Letter 218: You ask me to be honest about your latest speech, and I shall try -- though honesty between friends in matters of...

To Germanus. (360?) Another governor who does not write to his friends I might pardon, for they are overwhelmed by the multitude of affairs; but you, since you have a nature too good to suffer this, have no way to escape the charge. Yet about the letters you will deliberate, and perhaps you will write, taking care that the accusations against you do not grow greater; but about the bearer of this letter, whether he ought to receive some benefit from you, do not deliberate; for this must be decided at once, that he ought to be treated well. For among the orators about the prefect he is second to none, and in the fairness of his character he is first of all; and he so loves me and rejoices to honor me, as another man would rejoice at being honored. So that you may ride at anchor on two anchors, do not give only yourself, but make the excellent Julianus too of like mind with yourself. A letter about the young man is altogether enough for you, and he has become well-disposed.

Γερμανῷ. (360?) Ἄλλῳ μὲν ἄρχοντι μὴ ἐπιστέλλοντι τοῖς φίλοις συγγνοίην ἄν, ἐπικλύζονται γὰρ ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν πραγμάτων, σὺ δέ, κρείττω γὰρ ἔχεις φύσιν ἢ τοῦτο παθεῖν, οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπως ἂν ἀποφύγοις τὴν αἰτίαν. ἀλλὰ περὶ μὲν τῶν ἐπιστολῶν βουλεύσῃ καὶ ἴσως ἐπιστελεῖς κωλύων μὴ μείζω σοι γενέσθαι τὰ ἐγκλήματα, τὸν φέροντα δὲ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν εἰ δεῖ τι παρὰ σοῦ παθεῖν ἀγαθόν, μὴ βουλεύσῃ· δεῖ γὰρ τοῦτο εὐθὺς κε- κρίσθαι, τὸ δεῖν αὐτὸν εὖ παθεῖν. τῶν τε γὰρ περὶ τὸν ὕπαρχον ῥητόρων οὐδενὸς ὕστερος τῇ τε τῶν τρόπων ἐπιεικείᾳ πρῶτος ἁπάντων ἐμέ τε οὕτω φιλεῖ καὶ χαίρει τιμῶν, ὡς ἄν τις ἕτερος τιμώμενος. ὅπως οὖν ἐπὶ δυοῖν ἀγκύραιν ὁρμεῖν ἔχη, μὴ σαυτὸν δίδου μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ἄριστον Ἰουλιανὸν σαυτῷ ποίει παραπλήσιον. πάντως ἀρκεῖ σοι γράμμα περὶ τοῦ νεανίσκου καὶ γέγονεν εὐμενής.