Letter 22: I too am one of those overwhelmed by that great wave.

To Acacius. (358/59) I too am one of those overwhelmed by that great wave. Aristaenetus is dead -- O Zeus -- and the second blow has all but destroyed me, since the divine power did not even spare the head of Hierocles. Because of all this, I have fallen silent and will remain so, at least in public gatherings. But those students who come to me find me no worse than before. I was pleased by your son and your son-in-law, both of whom are eagerly devoted to learning and motivate their teacher without needing to be asked. So when you write to them, the opening line of that famous verse will suffice: "So now, dear children." I trust that Philoxenus too will act in a manner worthy of the family.

To Acacius (358/59) I too am among those overwhelmed by that great wave. For Aristaenetus lies dead — O Zeus! — and a second blow has utterly destroyed me, since the demon did not spare even the head of Hierocles. Because of this I have fallen silent and shall remain silent, at least in any public gathering. Though my students, for their part, find me no worse than before. I was delighted that both your son and your son-in-law have taken hold of eloquence with great eagerness and stir their teacher without needing to be urged — so that when you write to the two of them, it suffices to begin with that verse, or rather half-verse: "So now, dear children." And I trust that Philoxenus too will prove worthy of his kinship.

Ἀκακίῳ. (358/59) Καὶ αὐτός εἰμι τῶν βεβαπτισμένων ὑπὸ τοῦ μεγάλου κύματος ἐκείνου. κεῖται γὰρ Ἀρισταίνετος, ὦ Ζεῦ, ἡ δὲ δευ- τέρα πληγὴ προσδιέφθειρεν ἡμᾶς οὐδὲ τῆς Ἱεροκλέους κεφα- λῆς φεισαμένου τοῦ δαίμονος. διὰ ταῦτα σεσιγήκαμέν τε καὶ σιγήσομεν, ὅσα γε ἐν ὁμίλῳ κοινῷ. ὡς οἱ γε φοιτῶντες χρῶ τᾶι ἡμὶν οὐ χείροσιν πρόσθεν. ἥσθην δὲ τῷ τε υἱεῖ καὶ τῷ κηδεστῇ προθύμως εὖ μάλα λόγιον ἡμμένοις καὶ κι- νοῦσι τὸν παιδευτὴν οὐ παρακαλουμένοις, ὥστε καὶ σοὶ γρά- φοντι πρὸς αὐτὼ τὴν ἐκείνου τοῦ ἔπους ἀρχὴν ἀρκεῖν ἤ φη- σιν· οὕτω νῦν, φίλα τέκνα. πιστεύω δὲ καὶ Φιλόξενον ἄξια τῆς συγγενείας δράσειν.