Letter 595

To Leontius the Rhetorician. I want you to speak correctly in your manner and in your conduct. For as to never committing a solecism or a barbarism [grammatical faults in speech] in one's words, even the corrupt are able to do that. Cease, therefore, from finding fault with those who speak in integrity, if indeed you do seem to me to be a Christian. For it is by no means eloquence that procures the kingdom of heaven, but a good character, and good conduct, and steadfast faith.

Βούλομαι σε τῷ τρόπῳ καὶ τῇ πράξει ὀρθολεκτεῖν. Τὸ γὰρ δὴ τῷ λόγῳ μηδαμῶς σολοικίζειν, ἢ βαρβα- ρίζειν, δύναιντ’ ἂν καὶ οἱ διεφθαρμένοι. Πέπαυσο τοίνυν τοῦ ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν ἐν ἀκεραιότητι φθεγ- γομένων, εἴπερ οὖν δοκεῖς μοι Χριστιανὸς ὑπάρχειν. Οὐ γὰρ πάντως ἡ φράσις πρόξενος τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἀλλὰ τὸ χρηστὸν ἦθος, καὶ ἡ ἀγαθὴ πρᾶ- ξις, καὶ ἡ βεβαία πίστις.