Letter 65: Even a short letter gives great pleasure when the writer's affection can be measured by the greatness of his soul...

To Elpidius the philosopher. Even a short letter gives great pleasure when the writer's affection can be measured by the greatness of his soul rather than by the length of his words. So if I now write briefly, do not conclude that my feelings are equally slight. Since you know the full extent of my love for you, forgive the brevity and do not hesitate to answer in kind. Whatever you send me, however small, keeps alive in my mind a memory of everything good.

To Elpidius, a Philosopher 1 Even a short letter gives more pleasure when the writer's affection can be measured by the greatness of his soul rather than by the meagre proportions of what he writes. So that if I now address you briefly, do not even so conclude that the accompanying affection is equally slight, but since you know the full extent of my love for you, forgive the brevity of my letter and do not hesitate to answer me in one equally short. For whatever you send me, however trifling, keeps alive in my mind a remembrance of all that is good. 1 We know from Libanius, Letter 758 Foerster, To Julian, that towards the end of 362 Elpidius was at Antioch and in Julian's confidence. This letter is purely formal and may have been written then, or earlier. There are several letters extant from Libanius to Elpidius. Cumont ascribed this letter to Julian of Caesarea.

[Πρός: Ἐλπιδίῳ φιλοσόφῳ] Ἔστι καὶ μικροῦ γράμματος ἡδονὴ μείζων, ὅταν ἡ τοῦ γράφοντος εὔνοια μὴ τῇ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς σμικρότητι μᾶλλον ἢ τῷ τῆς ψυχῆς μεγέθει μετρῆται· εἰ δὲ δὴ καὶ νῦν βραχέα τὰ τῆς προσρήσεως ὑφ’ ἡμῶν γεγένηται, μηδ’ οὕτω τὸν ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς πόθον τεκμηριώσῃ, ἀλλ’ εἰδώς, ἐφ’ ὅσον ὁ παρ’ ἡμῶν ἔρως ἐπὶ σοὶ τέταται, τῇ μὲν τοῦ γράμματος βραχύτητι συγγνώμην νέμε, τοῖς ἴσοις δὲ ἡμᾶς ἀμείβεσθαι μὴ κατόκνει. πᾶν γὰρ ὅ τι ἂν διδῷς, κἂν μικρὸν ᾖ, παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ γνώρισμα παρ’ ἡμῖν σώζει.