Letter 1006: A recommendation for Eusebius, framed through Demosthenes and the Odaenathus family.

Demosthenes was not able to save the Olynthians by his many speeches, but he was still praised as though he had saved them, because he had chosen to try. In the praises spoken of him by the sophists, one might even see Olynthus itself. Your case is like this: people consider your zeal, not the outcome; what you wished to do, not what you were able to do. Still, I think you will also be able to accomplish this for Eusebius if you use frank speech. Use it, then, and do everything so that he suffers nothing unjust. He is a good and self-controlled man, devoted to education, the son of Odaenathus and a descendant of Odaenathus, whose very name shook Persian hearts. Victorious everywhere, that man protected the cities and the land belonging to each, and made their enemies place their hopes of survival not in their own hands but in their prayers. This Odaenathus too, Eusebius' father, was one of those who led a company against them, routed them, and pursued them. Often, right in the battle line, he heard, 'Strike like that, my friend,' from a man whom Homer would have said was sprung from Zeus himself; he could not have accomplished such great things unless he came from parents more divine. So help on behalf of justice, as if you were also laying up gratitude with that king. You alone know the instructions sent from here. It was necessary for these things to come to you from me; but for others not to know what I want is a great advantage toward making something happen. For I fear that if those who do everything to please me learn that I care about Eusebius' happiness, they may do things that will distress him.