Letter 88: I won't put up with the self-portrait you've drawn -- it doesn't resemble the real you at all.

To Parnasius. (359) I will not put up with the portrait; for it does not resemble your true self. For you recall those who, possessing some trifling little property, contrived how, by giving less, they might receive more from the wealthy; but you have streams of letters no fewer indeed than we have, you to whom you say they are more numerous. Do not, therefore, when you possess an equal estate, enroll yourself among the poor; rather, if you receive as much as you send, consider that you are in no way wronged.

To Parnasius. (359) I will not accept your analogy, for it does not suit your circumstances. You invoke the example of men who possess little and contrive to give less in order to receive more from the wealthy. But you yourself have a stream of letters no smaller than mine — mine being, as you claim, the more abundant. Do not, then, when you possess an equal fortune, enroll yourself among the poor. If you receive as many letters as you send, consider yourself in no way wronged.

Παρνασίῳ. (359) Οὐκ ἀνέξομαι τῆς εἰκόνος· οὐ γὰρ ἔοικε τοῖς σοῖς. μέ- μνησαι μὲν γὰρ μικρὰ δή τινα κεκτημένων καὶ διαμηχανωμέ- νων, ὅπως ἐλάττω δόντες πλείω λάβοιεν παρὰ τῶν πλουσίων· ἔστι δὲ σοὶ ῥεύματα ἐπιστολῶν οὐκ ἐλάττω γε ἤπερ ἡμῖν, οἷς εἶναι πλείω λέγεις. μὴ τοίνυν ἴσην κεκτημένος οὐσίαν εἰς τοὺς πένητας γράφε σαυτόν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐὰν ὁπόσα πέμπεις λαμβά- νῃς, μηδὲν ἀδικεῖσθαι νόμιζε.