To Damianus, Bishop of Sidon, on Undeserved Praise

It is the nature of mirrors to reflect the faces of those who look into them, so that whoever looks sees his own form. The same is true of the pupils of the eyes, for they show in themselves the likeness of other people’s features. Your holiness is an example of this, for you have not seen my ugliness, but have gazed with admiration at your own beauty. I really have none of the qualities you mentioned. Still, it is my prayer that your words may be proved true in fact, and I beg your piety, by your prayers, to bring it about that your praises do not fall to the ground for lack of any reality to match them. [a]