Letter 39: I am well aware that writing now is an implicit admission that I was wrong not to write before.

To Leontius. (358/359) I am well aware that writing now is an implicit admission that I was wrong not to write before. For if I am doing the right thing by writing now, then I was doing wrong by not writing then. But judging it better to greet you late than never, I address a fellow student who has been forgotten by his companion -- or perhaps I am wrong about that, and you, far from forgetting, have simply been reluctant because your fledglings are being sent to other teachers? But, my dear man, do not let that be an obstacle. Do not think so little of what I offer, and do not treat other people's loss as my own. It is possible for your sons to fly elsewhere and for us still to hold on to each other. Besides, I regard the excellent Philagrius as a friend and consider him well-advised in what he has decided for his sons -- a decision he will never regret.

**To Leontius** (358/359) That writing to you now amounts to an indictment of myself for not having written sooner — for if I do the right thing by writing now, then I was doing wrong by not writing before — I am well aware. But judging it better late than never, I send greetings to a fellow student who has forgotten his companion. Or perhaps I am wrong in this assumption, and you remember me perfectly well but hold back because your fledglings have gone off to other teachers? But, my dear friend, do not let that be an obstacle, and do not think so little of what I have to offer, nor count another's loss as mine. For it is quite possible for them to fly off elsewhere while we still hold fast to one another. Indeed, I consider the excellent Philagrius a friend, and I call him one — a man who has made decisions about his sons that he will never have cause to regret.

Λεοντίῳ (358/359) Ὅτι μὲν τὸ νῦν ἐπιστεῖλαι κατηγορίαν ἔχει τοῦ μὴ πρό- τερον ἀπισεῖλαι, εἰ γὰρ νῦν τὰ δίκαια ποιῶ γράφων, τότε ἠδίκουν οὐ γράφων, εὖ οἶδα· κάλλιον δὲ ἡγησάμενος τοῦ μη- δέποτε τὸ βραδέως προσαγορεύω συμφοιτητὴν ἐπιλελησμένον ἑταίρου. ἢ τοῦτο μὲν οὐκ ὀρθῶς ὑπολαμβάνω, σὺ δὲ μάλιστα μεμνημένος, ἐπειδὴ παρ’ ἄλλους οἱ σοὶ φέρονται νεοττοί, κατ- οκνεῖς; ἀλλ’, ὦ θαυμάσιε, μὴ τοῦτο ποιοῦ κώλυμα μηδ’ οὕτως οἴου τἀμὰ μικρὰ μηδὲ ἐμὴν τὴν ἑτέρων ζημίαν. ἔστι γὰρ καὶ ἐκείνους ἑτέρωσε πέτεσθαι καὶ ἡμᾶς ἀλλήλων ἔχεσθαι, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸν καλὸν Φιλάγριον ἡγοῦμαί τε καὶ φίλον καλῶ 15 βεβουλευμένον περὶ τῶν υἱέων ἃ μήποτε μέμψαιτο.