Letters — Letter 14 — To his Brother Cæsarius

(Under the Emperor Valens, Cæsarius returned to public life and was appointed Quæstor of Bithynia. While he held this office, his brother wrote him the following letters on behalf of two cousins: Eulalius, who later succeeded Gregory as Bishop of Nazianzus and with whom Gregory was close friends, and Amphilochius, who had gotten into financial trouble at Constantinople because of a dishonest business partner, and for whom he asks help and advice. However, some scholars believe this letter was not addressed to his brother (who may have been in Constantinople at the time) but to some other high-ranking official at the Imperial Court. Amphilochius soon afterward withdrew from worldly affairs, and by A.D. 347 was already bishop of the important See of Iconium. Gregory's letters to him are given later in this section.)

(Under the Emperor Valens Cæsarius returned to public life and was made Quæstor of Bithynia. While he was in this office the following letters were written to him by his brother on behalf of two cousins, Eulalius, who afterwards succeeded Gregory in the Bishopric of Nazianzus, and with whom Gregory was on terms of intimate friendship, and Amphilochius, who, through the roguery of a partner, had got into some trouble at Constantinople about money matters, and for whom he asks aid and advice. Some however think that this letter is not addressed to his brother (who may have been at Constantinople at the time), but to some other officer of high rank at the Imperial Court. Amphilochius soon after retired from the world, and by a.d. 347 was already bishop of the important See of Iconium. Gregory's letters to him are given later in this division.)

Do me and yourself a favor of the kind you won't often get the chance to do, because such opportunities don't come along very often. Take up the entirely just defense of my dear cousins, who are being troubled far too much over a property they bought as a suitable place for retirement that could provide them with some income. But after completing the purchase, they've fallen into many problems, partly because the sellers turned out to be dishonest, and partly because their neighbors have plundered and robbed them. At this point, it would actually benefit them just to get rid of what they bought for the original price plus the considerable amount they've since spent on it. So if you'd like to take over the transaction yourself, after reviewing the contract to see how it can best and most securely be done, that would be most welcome to both them and me. But if you'd rather not do that, the next best thing would be to stand against the meddling and dishonesty of this man, so he doesn't manage to take advantage of their lack of business experience—either by cheating them if they keep the property, or by causing them financial loss if they sell it. I'm honestly embarrassed to be writing to you about this sort of thing. Still, since we owe this to them because of both their family connection and their profession (for who would one rather help than people like this, or what would be more shameful than refusing to grant such a favor?), please do this kindness for them—whether for your own sake, or for mine, or for their sake, or for all these reasons combined.

Do a kindness to yourself and to me, of a kind that you will not often have an opportunity of doing, because opportunities for such kindnesses do not often occur. Undertake a most righteous protection of my dear cousins, who are worried more than enough about a property which they bought as suitable for retirement, and capable of providing them with some means of living; but after having completed the purchase they have fallen into many troubles, partly through finding the vendors dishonest, and partly through being plundered and robbed by their neighbours, so that it would be a gain to them to get rid of their acquisition for the price they gave for it, plus the not small sum they have spent on it besides. If, then, you would like to transfer the business to yourself, after examining the contract to see how it may be best and most securely done, this course would be most acceptable both to them and me; but if you would rather not, the next best course would be to oppose yourself to the officiousness and dishonesty of the man, that he may not succeed in gaining one advantage over their want of business habits, either by wronging them if they retain their property, or by inflicting loss upon them if they part with it. I am really ashamed to write to you on such a subject. All the same, since we owe it to them, on account both of their relationship and of their profession (for of whom would one rather take care than of such, or what would one be more ashamed of than of being unwilling to confer such a benefit?) do you either for your own sake, or for mine, or for the sake of the men themselves, or for all these sakes put together, by all means do them this kindness.