Letter 391: Whenever I write to Hierocles — and I have done so many times — I never fail to add: "Please do our friend Anthios a...

To Anthios. (355 AD) Whenever I write to Hierocles — and I have done so many times — I never fail to add: "Please do our friend Anthios a good turn." Perhaps he has already helped you in some way. But even if he paid no attention, I have now found you an ally who would walk through fire for my sake. If some benefit needs to come your way, he will be eager. If some trouble needs lifting, he will not shrink from it. If another magistrate must be persuaded to deal justly with you, he will not dodge that either. Best of all, he is delighted that my letters reach you through him. So take heart, approach him, attend to your affairs, and consider that you have seized an opportunity.

Ἀνθίῳ. (355) Ἐγὼ πρὸς Ἱεροκλέα γράφων, πολλάκις δὲ τοῦτο ἐποίησα, οὐκ ἔστιν ὅτε προσέθξκα τό· ὅπως ἡμῖν εὖ ποιῇς ἑταῖσον Ἄνθιον. καὶ ἴσως μέν τί σοι κἀΚεῖνος βεβοήθηκεν· εἰ δὲ οὐδέν τι προσέσχεν, ἀλλ’ ἐξεύρηκά γε σύμμαχον, ὃς ἐμήν γε χάριν κἂν διὰ πυρὸς ἔλθοι. εἶτε οὖν δεῖ σοί τι προσ- γενέσθαι ἀγαθόν, προθυμήσεται· εἴτε λυθῆναι λυπηρόν, οὐκ ἀποκνήσει· εἴθ’ ἕτερον ἄρχοντα πεῖσαι τὰ δίκαια πρὸς σὲ ποι- εἰν, οὐδὲ τοῦτο φεύξεται. κεχάρισται δὲ πρὸ τῶν ἄλλωι τῷ γράμματά σοι δι’ αὐτοῦ παρ’ ἐμοῦ φοιτᾶν. θάρρει δὴ καὶ πρόσιθι καὶ τὰ σαυτοῦ θεράπευε καὶ νόμιζε καιροῦ τινος εἰλῆφθαι.