Letter 419: You are in possession of my work and free to return it slowly -- or keep it, if you wish.
Βακχίῳ. (355)
Σὺ τῶν ἐμῶν κύριος βραδέως τε ἀποδοῦναι καὶ κατα-
σχεῖν, εἰ βούλοιο. ὃ δὲ καὶ πρὸς παρόντα ἔφην, οἴεσθαι μέν
σε κάλλος ἐνεῖναι τοῖς ἐμοῖς πιστεύω· δέδοικα μέντοι μή σοι
τοῦτό τὴν χείρω δόξαν ἐνέγκῃ. ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἱερόν, οἱ
δὲ πίθηκοι πιθηκίζοντες τὰ αὑτῶν ποιοῦσι.
μὴ τοίνυν
αὐτοὺς μεμφώμεθα.
Related Letters
I believe both things: that you copied them out, and that you consider my trifles a treasure.
The governor took part in your festival in the same way I did -- he missed nothing I had heard.
Those who saw the honors you lavished on Artemis are the luckier ones.
I have had only a short acquaintance and intercourse with your lordship, but I have no small or contemptible knowledge of you from the reports through which I am brought into communication with many men of position and importance. You yourself are better able to say whether I, by report, am of any account with you. At all events your reputation ...
To the citizens of Bostra.