Letter 98: Chrysostom anxiously asks Chalcidia to report whether she has recovered from illness.

We were deeply pained to learn that you were so ill. You know, my most dignified and reverent lady, how closely we hold on to your health. So that we may not be strained by anxiety, make haste to tell us through the first person who comes from there whether the illness has entirely left you and you have returned to clear health. Sitting in such a wilderness, we reap no ordinary joy when we learn about the health and good spirits of those who genuinely love us. Since you know what a great favor you do for us by sending such a letter, do not delay or put it off. Please do this at once, so that just as you have now overwhelmed us with sadness by telling us of your illness, you may fill us with great pleasure by announcing your health.

Ηʹ. Χαλκιδίᾳ. Οὐχ ὡς ἔτυχεν ἠλγήσαμεν, μαθόντες ἐν τοσαύτῃ σε ἀῤῥωστίᾳ εἶναι. Οἶσθα γὰρ ὅπως ἀντεχόμεθά σου τῆς ὑγιείας, κυρία μου κοσμιωτάτη καὶ εὐλαβεστάτη. Ἵν' οὖν μὴ κατατεινώμεθα τῇ φροντίδι, διά τινος τοῦ πρώτου ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνουμένου τοῦτο αὐτὸ δηλῶσαι ἡμῖν σπούδασον, εἴ σοι τέλεον τὰ τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας ἀνῄρηται, καὶ πρὸς καθαρὰν ἐπανῆλθες ὑγίειαν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ τὴν τυχοῦσαν καρπούμεθα εὐφροσύνην, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ τοσαύτῃ καθήμενοι, ὅταν ὑμῶν τῶν ἀγαπώντων ἡμᾶς γνησίως περὶ τῆς ὑγείας καὶ εὐθυμίας μανθάνωμεν. Εἰδυῖα τοίνυν ἡλίκα ἡμῖν χαρίζῃ τοιαύτην πέμπουσα ἐπιστολὴν, μὴ μελλήσῃς, μηδὲ ὑπερθῇ, ἀλλ' εὐθέως τοῦτο ποιῆσαι παρακλήθητι, ἵν' ὥσπερ νῦν ὑπὸ τῆς ἀθυμίας συνέχεας ἡμᾶς τὴν ἀῤῥωστίαν εἰποῦσα, οὕτως τὴν ὑγείαν ἀπαγγείλασα τὴν σὴν, πολλῆς ἡμᾶς ἐμπλησθῆναι ποιήσῃς τῆς ἡδονῆς.