Letter 298: The man who brings this letter is trustworthy and deserves your attention.

To Euphemius. (361?) I shared the joy of our companions when they set out to you. For even if the time for speaking has not yet come, still they would at least be able to be heard. And I call "the time" not the reputation of being able to give aid, since even now you seem to some to have that, but rather the easing of the throng of public business, on account of which it is not even possible for you to come to the aid of the orators on behalf of the poor. They will therefore speak when that time arrives; but nothing prevents them, even while they keep silent, from enjoying your goodwill, since it is no small thing for those who have been assigned to the post these men hold that the governor should look upon them with kindness. And these men are worthy of such a regard, both Leontius and Marcianus, on account of their eloquence and their characters.

Εὐφημίῳ. (361?) Ὁρμηθεῖσιν ὡς σὲ τοῖς ἑταίροις συνήσθην. καὶ γὰρ εἰ μήπω καιρὸς ἥκει τοῦ λέγειν, ἀλλ’ ἀκούειν γε δύναιντ’ ἄν. καλῶ δὲ καιρὸν οὐ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ δύνασθαι βοηθεῖν, ἐπεὶ καὶ νῦν τισι δοκοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ τὴν λώφησιν τοῦ τῶν πραγμά- των ὄχλου, δι’ ὃν οὐδ’ ἐπικουρῆσαι τῶν ῥητόρων τοῖς πένη- σιν ἔστι σοι. λέξουσι μὲν οὖν εἰς τότε, κωλύει δὲ οὐδὲν καἰ σιγῶντας ἀπολαύειν εὐνοίας, ὡς οὐ μικρόν γε τοῖς οὗπερ οἵδε τεταγμένοις ἥμερον εἰς αὐτοὺς βλέψαι τὸν ἄρχοντα. εἰσὶ δὲ ἄξιοι τοῦ τοιοῦδε οὗτοι βλέμματος Λεόντιός τε καὶ Μαπ- κιανὸς καὶ λόγων εἵνεκα καὶ τρόπων.