Letter 130: Whatever kindness you do me, know that you'll have dealt not just with a relative but with someone who loves you.

Whatever kindness you do me, know that you'll have dealt not just with a relative but with someone who loves you. I consider that a bigger thing than kinship -- because I see plenty of people nowadays reenacting the story of Oedipus's sons [Eteocles and Polynices, who killed each other], and blood doesn't stop them. I love you for many reasons, including the fact that you display your father's sharpness of mind in a different walk of life -- and that sharpness is the source of your success. I've told Mocimus to take heart: you'll give him what he's come for and won't stand by while the produce of our land is lost. You're well aware that any profit we make goes straight into your household too.

**To the same person.** (359/60) Know that in doing me a kindness, you will have obliged not merely a kinsman but also a friend. And I judge this latter bond the greater of the two, since I see many even now reenacting the example of the sons of Oedipus — blood relation does nothing to prevent it. I am fond of you for many reasons, but especially because you display in a different walk of life the sharpness of your father's mind, from which comes your success. As for Mocimus, I have urged him to take heart, assuring him that you will grant him the matter for which he has come and will not allow the produce of our land to go to waste. For you are well aware that whatever profit comes our way has found its way into your own household.

Τῷ αὐτῷ. (359/60) Σὺ δ’ ὅτι ἄν με εὖ ποιῇς, οὐ συγγενεῖ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ 15 φιλοῦντι συμβεβλημένος ἔσῃ. μεῖζον δὲ τοῦτο ἐκείνου κρίνω, διότι τὰ τῶν Οἰδίπου παίδων καὶ νῦν ὁρῶ πολλοὺς ἐπιχει- ροῦντας καὶ οὐ κωλύει τὸ γένος. σὲ δὲ ἐγὼ τῇ τε ἄλλῃ φι- λῶ καὶ ὅτι τῶν πατρῴων φρενῶν ἐν ἑτέρῳ βίῳ τὴν ὀξύτητα δεικνύεις, ἀφ’ ἧς σοι καὶ τὸ κρατεῖν. Μοκίμῳ δὲ παρεκε- λευσάμην θαρρεῖν· ὡς ἐφ’ ᾧπερ ἥκει δώσεις αὐτῷ καὶ οὐ πε- ριόψει τὴν τῆς γῆς φορὰν ἡμῖν ἀπολλυμένην. οὐ γὰρ ἀγνοεῖς, ὡς ὅ τι ἂν ἡμὶν γένηται κέρδος, τοῦτο εἰς τὴν σὴν εἰσελήλυ- θεν οἰκίαν