Letter 357: I knew you would receive my letter gladly — you always welcomed my words in person.

To Parnasius. (358) I knew that you would receive my letter gladly, for even when present you welcomed my discourses. And in persuading myself of this, even if I should at once ask a favor, I do not stray from what is fitting. For a man who does not believe himself loved ought to hesitate, whereas one who is convinced that he is loved must take courage. And this favor is both very easy to grant and honorable to the one who grants it. Know this, then: Cleobulus has migrated from Egypt to us, a fine poet and a teacher such as no other, who has given himself not to many, for his body was not strong, but who valued me before the rest. And for this reason Cleobulus is dear to me, and even if I disobey his command, it is a son who has wronged a father. And why need I go on at length about him, when there is present with you Aristophanes, who knows the man? Whom, apart from his other qualities, the very wish to be in your company adorns. This Cleobulus, then, has a sister's son among you, and the boy is about to be enrolled among your attendants. Enroll the man gladly, and let him obtain some benefit for his uncle's sake, and by granting the favor confute the proverb, that the Graces indeed dwell even on the earth.

Παρνασίῳ. (358) Ἤιδειν ὅτι μου δέξη τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ἡδέως, καὶ γὰρ παρ- ὼν τοὺς λόγους. ταῦτα δὲ πείθων ἐμαυτόν, εἰ καὶ χάριν εὐθὺς αἰτοίην, οὐκ ἐκφέρομαι τοῦ εἰκότος. ἢ γὰρ οὐ νομί- ζοντα φιλεῖσθαι χρῆν ὀκνεῖν ἢ φιλεῖσθαι πεπιστευκότα δεῖ θαρρεῖν. ἡ δὲ χάρις καὶ δοῦναι ῥᾴστη καὶ τῷ διδόντι καλή. γνῶθι δέ · Κλεόβουλος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου παρ’ ἡμᾶς μετῴκησε, ποιητής τε ἀγαθὸς καὶ διδάσκαλος οἷος οὐκ ἄλλος, δοὺς δὲ αὑτὸν οὐ πολλοῖς, οὐ γὰρ ἔρρωτο τὸ σᾶμα, πρότερον ἐποιεῖτό με τῶν ἄλλων. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο Κλεόβουλος ἐμοὶ τίμιον, κἂν ἐπιτάττοντος ἀπειθήσω, παῖς ἠδίκηκε πατέρα. καὶ τί δεῖ με μηκύνειν περὶ αὐτοῦ παρόντος σοι τοῦ τὸν ἄνδρα εἰδότος Ἀριστοφάνους. ὃν ἄνευ τῶν ἄλλων κοσμεῖ τὸ σοὶ συνεῖναι ἐθέλειν; τούτῳ τοίνυν τῷ Κλεοβούλῳ παῖς ἀδελφῆς ἐστι παρ’ ὑμιν καὶ μέλλει γε τελέσειν εἰς τοὺς σοὺς ὑπηρέτας. ἔγγραφε δὴ τὸν ἄνδρα μεθ’ ἡδονῆς καὶ τυγχανέτω χρηστοῦ τινος διὰ τὸν θεῖον καὶ τῷ δοῦναι χάριν ἔλεγχε τὴν παροι- μία ὡς ἄρα καὶ ἐν γῇ Χάριτες.