Do not make me write out the grief of silence

Click or tap any sentence to jump there. The side buttons skip a paragraph.

Procopius is closing his letter, anticipating that the recipient may mock his praise as sophistry and asking him not to force him to put the pain of silence into writing.

But perhaps you will laugh at this, since sheer sophistry blooms all over it, and you might even call me a sophist as a reproach. Yet I am not able not to admire beautiful things. Even if you fall silent, best of men, we speak opposite things. But do not give me trouble, as I seek to present in writing the grief that comes from silence.

Greek

ἀλλὰ μὲν ἴσως ταῦτα γελάσεις, ὡς αὐτόχρημα τὸ σοφιστικὸν ἐπανθεῖ αὐτοῖς, καί με τυχὸν ὡς ἐν ὀνείδει καλέσειας σοφιστήν· ἐγὼ δὲ

τὰ καλὰ μὴ θαυμάζειν οὐκ ἔχω, κἂν σιωπήσῃς, ὦ λῷστε, τἀναντία φθεγγόμεθα· ἀλλὰ μή μοι διδόναι πρᾶγμα ζητοῦντι τὴν ἐκ τῆς σιωπῆς λύπην παραστῆσαι τοῖς γράμμασιν.

About this text

A short thank-you letter from Procopius of Gaza praising a friend's letter as a spring of words and asking him not to fall silent.

Procopius of Gaza wrote this letter. He was a Christian rhetorician associated with the School of Gaza, and a collection of his letters survives, addressed to friends, persons of rank, and literary opponents.

The letter responds to an unnamed correspondent whose letter delighted Procopius. He writes to thank the sender and to urge that person not to leave him in silence.

Procopius praises the letter as bringing a rational spring and a musical sound in place of swallows. He admires its wording, thought, harmony, and author, and compares himself to the Lydians, who observed spring only when Dionysus happened to be present. Anticipating that the recipient may laugh and call him a sophist, he insists he cannot help admiring what is beautiful and asks not to be made to represent in writing the grief that comes from silence.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 87 (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.