Ep. XXV.

I did not ask you for bread, just as I would not ask for water from the inhabitants of Ostracine.  But if I were to ask for vegetables from a man of Ozizala it were no strange thing, nor too great a strain on friendship; for you have plenty of them, and we a great dearth.  I beg you then to send me some vegetables, and plenty of them, and the best quality, or as many as you can (for even small things are great to the poor); for I am going to receive the great Basil, and you, who have had experience of him full and philosophical, would not like to know him hungry and irritated.

[25] ΑΜΦΙΛΟΧΙΩΙ

Ἄρτους μὲν οὐκ ᾐτήσαμεν παρὰ σοῦ, ὅτι μηδ' ὕδωρ παρὰ τῶν Ὀστρακίνην οἰκούντων. Λάχανα δ' εἰ αἰτοῦμεν παρ' ἀνδρὸς Ὀζιζαλέως, ὧν ἀφθονία μὲν παρ' ὑμῖν, παρὰ δ' ἡμῖν πολλὴ σπάνις, θαυμαστὸν οὐδὲν οὐδ' ἔξω τῆς συνηθείας. Καταξίωσον οὖν λάχανα ἡμῖν ἀποστεῖλαι πλεῖστα καὶ κάλλιστα, ἢ ὅσα γε δυνατὸν (ἐπεὶ καὶ τὰ μικρὰ μεγάλα τοῖς πένησιν), ἐπειδὴ μάλιστα καὶ τὸν μέγαν Βασίλειον δεξιούμεθα: οὗ μὴ βουληθῇς, ὥσπερ ἐπειράθης κεκορεσμένου φιλοσοφοῦντος, οὕτω πειραθῆναι πεινῶντος καὶ δυσχεραίνοντος.