Letter 366: It was only fitting, dear Paulus, that he should not abolish a rule he himself established.

To Paulus. (358 AD) It was only fitting, dear Paulus, that he should not abolish a rule he himself established. And this was the rule: that remembering should be accompanied by writing. When the gods grant someone a blessing, gratitude is owed not only to them but also to the priests. You, then, being ranked among our priests, share in what is rightly theirs. For I am well aware that you spurred on one who was already eager himself, and that while he was inclined to write, you praised the inclination. I trust, therefore, that both of you will hold to what you have done — you continuing to encourage, and he continuing to write.

Παύλῳ. (358) Καὶ γὰρ ἦν εἰκός, ὦ φίλε Παῦλε, μὴ τὸν νόμον ἀνελεῖν, ὃν αὐτὸς ἔθηκεν ἐκεῖνος. ἦν δὲ οὗτος ὁ νόμος τῷ μεμνῆσθαι προστιθέναι τὸ γράφειν. οἷς δ’ ἂν ἔλθῃ τι παρὰ θεῶν ἀγα- θόν, οὐκ ἐκείνοις δεῖ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καἰ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν εἰδέναι χάριν. σὺ τοίνυν ἡμῖν ἐν ἱερεῦσι τεταγμένος μετέχεις ὧν ἐκείνους εἰκός. οὐ γὰρ ἀγνοῶ τοῦθ’ ὅτι ὤτρυνας σπεύ- δόντα καὶ αὐτόν, καἰ ὡς ὁ μὲν ὥρμητο γράφειν, σὺ δὲ ἐπῄνεις τὴν ὁρμήν. πιστεύω τοίνυν ἀμφοτέρους ἐμμενεῖν οῑς πεποιήκατε, σὲ μὲν προτρέψειν, ἐκεῖνον δὲ ἐπιστελεῖν.