Letter 753: I am not introducing these doctors to you as strangers — I write on behalf of men already known to you, and loved...

To Maximus. (362 AD) I am not introducing these doctors to you as strangers — I write on behalf of men already known to you, and loved too, I believe. As their friend, I trust you will receive both with goodwill, but will give active help to one of them. The first needs only a kind look; the second needs an ally. For he faces a war amid his hopes — one he can escape only with the help of Athena [i.e., your wise patronage], whom he will find when he comes home.

Μαξίμῳ. (362) Οὐκ ἀγνοουμένους συνίστημί σοι τοὺς ἰατρούς, ἀλλὰ δι’ ἀνδρῶν ἐγνωσμένων, οἶμαι δὲ καὶ φιλουμένων, γράφω. φι- λῶν δέ, οἶμαι, μετὰ μὲν εὐνοίας ἀμφοτέρους ὄψει, θατέρῳ δὲ βοηθήσεις. δεῖ γὰρ τῷ μὲν ἡμέρου βλέμματος, τῷ δὲ καὶ συκ- μαχίας. ἐν γὰρ ἐλπίσι πόλεμος, ὃν μετὰ μόνης ἂν διαφύγοι τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς, ἣν οἴκαδε ἐλθὼν εὑρήσει.