Letter 320

To Unknown. (358) When I recommend someone, I do so carefully, because a recommendation is a form of promise -- it pledges my own reputation alongside the person I commend. The bearer of this letter has earned my trust through years of honest dealing and consistent character. He is not a man of great wealth or high birth, but he possesses something more valuable: integrity that does not waver under pressure. I ask you to receive him as you would receive me, and to judge him by his actions rather than his circumstances.

Ἀλυπίῳ. (358) Διὰ μὲν τὸ μέγεθος τῆς ἀρχῆς εὐδαιμονίζω σε, διὰ δὲ τὴν ἀρετὴν μεθ’ ἧς ἄρχεις ἐπαινῶ. καί φημι μὲν τοῦτο κέρ- σος εἶναι τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ, παρ’ ἧς ἔχεις τὸ ἐπίστασθαι ἄρχειν, εἴπερ ἀπὸ μὲν τῶν λόγων ἐκεῖνο, παρὰ δὲ ταύτης οἱ λόγοι, τῇ διδαξάσῃ δὲ κόσμος ὁ μαθών, πολὸ δ’ ἂν αὐτῇ καλλίω τὰ τροφεῖα γενέσθαι, εἰ τὴν πρόνοιαν εἰς αὐτὴν καταθεῖο λαχὼν ἄρχειν αὐτῆς. ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ἀπαιτήσομεν τὴν Τύχην, καὶ δώσει γε, ἂν τὰ δίκαια ποιῇ· τὸν δ’ Ἱεροκλέα σοι τρέφομεν ἀμείνω μὲν ἥκιστα τοῦ πατρός, ἴσον δὲ ἴσως τῷ πα- τρί. καίτοι σχίζεταί γε ἡ σπουδὴ τῷ νέῳ περί τε τὴν γλῶτταν καὶ τὸ τῆς χειρὸς ἔργον, ἀλλ’ ὅμως ἐστὶν ὀξὺς ἀμφότερα, ὧν τὸ μὲν ἄλλοις ἐγὼ λέγω, τὸ δὲ παρ’ ἄλλων ἀκούω.