Letter 339: It was no small thing to hear others bring reports of you — some we had hoped for, others exceeded our hopes.

To Clematius. (357/58) It was no small thing to hear others bring reports of you — some we had hoped for, others exceeded our hopes. But the crowning glory, as they say, was the admirable Enkratios entering the city full of praise for you. He has a keener eye for a governor's virtue than most, stands far from flattery, is a friend of truth, and possesses real eloquence for commending fine deeds. No sooner had he met me than he was recounting your achievements, adding a prayer that your tenure be long. This was not a wish to see you toil, but to spare the cities from suffering. He also reported your longing for my letters, saying he was distressed that he had nothing to give when you asked. He urged me to write, and I did not refuse. He himself remains here, held back by us — we are contesting possession of the man with his homeland — but his brother was eager to meet you bearing a letter of mine. And meet you he shall. Receive the visitor warmly for three reasons: his brother, his character, and his learning.

Κληματίῳ. (357/58) Μικρὸν α μὲν οὐδὲ τὸ τοὺς ἄλλους περὶ σοῦ παρ’ φέρειν λόγους, ὧν τοὺς μὲν ἠλπίζομεν, οἱ δὲ καὶ κρείττους ἦσαν ἐλπίδος· μέγα δὲ καὶ Μεῖζον ὅτου βούλει καὶ κολοφών, φασιν, ἐγκράτιον τὸν καλὸν μετὰ σῆς εὐφημίας ἐπιέναι τὴν πόλιν. ἰδεῖν τε γὰρ ἄρχοντος ἀρετὴν μᾶλλον ἑτέρου δεινὸς καὶ πόρρω κολακείας καὶ φίλος ἀληθείας καὶ δὴ καὶ λόγου κέκτηται δύναμιν εἰς ἔπαινον ἔργων καλῶν. οὗτος ἥκων οὐκ ἔφθη μοι συμβαλὼν καὶ διηγεῖτο τὰ σὰ προστιθεὶς εὐχὴν μακρὰν γενέσθαι σοι τὴν ἀρχήν. τοῦτο δὲ ἦν οὐ σὲ βουλο- μένου πονεῖν, ἀλλὰ μὴ πονεῖσθαι τὰς πόλεις. ἐξήγγειλέ σου καὶ τὸν πόθοι τὸν περὶ τὰ γράμματά μου καὶ δεινὰ πεπονθέναι λέγων, ἐπειδήπερ οὐκ εἶχεν αἰτοῦντι δοῦναι, γράιειν ἐκέλευεν, ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ ἀντέλεγον. αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν ὑφ’ ἡμῶν κατεχόμενος μένει, τοῦ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἀμφισβητοῦμεν πρὸς τὴν πατρίδα, τὸν δὲ ἀδελφὸν ἐπεθύμησε μετ’ ἐμῶν ἐντυχεῖν σοι γραμμάτων. καὶ ἐντεύξεται. σὺ δὲ τριῶν ἕνεκα τὸν ἥκοντα φίλει, τοῦ τε ἀδελφοῦ λέγω γαῖ τῶν τρόπων καὶ τῶν γραμμάτων.