Letter 363

363. To Apollinaris

To my master, the most reverend brother Apollinaris, from Basil. We have missed the occasions on which it was possible to address your reverence — and gladly would we have written in response to that letter of yours. For we were pleased that you keep in silence the delight you take in those writings. For truly you seemed to us to be the one man of sound mind, while the shades of the interpreters flit about — so securely do you carry your exposition upon firm understanding. And now indeed the longing for the knowledge of the divine oracles lays still greater hold upon my soul. To put before you some of the things that perplex me I shrink from, lest I should seem to indulge beyond measure in frankness; yet to keep silent again I cannot endure, being in travail and longing to conceive still more. The best course, then, seemed to me to ask you whether you permit us, O admirable man, to inquire about some of the things that perplex us, or whether we must keep quiet. Whichever you answer, this we shall observe henceforth. May we have you ever in health, of good cheer, and praying above all for us.