Letter 134: Here's how it happened: Hermogenes didn't slam the door shut like some savage -- he just fell idle.
To Demetrius. (359/60?)
Here, then, is how the matter stands: Hermogenes has not barred his doors like some savage — it was mere laziness. This was how he later behaved toward me as well, though at first we were on close terms.
So I gave the letter to the men appointed to the embassy, who had access by virtue of their ambassadorial role.
In that affair you received no less than you suppose — except that you received only as much as your inferiors.
Now, Argyrius took the letters from his own slave, and though he claimed to have them, when the time came to hand them over, he searched and searched but could not produce them. Slaves accused slaves and free men alike, and free men in turn accused slaves and one another — shouting and uproar everywhere, but the letters were nowhere to be found.
How deeply stung do you think my soul was? Yet I did not see fit to beg forgiveness while the wound still stood open. Instead, pressing toward a cure, I made use of Hermogenes' hand. These things came after his term of office.
As for you — the dates you sent were sweeter than honey. When I first saw them I thought nothing of them, but upon tasting them I was amazed. And sweeter still than those dates are the speeches of Celsus that you have sent me.
Related Letters
Well, the dreams did a fine job of prompting you -- though I know perfectly well you would have done the same thing...
Your fine friend Bacchius has been separated from you and has not spent nearly enough time with me.
You do not give me a chance to ask for anything -- you who send everything before being asked.
Many blessings on Bacchius, who is both fine himself and a lover of fine things.
Your commands delighted me; your fear of imposing on me did not.