Letter 323

323. To Philagrius Arcenus

Thanks be to the holy God—for I could not say that I am thankful to those who have wronged you, because they have become for me the occasion of a letter; but the Lord, who confers benefits upon us from every side, knows how, often, even through griefs to fulfil our consolations. Hence he has made the senseless conduct of those who have run away from you into an occasion of gladness for us as well.

But do you write to us on every occasion, writing such things as these—proceeding so from a kindly mind, and so from a tongue refined. For even if we deny that we lay claim to the charm in your diction, still we are somehow by nature enchanted by it, and you who are graceful in speech lead us along, as men lead bees by the striking of cymbals. Send us, then, many letters, and as long as may be; for brevity is no virtue in a letter—no more than it is in a man.

Write to us, too, of how things stand with your house, and how your own body fares in health, and whether the affairs of the churches are at peace; for you care for these things also, and do well to do so. And indeed, if there is any power in you to labour together for the peace and union of those who are divided, do not decline it.

The good Cyriacus first applied himself to the task, and then delivered to us your letter; and for the remnants of the matter he found us joining in to do what was in our power. For we have written to the country bishop of those parts, who, if he carries out any of what was charged, will himself make the affairs known.