Letter 245: Your letter has imitated the Spartans.

To Caesarius. (358/359) Your letter has imitated the Spartans. They too arrived at Marathon after the battle was over, though they had resolved to help [a famous story from Herodotus]. Just so, your letter urges me to look after your sons -- young men who already have enough standing here to provide that kind of service to others. Do not be surprised that they have gained so much so quickly, being as good and as devoted to learning as they are. Whoever comes to me with those qualities is immediately judged ahead of the rest and finds me willing to oblige. It also helps them considerably that they are your sons -- for everyone who has mentioned you has mentioned you with praise. Shall I add a fourth reason? Your brother Eusebius was my fellow student. And this I figured out on my own, recognizing the family connection from the younger one's face.

Καισαρίῳ. (358/59) Τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους μεμίμηταί σου τὰ γράμματα. καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοί τε μετὰ τὸ ἔργον ἧκον εἰς Μαραθῶνα βοηθεῖν ἐγνωκότες, ἴδει δὲ οὐδὲν ἔτι βοηθείας, ταυτί τε παρακαλεῖ με πρὸς ἐπιμέλειαν τῶν σῶν υἱέων, οἷς ἐστι παρ’ ἡμῖν δύναμις ἑτέροις τὰ τοιαῦτα παρέχειν. μὴ θαυμάσῃς δὲ εἰ τοσοῦτον οὕτω τᾳχέως ἴσχυσαν οὕτως ὄντες χρηστοὶ καὶ φιλόμουσοι μετὰ γὰρ τούτων ὅστις ἔρχεται παρ’ ἐμέ, πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων εὐ- θέως κέκριται καὶ πειθόμενον ἔχει. φέρει δὲ αὐτοῖς οὐ μικρὸν καὶ τὸ σοὺς εἶναι παῖδας, οὗ πᾶς ὁ μνησθεὶς σὺν ἐπαίνοις ἐμνή- σθη. βούλει τι καὶ τέταρτον εἴπω; συμφοιτητὴς ἐμός, ὁ τούτων θεῖος, Εὐσεβιος. καὶ τοῦτο ἐδιδάχθην αὐτὸς παρ’ ἐμαυ- τοῦ τὸ γένος εὑρὼν ἐπὶ τῆς τοῦ νεωτέρου μορφῆς.