Letter CCCLIII.

Basil to Libanius.

I have read your speech, and have immensely admired it.  O muses; O learning; O Athens; what do you not give to those who love you!  What fruits do not they gather who spend even a short time with you!  Oh for your copiously flowing fountain!  What men all who drink of it are shewn to be!  I seemed to see the man himself in your speech, in the company of his chattering little woman.  A living story has been written on the ground by Libanius, who alone has bestowed the gift of life upon his words.

ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ ΛΙΒΑΝΙῼ

[1] Ἀνέγνων τὸν λόγον, σοφώτατε, καὶ ὑπερτεθαύμακα. Ὦ Μοῦσαι καὶ Λόγοι καὶ Ἀθῆναι, οἷα τοῖς ἐρασταῖς δωρεῖσθε. Οἵους κομίζονται τοὺς καρποὺς οἱ βραχύν τινα χρόνον ὑμῖν συγγινόμενοι. Ὢ πηγῆς πολυχεύμονος, οἵους ἔδειξε τοὺς ἀρυομένους. Αὐτὸν γὰρ ἐδόκουν ὁρᾶν ἐν τῷ λόγῳ λάλῳ συνόντα γυναίῳ. Ἔμπνουν γὰρ λόγον ἐπὶ χθονὸς Λιβάνιος ἔγραψεν, ὃς μόνος τοῖς λόγοις ψυχὴν ἐχαρίσατο.