Letter 43: The proverb about "an honest man" [from Euripides: "An honest man, though he dwell far away and I never set eyes on...
Julian the Apostate→Eustathius Philosopher|c. 358 AD|Julian the Apostate|Human translated
imperial politics
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.
To Eustathius the Philosopher 2
[362, Antioch]
Perhaps the proverb "An honest man"3—is too hackneyed. I am sure you know the rest. More
than this, you possess it; for, rhetorician and philosopher as you are, you know the words that come next, and you possess me for a friend, at least if we are both honest men. On your behalf I would strenuously maintain that you are in that category, but about myself I say nothing. I only pray that others may find by experience that I also am honest! You ask why I go round in a circle as though I were going to say something extraordinary when I ought to speak out? Come, then, lose no time; fly hither, as we say. A kindly god will speed you on your way with the aid of the Maiden of the Cross Roads and the state post1 will be at your disposal if you wish to use a carriage; and two extra horses.
2 See Introduction under Eustathius. He evidently accepted this invitation; see the next letter. He was a pagan and a friend of Libanius; cf. Ammianus 17. 5. 15; Eunapius,
Lives, pp. 392 foll. (Wright).
3 Euripides frag. 902, Nauck: "An honest man, though he dwell far away and I never see him with my eyes, him I count a friend."
1 The cursus publicus was the system of posting stations where horses were kept ready for the use of the Emperor or his friends; cf. above, p. 83 To Basil, end.
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.