Letter 392: Our city is more in love with you than you are with me — and while your affection for me may be undeserved, theirs...
Ἀρισταινέτῳ. (355)
Ἡ πόλις ἡμῶν πλέον ἐρῶσι τῆς σῆς ψυχῆς ἢ σὺ τῆς
ἐμῆς· καὶ σὺ μὲν τῆς ἐμῆς ἴσως οὐκ εἰκότως, οἱ δέ γε τῆς σῆς
καὶ μάλα εἰκότως. ὥστ’ εἰ μὴ ἦν ἐλπὶς ὅτι αὐτοῖς ἀφίξῃ-
πάλαι ἂν ἦσαν αὐτοὶ παρὰ σοί.
ἡ όὲ Ἀπελλίωνος ἀρχὴ
τοῦ καλοῦ σοί τε δίδωσι πρὸ τῆς ἡμετέρας ὁρᾶν ἀγαθὰ τούτῳ
τε πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐραστῶν ἀπολαύειν τῶν παιδικῶν.
θαυ-
μάσῃ δὲ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρᾷον, τὸ ἄδολον, τὸ φιλεῖν εἰδέναι, τὸ μὴ
εἰδέναι κερδαίνειν ἃ μὴ καλόν. ἃ μαρτυρεῖ μὲν Αἴγυπτος ἤδη, 5
φήσετε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς πειρώμενοι.
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Your letter made Nikentios a friend to us; Modestos, who was already a friend, your letter made more of a friend...
That you did not receive the letter Clematios carried — I cannot believe it.
Even before, my fellow citizens did not disbelieve me when I spoke of you as you deserved.
Tuscianus and I enjoyed each other's company — I by listening to him, he by hearing me speak.
A fine pair you make, you and the good Dometios.