117 (234). Without Address, on the Practice of Asceticism
LETTERS
you yourself have been silently ashamed of your resolution, we urge you not to make plans deserving of shame, and, if any such thing has crept into your mind, drive this out of your thoughts and become master of yourself again and, saying a long farewell to army and weapons and to the hardships of camp, return to your fatherland. There, consider it sufficient for security of life and for all renown to rule over the city like your forefathers. Observing your fitness by nature and the absence of rivals, we feel confident that this honor will come to you without trouble. Therefore, if this decision was not made from the beginning, or after having been made was again rejected, inform us at once, but if-and may it not be so-your plans remain the same, let the misfortune come to us self-announced. Truly, we do not want letters.
117. Without Address, on the Practice of Asceticism 1 I own that I am already indebted to your Honor; besides, this present solicitude in which we are involved necessarily makes us dependent on assistance in such troubles, even if those advising are chance persons, to say nothing of you, who are joined to us by many other lawful claims. And, so, it is not necessary to review the past, since we might say that we are responsible for our own disorders, because we were obstinately eager to depart from that blessed life of asceticism which alone leads to salvation. Perhaps, on this account also we were given over to this confusion of temptation. But, those things are past, and they were considered worthy of mention
Th'is is evidently an answer from Firminus to the preceding letter. and there does not appear [0 he any reason for douhting its authenticity.
This and all other unaddressed letters are lacking in the MSS of the Aa family. but this is probahlv because they were unknown. Cf. Bes. sieres 156. 159. 160. This letter was written ahout 3i2.
SAINT BASIL
only lest we fall a second time into a similar perplexity. As to the future, I most earnestly wish your Reverence to be fully satisfied that, God willing, it will go very easily with us, since the matter is both lawful and holds no difficulty, and since our many friends at court are ready to show us favors.
Therefore, our petition will be drawn up to correspond to the form given to the Vicar,2 and, according to it, if there is no delay, we shall be dismissed immediately on presenting the permission given in the writ. 3 But, I am convinced that in such matters our deliberate choice is more powerful than the royal commands, and if we show it inflexible and steadfast as regards a life of perfection, the keeping of our virginity will, with the help of God, be unassailable and inviolate for us.
We were glad to see the brother whom you entrusted to us, and we hold him among our friends, praying that he may be worthy of God and of your testimony.
2 The Empire was divided into thirteen civil dioceses. of which the first was subject to the court of the East. Egypt was governed by an Augus· tal perfect. and the remainin~ eleven dioceses by vicars or vice.prefects.
3 Letter 123 of St. Gregory of Nazianzus makes it evident that a written discharge was necessary for soldiers. He says to a certain Ellelichus:
'Mamanta, the slave Reader, whose father was a soldier, was consecrated to God because of his noble character. Give him to God and to us, but do not let him be numbered among vagabond soldiers. Give him his freedom in writin~. so that he may not he threatened hy others: Cf.
P. G. 32.534 n. 99.