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

To Martinianus.of failing to make two and destroying the one he had. Tell the Emperor and his ministersthat they are not after this fashion increasing the empire, for power lies not in number butin condition. I am sure that now men are neglecting the course of events, some, possibly,from ignorance of the truth, some from their being unwilling to say anything offensive,some because it does not immediately concern them. The course likely to be most beneficial,and worthy of your high principles, would be for you, if possible, to approach the Emperorin person. If this is difficult both on account of the season of the year and of your age, ofwhich, as you say, inactivity is the foster brother, at all events you need have no difficultyin writing. If you thus give our country the aid of a letter, you will first of all have the satisfactionof knowing that you have left nothing undone that was in your power, and further,by showing sympathy, if only in appearance, you will give the patient much comfort. Wouldonly that it were possible for you to come yourself among us and actually see our deplorablecondition! Thus, perhaps, stirred by the plain evidence before you, you might have spokenin terms worthy alike of your own magnanimity and of the affliction of Cæsarea. But donot withhold belief from what I am telling you. Verily we want some Simonides, or otherlike poet, to lament our troubles from actual experience. But why name Simonides? I shouldrather mention Æschylus, or any other who has set forth a great calamity in words like his,and uttered lamentation with a mighty voice.3. Now we have no more meetings, no more debates, no more gatherings of wise menin the Forum, nothing more of all that made our city famous. In our Forum nowadays itwould be stranger for a learned or eloquent man to put in an appearance, than it would formen, shewing a brand of iniquity or unclean hands, to have presented themselves in Athensof old. Instead of them we have the imported boorishness of Massagetæ and Scythians.And only one noise is heard of drivers of bargains, and losers of bargains, and of fellowsunder the lash. On either hand the porticoes resound with doleful echoes, as though theywere uttering a natural and proper sound in groaning at what is going on. Our distressprevents our paying any attention to locked gymnasia and nights when no torch is lighted.There is no small danger lest, our magistrates being removed, everything crash down togetheras with fallen props. What words can adequately describe our calamities? Some have fledinto exile, a considerable portion of our senate, and that not the least valuable, preferingperpetual banishment to Podandus. 2263 When I mention Podandus, suppose me to meanthe Spartan Ceadas 2264 or any natural pit that you may have seen, spots breathing a noxiousvapour, to which some have involuntarily given the name Charonian. Picture to yourself1702263 Now Podando, in Southern Cappadocia, made by Valens the chief town of the new division of theprovince.2264 So the Spartans named the pit into which condemned criminals were thrown. Pausanias, Book IV. 18,4. Thucyd., i. 134. Strabo, viii. 367.500