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

To Andronicus. (358-361) Someone said that moderation is best, and the saying is offered up as a dedication to the Pythian god [Apollo at Delphi]. You, for your part, in that you make the cities greater both in other respects and by the multitude of their councillors, do well; but whoever is summoned into a greater council and has become, instead of a Phoenician, something else more august, do not deprive that man of his good fortune, nor love your subjects so much that you hate your own. Let there be known also to Phraternus a release from the public services in Phoenicia, since he will presently be required to spend in the Great City [Constantinople]. This man I have not yet seen, but I consider him a friend, since he is about to ally himself by marriage to my friend and pupil Apringius, who in the time of his studies amazed me both by his fairness and by his eagerness for eloquence, and amazed our city by the brilliance of his public sponsorship. If I do not help this young man, I should be doing great wrong, and I shall betray him if he appears worth nothing to Phraternus. And he will appear of no account if, while you hold the office and I have the power to persuade you, the man who is about to give him his daughter is wronged. For Apringius will think he is being slighted by me; since you would never fail to grant a favor to me. But grant it, dearest of companions - for you rejoice to hear this more than the title of your office - and by a single action both honor what is just and aid your own self, and do not dishonor this man.

**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.