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

Basil as Archbishop.nearly it was seen that one eye was defective. He was strongly built, and of middle height,but his person was obese, and his legs were crooked. He was hesitating and unready inspeech and action. 178 It is on the occasion of this interview that Theodoret places the incidentof Basil’s humorous retort to Demosthenes, 179 the chief of the imperial kitchen, the Nebuzaradan,as the Gregories style him, of the petty fourth century Nebuchadnezzar. This Demostheneshad already threatened the archbishop with the knife, and been bidden to goback to his fire. Now he ventured to join in the imperial conversation, and made someblunder in Greek. “An illiterate Demosthenes!” exclaimed Basil; “better leave theologyalone, and go back to your soups.” The emperor was amused at the discomfiture of hissatellite, and for a while seemed inclined to be friendly. He gave Basil lands, possibly partof the neighbouring estate of Macellum, to endow his hospital. 180But the reconciliation between the sovereign and the primate was only on the surface.Basil would not admit the Arians to communion, and Valens could not brook the refusal.The decree of exile was to be enforced, though the pens had refused to form the letters ofthe imperial signature. 181 Valens, however, was in distress at the dangerous illness of Galates,his infant son. and, on the very night of the threatened expatriation, summoned Basil topray over him. A brief rally was followed by relapse and death, which were afterwardsthought to have been caused by the young prince’s Arian baptism. 182 Rudeness was fromtime to time shewn to the archbishop by discourteous and unsympathetic magistrates, asin the case of the Pontic Vicar, who tried to force an unwelcome marriage on a noble widow.The lady took refuge at the altar, and appealed to Basil for protection. The magistrate descendedto contemptible insinuation, and subjected the archbishop to gross rudeness. Hisragged upper garment was dragged from his shoulder, and his emaciated frame wasthreatened with torture. He remarked that to remove his liver would relieve him of a greatinconvenience. 183xxv178 Amm. Marc. xxx. 14, 7: “Cessator et piger: nigri coloris, pupula oculi unius obstructa, sed ita ut non eminusappareret: figura bene compacta membrorum, staturæ nec proceræ nec humilis, incurvis cruribus, exstantequemediocriter ventre.” “Bon père, bon époux, arien fervent et zélé, mais faible, timide, Valens était né pour la vieprivée, où il eût été un honnête citoyen et un des saints de l’Arianisme.” Fialon, Et. Hist. 159.179 cf. Theod. v. 16 and note on p. 120 of Theod. in this series.180 Theod. iv. 16. Bas., Ep. xciv.181 Theod. iv. 16.182 Theod. iv. 16. Soz. vi. 17. Soc. iv. 26. Greg. Naz., Or. xliii. Ruf. xi. 9.183 Greg. Naz., Or. xliii.34