St Basil the Great LETTERS, Second Part

Translated by Bl. Jackson.

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Page 76

Letter CLXXXVI. [2605]

To Antipater, the governor. [2606]

Philosophy is an excellent thing, if only for this, that it even heals its disciples at small cost; for, in philosophy, the same thing is both dainty and healthy fare. I am told that you have recovered your failing appetite by pickled cabbage. Formerly I used to dislike it, both on account of the proverb, [2607] and because it reminded me of the poverty that went with it. Now, however, I am driven to change my mind. I laugh at the proverb when I see that cabbage is such a "good nursing mother of men," [2608] and has restored our governor to the vigour of youth. For the future I shall think nothing like cabbage, not even Homer's lotus, [2609] not even that ambrosia, [2610] whatever it was, which fed the Olympians.

Letter CLXXXVII.

Antipater to Basil.

"Twice cabbage is death," says the unkind proverb. I, however, though I have called for it often, shall die once. Yes: even though I had never called for it at all! If you do die anyhow, don't fear to eat a delicious relish, unjustly reviled by the proverb!

[2605] Placed in 374.

[2606] cf. Letter cxxxvii.

[2607] The Greek proverb was dis krambe thanatos, vide Politian. Miscel. 33. cf. "Occidit miseros crambe repetita magistros." Juv. vii. 154.

[2608] kourotrophos. Ithaca is agathe kourotrophos, because it bore and bred hardy men. Od. ix. 27.

[2609] Od. ix. 93.

[2610] Od. v. 93.

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