Funeral Orations

ON HIS SISTER, ST. GORGONIA

ON HIS SISTER, ST. GORGONIA IIN PRAISING MY SISTER, I shall be honoring my own family. Yet, while she is a member of my family, I shall not on that account praise her falsely, but because what is true is for that reason praiseworthy. Moreover, this truth is not only well founded but also well known. Nor would I be allowed to speak with partiality even if I wished to do so. The reason is that my listener stands like a skillful arbiter, between my discourse and the truth, and censures unmerited praise, yet also demands what is due, at least if he be just. And so I am not afraid of running beyond the bounds of truth, but, on the contrary, of falling short of the truth and thereby lessening her reputation by an inadequate eulogy. For it is a difficult task to find action and words to match her excellence. We should not, then, praise undeservedly the qualities of others nor should we disparage what is found in our own, if it be truly praiseworthy. Lack of relationship should not be an advantage and kinship prove to be a handicap . For in both cases, by the praise of the one and the disregard of the other, there would not be a fair and just evaluation of the truth. But if we make the truth our standard and rule, and fix our eyes on this alone, ignoring consideration of the vulgar and the mean, we shall both praise what merits praise and pass over what is deserving of silence. 101 102 ST. GREGORY NAZIANZEN (2) If we count it an unholy thing to defraud our kindred of anything, or to slander, accuse, or wrong them in any way, great or small, and regard injustice to those nearest to us as the greatest of crimes, it would be most absurd to think that we should be acting equitably in robbing them of such an oration-which is due the virtuous above all, and by which we can render their memory immortal-and be more concerned with the charges of partiality made by evil men than with the just demands of the good. Certainly, if lack of personal knowledge or evidence does not prevent us, although this would be far more just, from praising strangers, friendship and the envy of the multitude will not prevent us from praising those known to us, especially those who have departed this life, and with whom it is too late to curry favor, since they are beyond the reach, among other things, of praise or blame. (3) Since I have sufficiently justified my position and shown that this discourse is altogether necessary on my part, let me now proceed to the eulogy proper, spurning all prettiness and elegance in style, for she whom we are praising was unadorned and regarded lack of adornment as beauty. And I shall be paying, as a most requisite debt, the last rites due the dead, and at the same time I shall be instructing all in the zealous imitation of the same virtue. My purpose in every word and action is to advance the perfection of those who are committed to my trust. Let another, with more regard for the laws of panegyric, praise the country and the family of the deceased. And he will not lack many excellent topics, if he wishes to deck her with external ornaments, as one decks a beautiful form with gold and precious stones and embellishments of art and hand. While these things betray ugliness by the very fact of their application, they cannot render more attractive the beauty which surpasses them. But having ob3erved the rules in these matters to the extent of mentioning ON HIS SISTER, ST. GORGONIA 103 our common parents, for it would be impious to pass over parents and teachers of such worth, I will turn my attention as quickly as possible to Gorgonia herself and not disappoint the wishes of those who are eager to hear about her. (4 ) Who is there who does not know our new Abraham and the Sara of our time? I mean Gregory and his wife Nonna. For it is not right to omit the mention of names that are an exhortation to virtue. He was justified by faith, and she has dwelt together with the man of faith. He beyond hope has been the father of many nations and she has brought them forth spiritually. He fled the bondage of his...