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Nicobulus, who does only one wrong, that because of us he is envied and more outspoken than is proper. Let the one who now wages war against us be even the most just of men. For I am ashamed to accuse before your integrity the one whom I formerly defended; 146.5 but I do not know if it will seem just to you for one to be called to account for the sins of others, and those of others, and not even voluntary ones, who so moved his household servants and was so indignant that he yielded to the accuser more readily than that one wished. 146.6 But must Nicobulus, or his children, be enslaved, as seems right to his abusers? For I am ashamed of the pretext of this abuse and the timing, if this should happen while you are governor and we have influence with you. Are public affairs now being helped, are the council chambers now being enhanced, when private matters are in distress? By no means, O admirable one, let this not seem right to your integrity. 146.7 But having understood with the winged speed of your mind the malevolence from which these things arise, and having shown respect for us your praisers, present yourself as a benevolent judge to those who are being moved, as one judging not only men today, but also virtue and vice; of which those who are like you in virtue and are capable governors must take more care than of individual cases. 146.8 And you will have from us for these things not only our prayers, which I know you do not despise like the many, but also that we will make your governorship famous to all whom we know. 147.T TO ASTERIUS 147.1 What is more just than God? But nevertheless, being the maker and master of all, He makes Israel His chosen people and names them so, and is not ashamed lest He be considered unjust for this. 147.2 What wonder is it then if we also, caring for all those under our hand and protection, embrace more the son Nicobulus, whom we know as the caretaker of our old age and sickness, and whom we have taken as a support and staff for our weakness? 147.3 We place him under your hands, and through yours, into the hands of the governor, considering it a very terrible thing that others, even those accused of the greatest crimes, are set free through us, and especially those who are now our bitter accusers, 147.4 but that we are not able to free this man even from abuse, and that the honor which we obtain for strangers, we do not obtain for ourselves, but suffer the same thing as the eyes which, seeing other things, do not see themselves, or as the springs lying in the depths which, not flowing to what is near, water what is far away. 147.5 Let the things dared by the young servants be terrible, or exceedingly terrible; although perhaps nothing or little will be found, unless we are constrained by the timing of the examination. 147.6 But what has this to do with the masters, who have had no part in what has happened? Or what is the reason for demanding justice from some for the sins of others and for taking thought now for public affairs, when one's own affairs are in distress? 148.T TO THE SAME 148.1 What is this? perhaps you will say; Gregory to us again? letters again? requests again? O the insatiability, which we ourselves have set in motion. 148.2 By no means, O admirable one, do not feel this way. For for whom are harbors, if not for the storm-tossed? And for whom are medicines, if not for the sick? Of which let us not be deprived, and all the more so, insofar as we are believed to have influence with you. 148.3 For we are no longer asking, but demanding, as grace always calls forth grace. Nicobulus is in difficulties, which is the same as to say that we are; for he is our rest. 148.4 And how is it possible to be silent and not be burdensome, even for one who is very much a philosopher? Give a hand to those who are pressed, so that you yourself may obtain help from God, needing it as a man. 148.5 And use all your friendship and intelligence and ability with God in our affairs. For neither does heated iron need many blows from the stone to reveal the fire within; but it was struck and at once the fire flashed. Nor will you yourself need a longer exhortation, and this on our behalf, with such a persuader being who he is, and so genuine a partner in your rule. 148.6 One brief thing I will say: other favors

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Νικόβουλος ὃς ἓν ἀδικεῖ μόνον ὅτι δι' ἡμᾶς ἐστιν ἐπίφθονος καὶ τοῦ δέοντος ἐλευθε ριώτερος. Ἔστω καὶ δικαιότατος ἀνθρώπων ὁ νῦν ἡμῖν πολεμῶν. Αἰσχύνομαι γὰρ κατηγορεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς σῆς ὀρθό τητος οὗ πρώην ὑπερεμάχουν· 146.5 ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδα εἴ σοι παραστήσεται δίκαιον ὑπὲρ ἄλλων ἁμαρτημάτων ἐν ἄλλοις ἀπαιτεῖσθαι δίκην, καὶ τούτων ἀλλοτρίων, καὶ οὐδὲ ἑκουσίων, τὸν οὕτω κινήσαντα τοὺς οἰκέτας καὶ τοσοῦτον ἀγανακτήσαντα, ὥστε ἐνδοῦναι τῷ ἐγκαλοῦντι προθυμότερον ἤπερ ἐκεῖνος Ἐβούλετο. 146.6 Ἀλλὰ δεῖ δουλεύειν Νικόβουλον, ἢ τοὺς τούτου παῖδας, ὃ δοκεῖ τοῖς ἐπηρεάζουσιν; αἰσχύνομαι γὰρ τὴν ὑπόθεσιν τῆς ἐπηρείας καὶ τὸν καιρόν, εἰ σοῦ τε ἄρχοντος καὶ ἡμῶν παρὰ σοὶ δυναμένων τοῦτο γενήσεται. Νῦν βοηθεῖται τὰ δημόσια, νῦν αὔξεται τὰ βουλευτήρια, ὅτε λυπεῖ τὰ ἴδια; Μηδαμῶς, ὦ θαυμάσιε, μὴ τοῦτο παραστήτω τῇ σῇ καθαρότητι. 146.7 Ἀλλὰ συνεὶς μὲν τῷ πτηνῷ τάχει τῆς διανοίας τὴν ἀφ' ἧς ταῦτα γίνεται κακοήθειαν, αἰδεσθεὶς δὲ ἡμᾶς τοὺς σοὺς ἐπαινέτας, φιλάνθρωπον σεαυτὸν παράσχου τοῖς κινουμένοις κριτήν, ὡς οὐκ ἀνθρώποις μόνον δικάζων σήμερον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀρετῇ καὶ κακίᾳ· οὗ μᾶλλον ἢ τοῦ καθ' ἕκαστον φροντιστέον τοῖς γε κατὰ σὲ τὴν ἀρετὴν καὶ δεξιοῖς ἄρχουσιν. 146.8 Ἔσται δέ σοι παρ' ἡμῶν ἐπὶ τούτοις οὐ τὸ τῶν εὐχῶν μόνον, ὧν οἶδά σε μὴ περιφρονοῦντα κατὰ τοὺς πολλούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ περιβόητον καταστῆσαι τὴν σὴν ἀρχὴν πᾶσιν οἷς γνωριζό μεθα. 147.Τ ΑΣΤΕΡΙΩΙ 147.1 Τί Θεοῦ δικαιότερον; Ἀλλ' ὅμως, πάντων ποιητὴς ὢν καὶ δεσπότης, ἐξαίρετον ἑαυτοῦ λαὸν ποιεῖται καὶ ὀνομάζει τὸν Ἰσραήλ, καὶ οὐκ αἰσχύνεται μὴ ἄδικος παρὰ τοῦτο νομίζηται. 147.2 Τί οὖν θαυμαστὸν εἰ καὶ ἡμεῖς, πάντων κηδόμενοι τῶν ὑπὸ τὴν ἡμετέραν χεῖρα καὶ προστασίαν, πλέον τοῦ υἱοῦ Νικοβούλου περιεχόμεθα, ὃν καὶ γηροκόμον καὶ νοσοκόμον γινώσκομεν, καὶ οἷον ἔρεισμα καὶ βακτηρίαν τῆς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν ὑποβεβλήμεθα; 147.3 Τοῦτον ὑπὸ τὰς σὰς τίθεμεν χεῖρας, καὶ διὰ τῶν σῶν ταῖς τοῦ ἄρχοντος, πάνυ δεινὸν νομίζοντες τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους καὶ τῶν μεγίστων ἐγκλημάτων ἐλευθεροῦν δι' ἡμῶν, καὶ πρώτους γε τοὺς νῦν πικροὺς κατηγόρους, 147.4 τοῦτον δὲ μηδὲ τῆς ἐπηρείας δύνασθαι, καὶ ἧς τυγχά νομεν ἐπὶ τῶν ξένων τιμῆς, ταύτης ἐφ' ἡμῶν αὐτῶν μὴ τυγχάνειν, ἀλλὰ ταὐτὸν πάσχειν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς οἳ τἄλλα ὁρῶντες ἑαυτοὺς οὐχ ὁρῶσιν, ἢ τῶν πηγῶν ταῖς ἐν βάθει κειμέναις αἳ τὰ πλησίον οὐχ ὑπορρέουσαι τὰ πόρρω ποτίζουσιν. 147.5 Ἔστω δεινὰ τὰ τετολμημένα τοῖς παιδα ρίοις, ἢ ὑπέρδεινα· ὥσπερ οὖν ἴσως οὐδὲν ἢ μικρὸν εὑρηθήσεται, εἰ μὴ τῷ καιρῷ τῆς ἐξετάσεως στενοχωρη θείημεν. 147.6 Ἀλλὰ τί τοῦτο πρὸς τοὺς δεσπότας, οἳ μηδενὸς τῶν γεγενημένων κεκοινωνήκασιν; ἢ τίς ὁ λόγος, ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων ἁμαρτημάτων ἐν ἄλλοις ἀπαιτεῖσθαι δίκην καὶ νῦν τῶν δημοσίων φροντίζειν, ἡνίκα λυπεῖ τὸ ἴδιον; 148.Τ ΤΩΙ ΑΥΤΩΙ 148.1 Τί τοῦτο; ἴσως ἐρεῖς· πάλιν ἡμῖν Γρηγόριος; πάλιν ἐπιστολαί; πάλιν αἰτήσεις; Ὢ τῆς ἀπληστίας, ἣν αὐτοὶ κεκινήκαμεν. 148.2 Μηδαμῶς, ὦ θαυμάσιε, μὴ τοῦτο πάθῃς. Τίνων γὰρ οἱ λιμένες, ἢ τῶν χειμαζομένων; τίνων δὲ τὰ φάρμακα, ἢ τῶν ἀρρωστούντων; ὧνπερ ἡμεῖς μὴ ἀποστερηθείημεν, καὶ τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ὅσῳ πιστευόμεθα δύνασθαι παρὰ σοί. 148.3 Οὐκ ἔτι γὰρ αἰτοῦμεν, ἀλλ' ἀπαι τοῦμεν, ἀεὶ χάριτος χάριν προκαλουμένης. Νικόβουλος ἐν ἐπηρείαις, ταὐτὸν δὲ εἰπεῖν ὅτι ἡμεῖς· ἡμῶν γάρ ἐστιν ἀνάπαυσις. 148.4 Καὶ πῶς οἷόν τε σιωπᾶν καὶ μὴ φορτικὸν εἶναι καὶ τὸν σφόδρα φιλόσοφον; ∆ὸς χεῖρα πιεζομένοις, ἵνα καὶ αὐτὸς τῆς ἐκ Θεοῦ τύχῃς, χρῄζων ταύτης ὡς ἄνθρωπος. 148.5 Καὶ χρῆσαι πάσῃ τῇ φιλίᾳ καὶ τῇ συνέσει καὶ τῷ δύνασθαι σὺν Θεῷ περὶ τὰ ἡμέτερα πράγματα. Οὔτε γὰρ σίδηρος ἔμπυρος πολλῶν δεῖται τῶν παρὰ τοῦ λίθου κρουμάτων ἵνα τὸ ἐγκείμενον πῦρ δημοσιεύσῃ· ἀλλ' ἐπλήγη τε ὁμοῦ καὶ τὸ πῦρ ἤστραψεν. Οὔτε αὐτὸς μακροτέρας δεήσῃ παρακλήσεως, καὶ τοῦτο ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, καὶ τοιούτου τοῦ πείθοντος ὄντος, καὶ οὕτω γνησίου κοινωνοῦ τῆς ἀρχῆς. 148.6 Ἓν καὶ σύντομον φθέγξομαι· τὰς μὲν ἄλλας χάριτας