Letter 250: Look at what people actually do, and consider how far short it falls of what they later claim they intended.

To Ophelius the Grammarian. Even though your adversary rushed upon you, meaning to seize the upper hand by a sudden onset and to subdue you, yet, being himself caught, he failed of his victory and has taken on the guise of a suppliant. So then, hold in reverence the law that governs suppliants, that your victory may be the gentler and your renown may become worthy of song.

Εἰ καὶ ὥρμησεν ἐφ' ὑμᾶς ὁ διάδικος, ὡς αἱρήσων ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς καὶ παραστησόμενος· ἁλοὺς δὲ, τῆς μὲν νίκης διήμαρτεν, ἱκέτου δὲ σχῆμα ἀνείληφεν· ἀλλ' ὑμεῖς αἰδέσθητε τὸν ἐπὶ τῶν ἱκετῶν νόμον, ἵνα καὶ βαιοτέρα ὑμῖν ἡ νίκη, καὶ τὸ κλέος ἀοίδιμον γένηται.