Letter 378: I knew you as my friend and as one no less devoted to his friends than Theseus.

To Eugnomonius. (358) I knew you to be a friend of mine and no less eager toward your friends than Theseus; but having sent you letters and received none in return, I am wondering what sort of man you will prove to be when a deed summons you, you who have not even dared to write back, and this although your very title derives from the writing of letters. If, then, wealth has made you disdainful of your acquaintances, perish your being rich; but if, while remaining the same toward everyone else, it is your conduct toward me alone that you have altered, consider how we shall one day be together, and, when you seek a defense, you will either keep silent or behave shamelessly. Come then, blessed friend, dissolve the reproach with a letter that carries something of your former character, so that we may not only count you fortunate but also praise you; and indeed do good yourself to this excellent Olympius and urge the others to do the same. The man is both a fellow-citizen of mine and was my schoolfellow when he was young, but through his wishing to become a soldier he let go of much of his learning. You, however, will deem him worthy of honor, as one who has preserved his art, and you will set him among those who are faring well. If, then, you had no power to do so, I would have prayed that it might come to be for you; but as it is, in wishing to enjoy the power you do possess, perhaps I do no wrong. And your reward, both from me and from this man, will be the remembrance of the favor.

Εὐγνωμονίῳ. (358) Ἐγω σε φίλον τε ᾔδειν ἐμαυτοῦ καἰ περὶ τοὺς φίλους πρόθυμον οὐχ ἧττον ἢ Θησέα, γράμματα δέ σοι πέμψας μέν, οὐκ ἀντιλαβὼν δὲ σκοπῶ, τίς ἔσῃ καλοῦντος ἔργου μηδὲ ἐπι- στεῖλαι τολμήσας καὶ ταῦτα οὔσης σοι προσηγορίας ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐπιστέλλειν. εἰ μὲν οὖν ὁ πλοῦτός σε πεποίηκεν ὑπερόπτην τῶν γνωρίμων, ἀπόλοιτο τὸ πλουτεῖν· εἰ δὲ τὰ πρὸς τοὺς ἄλ- λους <ὁ> α αὐτὸς ὢν τὰ πρὸς ἐμὲ κεκίνηκας, ἐννόησον ὡς ποτὲ συνεσόμεθα καὶ ζητῶν ἀπολογίαν ἢ σιγήσεις ἢ ἀναισχυν- τήσεις. ἀλλ’, ὦ μακάριε, λύε τὴν μέμψιν ἐπιστολῇ φερούσῃ τι τῶν προτέρων ἠθῶν, ἴνα σε μὴ μόνον εὐδαιμονίζωμεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπαινῶμεν, καὶ δὴ καὶ τουτονὶ τὸν χρηστὸν Ὀλύμπιον αὐτός τε εὖ ποίει καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους παρακάλει. ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ πολίτης τε ἐμὸς καὶ συνεφοίτα μοι νέος ὤν, ὑπὸ δὲ τοῦ στρα- τιώτης ἐθελῆσαι γενέσθαι τὸ πολὺ διαφῆκε τῶν λόγων. ἀλλὰ σύ γε αὐτὸν ὡς ἂν φυλάξαντα τὴν τέχνην τιμῆς τε ἀξιώσεις καὶ δείξεις γε τῶν εὖ πραττόντων ἴνα. εἰ μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἦν σοι δύναμις, ηὐξάμην ἄν σοι γενέσθαι, νῦν δὲ τῆς οὔσης ἀπολαύειν ἐθέλων ἴσως οὐκ ἀδικῶ. μισθὸς δέ σοι παρά τε ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦδε τὸ μεμνῆσθαι τῆς χάριτος.