Letter CCCLI.

Basil to Libanius.

Many, who have come to me from where you are, have admired your oratorical power.  They were remarking that there has been a very brilliant specimen of this, and a very great contest, as they alleged, with the result that all crowded together, and no one appeared in the whole city but Libanius alone in the lists, and everybody, young and old, listening.  For no one was willing to be absent—not a man of rank—not a distinguished soldier—not an artisan.  Even women hurried to be present at the struggle.  And what was it?  What was the speech which brought together this vast assembly?  I have been told that it contained a description of a man of peevish temper.  Pray lose no time in sending me this much admired speech, in order that I too may join in praising your eloquence.  If I am a praiser of Libanius without his works, what am I likely to become after receiving the grounds on which to praise him?

ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ ΛΙΒΑΝΙῼ

[1] Πολλοὶ περιτυχόντες ἡμῖν τῶν αὐτόθι ἐθαύμασάν σου τὴν ἐν τοῖς λόγοις ἀρετήν. Ἔλεγον γὰρ ἐπίδειξίν τινα γεγενῆσθαι λαμπρὰν ἄγαν, καὶ ἀγὼν ἦν, ὡς ἔφασκον, μέγιστος, ὡς πάντας μὲν συνδραμεῖν καὶ μηδένα ἕτερον ἐν τῇ πόλει φανῆναι ἢ μόνον Λιβάνιον ἀγωνιζόμενον καὶ πᾶσαν ἡλικίαν ἀκροωμένην. Οὐ γὰρ ἠξίου τις ἔξω τῶν ἀγώνων γενέσθαι, οὐκ ἀξιώματος ὄγκῳ συνών, οὐ στρατιωτικοῖς καταλόγοις ἐμπρέπων, οὐ βαναύσοις τέχναις σχολάζων. Ἤδη δὲ καὶ γυναῖκες παρεῖναι κατηπείγοντο τοῖς ἀγῶσι. Τίς δὲ ὁ ἀγών; Τίς δὲ ὁ λόγος ὁ τὴν πάνδημον συναγείρας πανήγυριν; Καὶ δή μοι ἤγγειλαν δυσκόλου τρόπον ἀνδρὸς τὸν λόγον ἐνστήσασθαι. Ὃν οὕτω θαυμασθέντα μὴ κατόκνει μοι πέμψαι, ἵνα κἀγὼ τῶν λόγων ἐπαινέτης εἴην τῶν σῶν. Ὁ γὰρ Λιβάνιον ἐπαινῶν καὶ τῶν ἔργων ἐκτὸς τίς ἂν γένωμαι νῦν ὑπόθεσιν ἐπαίνων εὑράμενος.