Letter 216: I will not pretend that things are as they were.

To Modestus. (358/59) Orators seek goodwill from those who sit in judgment, not only those who have condemned themselves as having nothing strong on their side, but also those to whom it belongs to take courage because of the justice of their cause. And so I too know precisely that this Calliopius here does no wrong, neither small nor greater; but I ask of you that common request, namely that your eye be gentle toward him at the trial. For in this way he would also make use of the justice that is on his side, if he were not thrown into confusion. But if it is not permitted to make mention of goodwill toward you, yet at least it is permitted to pray to the gods that they make you of such a kind. And indeed I do pray: Zeus Meilichios [the Gracious], and you who are gentler to men than their fathers, render the noble Modestus propitious to Calliopius and like to yourself. And let him, when he sits in judgment, remember Meilichios Zeus, so that we too may rejoice together with our friend, and that Montius beneath the earth may take delight. For some such thing is said also concerning those who have departed.

Μοδέστῳ. (358/59) Οἱ ῥήτορες εὔνοιαν ζητοῦσι παρὰ τῶν δικαζόντων οὐ μόνον οἱ κατεγνωκότες αὑτῶν μηδὲν ἔχειν ἰσχυρόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἷς ὑπάρχει θαρρεῖν δικαίων εἵνεκα. καὶ ἐγὼ τοίνυν οἶδα μὲν ἀκριβῶς ὡς οὔτε μικρὸν οὔτε μεῖζον ἀδικεῖ Καλλιόπιος οὑτοσί, δέομαι δέ σου τὸ κοινὸν δὴ τοῦτο, Μαὶ αὐτῷ τὸ ὄμμα ἐπὶ τῆς δίκης ἥμερον. οὕτω γὰρ ἂν καὶ χρήσαιτο τοῖς οὖσιν αὐτῷ δικαίοις, εἰ μὴ ταραχθείη. εἰ δ’ οὖν οὐκ ἔξ- εστιν εὐνοίας πρὸς σὲ μνησθῆναι, ἀλλ’ εὔξασθαί γε τοῖς θεοῖς ὑπὲρ τοῦ σε ποιῆσαι τοιοῦτον ἔξεστι. καὶ δὴ καὶ εὔχομαι· Ζεῦ Μειλίχιε καὶ πατέρω·ν ἀνθρώποις ἡμερώτερε, κατάστησον ἵλεων Καλλιοπίῳ τὸν γενναῖον Μόδε- στον καὶ σαυτῷ προσόμοιον. καὶ μεμνήσθω δικάζων τοῦ Μειλιχίου Δῖός, ὅπως ἡμεῖς τε τῷ φίλῳ συγχαίρωμεν καὶ Μόντιος ὑπὸ γῆς ἥδοιτο. λέγεται γάρ τι περὶ τῶν οἰχομένων καὶ τοιοῦτον.