Letter 39: The proverb says You are not proclaiming war, and, let me add, out of the comedy, O messenger of golden words. Come then; prove this in act, and hasten to me. You will come as friend to friend.

[From Julian to Basil] The proverb says "You are not proclaiming war" — and let me add, from the comedy, "O messenger of golden words!" Come, then. Prove it in action and hurry to me. You'll come as friend to friend. I know that constant, conspicuous devotion to work seems like a heavy burden to people who treat it as secondary. But the diligent are — I like to think — sensible, modest, and ready for anything. I allow myself relaxation, so that even rest is permitted to a man who neglects nothing. Our way of life here isn't marked by the court hypocrisy you may have experienced — where compliments disguise a hatred deadlier than what's felt toward actual enemies. Instead, with proper freedom, we blame where blame is due and love with the love of the closest friends. So let me say with complete sincerity: I can be hardworking in my leisure and, when at work, not burn out. I sleep soundly because when I'm awake, I'm awake not just for myself but — as is right — for everyone. I realize this is getting a bit silly and self-congratulatory — I'm praising myself like Astydamas — but I'm writing all this to convince you that seeing you, wise man that you are, will do me more good than it could possibly cause trouble. So, as I said: don't delay. Travel at full speed. After you've stayed with me as long as you like, you can continue on your journey wherever you wish, with my best wishes.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA Julian to Basil. The proverb says You are not proclaiming war, and, let me add, out of the comedy, O messenger of golden words. Come then; prove this in act, and hasten to me. You will come as friend to friend. Conspicuous and unremitting devotion to business seems, to those that treat it as of secondary importance, a heavy burden; yet the diligent are modest, as I persuade myself, sensible, and ready for any emergency. I allow myself relaxations so that even rest may be permitted to one who neglects nothing. Our mode of life is not marked by the court hypocrisy, of which I think you have had some experience, and in accordance with which compliments mean deadlier hatred than is felt to our worst foes; but, with becoming freedom, while we blame and rebuke where blame is due, we love with the love of the dearest friends. I may therefore, let me say, with all sincerity, both be diligent in relaxation and, when at work, not get worn out, and sleep secure; since when awake I do not wake more for myself, than, as is fit, for every one else. I am afraid this is rather silly and trifling, as I feel rather lazy, (I praise myself like Astydamas ) but I am writing to prove to you that to have the pleasure of seeing you, wise man as you are, will be more likely to do me good than to cause any difficulty. Therefore, as I have said, lose no time: travel post haste. After you have paid me as long a visit as you like, you shall go on your journey, wherever you will, with my best wishes.

[Πρός: Ἰουλιανὸς Βασιλείῳ] Ἡ μὲν παροιμία φησίν, Οὐ πόλεμον ἀγγέλλεις, ἐγὼ δὲ προσθείην ἐκ τῆς κωμῳδίας, Ὦ χρυσὸν ἀγγείλας ἐπῶν. ἴθι οὖν, ἔργοις αὐτὸ δεῖξον, καὶ σπεῦδε παρʼ ἡμᾶς· ἀφίξῃ γὰρ φίλος παρὰ φίλον. Ἡ δὲ περὶ τὰ πράγματα κοινὴ καὶ συνεχὴς ἀσχολία δοκεῖ μὲν εἶναί πως τοῖς πάρεργον αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν ἐπαχθής, οἱ δὲ τῆς ἐπιμελείας κοινωνοῦντές εἰσιν ἐπιεικεῖς, ὡς ἐμαυτὸν πείθω, καὶ συνετοί, καὶ πάντως ἱκανοὶ πρὸς πάντα. δίδωμι οὖν μοι ῥᾳστώνην, ὥστε ἐξεῖναι μηδὲν ὀλιγωροῦντι καὶ ἀναπαύεσθαι· σύνεσμεν γὰρ ἀλλήλοις οὐ μετὰ τῆς αὐλικῆς ὑποκρίσεως μόνης, ἧς οἶμαί σε μέχρι τοῦ δεῦρο πεπειρᾶσθαι, καθʼ ἣν ἐπαινοῦντες μισοῦσι τηλικοῦτον μῖσος, ἡλίκον οὐδὲ τοὺς πολεμιωτάτους, ἀλλὰ μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης ἀλλήλους ἐλευθερίας ἐξελέγχοντές τε ὅταν δέῃ καὶ ἐπιτιμῶντες οὐκ ἔλαττον φιλοῦμεν ἀλλήλους τῶν σφόδρα ἑταίρων. ἔνθεν ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν (ἀπείη δὲ φθόνος) ἀνειμένοις τε σπουδάζειν καὶ σπουδάζουσι μὴ ταλαιπωρεῖσθαι, καθεύδειν δὲ ἀδεῶς, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐγρηγορὼς οὐχ ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων, ὡς εἰκός, ἐγρήγορα. Ταῦτα ἴσως κατηδολέσχησά σου καὶ κατελήρησα, παθών τι βλακῶδες (ἐπῄνεσα γὰρ ἐμαυτόν, ὥσπερ Ἀστυδάμας), ἀλλʼ ἵνα σε πείσω προὔργου τι μᾶλλον ἡμῖν τὴν σὴν παρουσίαν, ἅτε ἀνδρὸς ἔμφρονος, ποιήσειν ἢ παραιρήσεσθαί τι τοῦ καιροῦ, ταῦτα ἐπέστειλα. σπεῦδε οὖν, ὅπερ ἔφην, δημοσίῳ χρησόμενος δρόμῳ. συνδιατρίψας δὲ ἡμῖν ἐφʼ ὅσου σοι φίλον, οἷπερ ἂν θέλῃς ὑφʼ ἡμῶν πεμπόμενος, ὡς προσῆκόν ἐστι, βαδιῇ.