Letter 59: The man carrying this letter is a philosopher at heart but a lawyer by profession.

Synesius of CyreneAnysius|c. 412 AD|Synesius of Cyrene
friendshipproperty economics

Letter 59: A Recommendation

[1] To Anysius

The man to whom I have entrusted this letter is at heart a philosopher, but by profession a pleader at the bar. As long as Anysius was with us, and as long as Pentapolis existed, he continued to practice this profession in our country. The times since your departure have betrayed us to our enemies, and have brought a spell of tranquility in the law courts; so he has made up his mind to sail to another law court where a venal tongue, the pleader's stock-in-trade, makes the pleader known. [2] Try to win for him the friendliness of a provincial governor . I call to witness the divinity who presides over our friendship, that anyone to whom your recommend him will be grateful to you, when he returns after making trial of him.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.

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