Letter 42: I delight in this kind of slander.

To Modestus. (358/359) I delight in this kind of slander. And if, after receiving still more letters, you again claim to have received none, I will delight in it even more. For your dishonesty is the dishonesty of a lover who denies having received what he has, out of sheer desire to receive more. Just as, if you had received a single letter and then praised the abundance of my correspondence, you would have made it obvious that you had no need of letters at all -- so now, having received many and protesting that nothing has arrived, you reveal that no quantity could quench this thirst. I can prove that my swallows [letters] outnumber yours, unless you mean to argue that a man who sends three while conducting great affairs has beaten the five sent by someone whose only occupation is writing. I have always hated the Persian [Shapur II, who was threatening the eastern frontier], since he tries to cause harm and then, when he suffers for it, only craves more trouble. But now I hate him even more, since he surrounds you with toil and robs me of the most delightful company I could have. Still, even in your absence, the hopes you give us bring cheer, as you frighten the enemy with your preparations alone. I will see you eventually -- later than I wish, perhaps, but in greater glory for all this campaigning.

**To Modestus** (358/359) I delight in this kind of slander, and if you say once again that you have received nothing despite holding still more letters in your hands, I shall delight all the more. For the lie is that of a man in love, who denies having received what he has received out of sheer desire to receive more. Just as, then, if you had received a single letter and praised the abundance of my correspondence, you would have made it plain that you had no need of letters at all — so now, when many have arrived and you cry out as though none had come, you reveal that no quantity could ever quench this thirst of yours. For I can indeed say that my swallows outnumber yours — unless you mean to argue that a man who has sent three letters while conducting affairs of state has bested the five of one whose life consists of nothing but writing. As for me, I hated the Persian even before — because he sets out to do harm and then, suffering harm himself, still craves more of it. But now I hate him all the more, considering him my enemy: he heaps labors upon you and robs us of the sweetest companionship over so long a time. Yet even in your absence, you gladden us with the hopes you give, terrifying the enemy with your preparations alone. And I shall see you — later than I would wish, perhaps, but all the more gloriously — reaping a harvest of praise as the reward for all these many campaigns. Then, yes then, you will remember the present troubles with pleasure.

Μοδέστῳ. (358/359) Ἥδομαι τῇ τοιαύτη συκοφαντίᾳ, κἂν ἔτι πλείω γράμ- μάτα ἔχων πάλιν μηδὲν ἔχειν λέγῃς, ἔτι μᾶλλον ἡσθήσομαι. τὸ γὰρ ψεῦδος ἐρῶντος καὶ τῇ τοῦ λαμβάνειν ἐπιθυμίᾳ τὸ λαβεῖν ἀρνουμένου. ὥσπερ οὗν, εἰ μίαν εἰληφὼς ἐπιστολὴν ἐπῄνεις τὸ πλῆθος τῶν γραμμάτων, σαφὲς ἂν ἐποίεις, ὡς οὐδὲν δέοιο γραμμάτων, οὕτω νῦν ἐπὶ πολλοῖς τοῖς ἐλθοῦσιν ὡς οὐδὲν ἔλθοι καταβοῶν μηνύεις μηδὲν ἄν σοι πλῆθος ταυ- τηνὶ παῦσαι τὴν δίψαν· ἐπεὶ ὅτι γε τῶν σῶν χελιδόνων αἱ ἡμέτεραι πλείους, ἔχω λέγειν, πλὴν εἰ μὴ τοῦτο λέγεις, ὡς ὅστις μετὰ τοῦ πράττειν πέπομφε τρεῖς, νενίκηκε τὰς πέντε τοῦ ζῶντος ἐν μόνῳ τῷ γράφειν. μισῶν δὲ ἔγωγε τὸν Πέρ- σην καὶ πρότερον, ὅτι δὴ ποιεῖν κακῶς ἐπιχειρῶν ἔπειτα πά- σχὼν ἐρᾷ κακῶν. νῦν μᾶλλον ἡγοῦμαι δυσμενῆ σοί τε περι- ιστάντα πόνους ἡμᾶς τε τοσούτου χρόνου ἡδίστην συνουσίαν ἀφῃρημένον. ἀλλὰ σύ γε καὶ ἀπὼν οἷς δίδως ἐλπίζειν εὑ φραίνεις ψιλαῖς παρασκευαῖς τὸν πολέμιον ἐκφοβῶν. καί σε εἰ καὶ βραδύτερον, ἀλλὰ σεμνότερον ὄψομαι τῶν δρόμων του- τωνὶ τῶν πολλῶν μισθὸν κομιζόμενον εὐφημίας. τότε δή, τότε τῶν νῦν ἀηδῶν μεμνήσῃ μεθ’ ἡδονῆς.