Letter 157: Mothers who have already given birth attend those who are giving birth -- they share the pain, share the toil, and...

To Urbanus. (358-361) Mothers who have already given birth attend those who are giving birth -- they share the pain, share the toil, and comfort them in every way, sometimes with words, sometimes with actions. It is only right that the same principle holds in the world of rhetoric: those who have already competed in the arena should help those who are just beginning. You are among the veterans; these men are among the novices. Remember your own labor pains and extend a hand to those in theirs. For it would not be right for you to owe others gratitude for help in these matters while refusing to offer the same to others.

**To Urbanus** (358–361) Mothers who are present at the births of their daughters share in their pain and labor, and comfort them in every way, by words and by deeds alike. It is only natural that this same principle should hold true in the realm of eloquence as well, and that those who have already competed in the arena should come to the aid of those now competing. You, then, are among those who struggled long ago, while these young men are among those just now beginning. You must therefore remember those birth-pangs of your own and extend a hand to those still in the throes of theirs. For it would hardly be fitting that you should feel gratitude to others for the help they gave you in such matters, yet fail to offer the same to others yourself.

Οὐρβανῷ. (358–361) Αἱ τεκοῦσαι ταῖς τικτούσαις παροῦσαι καὶ συναλγοῦσι καὶ συμπονοῦσι καὶ πάντα παραμυθοῦνται τρόπον τὰ μὲν λέ- γουσαι, τὰ δὲ πράττουσαι. εἰκὸς δὴ κἀν τοῖς λόγοις τοῦτο σώζεσθαι καὶ τοὺς ἠγωνισμένους τοῖς ἀγωνιζομένοις βοηθεῖν οὐκοῦν σὺ μὲν τῶν πάλαι παλαιόντων, οὗτοι δὲ τῶν νῦν ἀρξαμένων. δεῖ δή σε τῶν ὠδίνων ἐκείνων ἀναμνησθέντα χεῖρα ὀρέξαι τοῖς ἐν ταῖς ὠδῖσιν. οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἔχοι καλῶς σὲ μὲν ἄλλοις εἰδέναι περὶ ταῦτα χάριν, αὐτὸν δὲ ἑτέροις μὴ δοῦναι.