Letter 212

To the Same [Aristotle, a leading citizen, addressed in the preceding letter]. The mourning that arises over our sins possesses a sweet sorrow, and its bitterness is found to be honey-like, being medicined with good and kindly hope; and for this reason it nourishes the soul, brightens the mind, enriches the heart, and makes the whole composition of the body flourish. And well did David sing in melody: "My tears became bread to me day and night" [Psalm 41:4 LXX; 42:3 in the Hebrew numbering].

Ὁ ἐφ’ ἁμαρτίαις γινόμενος ὀδυρμὸς, γλυκεῖαν κέκτηται τὴν ἀνίαν, καὶ μελιτῶδες αὐτοῦ τὸ πικρὸν εὑρίσκεται, ἐλπίδι ἀγαθῇ, καὶ χρηστῇ φαρματτόμε- νον, διὰ τοῦτο τρέφει τὴν ψυχὴν, γανοῖ τὸ φρόνημα, λιπαίνει τὴν καρδίαν, εὐθαλὲς ἐργάζεται τὸ τοῦ σώ- ματος σύγκριμα. Καὶ καλῶς ὁ Δαυῒδ ἐμελῴδει· Ἐγενήθη μοι τὰ δάκρυα ἄρτος ἡμέρας καὶ νυ- κτός.