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of judgement, almost always breathing my last and being able to make no use of myself. 130.4 For this reason let your Magnanimity forgive us, and through you let the most pious emperor also be persuaded not to condemn our laziness, but to forgive the weakness on account of which he knows, and having granted to us who begged our retirement in place of another benefaction.

131. To OLYMPIUS 131.1 This is heavier for me than the sickness, being sick

and not even being believed, but to be ordered on so long a journey and to be pushed into the midst of disturbances, from which we have loved to withdraw, almost even acknowledging a debt of gratitude for this to the affliction of our body. 131.2 For quiet inactivity is more honorable than distinction in affairs. This I wrote previously to the most wonderful vicar, having received the same command; and may your Magnanimity deign to write now also on our behalf, you whom we have as a trustworthy witness of our sickness. 131.3 And the loss which we have now suffered is also persuasive, not even being able to run to you and enjoy your company, a ruler so skillful and so wonderful in virtue, that even the beginnings of your rule are more honorable than the final renown of others.

132. To SATURNINUS 132.1 You ask for friendly tokens, I know well, even if it is otherwise rather bold to write. For to those outside you grant authority, but to us you allot freedom of speech as a good fellow-servant to those deemed worthy to draw near to God. 132.2 For this reason we both address you and will explain our affairs to you who long for them. With God, all is well with us, except one thing, our anxiety for the Churches which are so troubled. 132.3 Whatever you can contribute to them, do not hesitate to award common concord both in word and deed, since there is again a synod of bishops and again a fear that we may now also be put to shame, if this one too receives a bitter end, like the one before. 132.4 For we will leave our own affairs to God who knows and understands and judges all things, even if we have gladly yielded to envy and to those who wished it, having withdrawn, not from some good thing, as it seems to many, but from one that is exceedingly dangerous, and as if from a terrible and harsh winter having arrived at a calm and safe harbor.

133. To VICTOR 133.1 It is not that we are bold for writing now, but that we are lazy for not writing sooner; or rather, not even this; for we do not have means by which to send letters, although how do you think we long for this, living in the country somewhere far from the monastery and there taking care of our body. 133.2 But now, when there is an opportunity, we both address you and we ask that the honor which you bestowed on us when present, you also bestow on us when absent, and not hesitate to console us through letters, since we are very weary of the separation. 133.3 But since there is again a synod, again a struggle, and this in the midst of enemies who carefully watch all our affairs, lend a hand to the common situation, as being a not insignificant part of the Church, and do not overlook everything being consumed by the conflagration that now encompasses the Church. 133.4 But whatever you can of the means of extinguishing, bring this to bear, and exhort the others, so that your own affairs may also be well, when the common cause fares better.

134. To THE SAME 134.1 Truly you are a victor and excellent in all things, O wonderful one. For conquering enemies with arms, as long as it was possible, you now conquer all with kindness. 134.2 For this reason we have dared to offer this address, and with the address our most honored son Hyperechius, whom I know you will honor both on account of his character, if you should have experience of the man, and for our sake, to whom you have seen fit to grant all things. 134.3 And bid him to have confidence in you, as a reminder of our friendship, of which, as much as you respect it, we are persuaded.

135. To SOPHRONIUS 135.1 We practice philosophy in tranquility; this is the wrong those who hate us have done, would that they had done some other such thing, so that we might know them more as benefactors. For it is possible in many ways, even when wronged, to fare well

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κρίσεως, ἀεὶ σχεδὸν τὰ τελευταῖα πνέων καὶ εἰς οὐδὲν ἐμαυτῷ χρῆσθαι δυνάμενος. 130.4 ∆ιὰ τοῦτο συγγινωσκέτω μὲν ἡμῖν ἡ σὴ μεγαλόνοια, πεισθήτω δὲ διὰ σοῦ καὶ ὁ εὐσεβέστατος βασιλεὺς μὴ ῥᾳθυμίαν ἡμῶν καταγινώσκειν, ἀλλὰ συγγινώσκειν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ δι' ἣν οἶδε καὶ συγχωρήσας ἡμῖν δεηθεῖσιν ἀντ' ἄλλης εὐεργεσίας τὴν ἀναχώρησιν.

131.Τ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΩΙ 131.1 Τοῦτό μοι τῆς ἀρρωστίας ἐστὶ βαρύτερον τὸ ἀρρωσ

τοῦντα μηδὲ πιστεύεσθαι, ἀλλ' ἐκδημίαν οὕτω μακρὰν ἐπιτάττεσθαι καὶ εἰς μέσους θορύβους ὠθεῖσθαι, ὧν τὴν ἀναχώρησιν ἠγαπήσαμεν, μικροῦ καὶ χάριν διὰ τοῦτο τῇ τοῦ σώματος κακοπαθείᾳ ὁμολογήσαντες. 131.2 Ἀπράγμων γὰρ ἡσυχία τῆς ἐν πράγμασι περιφανείας τιμιωτέρα. Τοῦτο ἐπέστειλα μὲν καὶ πρῴην τῷ θαυμασιωτάτῳ οὐϊκαρίῳ τὸ αὐτὸ δεξάμενος πρόσταγμα· ἐπιστεῖλαι δὲ καὶ νῦν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἡ σὴ μεγαλόνοια καταξιωσάτω, ὃν ἀξιόπιστον μάρτυρα τῆς ἡμετέρας ἔχομεν ἀρρωστίας. 131.3 Πείθει δὲ καὶ ἡ ζημία ἣν ἐζημιώμεθα νῦν, μηδὲ προσδραμεῖν καὶ ἀπολαῦσαί σου δυνηθέντες, ἄρχοντος οὕτω δεξιοῦ καὶ οὕτω θαυμασίου τὴν ἀρετήν, ὡς καὶ τὰ προοίμια τῆς σῆς ἀρχῆς εἶναι τιμιώτερα τῆς διὰ τέλους ἑτέρων εὐδοκιμήσεως. 132.Τ ΣΑΤΟΡΝΙΝΩΙ 132.1 Ἀπαιτεῖς, εὖ οἶδα, τὰ φιλικά, καὶ εἰ τολμηρότερον ἄλλως τὸ γράφειν. Τοῖς μὲν γὰρ ἔξω τὴν ἐξουσίαν, ἡμῖν δὲ νέμεις τὴν παρρησίαν ὡς ὁμόδουλος ἀγαθὸς τοῖς Θεῷ πλησιάζειν ἠξιωμένοις. 132.2 ∆ιὰ τοῦτό σε καὶ προσφθεγ γόμεθα καὶ ποθοῦντί σοι παραστήσομεν τὰ ἡμέτερα. Πάντα ἡμῖν σὺν Θεῷ καλῶς ἔχει, πλὴν ἑνός, τοῦ μεριμνᾶν περὶ τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν οὕτω ταρασσομένων. 132.3 Ταύταις ὅ τι ἂν δυνηθῇς εἰσενεγκεῖν, μὴ κατοκνήσῃς τὴν κοινὴν ὁμόνοιαν καὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ βραβεῦσαι, ἐπειδὴ πάλιν ἐπισκόπων σύνοδος καὶ δέος πάλιν μὴ καὶ νῦν αἰσχυν θῶμεν, πικρὸν καὶ ταύτης λαβούσης τὸ τέλος, ὥσπερ τῆς πρότερον. 132.4 Τὰ γὰρ ἡμέτερα Θεῷ τῷ πάντα εἰδότι καὶ γινώσκειν καὶ κρίνειν ἀφήσομεν, εἰ καὶ ἡδέως εἵξαμεν τῷ φθόνῳ καὶ τοῖς βουλομένοις, οὐ χρηστοῦ τινος πράγμα τος, ὡς δοκεῖ τοῖς πολλοῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ λίαν ἐπικινδύνου παραχωρήσαντες, καὶ ὥσπερ ἐκ χειμῶνος δεινοῦ καὶ τραχέος εἰς ὅρμον τινὰ εὔδιον καὶ ἀσφαλῆ καταντήσαντες. 133.Τ ΒΙΚΤΟΡΙ 133.1 Οὐχ ὅτι νῦν γράφομεν, τολμηροί, ἀλλ' ὅτι μὴ τάχιον, ὀκνηροί, μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ τοῦτο· οὐ γὰρ εὐπο ροῦμεν δι' ὧν ἐπιστελοῦμεν, καίτοι γε πῶς οἴει τοῦτο ποθοῦντες, ἐν ἀγρῷ πόρρω που τῆς μονῆς διατρίβοντες κἀκεῖ τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν ἐπιμελούμενοι. 133.2 Νῦν δέ, ἡνίκα καιρός, καὶ προσφθεγγόμεθά σε καὶ ἀξιοῦμεν ἣν παροῦσιν ἡμῖν τιμὴν ἐχαρίζου, ταύτην καὶ ἀποῦσι χαρί ζεσθαι, καὶ μὴ διὰ γραμμάτων ὀκνεῖν παραμυθεῖσθαι ἡμᾶς σφόδρα τῷ χωρισμῷ κάμνοντας. 133.3 Ἐπειδὴ δὲ πάλιν σύνοδος, ἀγὼν πάλιν, καὶ τοῦτο ἐν μέσοις ἐχθροῖς πάντα τηροῦσιν ἐπιμελῶς τὰ ἡμέτερα, δὸς χεῖρα τῇ κοινῇ καταστάσει, ὡς μέρος ὢν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας οὐ τὸ φαυλότατον, καὶ μὴ περιίδῃς πάντα καταναλωθέντα τῷ ἐμπρησμῷ τῷ νῦν περιέχοντι τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν. 133.4 Ἀλλ' ὅ τι ἂν δυνηθῇς τῶν σβεστηρίων ὀργάνων, τοῦτο προσένεγκε, καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις διακελεύου, ἵνα καὶ τὸ σὸν εὖ ἔχῃ, τοῦ κοινοῦ πράττοντος ἄμεινον. 134.Τ ΤΩΙ ΑΥΤΩΙ 134.1 Ὄντως νικητὴς σὺ καὶ διὰ πάντων ἀριστεύς, ὦ θαυμάσιε. Νικῶν γὰρ τοῖς ὅπλοις τοὺς πολεμίους, ἕως ἐξῆν, καὶ νῦν πάντας νικᾷς χρηστότητι. 134.2 ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὴν προσηγορίαν ταύτην ἐθαρρήσαμεν προσαγαγεῖν, καὶ μετὰ τῆς προσηγορίας τὸν τιμιώτατον υἱὸν Ὑπερέχιον, ὃν οἶδα ὅτι καὶ διὰ τὸν τρόπον τιμήσεις, εἰ πεῖραν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς λάβοις, καὶ δι' ἡμᾶς οἷς ἔγνωκας τὰ πάντα χαρί ζεσθαι. 134.3 Καὶ θαρρεῖν σοι κέλευε, εἰς ὑπόμνημα τῆς ἡμετέρας φιλίας, ἥν, ὅσον αἰδῇ, πεπείσμεθα. 135.Τ ΣΩΦΡΟΝΙΩΙ 135.1 Φιλοσοφοῦμεν ἐφ' ἡσυχίας· τοῦτο οἱ μισοῦντες ἡμᾶς ἠδικήκασιν, ὡς εἴθε τι καὶ ἄλλο τοιοῦτον, ἵνα μᾶλλον αὐτοὺς εὐεργέτας γινώσκωμεν. Πολλὰ γάρ ἐστι καὶ ἀδικουμένους εὖ