Letter 103 (382)
Glimpses of Daily Life
mutually associate around mixing bowls, and we have not been much in contact with each other, as we would have preferred, both for ourselves and for the sake of our fathers' mutual friendship; what we ask for is an affection shown by acts. A dispute is at hand, a most serious dispute: our
"son" Nikoboulos is in unexpected troubles, on the part of those one would suspect the least. So we beg you to come and help us as soon as possible, to appear at the law suit and defend us if you find that we are being wronged. Anyway do not let the adverse party forestall you, and do not, for a shabby gain, sell your independence which has, 1 know, been recognized by all.
GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS TO PALLADIOS,
LETTER 103 (382)
If somebody asks me, "What is best in this life?" I shall answer, "Friends!" And among them, which ones are to be given preference? I would say: ''Those who are good!" "And which ones shall you name first?" "1 would not place anyone ahead of you in virtue, I am sure!" 1 do not write this to flatter Your Lordship but to honor your qualities which we proclaim, omitting nothing as far as it is in our power; we are not only your heralds, but also your fellow combatants, inasmuch as our prayers confer upon you a real power, 1 wanted to end my letter here. However, since we not only venerate the Divinity, but also implore its favors, do acceptwe will not bother you, but merely refresh your memory-do accept this Euphemios who comes as a suppliant. I present him again to you and beg you to receive him with kindness and excuse his shyness; as an orphan he had to attend to the management of his sman estate; 1 would even ask you to urge him instantly, both for our sake and unto the renown of Your Excellency . ... 1 beg you to trust in me; Euphemios
THE FATHERS SPEAK
is worthy of pity because he is an orphan and because of his character which endears him to me, without speaking of the blood relationship, which binds us both.
GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS TO OLYMPIOS, PROVINClAL
GOVERNOR OF CAPPAOOCIA, LETTER 104 (382)
Whatever other favors I have received from you, I know for sure lowe them to your kindness. May God grant you
His gifts in return and, among those, to execute the honor· able and eminent office of your charge! My request today is not a favor I am begging for, but rather a favor I grant you, if there is no impropriety in saying so. I introduce unto you, through this letter of mine, the pitiful Philomene. that she may fall prostrate at the feet of Your Justice and shed before you her tears, which break our heart. How much was she injured and by whom, she will tell you. It is not for us to accuse anyone, yet we have to say this: widowhood and the lack of offspring call for the help of all men of right sense, especially those whose wife and children act with surety and make a father act mercifully; it is as men that we do justice unto other men. Excuse us for presenting our request by letter: illness is torturing us!
On the Discipline of Silence and of Laconism in Writing Gregory of NazianZlls recommends the abstention from "idle talk" praised by Saint Ephrem the Syrian as a salutary
Lenten observance. Letters 107, 108, 109, and 111 are deliberately laconic. In the West, Saint Benedict would recommend the discipline of silence at prescribed times of the day to his monks, and Dominicans love to quote an apocryphal slogan of "silence being the father of preachers."