Letter 70: I know perfectly well that asking you to make an effort on behalf of a friend is like inviting a tortoise to a footrace.

**To Spectatus** (359) I know perfectly well that in urging you to exert yourself on behalf of a friend, I am calling a tortoise to a foot-race. For when you see Parthenius and receive this letter, you will put on the face of one delighted both to see him and to receive it. You will ask what he needs, you will bid him speak freely, you will call even the greatest requests trifling, and declare that nothing is impossible. But when the moment for action arrives, you will abandon your post, cast aside your promises, and look upon the man you have deceived with a brilliant laugh — having discovered this novel defense: laughing more than anyone else. And yet, knowing all this, I write to you nonetheless. For now either you will act according to your nature and so confirm what I have written, or you will prove yourself superior to it — and in the very act of refuting my letter, you will benefit the man on whose behalf I refute you.

Σπεκτάτῳ. (359) ἀλλ᾿ ὅτι μὲν χελώνην εἰς ἀγῶνα ποδῶν καλῶ σὲ παρα- καλῶν ὑπὲρ φίλου τι σπουδάσαι, σαφῶς ἐπίσταμαι, σὺ γὰρ ἢν ἴδης Παρθένιον καὶ τὰ γράμματα λάβῃς, πρόσωπον μὲν Μεὶς ἡδομένου τῷ τε ἐκεῖνον ἰδεῖν καὶ τῷ ταῦτα λαβεῖν, ἐρήσῃ δὲ ὅτου δεῖ καὶ θαρροῦντα κελεύσεις λέγειν καὶ τὰ μέ- γιστα μικρὰ φήσεις καὶ οὐδὲν ὅ τι οὐκ ἔσεσθαι· ἐπειδὰν δὲ ὁ τοῦ πράττειν ἥκῃ καιρός, λιπὼν τὴν τάξιν καὶ ῥίψας τὰς ὑποσχέσεις ὄψει τὸν ηπατημένον σὺν γέλωτι λαμπρῷ καινὴν τινα ταύτην ἀπολογίαν εὑρὼν τὸ γελᾶν ὑπὲρ τοὺς ἄλλους. ἀλλὰ καὶ ταῦτα εἰδὼς ὅμως ἐπιστέλλω. καὶ γὰρ νῦν ἢ τῇ φύσει χρησάμενος μαρτυρήσεις τοῖς γράμμασιν ἢ κρείττων ἐκείνης γενόμενος ἐν οἷς ἐλέγχεις μου τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ὃν ἐλέγχεις ὀνήσεις.