Letter 729: I am delighted to receive your letters -- not only because a letter from a friend is the sweetest thing, but because...

To Pappus. (362) I rejoice in receiving your letter, and not for this reason alone, that a friend's letter is a most delightful thing, but also because it becomes for me a sign that the countryside is clear of enemies; so great is the hope placed in Julian; whereas those who used to be seen before made the adversaries more emboldened. And worthy to enjoy the present security is the noble Pappus, so that the smile that is wont to bloom upon his face may never desert him. The Persians, then, will fare as is fitting for men who war against gods, who, each taking up his own weapons, will at once fall upon them together and teach them to flee. Your son wishes to become an orator, and his nature is no worse than his desire; and he knows also how to feel shame [modesty]. Whoever among the young men possesses this draws me on and takes hold of me more than any other. Write to him, then, to abide by his ways, and as for us, you would have no need of any entreaty.

Πάππω. (362) Χαίρω σου γράμματα λαμβάνων οὐκ αὐτὸ τοῦτο μόνον, ὅτι πρᾶγμα ἥδιστον γράμματα φίλου, ἀλλ’ ὅτι μοι καὶ σημεῖον γίγνεται τοῦ καθαρὰν εἶναι πολεμίων τὴν χώραν· τοσοῦτόν ἐστιν Ἰουλιανὸς ἐλπιζόμενος· οἱ δὲ πρὶν ὁρώμενοι θρασυτέρους ἐποίουν τοὺς ἐναντίους. τῆς παρούσης δὲ ἀσφαλείας ἄξιος ἀπολαύειν Πάππος ὁ καλός, ὅπως αὐτὸν μήποτε ἐπιλείποι τὸ μειδιᾶν εἰωθὸς ἐπανθεῖν τῷ προσώπῳ. Πέρσαι μὲν οὖν οὕτω πράξουσιν, ὡς εἰκὸς ἀνθρώπους θεοῖς πολεμοῦντας, οἳ τὸ αὑτῶν ἕκαστος ὅπλα λαβόντες αὐτίκα αὐτοῖς συνεπιθήσον- ται καὶ διδάξ·ουσι φεύγειν. ὁ δὲ υἱός σου βούλεται γενέσθαι ῥήτωρ, καὶ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας οὐ χείρων ἡ φύσις· ἐπί- σταται δὲ καὶ τὸ αἰδεῖσθαι. τοῦτο δὲ ὅστις οἶδε τῶν νέων, ἐφέλκεταί με καὶ πλέον ἑτέρου λαμβάνει. γράφε δὴ πρὸς ἐκεῖνον ἐμμένειν τοῖς τρόποις, καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ἄν σοι παρακλήσεως δέοι.