Letter 513

To John the Notable, the Younger. "Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you" [Exodus 20:12] — this the Lord lays down as law. Do not, then, if it is possible, abandon your parents for a single instant of time, lest, separated from their care, their concern, and their attendance, you fall in with men — and pestilent ones at that — and, without knowing it, weave snares for yourself. For many are to be found — and especially the younger sort, senseless and pleasure-loving — workers of lawlessness and receptacles of every filth, who do great harm to those who come near them. Flee, therefore, the corruption and the mire of such men, persevering tenderly with those who begot you, honoring them beyond measure, falling in line with their admonitions, and fenced about by their prayers. For even if you should render them every service, you could in no way beget them in return [you can never repay the gift of birth they gave you].

Τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου, καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου, ἵνα εὖ σοὶ γένηται, » θεσμοθετεῖ Κύριος. Μὴ τοίνυν, εἰ δυνατόν, μίαν στιγμὴν χρόνου ἀπολιμπάνου τῶν γονέων, μή ποτε τούτων ἐπιμελείας, καὶ φροντίδος, καὶ θεραπείας χωρισθεὶς περιπέσῃς ἀνθρώποις, καὶ λοιμοῖς, καὶ λάθῃς ἑαυτῷ βρόχους. Πολλοὶ γὰρ εὐ- ρίσκονται, καὶ μάλιστα νεώτεροι ἄφρονες, καὶ φιλή- δονοι, ἀνομίας ἐργάται, καὶ παντὸς ῥύπου δοχεῖα, βλάπτοντες τὰ μεγάλα τοὺς αὐτοῖς πλησιάζοντας. Φεῦγε τοίνυν τὴν λύμην, καὶ τὸν βόρβορον τούτων, προκαρτερῶν τοῖς γεγεννηκόσι σε φιλοστόργως, καὶ τιμῶν τούτους ὑπερβαλλόντως, καὶ στοιχῶν ταῖς νουθεσίαις, καὶ ταῖς προσευχαῖς αὐτῶν περιχαρα- κούμενος· κἂν γὰρ πᾶσαν θεραπείαν τούτοις προσ- ενέγκῃς, ἀλλ’ οὖν γε ἀντιγεννῆσαι αὐτοὺς οὐδαμῶς δυνηθείης.