Letter 125: What is this fear? Where does the idea come from that your son will be spoken of badly -- especially when everyone...

What is this fear? Where does the idea come from that your son will be spoken of badly -- especially when everyone praises him, including Eumathius, who doesn't know how to deceive, and me, who honors the truth? I have never told a father whose son was dull that the boy was sharp. Nor would I say of an alert student that he was sluggish. If your son gives you reason to say something good about him, believe it. Don't make the slanderers happy by paying attention to what they say. Once they learn they can't convince you, they'll stop lying. As for Anatolius, I want him to become a fine orator no less than you do -- it's from me, not from you, that the Armenians will demand this result.

**To Adamantius** (359/60 AD) What is this fear of yours? And where does this notion come from that your son will prove a disappointment — especially when everyone else praises him, including Eumathius, who is incapable of flattery, and myself, who honors the truth? For I have never told fathers of dull children that they were brilliant — nor would I ever say of those who are wide awake that they are sluggish. If you have a son who gives reason to speak well of him, do not refuse to believe it, and do not gratify the slanderers by paying attention to what they say. For once they learn that they cannot persuade you, they will cease their lies. As for Anatolius, you could not wish more than I do for him to become an accomplished orator — for it is from me, not from you, that the Armenians will demand an accounting.

Ἀδαμαντίῳ. (359/60) Τίς οὗτος ὁ φόβος; καὶ πόθεν τὸ οἴεσθαί σοι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ χείρονος ἔσεσθαι λόγου καὶ ταῦτα τῶν τε ἄλλων αὐτὸν ἐπαινούντων καὶ Εὐμαθίου τοῦ φενακίζειν οὐκ εἰδότος καὶ ἐμοῦ τοῦ τἀληθῆ τιμῶντος; ὡς ἔγωγε οὐδεπώποτε πρὸς πα- τέρας περὶ παίδων ἀμβλυτέρων εἶπον, ὡς εἶεν ὀξεῖς, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ περὶ τῶν ἐγρηγορότων εἴποιμ’ ἄν, ὥς εἰσι νωθροί. σοὶ δ’ εἰ παῖς ἐστι διδούς τι περὶ αὑτοῦ βέλτιον εἰπεῖν, μὴ διαπίστει μηδέ γε εὔφραινε τοὺς συκοφάντας ἐν τῷ προσέχειν οἷς λέ- γουσιν. ἂν γὰρ ὅτι σε μὴ πείθουσι, μάθωσι, λήξουσι τῶν ψευδῶν. τὸν Ἀνατόλιον οὐ σὺ μᾶλλον ἡ ἐγὼ βουλοίμην ἂν γενέσθαι ῥήτορα τῶν δεξιῶν· παρ’ ἐμοῦ γάρ, οὐχὶ σοῦ ταῦτα ἀπαιτοῦσιν Ἀρμένιοι.