Letter 146: "Measure is best," someone said, and the saying became a dedication at Delphi.

To Andronicus. (358-361) "Measure is best," someone said, and the saying became a dedication at Delphi. You do well to increase the size of cities by, among other things, expanding their councils. But when a man has been called to a greater council and has risen from being a Phoenician to something more distinguished, do not strip him of that fortune. Do not love your subjects so much that you end up hating your own. Let there be an exemption from Phoenician civic duties for Fraternus, who will soon need to spend his money in the Great City [Constantinople or Antioch]. I have not yet met the man, but I consider him a friend because he is about to marry into the family of Apringius, my friend and former student. Apringius amazed me during his studies with his decency and passion for learning, and he delighted our city with his generous sponsorship of public events. If I fail to help this young man, I would be deeply in the wrong. And I will have betrayed him if he appears worthless in Fraternus's eyes. He will look worthless if, with you holding office and me having the ability to persuade you, the man about to give him his daughter is treated unjustly. For Apringius would feel I had abandoned him...

**To Andronicus** (358–361) "Moderation is best," as the saying goes, and the maxim stands as a dedication to the Pythian god. Now, that you are enlarging the cities both in other respects and by increasing the number of their council members — in this you do well. But when a man is called to a greater council and has become something more distinguished than a mere Phoenician, do not rob him of his good fortune, nor love your subjects so much that you come to hate your own interests. Let Fraternus, then, have release from his liturgies in Phoenicia, since he will soon need to spend lavishly in the Great City. I have not yet met the man myself, but I count him a friend because he is about to marry into the family of Apringius, who is both my friend and my former pupil — a young man who astonished me during his years of study by his good character and his passion for eloquence, and who dazzled our city by the magnificence of his public sponsorship. If I failed to help this young man, I would be acting most unjustly. And I will have betrayed him if Fraternus finds my support worth nothing. And Fraternus will find it worthless if, while you hold the governorship and I have the power to persuade you, the man who is about to give him his daughter is treated unfairly. For Apringius will think himself despised by me — since he would never believe that you could refuse me a favor. So grant it, dearest of friends — for you take more pleasure in hearing that title than the name of your office — and by a single act honor what is just, serve your own reputation, and do not dishonor this man.

Ἄνδρονίκῳ. (358—361) Μέτρον ἄριστον ἔφη τις καὶ ὁ λόγος ἀνάθημα γίγνε- τᾶι τῷ Πυθίῳ. σὺ δ’ ὅτι μὲν τῇ τε ἄλλῃ καὶ τῷ πλήθει τῶν βουλευτῶν μείζους τὰς πόλεις ποιεῖς, καλῶς ποιεῖς· ὅστις δὲ εἰς μείζω βουλὴν καλεῖται καἰ γέγονεν ἀντὶ Φοίνικος ἄλλο τι σεμνότερον, μήτοι τοῦτον ἀποστέρει τῆς τύχης μηδ’ οὕτω φί- λει τοὺς ἀρχομένους ὥστε τὴν σαυτοῦ μισεῖν. ἴστω δὴ καὶ Φρατἐρνῳ τῶν ἐν Φοινίκῃ λειτουργιῶν ἄφεσις, ὃν αὐτίκα δεή- σει δαπανᾶν ἐν τῇ Μεγάλῃ πόλει. τὸν δὲ ἄνδρα τοῦτον εἶδον μὲν οὔπω, φίλον δὲ ἡγοῦμαι φίλῳ τε ἐμῷ καὶ μαθητῇ μέλλον- τα κηδεύσειν Ἀπριγγίῳ, ὃς ἐμὲ μὲν ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ τῶν μαθή- σεων ἐπιεικείᾳ τε καὶ λόγων ἐξέπληξεν ἐπιθυμίᾳ, τὴν δὲ ἡμε- τέραν πόλιν τῷ περὶ τὴν χορηγίαν λαμπρῷ. τούτῳ τῷ νεανίσκῳ μὴ βοηθῶν μὲν ἐγὼ πάνυ ἂν ἀδικοίην, προδώσω δὲ αὐτόν, εἰ μηδενὸς ἄξιος Φρατέρνῳ φανεῖται. φανεῖται δὲ φαῦλος, εἰ σοῦ μὲν ἔχοντος τὴν ἀρχήν, ἐμοῦ δέ σε πείθειν ἔχοντος ὁ μέλλων αὐτῷ τὴν θυγατέρα δώσειν ἀδικήσεται. δό- ξει γὰρ Ἀπρίγγιος ὑπ’ ἐμοῦ καταφρονεῖσθαι· σὲ γὰρ οὐκ ἄν ποτε μὴ δοῦναι χάριν ἐμοί. ἀλλὰ δός, ἑταίρων φίλτατε, χαίρεις γὰρ ἀκούων τοῦτο μᾶλλον ἢ τὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς ὄνομα, καὶ μιᾷ πράξει τό τε δίκαιον τίμησον καὶ τῇ σαυτοῦ βοήθησον καὶ τοῦτον μὴ ἀτιμάσῃς.