Letter 322

322. Without address, to a friend, in fellow-feeling

On receiving the letter of your honour I was glad, as was natural, and gave thanks to the Lord, and was eager to answer, if anyone in good time had reminded me about a reply. For the matter that you laid upon us was only in time coming to a settlement, and it was not possible to answer anything with assurance before the end of it. This is the cause of our silence—certainly not negligence, nor ignorance of what is fitting. For even had we been altogether negligent, we should surely have been at pains to keep our shortcomings out of your honour's sight. But as it is, we cannot forget you, not even for the briefest moment (one would sooner be ignorant of one's own self); rather, whether we write or not, we carry you about set firmly in our hearts, and we bear the long parting of the winter so ill that we pray—if it is not possible for you yourself, on account of the engagements we hear of, to leave the country folk—that some occasion may arise for us to come to those parts and to enjoy the true steadiness of your character and your decorum. In any case, you will surely be eager to keep the saving day of the Pascha with us, together with your most decorous wife, whom too we greet through you, and whom we entreat to join in helping us, to hasten you toward us.