Letter 118: You owe me a good turn. For I lent you a kindness, which I ought to get back with interest;— a kind of interest, this, which our Lord does not refuse. Pay me, then, my friend, by paying me a visit.
Basil of Caesarea→Chromatius, Jovinus, and Eusebius|c. 364 AD|Basil of Caesarea|Human translated
property economics
You owe me one. I did you a kindness, and I expect it back — with interest. And this is the kind of interest even our Lord approves of. So pay me back, my friend: come visit me. That's the principal. As for the interest? The fact that it's *you* making the trip — a man so much my superior, as a father is to a child.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Jovinus, Bishop of Perrha.
You owe me a good turn. For I lent you a kindness, which I ought to get back with interest;— a kind of interest, this, which our Lord does not refuse. Pay me, then, my friend, by paying me a visit. So much for the capital; what of the increment? It is the fact of the visit being paid by you, who are a man as much superior to me, as fathers are better than children.
You owe me one. I did you a kindness, and I expect it back — with interest. And this is the kind of interest even our Lord approves of. So pay me back, my friend: come visit me. That's the principal. As for the interest? The fact that it's *you* making the trip — a man so much my superior, as a father is to a child.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)