Letter 457: You asked about the raven sent to feed Elijah.
To Serenus the Deacon: If, having disputed certain matters and not obtained them but having been clearly defeated, you now seem to be asking for a favor, it is obvious that you are attempting under the name of favor to undo the judgment. And if you should say that you were wronged by the judge -- I shall leave aside the argument that you were justly defeated, but I shall state the matter as it was decided. For not even then would it have been so decided, the judge being impartial, unless justice was on that side. Nevertheless, even after my victory I grant the favor -- I who would not even have contended from the beginning, had you acknowledged your fault and asked for pardon. For one must humble the pride of those who err yet do not think they have erred; but to those who acknowledge their mistake, one must grant forgiveness.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed.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
ΥΞΗ. – ΣΕΡΗΝΩ ΔΙΑΚΟΝΩ.
Εἰ ὧν ἡμφισβήτησας μὴ τυχών, ἀλλὰ λαμπρῶς
ἡττηθεὶς, νῦν χάριν δοκεῖς αἰτεῖν, δῆλος εἶ τῷ τῆς
χάριτος ὀνόματι λῦσαι τὰ κριθέντα πειρώμενος.
Εἰ δὲ λέγοις καὶ παρὰ τοῦ δικάσαντος ἡδικῆσθαι (τὸ
μὲν ὡς δικαίως ἡττηθεὶς, ἑάσω λέγειν), τὸ δὲ, ὡς
κέκριται, λέξω. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν οὐδ᾽ οὕτω κεκριμένον
ἦν, τοῦ δικάσαντος ἀδεκάστου τυγχάνοντος, εἰ μὴ γ
τὸ δικαίως προσῆν. Πλὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ μετὰ τὸ νικῆσαι
τὴν χάριν δίδωμι, ὅς γε οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἡγωνισά-
μην, εἶγε καταγνοὺς σαυτοῦ συγγνώμην ᾔτησας.
Χρὴ γὰρ τὸ φρόνημα τῶν σφαλλομένων μὲν, μὴ
οἰομένων δὲ ἐσφάλθαι, καθαιρεῖν· γνωσιμαχοῦσι δὲ
συγγνώμην νέμειν.
Related Letters
Do not think you need only to be above reproach, Arabianus.
When mercy is sought, let it be found.
The work of a grammarian, Ophelios, is not merely to be precise for its own sake.
To Anastasius [one of Synesius's dearest friends, tutor to Emperor Arcadius's children].
Whatever generosity you showed to those who were present might seem merely the expected tribute of their attendance.