Letter 359

359. Basil to Libanius

You have locked the whole art of the ancients within your own mind, and you keep such silence that you do not even grant us, in your letters, any profit to be gained. As for me, if the teacher's art were a safe one, I would have come to you, fashioning for myself the wing of Icarus. But all the same, since one cannot entrust wax to the sun, in place of the wings of Icarus I send you words, words that show forth our friendship. And it is the nature of words to reveal the loves that are in the soul. So much for words: lead them where you will. And yet, possessed of such great power, you keep silent. Turn, then, toward us also the streams of eloquence that flow from your mouth.