41 (208-9). To Julian, in Answer
SAINT BASIL
41. Basil to Julian, in Answer1 Inconsequential are the vaunted deeds of your present high fortune. Miserable, also, is your boasted valor directed against us, yet not against us but against yourself. On my part, I shudder whenever I recall that you are invested with the purple and that your unworthy head is adorned with a crown; for all this without piety is not honorable, but renders your reign dishonored. Yet, since you have returned and have become exceedingly great, although, indeed, wicked spirits and those which hate all good raised you to this, you have begun not only to be presumptuous above all human kind, but also to exalt yourself above God, and to mock the Church, the mother and nurse of all, by informing me, the most unworthy of men, that I should despatch to you a thousand pounds of gold.
While the weight of the gold did not astound me, even though it was exceedingly great, still it caused me to weep bitterly at your extraordinarily swift fall. For, I recalled how your Honor and I together had studied the sacred and most excellent literature. We both read the holy and divinely inspired Scriptures, and at that time nothing escaped you. Now, however, you have become disordered in mind, beset by so much pride. You knew before yesterday, most Serene Sir,J that we are not ruled by greed for money, but now your letter demands that we send you a thousand pounds of gold. Therefore, be willing, most Serene Sir, to spare us who possess so little that, if we should wish to eat today, there would not be
1 Cf. Letter 40 n. l. For a fuller discussion of the authenticity of Letter 41, d. Sister Agnes Clare Way, 'The Authenticity of Letter 41 in the Julio.Basilian Correspondence: American Journal of Philolo{!;y 51
(1930) 67.69.
2 Julian returned to Constantinople from Gaul on Dec. II, 361. becoming Emperor on the death of Constantius.
LETTERS
enough for us. For the art of cooking is very properly neglected in our house, and the knives of the cooks do not come in contact with blood. Our principal foods, in which lies our abundance, consist of leafy vegetables with very coarse bread and sour wine. As a result, our faculties are not so stupified by gluttony that they direct our actions foolishly.
Lausus, your much admired tribune, loyal to your interests, announced this also to me, that a certain woman approached your Serenity 4 after the loss of her son through poisoning, and that you decreed that poisoners should not be tolerated anywhere,S and that, if there were any, they should be executed, or only those should be saved who would combat wild beasts. And this so rightly decreed by you has seemed strange to me, since it is altogether ridiculous that you should attempt to allay such great sufferings with these trivial remedies. 6 For, since you have insulted God, you assume in vain the care of widows and orphans. In fact, the one step is an act of madness and peril, and the other the action of a compassionate and merciful man.
It is a serious matter for us, being but a private citizen, to speak thus to an emperor, but it will seem more grievous for you to speak to God. For, no one will appear as mediator between God and man. Yet, what you have read you have not understood; for, if you understood, you would not have condemned.
3 Galen6tate-a title of distinction not found in St. Basil's authentic letters.
4 Galen6tetos-a title of address not found in St. Basil's authentic letters.
5 Cf. St. Cyprian, Letter 15: 'legibus nostris bene atque utiliter censuistis delatores non esse.'
6 The Greek word for 'poison' also means 'drugs' or 'remedies.' There seems to be a play on the two meanings.
7 Cf. SOl. 5.18, where the closing words of Letter 40 are attributed to Julian as addressed 'to the bishops: and the closing words of Letter 41 are ascribed to these bishops in answer to Julian. Cf. also note 4 of the preceding letter.