Ep. CXLV.  To Verianus.

Public executioners commit no crime, for they are the servants of the laws:  nor is the sword unlawful with which we punish criminals.  But nevertheless, the public executioner is not a laudable character, nor is the death-bearing sword received joyfully.  Just so neither can I endure to become hated by confirming the divorce by my hand and tongue.  It is far better to be the means of union and of friendship than of division and parting of life.  I suppose it was with this in his mind that our admirable Governor entrusted me with the enquiry about your daughter, as one who could not proceed to divorce abruptly or unfeelingly.  For he proposed me not as Judge, but as Bishop, and placed me as a mediator in your unhappy circumstances.  I beg you therefore, to make some allowance for my timidity, and if the better prevail, to use me as a servant of your desire:  I rejoice in receiving such commands.  But if the worse and more cruel course is to be taken, seek for some one more suitable to your purpose.  I have not time, for the sake of favouring your friendship (though in all respects I have the highest regard for you), to offend against God, to Whom I have to give account of every action and thought.  I will believe your daughter (for the truth shall be told) when she can lay aside her awe of you, and boldly declare the truth.  At present her condition is pitiable—for she assigns her words to you, and her tears to her husband.

[145] ΟΥΗΡΙΑΝΩΙ

Οὐδὲν δεινὸν ποιοῦσιν οἱ δήμιοι: καὶ γὰρ ὑπηρετοῦνται νόμοις: οὐδὲ τὸ ξίφος παράνομον, ᾧ τοὺς πονηροὺς κολάζομεν: ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐκ ἐπαινεῖται δήμιος οὐδὲ ἀσμενίζεται φοινικὸν ξίφος. Οὕτως οὐδὲ ἡμεῖς ἀνεχόμεθα γενέσθαι μισητοὶ διὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας χειρὸς καὶ γλώσσης τοῦ ἀποστασίου βεβαιουμένου. Κρεῖττον γὰρ ἑνώσεως καὶ φιλίας ἢ διαστάσεως καὶ βίου λύσεως μέσους γίνεσθαι. Τοῦτό μοι δοκεῖ καὶ ὁ θαυμασιώτατος ἄρχων ἐνθυμηθεὶς ἡμῖν ἐπιτρέψαι τὴν πεῦσιν τῆς σῆς θυγατρός, ὡς οὐκ ἀποτόμως οὐδὲ ἀπαθῶς ἐλθεῖν δυναμένοις ἐπὶ τὴν λύσιν. Οὐ γὰρ ὡς λογιστήν, ἀλλ' ὡς ἐπίσκοπον δηλαδὴ προεβάλετο καὶ μέσον ἐποιήσατο τῆς καθ' ὑμᾶς περιπετείας. Παρακαλῶ τοίνυν χαρίσασθαί τι τῇ ἐμῇ δειλίᾳ: καὶ εἰ μὲν τὰ κρείττω νικᾷ, χρήσασθε ἡμῖν ὑπηρέταις τῆς ὑμετέρας βουλήσεως, καὶ χαίρομεν τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐπιταττόμενοι: εἰ δὲ τὰ χείρω τε καὶ σκαιότερα καὶ οἷς οὐδέπω καὶ τήμερον ἐνεχειρήσαμεν, ἄλλον ἐπιζητεῖτε τὸν πρὸς ταῦτα ἐπιτηδειότερον. Ἐμοὶ δὲ οὐ σχολή, ἵνα τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ φιλίᾳ χαρίσωμαι (εἰ καὶ τὰ πάντα οἶδα ὑμᾶς ἐμαυτῷ τιμιωτάτους), Θεῷ προσκρούειν, ᾧ λόγον ὑπέχω παντὸς κινήματος καὶ διανοήματος. Τῇ δὲ σῇ θυγατρὶ τότε πιστεύσομεν (εἰρήσεται γὰρ τἀληθές), ὅταν δυνηθῇ τὸ αἰδεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς φυγοῦσα παρρησιάζεσθαι τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Ὡς νῦν γε τὸ πάθος ἐλεεινόν: μερίζει γὰρ ὑμῖν μὲν τὰ ῥήματα, τῷ δὲ ἀνδρὶ τὸ δάκρυον.