Letter CCCXLIII.

Libanius to Basil.

IF these are the words of an untrained tongue, what would you be if you would polish them?  On your lips live fountains of words better than the flowing of springs.  I, on the contrary, if I am not daily watered, am silent.

ΛΙΒΑΝΙΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙῼ

[1] Εἰ ταῦτα γλώττης ἀργοτέρας, τίς ἂν εἴης αὐτὴν ἀκονῶν; Σοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἐν τῷ στόματι λόγων οἰκοῦσι πηγαὶ κρείσσους ναμάτων ἐπιρροῆς, ἡμεῖς δέ, εἰ μὴ καθ' ἡμέραν ἀρδοίμεθα, λείπεται τὸ σιγᾶν.