Letter 158: To the same person. (359/60)

To the same man. (359/60) I expect that this business will turn out well for these young men, because, on their way to engage in lawsuits, they have managed to meet beforehand with the man who shines in the art of pleading cases. For if a wrestler journeying to Pisa [Olympia] had had the chance somewhere among the mountains to grapple with Heracles, as we hear Pan did, it would have been clear that the crown belonged to no one else. That you will look upon them kindly, then, I am persuaded; but let there be added to your friendly welcome also instruction in these very courses of forensic pleading. For let them learn not only as much as serves their education, but as much as is permitted; and let them carry from you letters to those who are powerful among the public speakers. For it is not pleasant for them to come to renown through others, yet to you they might perhaps yield even in this.

**To the Same Recipient** (359/60) I expect the venture will prove profitable for these young men, because as they set out for the courts they had the good fortune to meet first with the man who has shone brightest in the courts. For if an athlete on his way to Pisa had chanced to encounter Heracles somewhere in the mountains — something like what we hear of Pan — it would have been clear that the crown would belong to no other. That you will receive them kindly, I am confident. But to your goodwill, please add instruction in the ways of forensic practice. For let them learn not only what pertains to their education, but everything they possibly can, and let them carry from you letters of introduction to the leading men among the advocates. To be sure, it would not please them to owe their reputation to others, but to you, perhaps, they would submit even in this.

Τῷ αὐτῷ. (359/60) Καλὴν ἐλπίζω τὴν ἐμπορίαν ἔσεσθαι τοῖσδε τοῖς νέα νίσκοις, ὅτι χωροῦντες ἐπὶ δίκας τῷ λάμψαντι περὶ τὰς δίκας ἔσχον προεντυχεῖν. καὶ γὰρ ἀθλητῇ πορευομένῳ πρὸς Πίσαν, εἴ που τῶν ὀρῶν ὑπῆρξεν Ἡρακλεῖ συμβαλεῖν οἷόν τι τὸ τοῦ Πανὸς ἀκούομεν, ἦν ἂν δῆλον, ὡς οὐχ ἑτέρων ὁ στέφα- νος. ὅτι μὲν οὖν αὐτοὺς εὐμενῶς ὄψει, πέπεισμαι, προσ- ἔστω δὲ τῇ φιλοφροσύνῃ καὶ διδαχὴ τούτων δὴ τῶν δικανι- κῶν δρόμων. καὶ γὰρ οὐχ ὅσον εἰς παίδευσιν, ἀλλ’ ὅσα γε ἔξεστι μαθέτωσαν καὶ φερόντων γε παρὰ σοῦ γράμματα πρὸς τοὺς ἰσχύοντας ἐν τοῖς ἀγορεύουσιν. οὐχ ἡδὺ μὲν γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἄλλων εἰς δόξαν ἐλθεῖν, σοὶ δ’ ἂν ἴσως καὶ τοῦτο ὑπακού- σαιεν.