Letter 805: This is what good neighbors do — they help those living nearby in times of misfortune.

To Demetrius. (363) For this is the mark of good neighbors: to come to the aid, in their misfortunes, of those who dwell nearby. But you have fulfilled the proverb in both respects, adding deeds to your words of good wishes. For us the famine has become a twofold evil, both itself and the anger directed against the city on its account; and unless some one of the gods dispels that anger, I fear that, after escaping the famine, we may be struck down amid an abundance of goods for sale. But do you offer some prayer, and persuade the others whom you know to be dear to the gods to do the same.

Δημητρίῳ. (363) Ταυτὶ γὰρ ἀγαθῶν γειτόνων ἐπικουρεῖν ἐν ταῖς ἀτυχίαις τοῖς πλησίον οἰκοῦσι. σὺ δ’ ἀμφότερα τὴν παροιμίαν πεπλή- ρωκας εὐφημίαις ἔργα προστιθείς. ἡμῖν δὲ ὁ λιμὸς διπλοῦν γἐγο ἑ κακόν, αὐτός τε καὶ ἡ δι’ οὐτὸν κατὰ τῆς πόλιας ὀρ- γή· ἣν εἰ μή τις λύσει θεῶν, δέδοικα μὴ τὸν λιμὸν διαφυ- γόντες ἐν ἀφθονίᾳ τῶν ὠνίων πληγῶμεν. ἀλλὰ σύ τι εὔχου καὶ τῶν ἄλλων οὓς οἶσθα θεοῖς φίλους, πεῖθε τὸ αὐτὸ ποιεῖν.