To the same person. (359/60)
I expect this will be a profitable venture for these young men, since on their way to pursue a legal career they had the good fortune to meet the man who shone brightest in the courts. For if an athlete on his way to Olympia [Pisa, near Olympia, site of the Olympic Games] happened to encounter Heracles on the mountain -- something like what we hear of Pan -- it would be obvious that the crown was destined for no one else.
I am confident you will receive them warmly. But add to your kindness some instruction in these forensic arts. Let them learn as much as they can, not just for their education, but for their careers. And give them letters to the leading men among the advocates. They would prefer not to rise to fame through others' patronage, but they will perhaps listen to you on even that point.
**To the Same Recipient** (359/60)
I expect the venture will prove profitable for these young men, because as they set out for the courts they had the good fortune to meet first with the man who has shone brightest in the courts. For if an athlete on his way to Pisa had chanced to encounter Heracles somewhere in the mountains — something like what we hear of Pan — it would have been clear that the crown would belong to no other.
That you will receive them kindly, I am confident. But to your goodwill, please add instruction in the ways of forensic practice. For let them learn not only what pertains to their education, but everything they possibly can, and let them carry from you letters of introduction to the leading men among the advocates. To be sure, it would not please them to owe their reputation to others, but to you, perhaps, they would submit even in this.
I expect this will be a profitable venture for these young men, since on their way to pursue a legal career they had the good fortune to meet the man who shone brightest in the courts. For if an athlete on his way to Olympia [Pisa, near Olympia, site of the Olympic Games] happened to encounter Heracles on the mountain -- something like what we hear of Pan -- it would be obvious that the crown was destined for no one else.
I am confident you will receive them warmly. But add to your kindness some instruction in these forensic arts. Let them learn as much as they can, not just for their education, but for their careers. And give them letters to the leading men among the advocates. They would prefer not to rise to fame through others' patronage, but they will perhaps listen to you on even that point.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.