Letter 209: It is your lot to share my distress, and to do battle on my behalf. Herein is proof of your manliness. God, who ordains our lives, grants to those who are capable of sustaining great fights greater opportunity of winning renown.

It is your lot to share my troubles and to fight on my behalf. This is proof of your courage. God, who orders our lives, grants to those who can endure great battles a greater opportunity for renown. You have truly risked your own reputation as a test of your loyalty to your friend -- like gold in the furnace. I pray God that others may be made better, that you may remain what you are, and that you will never stop scolding me (as you do) and accusing me of not writing often enough, as though my neglect does you a grave injustice. That is an accusation only a friend makes. Keep demanding payment of such debts. I am not so unreasonable about paying the claims of affection.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA Without address. It is your lot to share my distress, and to do battle on my behalf. Herein is proof of your manliness. God, who ordains our lives, grants to those who are capable of sustaining great fights greater opportunity of winning renown. You truly have risked your own life as a test of your valour in your friend's behalf, like gold in the furnace. I pray God that other men may be made better; that you may remain what you are, and that you will not cease to find fault with me, as you do, and to charge me with not writing often to you, as a wrong on my part which does you very great injury. This is an accusation only made by a friend. Persist in demanding the payment of such debts. I am not so very unreasonable in paying the claims of affection.

[Πρός: Ἀνεπίγραφος ἐπὶ ἀπολογίᾳ.] Συνεκληρώθης ταῖς λύπαις καὶ τοῖς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἀγῶσι. τοῦτο δὲ ἀπόδειξιν ἔχει νεανικῆς ψυχῆς. ὁ γὰρ τὰ ἡμέτερα οἰκονομῶν Θεὸς τοῖς τὰ μεγάλα διαφέρειν δυναμένοις ἀγωνίσματα μείζονας ὑποθέσεις εὐδοκιμήσεων προξενεῖ. καὶ σὺ τοίνυν βάσανον τῆς περὶ τοὺς φίλους ἀρετῆς, ὥσπερ τὴν κάμινον τῷ χρυσίῳ, τὸν σαυτοῦ βίον προέθηκας. εὐχόμεθα οὖν τῷ Θεῷ καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς βελτίους γενέσθαι, καί σε ὅμοιον ἑαυτῷ διαμεῖναι, καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐγκαλοῦντα μὴ παύσασθαι, οἷα νῦν ἐνεκάλεσας, τὴν τῶν γραμμάτων ἔνδειαν ἀντὶ μεγίστης ἀδικίας ἡμῖν προφέρων. φίλου γὰρ τὸ ἔγκλημα, καὶ ἀνάμενε τῷ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἀπαιτεῖν ὀφλήματα. οὐ γὰρ οὕτω τις ἄτοπός εἰμι φιλίας χρήστης.