1. After some
little time a young Cappadocian has reached me. One gain to me is
that he is a Cappadocian. But this Cappadocian is one of the
first rank. This is another gain. Further, he brings me a
letter from the admirable Basil. This is the greatest gain of
all. You think that I have forgotten you. I had great
respect for you in your youth. I saw you vying with old men in
self-restraint, and this in a city teeming with pleasures. I saw
you already in possession of considerable learning. Then you
thought that you ought also to see Athens, and you persuaded Celsus to
accompany you. Happy Celsus, to be dear to you! Then you
returned, and lived at home, and I said to myself, What, I wonder, is
Basil about now? To what occupation has he betaken himself?
Is he following the ancient orators, and practising in the
courts? Or is he turning the sons of fortunate fathers into
orators? Then there came those who reported to me that you were adopting
a course of life better than any of these, and were, rather, bethinking
you how you might win the friendship of God than heaps of gold, I
blessed both you and the Cappadocians; you, for making this your aim;
them, for being able to point to so noble a fellow-countryman.