Letter 96

96. To Sophronius the Master.

And who is so devoted to his city — honouring the country that bore and reared him as he would his parents — as you yourself, who join in praying for the good of the whole city in common and of each man in private, and who not only pray, but confirm your prayers through your own action? For you are able, with God's help, to do such things — and may you be able for the longest time, being so good a man.

And yet, in your day, our native country was rich only as in a dream. It had as the man entrusted with its care such a one as those who know the most ancient things among us say no other before has mounted the seats of authority; but it was quickly robbed of him by the malice of certain men, who made the man's freedom and his refusal to flatter an occasion of war against him, and contrived slanders against him, escaping the notice of your perfect ears. For this reason all of us, throughout the city, are downcast, robbed of a ruler who alone was able to set up again our city, now brought to its knees — a true guardian of justice, accessible to those who are wronged, fearsome to those who break the law, equal toward poor and rich, and, what is greatest of all, restoring the affairs of the Christians to their ancient honour. For the fact that he is the most incorruptible of the men we know, and grants no favour to anyone against justice, we have passed over as a lesser thing than the rest of the man's virtue.

These things we testify late in the day, like those who chant a dirge to console themselves, doing nothing useful for the matter at hand. Yet not even this is useless — that the memory of the man should be laid up in your great soul, and that you should be grateful to him as to a benefactor of his country, and, if any of those who are vexed at not being preferred to justice should set upon him, that you should fight on his behalf and defend him, having made it plain to all that you reckon the man your own, taking as a sufficient ground for that kinship the good testimony concerning him and the experience of affairs — an experience not corresponding to the proportion of the time. For what would not have come about from another even in many years, this has been set right by him in a little while. And it will be a sufficient favour to us, and a comfort for what has befallen, if you both commend him to the emperor and clear away the slanders brought against him. Consider that in this our whole country speaks to you through our single voice, and that it is the common prayer of all that something favourable should be done for the man through your perfection.