Letter 43: The proverb about "an honest man" [from Euripides: "An honest man, though he dwell far away and I never set eyes on...
To Eustathius the Philosopher 2
[362, Antioch]
Perhaps the proverb "An honest man"3—is too hackneyed. I am sure you know the rest. More
than this, you possess it; for, rhetorician and philosopher as you are, you know the words that come next, and you possess me for a friend, at least if we are both honest men. On your behalf I would strenuously maintain that you are in that category, but about myself I say nothing. I only pray that others may find by experience that I also am honest! You ask why I go round in a circle as though I were going to say something extraordinary when I ought to speak out? Come, then, lose no time; fly hither, as we say. A kindly god will speed you on your way with the aid of the Maiden of the Cross Roads and the state post1 will be at your disposal if you wish to use a carriage; and two extra horses.
2 See Introduction under Eustathius. He evidently accepted this invitation; see the next letter. He was a pagan and a friend of Libanius; cf. Ammianus 17. 5. 15; Eunapius,
Lives, pp. 392 foll. (Wright).
3 Euripides frag. 902, Nauck: "An honest man, though he dwell far away and I never see him with my eyes, him I count a friend."
1 The cursus publicus was the system of posting stations where horses were kept ready for the use of the Emperor or his friends; cf. above, p. 83 To Basil, end.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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