Letter 28: I feel as if I have received a letter from you even without actually getting one.

To Adamantius. (358/59) I feel as if I have received a letter from you even without actually getting one. For in dropping your unjust anger against your son and praising the very things you used to criticize, you made it clear that you would have been happy to write but did not dare. Well, my good man, dare to be bold -- and write. As for those unpleasant matters, the blame lies with the people who sent you those fine letters [said ironically], or rather, even they are excused by having been deceived by others. We are well aware of the source of the deception, and it is better to pity it than to hate it. Looking at your son's nature and his delight in hard work, I sing the old proverb: "You can tell at once which plants will bear fruit." I would have said more, but I know that when a lover praises his beloved, even the truest words invite disbelief.

**To Adamantius** (358/59) I believe I have received a letter from you even without having received one. For in releasing your unjust anger toward your son and praising the very things you had previously censured, you made it clear that, though you would have been most glad to write to me, you did not have the confidence to do so. But, my good friend, summon your confidence and write. As for those unpleasant matters, the blame lies with those who sent you that fine letter — or rather, even they are absolved of blame, since they were themselves deceived by others. For we are well aware of the true source of the deception, and it is better to pity than to hate. When I look at your son's natural gifts and his delight in hard work, I find myself singing the proverb: *Soon enough, the plants that will bear fruit make themselves known.* I would have said more, but I know that when a lover speaks praise, even the truest words invite disbelief.

Ἀδαμαντίῳ (358/59) Εἰληφέναι σου γράμματα νομίζω καὶ μὴ λαβών. ἐν γὰρ τὼ λῦσαι τὴν πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν οὐ δικαίαι ὀργὴν καἰ ἐπαινέσαι ταῦτα οἷς τέως ἐπετίμας δῆλον ἐποίεις, ὡς ἥδιστ’ ἂν ἐπιστεί- λας οὐ θαρροίης. ἀλλ’, ὠγαθέ. καὶ θέλε θαρρεῖν καὶ ἐπιστέλ- λειν. τῶν δὲ ἀηδῶν ἐκείνων οἱ τὰ καλά σοι γράμματα πε- πομφότες ἔχουσι τὴν αἰτίαν, μᾶλλον δέ, κἀκείνους ἀφίησιν αἰτίας τὸ παρ’ ἄλλων ἐξηπατῆσθαι. τὴν γὰρ τοῦ φενακισμοῦ πηγὴν οὐκ ἀγνοοῦμεν· ἣν ἐλεεῖν ἄμεινον ἢ μισεῖν. βλέπων δὲ εῖς τε τὴν φύσιν τοῦ σοῦ παιδὸς καὶ τὸ χαίρειν τοῖς πό- νοις τὴν παροιμίαν ᾄδω λέγουσαν· αὐτίκα φυτὰ δῆλα, ἃ μέλλει κάρπιμ᾿ ἔσεσθαι. καὶ πλείω διῆλθον ἄν, εἰ μὴ ᾔδειν ἐραστὴς ἐπαινεσόμενος, ἐν ᾧ καὶ τὸ ἀληθέστατον ἀπιστίαν ἐφέλκεται.