Letter 27

27. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.

When, by the grace of God and the help of your prayers, I seemed to be recovering a little from my illness and to be gathering up my strength again, then the winter set in, shutting me up at home and forcing me to keep within the district. For though it came on much milder than usual, it was nevertheless enough to hinder me — not only from travelling through it, but even from being able to put out a little way beyond my room.

Yet this too is no small thing for me, to be counted worthy to converse by letter with your reverence, and already to find rest beforehand in the hope of your replies. And if the season would allow it, and some span of life were still left to us, and the famine did not make the road impassable for us, then quickly, through your prayers, would we attain our desire; and overtaking you at your hearth, we would, at full leisure, take our fill of the great treasures of the wisdom that is in you.