Letter 300
Libanius→Modestus|libanius
To Modestus. (361?)
The brevity of this letter should not be taken as a measure of the favor being asked. Small letters can carry great requests, just as small ships can carry heavy cargo. The matter is straightforward: a just man needs a just verdict. You are the judge, and I trust your judgment. That is all.
Ἀπολιναρίῳ καὶ Γεμέλλῳ. (361?)
Οὐδὲ νῦν ὑμᾶς ἄλλο τι νομίζω δρᾶν ἢ παιδεύεσθαι,
παιδεύεσθαι δέ, ὅπερ μέγιστον ἐν ἀνθρώποις, ἄρχειν εἰδέναι.
παιδεύει δὲ παῖδας πατήρ, ὅπερ ἥδιστον, οὐ λόγους περὶ τοῦ
πράγματος λέγων, ἀλλ’ ἐν οἷς ἐργάζεται διδάσκων ἄρχειν.
ἐκεῖνά τε οὖν μανθάνετε καὶ ἡμῶν μέμνησθε καὶ Μάγνῳ
πληροῦτε τι ἐλπίδας.
◆
To Modestus. (361?)
The brevity of this letter should not be taken as a measure of the favor being asked. Small letters can carry great requests, just as small ships can carry heavy cargo. The matter is straightforward: a just man needs a just verdict. You are the judge, and I trust your judgment. That is all.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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Basil of Caesarea→Modestusc. 373 · basil caesarea #280
I feel my boldness in pressing my suit by letter upon a man in your position; still the honour that you have paid me in the past has banished all my scruples. Accordingly I write with confidence. My plea is for a relative of mine, a man worthy of respect for his integrity.
Libanius→Modestuslibanius #101