Letter 104: How much Eudaemon is worth to anyone who cares about Greek culture, how close a friend he is to us, and how much he...

LibaniusModestus|c. 323 AD|Libanius
education booksfriendshipillnessproperty economics

To Modestus. (359/60)

You know well how highly Eudaemon deserves to be valued among the children of the Greeks, how dear a friend he is to us, and how he rejoices in your successes — and you would say as much to anyone. Being so disposed, it is plain that you would gladly do the man a good turn.

The matter will be easy for you once you arrive in Egypt. He has an elderly father in Pelusium and a family second to none in nobility, though their means are modest on account of their integrity.

If you would consent to see them — simply give the order to summon the relatives of Eudaemon — you will satisfy both them and us: us, by the honor you show; and them, because having not been passed over by you in silence will give them a powerful guarantee of security. For if certain people are now giving them trouble, they will find those men turn reasonable once you have done this.

I had more to say, but you do not permit it. Where one must come to the aid of the companions of the Muses — a man such as Eudaemon — you need no prompting.

Related Letters