Letter CCCLVI.

Basil to Libanius.

I am delighted at receiving what you write, but when you ask me to reply, I am in a difficulty.  What could I say in answer to so Attic a tongue, except that I confess, and confess with joy, that I am a pupil of fishermen?

ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ ΛΙΒΑΝΙῼ

[1] Δεχομένοις μὲν ἡμῖν ἃ γράφεις χαρά, ἀπαιτουμένοις δὲ πρὸς ἃ γράφεις ἀντεπιστέλλειν ἀγών. Τί γὰρ ἂν εἴποιμεν πρὸς οὕτως ἀττικίζουσαν γλῶσσαν, πλὴν ὅτι ἁλιέων εἰμὶ μαθητής, ὁμολογῶ καὶ φιλῶ;