Ep. CXLIII.

What does much experience, and experience of good do for men?  It teaches kindness, and inclines them to those who entreat them.  There is no such education in pity as the previous reception of goodness.  This has happened to myself among others.  I have learned compassion by the things which I have suffered.  And do you see my greatness of soul when I myself need your gentleness in my own affairs?  I intercede for others, and do not fear lest I should exhaust all your kindness on other men’s concerns.  I am writing thus on behalf of the Presbyter Leontius—or, if I may so describe him, the ex-Presbyter.  If he has suffered sufficiently for what he has done, let us stop there, lest excess become injustice.  And if there is still any balance of punishment due, and the consequences of his crime have not yet equalled his offence, yet remit it for our sake and God’s, and that of the sanctuary, and the general assembly of the priests, among whom he was once numbered, even though he has now shewn himself unworthy of them, both by what he has done and by what he has suffered.  If I can prevail with you it will be best; but if not, I will bring to you a more powerful intercessor, her who is the partner both of your rule and of your good fame.

[143] ΤΩΙ ΑΥΤΩΙ

Τί τὸ πολλὰ παθεῖν καὶ τὸ εὖ παθεῖν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις χαρίζεται; διδάσκει φιλανθρωπίαν καὶ κλίνει τοῖς δεομένοις. Οὐδὲν γὰρ τοιοῦτον παίδευμα πρὸς τὸ ἐλεεῖν ὡς τὸ προλαβεῖν χρηστότητα. Τοῦτο καὶ αὐτῷ μοι συμβέβηκεν: ἔμαθον τὸ συμπαθὲς ἐξ ὧν ἔπαθον. Καὶ ὁρᾷς τὸ ἡμέτερον μεγαλόψυχον; αὐτὸς χρῄζων τῆς σῆς ἡμερότητος ἐν τοῖς ἐμοῖς πράγμασιν, ὑπὲρ ἄλλων πρεσβεύω καὶ οὐ δέδοικα μὴ δαπανήσω σου τὸ φιλάνθρωπον ἐν τοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις. Γράφω δὲ ταῦτα ὑπὲρ τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου Λεοντίου, εἴτ' οὖν ποτε πρεσβυτέρου: ὃς εἰ μὲν ἄξια πέπονθεν ὧν πεποίηκεν, ἐνταῦθα στῶμεν, μὴ τὸ ὑπερβάλλον ἀδικία γένηται: εἰ δέ τι τῇ τιμωρίᾳ προσχρεωστεῖται καὶ οὔπω τοῖς ἁμαρτήμασι τὰ τῆς ὕβρεως ἀντισώθη, τοῦτο ἡμῖν συγχώρησον καὶ τῷ Θεῷ καὶ τῷ βήματι καὶ τῷ κοινῷ συλλόγῳ τῶν ἱερέων οἷς ποτε συνηρίθμητο, καὶ εἰ νῦν ἀνάξιον ἑαυτὸν ἀπέφηνεν οἷς τε πεποίηκεν, οἷς τε πέπονθεν. Εἰ μὲν οὖν πείθομεν, τοῦτο ἄριστον: εἰ δὲ μή, προσάγομέν σοι πρεσβευτὴν αἰδεσιμώτερον, τὸν κοινωνόν σοι καὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς καὶ τῆς εὐδοξίας.