41.  And what do you think of us, O judge of my words and motions?  If we have spoken adequately, and to the satisfaction of your desire, confirm it by your decision, and we accept it:  for your decision is entirely the decision of God.  But if it falls far short of his glory and of your hope, my ally is not far to seek.  Let fall thy voice, which is awaited by his merits like a seasonable shower.  And indeed he has upon you the highest claims, those of a pastor upon a pastor and of a father upon his son in grace.  What wonder if he, who has86    He who has.  S. Gregory the elder was the principal mover in S. Basil’s election and consecration. through your voice thundered throughout the world, should himself have some enjoyment of it?  What more is needed?  Only to unite with our spiritual Sarah, the consort and fellow-traveller through life of our great father Abraham, in the last Christian offices.

ΜΑʹ. Σοὶ δὲ τί δοκοῦμεν, ὦ κριτὰ τῶν ἐμῶν λόγων καὶ κινημάτων; Εἰ μὲν αὐτάρκως διείλεκται ταῦτα, καὶ τῆς σῆς ἐπιθυμίας ἀξίως, τοῦτο ἐπιψήφισον, καὶ δεχόμεθα: πάντως δὲ Θεοῦ ψῆφος ἡ σή. Εἰ δὲ παρὰ πολὺ τῆς ἐκείνου δόξης, καὶ τῆς σῆς ἐλπίδος, ἐγγὺς ὁ σύμμαχος. Ἐπάφες τὴν σὴν φωνὴν τοῖς ἐκείνου καλοῖς προσδοκωμένην, ὡς ὑετὸν ὥριμον: πάντως δὲ ὑπόχρεων ἔχει σε τῶν μεγίστων, καὶ ὡς ποιμένα ποιμὴν, καὶ ὡς πατὴρ υἱὸν τὸν ἐν χάριτι. Τί θαυμαστὸν, εἰ διὰ σοῦ βροντήσας τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, καὶ αὐτός τι τῆς σῆς φωνῆς ἀπολαύσειεν; Τί δεῖ λοιπόν; Τῇ πνευματικῇ Σάῤῥᾳ, τῇ τοῦ μεγάλου πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ ὁμοζύγῳ, καὶ ἰσοχρόνῳ, συμφιλοσοφῆσαι τὰ ἐπικήδια.