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

Libanius to Basilius.Letter CCCXXXVI.Libanius to Basilius.1. After some little time a young Cappadocian has reached me. One gain to me is thathe is a Cappadocian. But this Cappadocian is one of the first rank. This is another gain.Further, he brings me a letter from the admirable Basil. This is the greatest gain of all. Youthink that I have forgotten you. I had great respect for you in your youth. I saw you vyingwith old men in self-restraint, and this in a city teeming with pleasures. I saw you alreadyin possession of considerable learning. Then you thought that you ought also to see Athens,and you persuaded Celsus to accompany you. Happy Celsus, to be dear to you! Then youreturned, and lived at home, and I said to myself, What, I wonder, is Basil about now? Towhat occupation has he betaken himself? Is he following the ancient orators, and practisingin the courts? Or is he turning the sons of fortunate fathers into orators? Then there camethose who reported to me that you were adopting a course of life better than any of these,and were, rather, bethinking you how you might win the friendship of God than heaps ofgold, I blessed both you and the Cappadocians; you, for making this your aim; them, forbeing able to point to so noble a fellow-countryman.2. I am aware that the Firmus, whom you mention, has continually won everywhere; 3268hence his great power as a speaker. But with all the eulogies that have been bestowed onhim, I am not aware that he has ever received such praise as I have heard of in your letter.For what a credit it is to him, that it should be you who declare that his reputation is inferiorto none!Apparently, you have despatched this young man to me before seeing Firminus; hadyou done so, your letters would not have failed to mention him. What is Firminus nowdoing or intending to do? Is he still anxious to be married? Or is all that over now? Arethe claims of the senate heavy on him? Is he obliged to stay where he is? Is there any hopeof his taking to study again ? Let him send me an answer, and I trust it may be satisfactory.If it be a distressing one, at least it will relieve him from seeing me at his door. And ifFirminus had been now at Athens, what would your senators have done? Would they havesent the Salaminia 3269 after him? You see that it is only by your fellow-countrymen that Iam wronged. Yet I shall never cease to love and praise the Cappadocians. I should likethem to be better disposed to me, but, if they continue to act as they do, I shall bear it.3213268 πανταχοῦ διετέλεσε κρατῶν. “Ubique constantem perdurasse.” Ben. Ed. “Ubique firma memoria fuerit.”Combefis. Firmus may possibly be the father of the young student.3269 The allusion is to the “Salaminia,” one of the two sacred or state vessels of the Athenian government.The “Paralus” and the “Salaminia” were both Triremes, the latter being called also “Delia” and “Theoris,” becauseit was used to convey the θεωροὶ to Delos. State criminals were conveyed by them.902