Letter 280: This old man Heraclius has suffered many wrongs -- not on account of your administration (the Phocian War came...

To Maximus. (358/359) This old man Heraclius has suffered many wrongs -- not on account of your administration (the Phocian War came before Demosthenes' career, as they say [meaning the wrongs preceded your tenure]), but at the hands of men who readily strangle anyone they choose. He comes having shortened his labor somewhat through his efforts here, but the final outcome of the whole matter rests on your verdict. So make the ending a fine one and grant the favor without departing from justice. For it would be absurd if the reputation I gained among the Armenians under Eutherius's governorship -- as one able to help people -- should be ruined under the fine governorship of Maximus.

Μαξίμῳ. (358/59) Ὁ γέρων οὗτος Ἡράκλειος ὁ πολλὰ κακὰ παθών, οὐ διὰ τὴν σὴν ἀρχήν, πρὸ γὰρ τῆς Δημοσθένους πολιτείας ὁ Φωκικὸς πόλεμος, ἀλλὰ διὰ τοὺς ῥᾳδίως ὃν ἂν ἐθέλωσιν ἄγχοντας, ἥκει βραχύτερον μέν σοι πεποιηκὼς τὸν πόνον τοῖς ἐνταῦθα ἐσπουδασμένοις, τὴν τελευτὴν δὲ τοῦ παντὸς ἐν ταῖς παρὰ σοῦ ψήφοις ἔχων. ποίει δὴ καλὸν τὸ τέλος καὶ δίδου χάριν μηδὲν ἐκβαίνων τὸ δίκαιον· ὡς ἔστιν ἄτοπον ἣν ἄρχον- τος Εὐθηρίου δόξαν ἐν Ἀρμενίοις ἐκτησάμην, ὡς οἷός τ' εἴην βοηθεῖν, ταύτην ἐπὶ τῆς ἡγεμονίας Μαξίμου τοῦ καλοῦ διαφθαρῆναί μοι.