Letter 50: To the same person. (359)

To the same man. (359) I send you Marcianus as a witness to his own misfortunes. He, after having traversed the greater part of the earth in safety, was crippled in the leg at the very gates of his own city, so that among the physicians some, despairing, fled, while others, who ventured to lay hands on him, still have no confidence. But more painful to him than the calamity itself is to lie idle while you are summoning him; for to Marcianus every toil that brings you gratitude is sweeter than any sleep. You, however, disbelieve that he has suffered these things, and reasonably so. For what you did not wish to happen, this you suppose has not happened. But know well that the man is now being pressed as hard as can be, and will only with difficulty become sound of foot again.

**To the Same** (359) My son is your witness to the misfortunes of Marcianus — who, having traversed the greater part of the world in safety, was crippled in his leg at the very gates of his own city. The result was that some of the physicians gave up hope and fled, while those who dared to lay hands on him could not yet speak with confidence. But what pains him more than the injury itself is lying bedridden while you are summoning him — for every toil undertaken in your service is sweeter to Marcianus than any sleep. You, however, refuse to believe he has truly suffered this, and understandably so: what you did not wish to happen, you suppose has not happened. But know well that the man is now in the greatest distress, and will only with difficulty walk soundly again.

τῷ αὐτῶ. (359) ὑῶ σοι μάρτυς τῶν Μαρκιανοῦ κακῶν. ὃς τὸ πολὺ τῆς γῆς σῶς ἐπελθὼν έν προθύροις τῆς αὑτοῦ πόλεως ἐπη- ρώθη τὸ σκέλος, ὥστε τῶν ἰατρῶν τοὺς μὲν ἀπογνόντας φυ- χεῖν, τοὺς δὲ τολμήσαντας ἅψασθαι μήπω θαρρεῖν ἔχειν. ἔστι δὲ αὐτῷ τῆς συμφορᾶς ἀλγεινότερον τὸ κεῖσθαι σοῦ κα- λοῦντος· ὡς ἅπας γε πόνος σοὶ φέρων χάριν ἡδίων Μαρκιανῷ παντὸς ὕπνου. σὺ δ’ ἀπιστεῖς αὐτὸν μὴ ταῦτα παθεῖν εἰκότως. ὃ γὰρ οὐκ ἐβούλου συμβῆναι τοῦτ’ οἴει μὴ γεγο- νέναι. ἀλλ’ εὖ ἴσθι τὸν ἄνδρα νῦν μὲν ὡς μάλιστα πιέζεσθαι. μόλις δὲ ἀρτίπουν ἔσεσθαι.