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Common. For first, when I remember their former prosperity, and see the sudden change, I perceive the sudden reversals of human affairs, and I am taught neither to trust in good times as if they will last, nor to be distressed by misfortunes as if they are harsh. Then I renew the memory of my transgressions, and I fear lest I fall into the same sufferings. I was compelled to write these things now, making the most God-beloved bishop Cyprian known to your holiness; who comes from much-storied Libya, and has been forced to wander abroad because of the cruelty of the barbarians. He has brought us a letter from the most holy bishop, the lord Eusebius, who wisely governs the nation of the Galatians. May your love for God receive him with your customary friendliness, and send him on with letters to whichever lords and most God-beloved bishops he may wish; so that he may enjoy tangible refreshment, and may give them in return heavenly and lasting gains. 53 TO SOPHRONIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINA. Knowing both the gift-loving and magnificent generosity of your right hand, O most God-beloved, I procure for your holiness a longed-for gain. For just as those in need of aid through money are seen to annoy those who are gaping at present things; so do such men, when they appear, gladden the generous, since they aim for heavenly things. One of those, therefore, who procures these things is the most God-beloved bishop Cyprian; who formerly happened to be one of those who aided others, but now, recounting the calamities of Libya, he looks to the hands of others, and awaits the generosity of God-loving souls. Let him therefore enjoy your brotherly love, and be sent on with letters to other harbors. 54 FESTAL. The divine and saving festivals both entertain the despondent, and make the cheerful more cheerful; and this I have learned by experience. For, being baptized in the waves of despondency, I have become stronger than the surge, having seen the harbors of the feasts. Let your piety pray, therefore, that I may be completely delivered from this bitter squall, and receive from the philanthropic Lord some forgetfulness of my burden. 55 FESTAL. Despondency has afflicted us grievously For we have been allotted a human nature, not one of adamant. But the memory of the Lord's Epiphany has become an antidote to evil for me. Therefore I write at once according to the law of the feast, and I address your magnificence, for whom I pray to be well-reputed and distinguished. 56 FESTAL. The pangs of grief are still sharp for me, and this grievously attacks my reason; but I thought it right to fulfill the law of the divine feast. At once, therefore, I have made use of this letter, and I address your reverence, and I pay the debt of love. 57 TO EUTRECHIUS THE PREFECT.

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κοινόν. Πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ τὴν προτέραν ἐκείνων ἐνθυμούμενος εὐπρα ξίαν, καὶ βλέπων τὴν ἀθρόαν μεταβολήν, ὁρῶ τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων τὰς ἀγχιστρόφους τροπάς, καὶ διδάσκομαι μήτε ταῖς εὐημερίαις ὡς διαρκέσι θαρρεῖν, μήτε τὰς δυσκληρίας ὡς χαλεπὰς δυσχεραίνειν. Εἶτα τῶν πεπλημμελημένων ἀνα νεοῦμαι τὴν μνήμην, καὶ δέδοικα μὴ τοῖς ἴσοις περιπέσω παθήμασι. Ταῦτα δὲ γράψαι νῦν ἠναγκάσθην, τὸν θεοφιλέστατον ἐπίσκοπον Κυπριανὸν γνώριμον ποιῶν τῇ σῇ ὁσιότητι· ὃς ὁρμᾶται μὲν ἐκ τῆς πολυθρυλήτου Λιβύης, ἠνάγκασται δὲ τὴν ξένην περινοστεῖν, διὰ τὴν τῶν βαρβάρων ὠμότητα. Γράμματα δὲ ἡμῖν κεκόμικεν τοῦ ὁσιωτάτου ἐπισκόπου τοῦ κυρίου Εὐσε βίου, ὃς τὸ Γαλατῶν ἔθνος ἰθύνει σοφῶς. Τοῦτον μετὰ τῆς συνήθους φιλοφροσύνης ὑποδεξαμένη σου ἡ φιλοθεΐα, προ πεμψάτω μετὰ γραμμάτων πρὸς οὓς ἂν ἐθέλῃ κυρίους καὶ θεοφιλεστάτους ἐπισκόπους· ἵν' αὐτὸς μὲν τῆς αἰσθητῆς ἀπο λαύσῃ παραψυχῆς, ἀντιδῷ δὲ αὐτοῖς τὰ ἐπουράνια καὶ μόνιμα κέρδη. 53 ΣΩΦΡΟΝΙΩ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΩ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΗΣ. Καὶ τὸ φιλόδωρον καὶ τὸ μεγαλόδωρον τῆς σῆς, θεοφιλέ στατε, δεξιᾶς ἐπιστάμενος, προξενῶ σου τῇ ὁσιότητι ποθού μενον κέρδος. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τοὺς περὶ τὰ παρόντα κεχηνότας, οἱ τῆς διὰ χρημάτων θεραπείας δεόμενοι ἀνιῶσιν ὁρώμενοι· οὕτως εὐφραίνουσι τοὺς φιλοτίμους οἱ τοιοῦτοι φαινόμενοι, ἐπειδὴ τῶν ἐπουρανίων πραγμάτων ἐφίενται. Εἷς τοίνυν τῶν ἐκεῖνα προξενούντων ἐστὶν ὁ θεοφιλέστατος ἐπίσκοπος Κυ πριανός· ὃς πάλαι μὲν τῶν ἄλλους θεραπευόντων ἐτύγχανεν ὤν, νῦν δὲ τὰς τῆς Λιβύης τραγῳδῶν συμφοράς, εἰς τὰς ἄλλων ἀποβλέπει χεῖρας, καὶ τῶν φιλοθέων ψυχῶν τὴν φιλοτιμίαν προσμένει. Ἀπολαυσάτω τοίνυν καὶ αὐτὸς τῆς σῆς φιλαδελ φίας, καὶ μετὰ γραμμάτων πρὸς ἑτέρους προπεμφθήτω λιμέ νας. 54 ΕΟΡΤΑΣΤΙΚΗ. Αἱ θεῖαι καὶ σωτήριοι πανηγύρεις καὶ τοὺς ἀθυμοῦντας ψυχαγωγοῦσι, καὶ τοὺς εὐθυμοῦντας εὐθυμοτέρους ποιοῦσι· καὶ τοῦτο τῇ πείρᾳ μεμάθηκα. Τοῖς γὰρ τῆς ἀθυμίας βαπτι ζόμενος κύμασι, κρείττων τοῦ ῥοθίου γεγένημαι τοὺς τῶν ἑορτῶν ὅρμους ἰδών. Εὐξάσθω τοίνυν ἡ θεοσέβειά σου τέλεόν με τῆς πικρᾶς ταύτης ζάλης ἀπαλλαγῆναι, καὶ παρὰ τοῦ φιλανθρώπου ∆εσπότου λήθην τινὰ τῆς ἀχθηδόνος λαβεῖν. 55 ΕΟΡΤΑΣΤΙΚΗ. Χαλεπῶς μὲν ἡμᾶς ἡ ἀθυμία διέθηκεν Φύσιν γὰρ ἀνθρω πείαν, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀδαμαντίναν ἐλάχομεν. Τῆς δὲ ∆εσποτικῆς Ἐπιφανείας ἡ μνήμη φάρμακον ἀλεξίκακόν μοι γεγένηται. Αὐτίκα τοίνυν καὶ γράφω κατὰ τὸν νόμον τῆς ἑορτῆς, καὶ προσφθέγγομαι τὴν ὑμετέραν μεγαλοπρέπειαν, ἣν εὐδοκιμεῖν καὶ διαπρέπειν προσεύχομαι. 56 ΕΟΡΤΑΣΤΙΚΗ. Ἀκμάζει μὲν ἔτι μοι τὰ τῆς λύπης, καὶ χαλεπῶς αὕτη προσβάλλει τῷ λογισμῷ· τὸν δὲ τῆς θείας ἑορτῆς πληρῶσαι νόμον ὑπέλαβον δίκαιον. Αὐτίκα γοῦν καὶ τοῖς γράμμασι κέχρη μαι, καὶ τὴν εὐλάβειάν σου προσφθέγγομαι, καὶ τῆς ἀγάπης ἐκτίνω τὸ χρέος. 57 ΕΥΤΡΕΧΙΩ ΥΠΑΡΧΩ.