Letter 151: Tell me: do you still stand firm in philosophy — the Pylaemenes I left behind, the newly initiated soul, the divine...
Letter 151: A Salute
[1] To Pylaemenes
To me, do you stand firm in philosophy, that Pylaemenes whom I left behind, the soul newly initiated, the offspring divine? I fear the time which has passed since that birth; I fear still more the intercourse of the market-place, the absorption in many situations and affairs; and that these may soil that most holy temple, your divine intellect, one of the few I deem entirely worthy to receive God. [2] I know that one of my dearest wishes was to be able to celebrate with you the mysteries of philosophy, but since patriotism is stronger in your heart, I pray that wherever in the world you may be, you will cultivate philosophy as much as possible. So I embrace your dear head. I embrace it again and again, whether I am silent or speaking, whether I write or do not write.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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