Letter CCCLVIII.

Libanius to Basil.

Oh, for the old days in which we were all in all to one another!  Now we are sadly separated!  Ye have one another, I have no one like you to replace you.  I hear that Alcimus in his old age is venturing on a young man’s exploits, and is hurrying to Rome, after imposing on you the labour of remaining with the lads.  You, who are always so kind, will not take this ill.  You were not even angry with me for having to write first.

ΛΙΒΑΝΙΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙῼ

[1] Ὢ χρόνων ἐκείνων ἐν οἷς τὰ πάντα ἦμεν ἀλλήλοις. Νῦν διῳκίσμεθα πικρῶς: ὑμεῖς μὲν ἔχοντες ἀλλήλους, ἐγὼ δὲ ἀνθ' ὑμῶν οἷοίπερ ὑμεῖς οὐδένα. Τὸν δὲ Ἄλκιμον ἀκούω τὰ νέων ἐν γήρᾳ τολμᾶν καὶ πρὸς τὴν Ῥώμην πέτεσθαι περιθέντα σοι τὸν τοῦ συνεῖναι τοῖς παιδαρίοις πόνον. Σὺ δὲ τά τε ἄλλα πρᾶός τις καὶ τοῦτο οἴσεις οὐ χαλεπῶς, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἡμῖν τοῦ γράψαι πρότερον οὐκ ἔσχες χαλεπῶς.