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To Olympias
Nothing strange or unnatural has befallen your Piety, but only what
is quite natural and consonant to reason, that by a constant succession
of trials the sinews of your soul should become more braced, and your
zeal and energy for the struggle increased, and that you should
therefrom derive much joy. For such is the nature of
affliction;--when it lays hold of a brave and noble soul, this is
what it is wont to effect. And as the fire makes the piece of gold,
when it is applied to it, of better proof: so also affliction when it
visits golden characters renders them purer and more proven. Wherefore
also Paul said "affliction worketh patience, and patience
probation." For these reasons I also rejoice and leap for joy, and
derive the greatest consolation of this my solitude from a consideration
of thy fortitude. On this account, even though innumerable wolves
encompass thee, and many crowds of wicked doers, I fear nothing; but
I pray both that existing temptations may be suppressed, and that
others may not occur, thus fulfilling the Lord's precept who bids us
pray that we may not enter into temptation; but if it should be
permitted to happen again I have good confidence concerning thy golden
soul, which acquires therefrom the greatest riches for itself. For by
what means will they be able to terrify you, who dare everything to
their own destruction? Will it be by loss of goods? But I know well
that these are counted by thee as dust and cheaper than dirt. Or shall
it be by expulsion from country and home. But you know how to dwell in
great and populous cities as if they were uninhabited, spending the
whole of your time in quietness and rest, and treading worldly
ambitions under foot. Or do they threaten death? This also you have
constantly practiced by anticipation, and if they should drag you to
slaughter, they will be dragging a body which is already dead. What
need to speak more at length? No one will be able to do anything to
thee of this kind which he will not find you have already abundantly
made yourself undergo. For by always walking in the narrow and strait
path, you have trained yourself in all these things. Wherefore having
practised this most beautiful art in the course of your training, you
now shine forth the more gloriously in the contest itself, not only
being in no wise disturbed by the things which are happening, but
rather elated, and leaping and dancing for joy. For the contests
which you have anticipated in your training you now undertake with much
ease, although it be in a woman's body, feebler than a cobweb,
treading under foot with derisive scorn the fury of lusty men gnashing
their teeth upon you; being ready to suffer even worse things than they
prepare for you. Happy and thrice happy are you by reason of the
crowns of victory to be won, but even more by reason of the contest
itself. For such is the nature of these struggles, even before the
prizes are given even in the midst of strife they have their recompense
and reward;--the pleasure which you are now enjoying, the
cheerfulness, the courage, the endurance, the patience, the power
which is proof against capture and conquest and rises superior to all
things; the perfect training which renders you insensible to any terror
at the hands of any one, the power of standing on a rock in the midst
of mighty billows of tribulation, and sailing in a calm with a
favourable breeze when the sea is raging around you. These are the
prizes of affliction even in this world before the kingdom of heaven is
won. For I know very well that, even at this present time, being
elated with joy, thou dost not consider thyself clothed with a body,
but if an opportunity should summon thee to do it, thou wouldst divest
thyself of it more readily than others do of the raiment which they
wear. Rejoice therefore and be glad both for thyself, and for those
who have died a blessed death, not in a bed, nor in a house, but in
prison, and chains, and torment; and bewail those only who do these
things, and grieve for them. But since you also wish to be informed
concerning my bodily health, let me tell you that I have been relieved
for the present from the infirmity which was lately oppressing me, and
am now in a more comfortable condition: the only fear is lest the
winter on its return should again make havoc of my feeble digestion;
and as far as the Isaurians are concerned we now enjoy great security.
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