Letter 337
Late Antiquity Basil of Caesarea Greek- Basil to Libanius See, here comes yet another Cappadocian to you, a son of mine, and he too; for this habit in which we now live makes them all sons to us. So in this respect at least he would be a brother to the one who came before, and worthy of the same zeal both from me, his father, and from you, his teacher—if indeed those who come from us can have any advantage at all. And I say this, not as though your eloquence would not grant something more to the old companions, but because your benefit lies open to all in ungrudging abundance. It would be enough for the young man, before he has been tested by time, to be ranked among your own household; and may you send him back to us worthy both of our prayers and of the reputation you hold in eloquence. He brings with him also a youth of the same age, who shares an equal zeal for eloquence, himself too of noble birth and a member of our household; and we are confident that he will be in no way inferior, even though in wealth he falls far short of the rest.