother and sister in order to be near his friend, he complained of his friend’s notmaking a similar sacrifice in order to be near him. 75 Gregory 76 good-humouredly repliesto Basil’s depreciation of Tiberina by a counter attack on Cæsarea and Annesi.At the Pontic retreat Basil now began that system of hard ascetic discipline whicheventually contributed to the enfeeblement of his health and the shortening of his life. Hecomplains again and again in his letters of the deplorable physical condition to which he isreduced, and he died at the age of fifty. It is a question whether a constitution better capable71 Inst. vii. 19. cf. note on Cassian, vol. xi. p. 254 of this series.72 Ep. xiv. ad fin.73 Ep. xiv.74 Greg. Naz., Ep. i. or xliii. § 25.75 On the latter difference between the friends at the time of Basil’s consecration, De Broglie remarks:“Ainsi se trahissait à chaque pas cette profords diversité de caractère qui devait parfois troubler, mais plus sonnentranimer et resserrer l’union de ces deux belles âmes: Basile, né pour le gouvernement des hommes et pour la lutte,prompt et précis dans ses resolutions, embrassant à coup d’œil le but à poursuivre et y marchant droit sans s’inquiéterdes difficultés et du jugement des spectateurs; Grégoire, atteint de cette délicatesse un peu maladive, qui est, chezles esprits d’élite, la source de l’inspiration poétique, sensible à la moindre renonce d’approbation ou de blâme,surtout à la moindre blessure de l’amitié, plus finement averti des obstacles, mais aussi plus aisément découragé,mèlant a la poursuite des plus grands intérets un soin peut être excessif de sa dignité et toutes les inquiétudes d’uncœur souffrant.” L’Eglise et l’Empire Romain au IVme Siècle, v. p. 89.76 Greg. Naz., Ep. ii.18