Letter 335
Late Antiquity Basil of Caesarea Greek- Basil to Libanius I am ashamed to bring the Cappadocians to you one by one, instead of persuading all who are of an age to lay claim to learning and education and to make use of you as their teacher in the discipline. But since it is impossible to succeed with all at once, when each chooses what suits himself, we send on to you those who are persuaded from time to time, conferring upon them as great a favour as do those who guide the thirsty to the springs. The young man who comes to you now will, a little later, be sought after for his own sake, once he has become known to you. For the present he is known through his father, who has won among us a great name for uprightness of life and for ability in public affairs, and who is bound to me as well in the closest friendship. In requital of this friendship I grant to his son this favour, making him known to you, a thing well worth praying for in the eyes of those who know how to judge a man's virtue.