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

To Leontius the Sophist.To Leontius the Sophist. 1911Letter XX. 1910127I too do not write often to you, but not more seldom than you do to me, though manyhave travelled hitherward from your part of the world. If you had sent a letter by every oneof them, one after the other, there would have been nothing to prevent my seeming to beactually in your company, and enjoying it as though we had been together, so uninterruptedhas been the stream of arrivals. But why do you not write? It is no trouble to a Sophist towrite. Nay, if your hand is tired, you need not even write; another will do that for you. Onlyyour tongue is needed. And though it does not speak to me, it may assuredly speak to oneof your companions. If nobody is with you, it will talk by itself. Certainly the tongue of aSophist and of an Athenian is as little likely to be quiet as the nightingales when the springstirs them to song. In my own case, the mass of business in which I am now engaged mayperhaps afford some excuse for my lack of letters. And peradventure the fact of my stylehaving been spoilt by constant familiarity with common speech may make me somewhathesitate to address Sophists like you, who are certain to be annoyed and unmerciful, unlessyou hear something worthy of your wisdom. You, on the other hand, ought assuredly touse every opportunity of making your voice heard abroad, for you are the best speaker ofall the Hellenes that I know; and I think I know the most renowned among you; so thatthere really is no excuse for your silence. But enough on this point.I have sent you my writings against Eunomius. Whether they are to be called child’splay, or something a little more serious, I leave you to judge. So far as concerns yourself, Ido not think you stand any longer in need of them; but I hope they will be no unworthyweapon against any perverse men with whom you may fall in. I do not say this so muchbecause I have confidence in the force of my treatise, as because I know well that you are aman likely to make a little go a long way. If anything strikes you as weaker than it ought tobe, pray have no hesitation in showing me the error. The chief difference between a friendand a flatterer is this; the flatterer speaks to please, the friend will not leave out even whatis disagreeable.1910 Placed in 364.1911 cf. Letter xxxv.400