Letter 304

To Eutherius. (361?) The matter is urgent, the man is honest, and the case is just. Those three things together should be enough to win your support. I add my own recommendation as a fourth, though I suspect it is the least necessary -- since your own judgment would have led you to the same conclusion. He will explain the details. I ask only that you hear him promptly and act as your conscience dictates. Speed matters here, for delay will harm an innocent man while benefiting those who deserve no benefit.

Μοδέστῳ. (361?) Μηδὲν ἔστω τῶν σῶν ἀτελές. μὴ τοίνυν μηδ’ Ὑπερέχιος ἥμισυ στρατιώτου μήτε ἴστω μήτε καλείσθω. τοιαῦτα γὰρ ἐπισκώπτοντες ὀνομάζουσιν αὐτὸν οἱ μέχρι τίνος προὔβη τὸ πρᾶγμα εἰδότες. ἴν’ οὖν ἐκείνους τε παύσωμεν τῶν σκωμ- μάτων καὶ τούτῳ τι γένηται τέλειον ἀγαθόν, γράφε πρὸς τὸν ἄρχοντα Γαλατῶν, τὸν χρηστὸν Ἀκάκιον, ἃ σὲ περὶ τούτου γράφειν εἰκός· ὡς τὴν προτέραν ἐπιστολὴν οὐκ ἐτολμήσαμεν Ἐκδικίῳ δεῖξαι δείσαντες μὴ περὶ τὴν ὕφαλον ῥαγῇ τὸ σκάφος. πολλὰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος τοιαῦτα ποιῶν ηὐφραίνετο καὶ δὴ καὶ τούτῳ δῆλος ἦν ποιήσων ἕλκος. ἀλλ’ οὐχ ὁ νῦν ἄγων τὸ ἔθνος ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ δικαίου λόγον καὶ τοῦ σοὶ χαρίζεσθαι ποιούμενος οὐδὲν διαστρέψας τῆς ἀληθείας δώσει τὰς ἀφορ- μὰς τῷ τέλει.