Letter 1: [To Clearchus]

[To Clearchus] I was about to write asking you to help Faustinus -- a good man, but a poor one -- and I thought his character and his poverty would be reason enough for you to act. But then Celsus came to me, and when he learned what I was planning, he told me you had taken up Faustinus's cause long ago yet accomplished nothing. Now, if anyone else told me this, I might accept the excuse that he tried but couldn't manage it. But Clearchus must never learn to make excuses like that. It would be a scandal -- and an indictment of the senate [the city council of Antioch] -- if a mere nod from you weren't enough to move it. [To Elebocius] The good Florentianus brought me no letter from you, but he did persuade me to write first -- by swearing that you are fond of me. I didn't doubt him, though I was surprised that those few words we exchanged that evening could have been the start of a friendship. So I've written, both to thank you for your affection and to demand a letter in return. And if the press of your duties keeps you from writing, still -- for me, it's a great thing simply to be liked.

I was about to write asking you to help the worthy but poor Faustinus, and I thought these facts alone — his character and his poverty — would be sufficient to move you to assistance. But Celsus came to me and, learning what I intended to do, said that you had long since taken up the cause of helping him, yet had accomplished nothing of what you wished. Now if another man told me this, I might accept the excuse that he wanted to help but was unable. But let Clearchus never learn to make such apologies. For it would be a terrible thing, and an indictment of the senate, if even a nod from you were not enough to sway it. *To Elebocius (383 or 387?)* The good Florentianus brought me no letter from you, but he persuaded me to write first by swearing that I am loved by you. And I, not doubting him but marveling that those few words spoken on that evening should have been the beginning of a friendship, have written — both to express my gratitude for being loved and to demand a letter in return. And if, indeed, the press of your affairs prevents you from writing, still, for me it is a great thing simply to be loved.

ἔμελλον γράφων δεήσεσθαί σου βοηθῆσαι τῶ χρηστῷ μέν, πένητι δὲ Φαυστίνῳ, αὐτὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἀρκέσειν ἡγούμην σοι πρὸς τὴν βοήθειαν, τόν τε τρόπον τήν τε πενίαν. Κέλ- σος δὲ ἐπελθὼν καὶ μαθὼν ὃ ποιήσοιμι, πάλαι μέν σε τῆς βοηθείας εἶπεν ἧφθαι, πρᾶξαι δὲ οὐδὲν ὧν ἐβούλου. ἐγὼ δὲ ἄλλου μὲν ταῦτα λέγοντος ἀνασχοίμην ἄν, ὅτι βουληθεὶς οὐκ ἠδυνήθη, Κλέαρχος δὲ μὴ μάθοι τοιαῦτα ἀπολογεῖσθαι. δεινὸν γὰρ τοῦτό γε καὶ κατηγορία τῆς βουλῆς, εἰ μή σοι πρὸς αὐτὴν ἀρκοίη καὶ νεῦμα. Ἐλεβίκῳ. (383 vel 387?) Γράμματα μὲν ὁ χρηστὸς Φλωρεντιανὸς οὐκ ἤνεγκέ μοι παρὰ σοῦ, γράψαι δέ με πρότερον ἔπεισεν ὀμόσας ἐμὲ φιλεῖ- σθαι παρὰ σοῦ. καὶ ἐγὼ τῲ μὲν οὐκ ἀπιστήσας, σὲ δὲ θαυ- μάσας εἰ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς ἑσπέρας ἐκείνης ῥήματα ὀλίγα φιλίας ἀρχὴν ἐποιήσω, γέγραφα τοῦ τε φιλεῖσθαι χάριν εἰδὼς καὶ γράμματα ἀπαιτῶν. εἰ δ’ αὖ καὶ κωλύῃ τῷ πλήθει τῶν πραγ- μάτων, ἀλλ’ ἔμοιγε μέγα καὶ τὸ φιλεῖσθαι μόνον.