Letter 318: To the same person. (357)

To the same person. (357) Our Boethus tells me his father Boethus received your help. I knew it would be so — you were granting the favor for his uncle's sake. Had you known the matter concerned me at all, poor Boethus would be ruined, such is your zeal for refusing whatever I might wish. But know that even so, you have pleased me by granting the uncle this favor — which means it is high time you strip Boethus of the very position you gave him, since your kindness to the uncle turns out to benefit me too.

Τῷ αὐτῶ. (357) 15 Βοηθὸς ὁ παρ’ ἡμῖν ἔφησεν αὑτοῦ τὸν πατέρα Βοη- θὸν βοηθείας παρὰ σοῦ τυχεῖν. καὶ ᾔδειν γε ὅτι τοῦθ οὕτως ἕξει· τῷ θείῳ γὰρ ἔμελλες δώσειν τὴν χάριν. εἰ δὲ ἐμοί τι τοῦ πράγματος ᾔδεις μέλον, ἀπωλώλει ἂν ὁ νῦν εὐδαίμων Βοηθός· τοσαύτῃ σπουδῇ κέχρησαι μὴ ποιεῖν ἃ βουλοίμην ἂν γενέσθαι. ἀλλὰ καὶ νῦν ἴσθι μοι κεχαρισμένος ἐν τῷ δοῦναι 5 τῷ θείῳ τὴν χάριν, ὥσθ’ ὥρα σοι τὸν Βοηθὸν ἐκβάλλειν τοῦ σχήματος, ὃ δεδωκὼς τυγχάνεις, ἐπειδὴ τὸ τῷ θείῳ σε κεχαρί- σθαι χάριν ἐμοὶ φέρει.