Letter 257: You wrote what a father naturally would, but your letter has not made me any better.

To Eusebius. (358) You, for your part, have written what is fitting for a father, but I have become no better as a result of the letter. For the things that another man would have done upon receiving the letter, these I was already doing before the letter arrived. And whoever, while already exerting all his strength, is then urged on, has no way of granting a favor to those who urge him. But, mindful of recompenses, seek out as well those that befit me. And these are: to say something better about me, should any benefit come to you from us. For if I had longed for great wealth, I would not now have little.

Εὐσεβίῳ. (358) Σὺ μὲν ἃ πατέρα εἰκὸς ἐπέσταλκας, ἐγὼ δὲ οὐδὲν βελ- τίων ὑπὸ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς γεγένημαι. ἃ γὰρ ἂν ἄλλος ἐπὶ τοῖς γράμμασιν ἔπραττε, ταῦτ’ ἐποίουν ἐγὼ πρὶν ἥκειν τὰ γράμμα- τα. ὅστις δὲ ἁπάσῃ τῇ ῥώμῃ χρώμενος εἶτα παρακαλεῖται, τὸ χαρίσασθαι τοῖς παρακαλοῦσιν οὐκ ἔχει. μεμνημένος δὲ ἀμοιβῶν ζήτει καὶ τὰς ἐμοὶ πρεπούσας. αἱ δέ εἰσιν εἰπεῖν τι περὶ ἐμοῦ βέλτιον, εἴ τί σοι γένοιτο παρ’ ἡμῶν καλόν. χρη- μάτων δὲ εἰ πολλῶν ἐπεθύμουν, οὐκ ἂν ἦν μοι νῦν ὀλίγα.