Letter 54: Every effort I make on your behalf is a pleasure to me.

To Modestus [praetorian prefect of the East]. For me every toil undertaken on your behalf is sweet. For even if the thing for which we toil should be small, the very toiling on your behalf is fruit enough for me. You, however, endure toils that are both great and on behalf of great things, bearing up under so heavy a sun-ray for so long a time, running about up and down, adding deeds to your counsels, and through these holding back the terrible wave that threatens to flood the land. But you see how the worse things are ebbing away, while the better things are coming on, and the crowning of the athlete is near at hand.

**To Modestus** (359) Every labor on your behalf is a pleasure to me. For even if the matter for which we toil were a small one, the very act of toiling for you is itself my reward. You, however, endure labors both great and on behalf of great things — bearing so harsh a sun for so long a time, running about hither and thither, adding deeds to deliberations, and through all this holding back a wave that threatens to flood the land. But you see how the worse recedes, the better advances, and the crowning of the champion is near at hand.

Μοδέστῳ. (359) Ἐμοὶ πᾶς ὑπὲρ σοῦ πόνος ἡδύς. καὶ γὰρ ἂν μικρὸν ὑπὲρ οὗ πονοῦμεν ᾐ, τό γε ὑπὲρ σοῦ πονεῖν καρπὸς ἐμοί. σὺ μέντοι καὶ μεγάλους καὶ ὑπὲρ μεγάλων ὑπομένεις τοὺς πό- νοῦς βαρεῖαν μὲν οὕτως ἀκτῖνα τοσοῦτον ἀνεχόμενος χρόνον, περιτρέχων δὲ ἄνω καὶ κάτω, βουλαῖς δὲ ἔργα προστιθείς, διὰ δὲ τούτων κῦμα ἀνείργων δεινὸν ἐπικλύσαι τὴν γῆν. ἀλλ ὁρᾷς ὡς ὑπονοστεῖ μὲν τὰ χείρω, πρόσεισι δὲ τὰ βελτίω καὶ τὸ στεφανοῦσθαι τὸν ἀθλητὴν πλησίον.