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 think one ought to help all who suffer misfortune undeservedly, doing whatever I can, and I believe that in so doing I act in a way pleasing to Zeus; but those who come to me on account of literary studies, and whoever among them is one of my own circle, I see as having a twofold claim of justice upon me. For, in addition to the common claim, they have also the one that arises through their studies. Maron, then, is one of those among us who are praised for their literary attainments. His city is Paneas, and he is the son of Leontius, a poor man, not poor from the beginning, but one who has come to this state through his fairness and through being badly treated. As long, then, as it was possible to spend, he kept doing so; but when everything had been used up, he flees, and even if he gives up in his flight, he comes back down, and once again flight is lighter for him than his household. But, noble sir, put a stop to his wandering by showing to those who wrong him that, while these things were permitted before, now poverty allied with justice is stronger than the wealthy.

**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.