Letter 812: Consider this an embassy from the Muses themselves, who want Asteius, one of their dancers, to remain with them a...

To Atarbius. (363) Consider this an embassy from the Muses themselves, who want Asteius, one of their dancers, to remain with them a while longer. This Asteius came with no intention of taking up rhetoric, but seeing others acquiring the art, he developed a desire for it, and having gained a portion, he is in mourning at not having gained more. Now, if his father Marcianus is free of troubles, Asteius will be able to remain where he is. But if someone drags the father into difficulties, the father will immediately summon the son — not unaware of the loss, but compelled by old age. So let it be your doing, noble friend, to keep the father undisturbed and to help the son in his pursuit of the art. For among the good things you do for your subjects, it would be no lesser achievement if, thanks to you, one of them becomes an orator. Everyone will know what you have given — I will not be silent, and the young man himself will write of the favor.

Ἀταρβίῳ. (363) Τῶν Μουσῶν νόμισον ταύτην εἶναι τὴν πρεσβείαν βου- λομένων αὑταῖς Ἀστεῖον, ἕνα τῶν χορευτῶν, ἔτι πλείω προσ- διατρίψαι χρόνον. ὁ δὲ Ἀστεῖος οὗτος ἧκε μὲν ὡς οὐχ ἁψό- μενος λόγων, ὁρῶν δὲ ἄλλους κτωμένους ἐπεθύμησε τοῦ κτή- ματος καὶ μέρος λαβὼν πένθος ποιεῖται τὸ μὴ καὶ ἄλλα λαβεῖν. ἀλλ’ ἢν μὲν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῷ Μαρκιανὸς ἀπηλλαγμέ- νος ᾖ πραγμάτων, ὑπάρξει τούτῳ μένειν ἐφ’ ὧν ἐστι καὶ νῦν· ἢν δὲ ἐκεῖνόν τις ἕλκη, καὶ τοῦτον ἐκεῖνος εὐθέως οὐκ ἀγνοῶν μὲν τὴν βλάβην, τοῦ γήρως δὲ ἀναγκάζοντος. σὸν οὖν, ὦ γενναῖε, γενέσθω τὸν μὲν ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ διατηρῆσαι, τῷ δὲ συν- αγωνίσασθαι πρὸς τὴν τέχνην· ὡς ὧν νῦν εὖ ποιεῖς τοὺς ἀρχομένους οὐχ ἧττον, εἰ διὰ σὲ ῥήτωρ ἔσται τις αὐτῶν. εἴσονται δὲ πάντες, ὃ δώσεις, ἐμοῦ τε οὐ σιγῶντος καὶ τούτου περὶ τῆς χάριτος γράφοντος.