Letter 153: If you take pleasure in those who praise me and believe you ought to love those who love me, then you could do no...

To Hypatius. (358) If you take pleasure in those who praise me and believe you ought to love those who love me, then you could do no better than to count Auxentius among your friends. He would endure danger to free me from danger; he finds genuine pleasure in saying something good about me to others; and his gentleness and quiet disposition deserve to be honored. Given that this is my judgment, I would be surprised if you reach a different one. And if you agree, then clearly, should he need some modest favor, you will grant it.

**To Hypatius** (358) If you take pleasure in those who praise me and believe you ought to love those who love me, you could not be too quick in counting Auxentius among your own friends. For he would endure dangers to deliver me from danger, and it is a delight to him to speak well of me to others; his gentleness and the quietness of his disposition are worthy of honor. Since this is my judgment of the man, I would be surprised if you were to cast an opposing vote. And if you cast the same one, it is clear enough that, should he need some modest favor, you will grant it.

Ὑπατίῳ. (358) Εἰ τοῖς τε ἐπαινοῦσί με χαίρεις καὶ τοὺς ἐμὲ φιλοῦντας οἴει δεῖν φιλεῖν, οὐκ ἂν φθάνοις ἕνα τῶν σαυτοῦ φίλων Αὐ- ξέντιον τιθείς. κινδύνους τε γὰρ ἐμοὶ κίνδυνον λύων ὑπομεί- νειεν ἂν ἡδονή τε αὐτῷ καλόν τι περὶ ἐμοῦ πρὸς ἄλλον εἰπεῖν ἥ τε πρᾳότης καὶ τὸ ἡσυχάζον τῆς γνώμης ἄξια τιμῆσαι. ταῦτ’ οὖν ἐμοῦ ψηφιζομένου θαυμάσαιμ’ ἄν, εἰ τὴν ἐναν- τίαν οἴσεις· τὴν αὐτὴν δὲ φέρων οὐκ ἄδηλον ὅτι, κἄν του δέηται μετρίου, δώσεις τὴν χάριν.