Letter 154: Continuing on the destruction.
I hear you have quarreled with a certain person whom I prefer not to name — for he scarcely deserves mention, having chosen to live harshly and disagreeably toward those who love virtue. Nevertheless, if he comes to his senses, receive his apology. But if he does not, and you recognize that by being the first to seize upon peace you will benefit him, then do this as well. For you will win a double crown: one for your own philosophical restraint, and one for setting right his disposition.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
ΣΔ΄. – ΙΩΑΝΝΗ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗ
ΤΩ ΑΥΤΩ.
Πυνθάνομαι διενηνέχθαι σε πρὸς ὂν οὐ βούλομαι
λέγειν· μὴ γὰρ εἴη μνήμης ἄξιος, ζῇν προηρημένος
βαρέως, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς φιλαρέτους δυσκόλως. Πλὴν
ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν γνωσιμαχῇ, δέξαι ἀπολογούμενον· εἰ δὲ
μὴ, γινώσκεις δὲ εἰ πρῶτος ἐπιπηδήσειας τῇ εἰρήνῃ
ὠφεληθησόμενον, καὶ τοῦτο ποίησον. Διπλοῦν γὰρ
ἔξεις τὸν στέφανον, τῆς τε σαυτοῦ (17) φιλοσοφίας,
τῆς τε ἐκείνου διαθέσεως.
ΡΛΑ΄. – ΑΝΔΡΟΝΙΚΩ
Διότι τὰς ἀνομίας τοῦ πλούτου μὴ ὁρῶμεν.
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