6.  Bred and reared under such influences, we were fully trained in the education afforded here,13    Here, at Nazianzus. in which none could say how far he excelled most of us from the quickness and extent of his abilities—and how can I recall those days without my tears showing that, contrary to my promises, my feelings have overcome my philosophic restraint?  The time came when it was decided that we should leave home, and then for the first time we were separated, for I studied rhetoric in the then flourishing schools of Palestine; he went to Alexandria, esteemed both then and now the home of every branch of learning.  Which of his qualities shall I place first and foremost, or which can I omit with least injury to my description?  Who was more faithful to his teacher than he?  Who more kindly to his classmates?  Who more carefully avoided the society and companionship of the depraved?  Who attached himself more closely to that of the most excellent, and among others, of the most esteemed and illustrious of his countrymen?  For he knew that we are strongly influenced to virtue or vice by our companions.  And in consequence of all this, who was more honoured by the authorities than he, and whom did the whole city (though14    Though, etc.  The Ben. ed. translates “Although his teaching was exceedingly sublime and abstruse.” all individuals are concealed in it, because of its size), esteem more highly for his discretion, or deem more illustrious for his intelligence?

Ὑπὸ δὴ τοιούτοις ἤθεσι τραφέντες καὶ παιδευθέντες καὶ τοῖς ἐνταῦθα μαθήμασιν ἱκανῶς ἐνασκηθέντες, ἐν οἷς ἐκεῖνος τάχει τε καὶ μεγέθει φύσεως οὐδ' ἂν εἴποι τις ὅσον ὑπὲρ τοὺς πολλοὺς ἦν (ὢ πῶς ἀδακρυτὶ τὴν τούτων παρέλθω μνήμην, καὶ μή με ἀφιλόσοφον ἐλέγξῃ τὸ πάθος παρὰ τὴν ὑπόσχεσιν;), ἀλλ' ἐπειδή γε ἀποδημίας καιρὸς ἐδόκει, καὶ τότε πρῶτον ἀπ' ἀλλήλων ἐσχίσθημεν, ἐγὼ μὲν τοῖς κατὰ Παλαιστίνην ἐγκαταμείνας παιδευτηρίοις, ἀνθοῦσι τότε, κατὰ ῥητορικῆς ἔρωτα, ὁ δὲ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου πόλιν καταλαβών, παντοίας παιδεύσεως καὶ τότε καὶ νῦν οὖσάν τε καὶ δοκοῦσαν ἐργαστήριον.

Τί πρῶτον, ἢ τί μέγιστον εἴπω τῶν ἐκείνου καλῶν; τί δὲ παρεὶς μὴ τῷ μεγίστῳ ζημιώσω τὸν λόγον; τίς μὲν ἐκείνου διδασκάλοις πιστότερος; τίς δὲ ἥλιξι προσφιλέστερος; τίς μὲν μᾶλλον ἀπέφυγε τὴν τῶν μοχθηρῶν ἑταιρίαν καὶ ὁμιλίαν; τίς δὲ τῇ τῶν βελτίστων ἑαυτὸν προσέθηκε πλεῖον, ἄλλοις τε καὶ τῶν ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος τοῖς εὐδοκιμωτάτοις καὶ γνωριμωτάτοις; εἰδὼς οὐδὲ τοῦτο φέρειν μικρὸν εἰς ἀρετὴν ἢ κακίαν, τὰς συνουσίας. Ἐξ ὧν, τίς μὲν ἄρχουσιν ἐκείνου τιμιώτερος; τίς δὲ τῇ πόλει πάσῃ, καίτοι γε διὰ τὸ μέγεθος πάντων ἐγκρυπτομένων, ἢ ἐπὶ σωφροσύνῃ γνωριμώτερος, ἢ ἐπὶ συνέσει περιφανέστερος;