Letter 43
To Eustathius the philosopher.
The proverb about "an honest man" [from Euripides: "An honest man, though he dwell far away and I never set eyes on him — him I count a friend"] may be well worn, but I am sure you know the rest. More than that, you possess its truth: as a rhetorician and philosopher, you know the words, and you possess me as a friend — at least, if we are both honest men.
On your behalf I would strongly maintain that you belong in that category. About myself I say nothing. I only pray that others find by experience that I am honest too.
You ask why I circle around as though about to say something extraordinary instead of speaking plainly? Very well — lose no time and fly here. A kindly god will speed your journey, aided by Hecate [the goddess of crossroads], and the imperial post [the cursus publicus, the empire's system of relay stations with fresh horses] will be at your disposal: a carriage if you wish, and two extra horses.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
Related Letters
If my letters are of any good, lose no time in writing to me and in rousing me to write. We are unquestionably made more cheerful when we read the letters of wise men who love the Lord. It is for you to say, who read it, whether you find anything worth attention in what I write.
Humanity is the regular business of all you who practise as physicians. And, in my opinion, to put your science at the head and front of life's pursuits is to decide reasonably and rightly. This at all events seems to be the case if man's most precious possession, life, is painful and not worth living, unless it be lived in health, and if for he...
Much distressed as I was by the flouts of what is called fortune, who always seems to be hindering my meeting you, I was wonderfully cheered and comforted by your letter, for I had already been turning over in my mind whether what so many people say is really true, that there is a certain Necessity or Fate which rules all the events of our lives...
Even before receiving your letter I knew what trouble you are ready to undergo for every one, and specially for my humble self because I am exposed in this struggle. So when I received your letter from the reverend Eleusinius, and saw him actually before my face, I praised God for bestowing on me such a champion and comrade, in my struggles on b...