Letter 4: [To Paulinus]

[To Paulinus] That I didn't die, overwhelmed by a flood of misfortunes, I owe -- after God -- to Thalassius. So I believe you owe him a debt of gratitude too, for his devotion to my cause. And since you owe it, I'm sure you'd be glad to repay it. You can do so without breaking any laws: restore him as owner of the land that some brazen fellow has stripped from him. It would be a fine thing for the wrongdoer to learn that a man can get justice even in his absence. [To Themistius] Leontius wanted you to hear from me that I hold him dear. So let me say it plainly: he is dear to me, and rightly so. He's a good and intelligent man, and by honoring those who deserve it, he considers himself honored in return.

**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.