Letter 424: It is the mark of a friend to feel pain when hearing such things and to write about them.

To Philippus. (355) It is the mark of a friend to feel pain at hearing such things and to write a letter about them, but it is the mark of a good man, and of one like you, to write that letter in the company of the Muses. As for the man who reported these things to you, either he is one who readily dares to speak about matters of which he knows nothing as though he knew them, or, if not that, then he is an enemy both to you and to me. And he fabricated these things for my reproach and for your grief. Or rather, the intention was an enemy's, but the deed a friend's. For to prompt you to compose such a letter, and to bring me so fine a letter, belonged to one who cared greatly for us both. Our own affairs stand thus: those who were flourishing before we arrived have lost their bloom, but no envy has sprung up. As for not kicking against the goads [...] and that they know full well. But that man is a Cyclops and a Scylla as far as the strait of Sicily. Farewell, then, and, dismissing the proverb, rejoice with me.

Φιλίππῳ. (355) Φιλοῦ μὲν τὸ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἀκούσαντα ἀλγῆσαι καὶ ἐπι- στεῖλαι, ἀγαθοῦ δὲ καὶ κατὰ σὲ τὸ μετὰ Μουσῶν ἐπιστεῖλαι. ὁ δὲ σοὶ ταῦτα ἀγγείλας ἢ ῥᾳδίως περὶ ὧν οἶδεν οὐδὲν ὡς εἰδὼς τολμᾷ λέγειν ἢ τοῦτο μὲν οὐχί, σοὶ δὲ ἐχθρός ἐστι καὶ ἐμοί. καὶ ταῦτα ἔπλαττεν ἐπὶ ψόγῳ μὲν ἐμῷ, σῇ δὲ λύπῃ. μᾶλλον δέ, ἐχθροῦ μὲν ἡ γνώμη, τὸ δὲ ἔργον φίλου. τὸ γὰρ σοὶ μὲν δοῦναι τοιαύτην ἐπιστολὴν συνθεῖναι, καλὴν δὲ οὕτως ἐλθεῖν ἐπιστολὴν ἐμοὶ σφόδρα ἀμφοῖν κηδομένου. τὰ δὲ ἡμέτερα ὧδε ἔστηκεν· οἱ πρὶν ἡμᾶς ἥκειν ἀνθοῦντες ἀπηνθή- κασιν, φθόνος δ’ ἀνέφυ οὐδείς. τὸ δὲ μὴ πρὸς κέντρα καὶ μάλα ἴσασι. Κύκλωψ δὲ ἐκεῖνος καὶ Σκύλλα μέχρι τοῦ πορθμοῦ Σικελίας. χαῖρε τοίνυν καὶ τὴν παροιμίαν ἀφεὶς συνήδου.