Letter 816: The emperor is no worse than his predecessor — I would say better, if one values complete virtue over reckless daring.
Δημητρίῳ. (363)
Ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς τοῦ βασιλέως οὐ χείρων, φαίην δ’ ἂν
ὅτι καὶ βελτίων, εἴ τις τὴν ὅλην ἀρετὴν πρὸ τῆς ἀλογίστου
τόλμης ἄγοι· τὸν σύμβουλον δὲ τῷ συμβούλῳ παραβάλλων
ὄρα μὴ δόξῃς ἀγνοεῖν, ὅσον ὄνου καὶ ἵππου τὸ μέσον.
ἐγὼ
δὲ λιμοῦ μὲν τὴν πόλιν ἱκετεύων ἐξειλόμην, ὃ καὶ μηδενὸς
ἱκετεύοντος ἴσως ἂν ὑπῆρξεν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκείνου γνώμης· πεῖσαι
δὲ ὡς οὐκ ἠδίκηται παρ’ ἡμῶν ἐπεχείρησα μέν, ἀπῆλθον δὲ
οὐ δυνηθείς· τοιούτῳ ῥήτορι προσεπάλαισα.
λείπεται δὴ
πρὸς διαλλαγάς, ἐφ’ ὃ ἡμεῖς τετράμμεθα, καὶ σὲ παρακαλοῦμεν.
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