Letter 4: [To Paulinus]

To Paulinus. (382/84?) That I did not die when overwhelmed by misfortunes, the cause of this for me, after God, is Thalassius. I consider, therefore, that you too owe him thanks for his zeal on my behalf, and, owing it, you would most gladly repay it as well. It is in your power, while keeping within the bounds of the laws, to restore to him the land of which he has been deprived by one of the more insolent men, making him once again its master. And it is a fine thing for the wrongdoer to learn that even an absent man can obtain his just rights. To Themistius. Leontius wished to learn from us that he was loved by us. I say, then, that he both is loved and justly so, being a good man and intelligent, and one who believes in honoring those whom it is fitting to honor.

**To Paulinus** (382/84?) That I did not perish, overwhelmed by a flood of misfortunes, I owe, after God, to Thalassius. I believe, then, that you too owe him a debt of gratitude for his devotion to my cause — and owing it, you would most gladly repay it. It is in your power to repay him, without violating the laws, by restoring him as master of the land of which he has been stripped by some brazen fellow. It would be a fine thing for the wrongdoer to learn that even an absent man can obtain justice. **To Themistius** Leontius wished you to learn from me that he is loved by me. I say, then, that he is indeed loved, and justly so — for he is a good and intelligent man, and by honoring those who deserve honor, he considers himself honored in turn.

Παυλίωῳ. (382/84?) Τοῦ μὴ ἀποθανεῖν με κατακλυσθέντα κακῶν αἴτιός μοι μετὰ θεὸν Θαλάσσιος. ἡγοῦμαι οὑν καὶ σὲ χάριν ὀφείλειν αὐτῷ τῆς περὶ ἐμὲ σπουδῆς, ὀφείλων δὲ ἥδιστ’ ἂν καὶ ἀποδοίης. ἔξεστι δέ σοι μετὰ τῆς τῶν νόμων φυλακῆς ἀποδοῦναι γῆς ἧς ὑπ’ ἀνδρὸς ἐστέρηται τῶν θρασυτέρων τινὸς πάλιν αὐτὸν ποιήσαντι δεσπότην. καλὸν δὲ τὸν ἀδι- κοῦντα μαθεῖν, ὡς ἔστι καὶ ἀπόντα τῶν δικαίων τυχεῖν. Θεμιστίῳ. Ηβουλήθη σε παρ’ ἡμῶν ὁ Λεόντιος μαθεῖν, ὡς φιλοῖτο ὑφ’ ἡμῶν. λέγω τοίνυν ὅτι καὶ φιλεῖται καὶ δικαίως χρηστός τε ὢν καὶ συνετὸς καὶ τῷ τιμᾶν οὓς προσήκει τιμᾶσθαι νο- μίζων.