To Count Apollonius

The slanders spoken against me have led the very godly bishops to travel to the imperial city, and by their holinesses I send your excellency my greeting. So I pay the debt of friendship, not to wipe out the cherished obligation but to make it greater; for in truth the obligations of friendship grow by being paid. It is nothing extraordinary that I should now be reaping the fruits of slander, for since I am human there is nothing I must not expect. All troubles of this kind must be borne by those who have learned wisdom. One thing only is distressing: that harm should come to the soul. [a]