Letter 351

351. Basil to Libanius

Many people from your part of the world, falling in with us, have expressed their admiration of your excellence in oratory. For they said that a certain display had taken place, one of surpassing brilliance, and that the contest, as they put it, was of the greatest; so much so that everyone came running together, and no one else was to be seen contending in the city but Libanius alone, and every age was among the listeners. For no one thought it right to remain outside the contests — neither the man weighed down by the bulk of high office, nor the soldier conspicuous on the military rolls, nor the craftsman absorbed in his trade. By now even the women were hastening to be present at the contests. But what was the contest? What was the speech that gathered together so universal an assembly? They have reported to me that you delivered the speech in the manner of a man hard to please. Do not be reluctant, then, to send me a work so much admired, that I too may become a praiser of your oratory. For having praised Libanius even apart from his actual works, what shall I now become, having found such a subject for praise?