Letter 192

To Modestus. (358/59) May you complete this stoa of yours -- that broad, long, lofty colonnade, dear to Dionysus -- exactly as you envision it, and may it stand as long as the human race endures, preserving the name of the man who built it. But, my dear friend, let us not only consider how to build something grand. Let us also consider how to avoid hurting anyone in the process. As things stand, there are people groaning -- I have seen it myself, and I will not hide it from you, so that if my words have any weight, you may put a stop to what is happening. You ordered some people in Seleucia to transport columns, and asked others to contribute them as a favor. But the man charged with this has made himself the master of both groups. The council obeys in silence. Among the former magistrates, some do the same and deliver their columns. But there are others who find the demand oppressive -- men who have the standing but not the means. They are calling your stoa "the prefect's little wall," and there is real fear that what is now called a favor will become a compulsory precedent, with future officials claiming they are merely following the example -- and someone eventually cursing the man who started it. But here is what I suggest: make a public announcement asking for volunteers. You will find willing donors among those who can afford it, and you will not distress those who cannot. That way no one will curse the builder. Better to build something modest with everyone cheering than to raise the walls of Babylon while they groan.

Μοδέστῳ. (358/59) Εἴη σε τὴν στοὰν ταυτηνὶ τὴν εὐρεῖάν τε καὶ μακρὰν καὶ ὑψηλὴν καὶ τῷ Διονύσῳ φίλην ἐπιτελέσαι κατὰ νοῦν καὶ σταίη γε παγίως, ἕως ἀνθρώπων γένος, σώζουσα τῷ γε ἐγεί- ραντι τοὔνομα. ἀλλ’, ὦ μακάριε, μὴ τοῦθ’ ἓν μόνον σκο- πῶμεν, ὅπως μεγάλα ποιήσωμεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅπως μηδένα ἐν οἷς ποιοῦμεν λυπήσωμεν· ὡς νῦν γε εἰσὶν οἱ στένουσιν, ὧν αὐτὸς ᾐσθόμην, καὶ οὔ σε ἀποκρύψομαι, ἴν’ εἴ τι φαινοίμην λέγων, παύσαις τὸ γιγνόμενον. κίονας ἐκ Σελευκείας τοῖς μὲν ἐπέ- ταξας κομίζειν, κομίζειν, τοὺς δὲ ᾔτησας χάριν. ὁ δὲ οὕτω διειλεγμένος κύριον πεποίηκε τὸν αἰτηθέντα ἀμφοῖν. ἡ βουλὴ μὲν ὑπηρε- τεῖ σιγῇ, τῶν δὲ ἐν ἀρχαῖς γεγενημένων οἱ μὲν ταὐτὸν ἐκεί- νοις ποιοῦσι καὶ κομίζουσιν, εἰσὶ δὲ οἷς δοκεῖ τὸ πρᾶγμα δει- νόν, οἷς ἀξία μέν ἐστι, δύναμις δὲ οὐκ ἔστι. καὶ τὸ ὑπάρ- χοῦ τειχίον ὀνομάζουσι τὴν στοάν, φόβος δὲ οὐ μικρὸς μὴ ἡ νῦν καλουμένη χάρις εἰς ἀνάγκην ὁμοῦ προβῇ τῶν ἔπειτα φασκόντων ἀκολουθεῖν παραδείγματι καί τις ὕστερον μέμψη- τᾶι τῷ τὴν ἀρχὴν εὑρόντι. ἀλλ’, εἰ δοκεῖ, τῇδε ποιῶμεν· κήρυξον, εἴ τις βούλεται, τούς τε γὰρ βουλομένους εὑρή- σεις διὰ τὸ δύνασθαι τούς τε οὐ δυναμένους οὐκ ἀνιάσεις. καὶ οὕτως οὐδεὶς καταράσεται τῷ ποιουμένῳ. εἴη δέ σοι μικρὰ κατασκευάζεσθαι συνηδομένων ἁπάντων ἢ βαρυνομένων τὰ τείχη Βαβυλωνίων.