Letter 149: I believe one should help everyone who suffers undeservedly, to the extent one can, and I consider this pleasing to...

To Andronicus. (358-361) I believe one should help everyone who suffers undeservedly, to the extent one can, and I consider this pleasing to Zeus. But those who come to me on account of their studies, and anyone connected to them, I see as having a double claim on me -- the general obligation, plus the bond of learning. Maron is among those praised here for his rhetoric. He is from the city of Paneas [Caesarea Philippi, in the Golan Heights], the son of Leontius -- a poor man, not born poor, but brought to this state by his honesty and by being treated badly. As long as he could afford to spend, he did so. When everything was used up, he fled; and when flight became unbearable, he returned -- and then found that fleeing from home was easier than staying. So, noble friend, put an end to his wandering. Show his oppressors that what they used to get away with is over now -- and that poverty, when it has justice on its side, is stronger than the wealth of those who abuse it.

**To Andronicus** (358–361) I believe I must help all those who suffer misfortune they do not deserve, to whatever extent I can, and I consider that in doing so I please Zeus. But those who come to me on account of their devotion to letters, and anyone close to them, I regard as having a double claim upon me — for beyond the obligation common to all, they have the claim that learning confers. Now, Maron is among those in our circle who are praised for their eloquence. He is a native of Paneas, the son of Leontius — a poor man, though not poor from the start, but one who has come to this state through his own decency and through being wronged. So long as he had means to spend, he spent them. But when everything was consumed, he fled — and whenever flight exhausts him, he returns home, only to find exile lighter than staying. But, my noble friend, put an end to his wandering. Show those who wrong him that what they once got away with is permitted no longer — that poverty allied with justice is now stronger than the wealthy.

Ἀνδρονίκῳ. (358—361) Πᾶσι μὲν τοῖς παρ’ ἀξίαν ἀτυχοῦσι βοηθεῖν οἶμαι δεῖν, ὅ τι ἂν δύνωμαι καὶ νομίζω ποιεῖν ἀρέσκοντα τῷ Διί, τοὺς δ’ ἐπὶ λόγοις μοι προσιόντας καὶ ὅστις τούτων οἰκεῖος διπλοῦν ὁρῶ πρὸς ἐμὲ τὸ δίκαιον ἔχοντας. ἔχουσι γὰρ πρὸς τῷ κοινῷ καὶ τὸ διὰ τοὺς λόγους. Μάρων τοίνυν τῶν παρ’ ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἐπὶ λόγοις ἐπαινουμένων, πόλεως μὲν Πανεάδος, παῖς δὲ Λεοντίου πένητος, οὐκ ἄνωθεν πένητος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐξ ἐπιεικείας καὶ τοῦ πάσχειν κακῶς ἐνταῦθα ἥκει. μέχρι μὲν οὖν ἐνῆν δαπανᾶν, τοῦτο ἐποίει· πάντων δὲ ἀνηλωμένων φεύγει κἂν ἀπείπῃ φεύγων, κάτεισι, καὶ πάλιν αὐτῷ τῆς οἰκίας ἡ φυγὴ κουφότερον. ἀλλ᾿, ὦ γενναῖε, στῆσον αὐτῷ τὴν πλάνην δείξας τοῖς ἀδικοῦσιν, ὡς πρόσθεν ταῦτ᾿ ἐξῆν, νῦν δὲ ἡ πενία μετὰ τοῦ δικαίου τῶν πλουτούντων ἰσχυροτέρα.