Letter 93: The letters of recommendation I send you on behalf of their bearers are written in the same hand but not with the...

**To Florentius** (359/60) We send you letters on behalf of their bearers in the same language, but not with the same feeling. Some we write because we cannot escape the nuisance of the request — if nothing comes of them, we do not care. But others we write with all our heart, and add prayers to the words; if those men gain the benefit of your influence, the profit is ours. Miccalus here is one of the latter — indeed, he stands first among those I rank in that category. For we were born of fathers who were friends to one another, and we inherited that fine bond. And since Olympius, who loves his brother Miccalus more than a son, has labored much on my behalf, it would have been shameful for me not to contribute at least a letter toward this journey — not that Miccalus's own character or Olympius's letters are insufficient to rouse you to his aid. For among the many qualities that win you praise from men of worth, what is most admired is that you place old friends above those who merely court your power. And yet, knowing this — and knowing too that you will spare no effort where Miccalus deserves to be well treated — I have joined my voice to the appeal all the same, so that some share of the credit for what is done may fall to my letter. The greatest part of any favor is the speed with which it is given, by which even a small kindness often appears greater. Ideally, some distinction fitting for a man of his standing should have come to Miccalus while he sat at home. But since, perhaps wishing that toil should precede honors, you ordered him to make the journey — well, he has come. Do not delay. For if he returns quickly, he will feel as though he was never uprooted at all. Consider everything together: his age, the fact that he is still unmarried, his mother's old age and her longing, and the wish of Olympius — who has prayed that this man be called "father" in his own stead. Help, then, noble friend, with the continuation of the family line. It is my part to prepare the bride; yours to send the young man back to us — splendidly and swiftly. For I shall make him look as a bridegroom should, even if his hair will not cooperate.

Φλωρεντίῳ. (359/60) Γλώττῃ μὲν τῇ αὐτῇ, γνώμῃ δὲ οὐ τῇ αὐτῇ τὰς ὑπὲρ τῶν φερόντων σοι πέμπομεν ἐπιστολάς, ἀλλὰ τῶν μὲν τὸν ὄχλον οὐκ ἔχοντες διαφυγεῖν ἐπιστέλλομεν, οΙς ἂν μηδὲν γίγνηται δεξιόν, οὐ φροντίς ὑπὲρ δὲ ὧν παντὶ θυμῷ γράφο- γράφομεν, καὶ προστίθεμεν εὐχὰς τοῖς γράμμασι κἂν ἐκεῖνοι τῆς σῆς ἀπολαύσωσι ῥοπῆς, ἡμέτερον τὸ κέρδος. ὧν οὑτοσὶ Μίκκαλος, μᾶλλον δὲ πρῶτος τῶν ἐν τούτῳ μοι τεταγμένων. πατέρων τε γὰρ φύντες ἀλλήλοις φίλων ἐκληρονομήσαμεν τοῦδε τοῦ καλοῦ πολλά τε ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πεπονηκότος Ὀλυμπίου τοῦ Μίκκαλον τὸν ἀδελφὸν πλέον ἢ παῖδα φιλοῦντος αἰσχρὸν ἦν ἐμὲ μηδ’ ἀπὸ γραμμάτων τι συντελέσαι πρὸς τὴν ὁδὸν οὐχ ὡς οὐκ ἀρκούντων οὔτε τῶν Μικκάλου τρόπων οὔτε τῶν Ὀλυμπίου γραμμάτων ἐγεῖραί σε πρὸς συμμαχίαν. πολλῶν γὰρ ὄντων ἃ ποιεῖ σοι τὸν παρὰ τῶν σπουδαίων ἔπαινον μάλιστα θαυμάζεται τὸ τοὺς πάλαι συνήθεις πρὸ τῶν τὴν δύναμιν θεραπευόντων ἄγειν. ἀλλ’ ὅμως ταῦτα εἰδὼς κἀ- κεῖνό γε προσειδώς, ὅτι οὐδὲν ὀκνήσεις ἐν οἷς δεῖ Μίκκαλον εὖ παθεῖν, ὅπως ἔλθῃ τι τῆς τῶν πραττομένων αἰτίας εἰς τὰ ἐμὰ γράμματα, συνεφηψάμην τῆς παρακλήσεως. ἔστι δὲ μέγιστον τῆς χάριτος τὸ περὶ αὐτὴν τάχος, ὑφ’ οἱ καὶ ἡ μι- κρᾶ μείζων ἂν φανείη πολλάκις. μάλιστα μὲν γὰρ ἴδει καὶ οἴκοι καθημένῳ Μικκάλῳ προσελθεῖν τι τῶν τοῖς τοιούτοις πρεπόντων ἐπεὶ δὲ ἴσως βουλόμενος τῶν τιμῶν ἡγεῖσθαι τοὺς πόνους ἐπέταξας ὁδοιπορεῖν, ὅμως ἥκει. σὺ δὲ μὴ μέλλε. οἰήσεται γάρ, εἰ ταχέως ὑποστρέψειε, μηδὲ κεκινῆσθαι. ἐν- θυμοῦ δὲ πάντα ὁμοῦ, τὴν ἡλικίαν, ὡς ἄγαμος ἔτι, γῆρας μητρὸς καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν, τὴν Ὀλυμπίου γνώμην, ὡς ἀνθ’ ἑαυ- τοῦ τοῦτον εὔξατο κληθῆναι πατέρα. σύμπραξον οὖν, ὦ γενναῖε πρὸς τὴν διαδοχὴν τοῦ γένους, ὡς ἐμὸν μὲν εὐτρε- πίσαι τὴν νύμφην, σὸν δὲ ἀποπέμψαι λαμπρόν τε ἡμῖν καὶ ὀξέως τὸν νεανίσκον. ἐρῶ γάρ, ὡς ἂν πρέψαι νυμφίῳ, κἂν ἡ κεφαλὴ μὴ συγχωρῇ.