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

To Callisthenes.Letter LXXIII. 2259To Callisthenes.1. When I had read your letter I thanked God; first, that I been greeted by a man desirousof doing me honour, for truly I highly estimate any intercourse with persons of high merit;secondly, with pleasure at the thought of being remembered. For a letter is a sign of remembrance;and when I had received yours and learnt its contents I was astonished to find how,as all were agreed, it paid me the respect due to a father from a son. That a man in the heatof anger and indignation, eager to punish those who had annoyed him, should drop morethan half his vehemence and give me authority to decide the matter, caused me to feel suchjoy as I might over a son in the spirit. In return, what remains for me but to pray for allblessings for you? May you be a delight to your friends, a terror to your foes, an object ofrespect to all, to the end that any who fall short in their duty to you may, when they learnhow gentle you are, only blame themselves for having wronged one of such a character asyourself!2. I should be very glad to know the object which your goodness has in view, in orderingthe servants to be conveyed to the spot where they were guilty of their disorderly conduct.If you come yourself, and exact in person the punishment due for the offence, the slavesshall be there. What other course is possible if you have made up your mind? Only that Ido not know what further favour I shall have received, if I shall have failed to get the boysoff their punishment. But if business detain you on the way, who is to receive the fellowsthere? Who is to punish them in your stead? But if you have made up your mind to meetthem yourself, and this is quite determined on, tell them to halt at Sasima, and there showthe extent of your gentleness and magnanimity. After having your assailants in your ownpower, and so showing them that your dignity is not to be lightly esteemed, let them go scotfree, as I urged you in my former letter. So you will confer a favour on me, and will receivethe requital of your good deed from God.3. I speak in this way, not because the business ought so to be ended, but as a concessionto your agitated feelings, and in fear lest somewhat of your wrath may remain still raw.When a man’s eyes are inflamed the softest application seems painful, and I am afraid lestwhat I say may rather irritate than calm you. What would really be most becoming, bringinggreat credit to you, and no little cause of honour to me with my friends and contemporaries,would be for you to leave the punishment to me. And although you have sworn to deliverthem to execution as the law enjoins, my rebuke is still of no less value as a punishment,nor is the divine law of less account than the laws current in the world. But it will be possible2259 Of the same date as the preceding.497