Letter 358: You know Marcellus, I expect — by his profession and, even before that, by his character, for he is no less a good...

To Anatolius. (358 AD) You know Marcellus, I expect — by his profession and, even before that, by his character, for he is no less a good man than a good doctor. You came to know his skill through other people's ailments — and may you always learn of doctors' abilities that way. But I encountered him in my own misfortunes, from which he pulled me when I had already gone under. Had he not quieted the disease in my head, I would either have died or lived only to grieve that I had not. Every one of our fellow citizens could tell a similar story about Marcellus. He has made his way through every kind of bodily affliction, standing against each attack, so that when he is well, even the sick have hope, but should he fall ill, the fear is universal — among the ailing and the healthy alike. To honor this man is no marvel, for it gives little in return for much; but to fail to honor him is like striking one's own father in the face. I am bound by every obligation to repay the old man, and I could do so if I might draw on your power — for my own is slight. Be willing, then, and show that I am not worthless when it comes to returning a debt. Here is what I ask. Marcellus became a father late in life, having longed for that title and prayed at every shrine, and his children are gifts of Asclepius. Because he is very old, his sons are very young. Barely weaned from milk, they were enrolled as soldiers by the emperor. The excellent Musonius now commands their unit and is securing their position for all time. But now proclamations are circulating that all men of their profession must report to you, and Marcellus's boys are not merely unable to make such a journey — they cannot so much as cross the city gates. We fear this may cost them their standing, and we ask you to preserve their status even in their absence. They say that your word is law to Musonius, and indeed it is an old law that the prefect decides such matters for those who hold the post that man now holds. Confirm, then, so fine a reputation through what I now request, and do not wonder that Marcellus has attached my letter to one from Strategius — for the word is that I have great influence with you.

Ἀνατολίῳ. (358) Οἶσθά που Μάρκελλον ἀπὸ τῆς τέχνης καὶ ἔτι γε προ- τερον ἀπὸ τῶν τρόπων· οὐ γὰρ μᾶλλον ἀγαθὸς ἰατρὸς ἢ χρηστὸς ἀνήρ σὺ μὲν οὖν ·αὐτοῦ τὴν τέχνην ἐν ἄλλων ἔγνως σώμασι καὶ οὕτω γε τὰς ἁπάντων ἰατρῶν μανθάνοις· ἐγὼ δὲ αὐτὸν εἶδον ἐν τοῖς ἐμαυτοῦ κακοῖς, ἀφ’ ὧι με ἐξίλ- κύσεν ἤδη βεβαπτισμένον. εἰ γὰρ μὴ οὗτος ἐκοίμισε τὸ νό- σημα τῆς κιφαλῆς, ἢ ἐτεθνήκειν ἂν ἢ ζῶν ἂν ἐπενθούμην, ὅτι μὴ ἐτεθνήκειν. ἔχοι δ’ ἂν καὶ ἕκαστος τῶν τὴν ὴμε- τέραν οἰκούντων ἐφ’ ὁμοίοις μνησθῆναι Μαρκέλλου. διὰ γὰρ δὴ παντὸς ἀφῖκται σώματος ἀντιταττόμενος τοῖς προσβολαῖς ὥστ᾿ εἰ μὲν οὗτος ὑγιαίνοι, καὶ τοῖς νοσοῦσιν ἐλπίδες· εἰ δ ἀσθενήσειε, κοινὸς ὁ φόβος κάμνουσί τε καὶ μὴ. τοῦτον ὁ μὲν τιμῶν οὐ θαυμάζεται, μικρὰ γὰρ ἀντὶ μεγάλων δίδωσιν· ὁ δ’ οὐ τιμῶν κἂν πατρὸς πατάξειε γνάθους. ἐμοὶ μὲν δὴ πᾶσα ἀνάγκη τὸν πρεσβύτην ἀντευποιεῖν·ἀντευποιήσαιμι δ’ ἄν, εἰ τῇ σῇ δυνάμει χρησαίμην· ἡ γὰρ ἐμὴ λεπτή τις. προθυμοῦ δὴ καί με δεῖξον εἰς ἀμοιβὰς οὐ φαῦλον. τοίνυν αἰτοῦ μὲν; Μάρκελλος ὀψέ ποτε γίγνεται πατὴρ μάλα ταύτης ἐπι- θυμήσας τῆς κλήσεως καὶ πρὸς ἱεροῖς ἱκετεύσας καὶ ἔστιν αὐτῷ τὰ τέκνα, Ἀσκληπιοῦ δῶρα. διὰ δὴ τοῦτο πάνυ γέ ρων ὢν πάνυ νέους υἱοὺς τρέφει, οὓς ἄρτι γάλακτος ἀπαλλα- γέντας εἰς στρατιώτας ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐνέγραψεν, ὧν νῦν ὁ καλὸς ἡγεῖται ουσώνιος πράττων αὐτοῖς ἀσφάλειαν εἰς ἅπαντα τὸν χρόνον. ἀλλὰ νῦν κηρύγματα περιφοιτᾷ χωρεῖν ὡς ὑμᾶς, οἷς οὗτος ὁ βίος. τοῖς δὲ Μαρκέλλου παισὶν οὐχ ὅπως τοῦτο ῥᾷστον, ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ὑπερβῆναι τὰς πύλας. δεδοίκαμεν δὴ μὴ τοῦτο αὐτοὺς ἐκβάλλῃ τοῦ σχήματος καὶ σοῦ δεόμεθα τη- ρεῖν αὐτοὺς ἀπόντας ἐν τῷ σχήματι. λέγεται δὲ Μουσωνίῳ τὸ σὸν νεῦμα νόμος εἶναι, καὶ παλαιός γε ὁ νόμος τὸν ὕπαρ- χον τοῖς ἔχουσιν ὃ νῦν ἐκεῖνος ὁριστὴν εἶναι τῶν ἔργων. βεβαίωσον δὴ δόξαν οὕτω καλὴν ἐν οἷς ἐπαγγέλλομεν καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃς εἰ Στρατηγίου γράμμασιν ἐμὰ Μάρκελλος παρ- έζευξε· φήμη γὰρ ἐμὲ παρὰ σοὶ πλεῖστον ἰσχύειν.