Letter 420: I have been worried about you ever since you left here -- not because I doubted your ability, but because I could...

I have been worried about you ever since you left here -- not because I doubted your ability, but because I could see the wickedness of the situation. You truly launched your ship into a storm. But that very difficulty should make you a better governor: the harder the conditions, the greater your reputation will be. And it seems to me you have already gained the most important thing. The best man in your province has become your friend, moving from admiration to genuine affection. Eutolmius came to the city and immediately visited me, seeking out an old companion. I asked about nothing before asking who you were in office, and he made it clear he would not have wanted to be asked about anything else first. He praised your gentleness, feared what we ourselves fear -- the lack of resources -- prayed for relief, and in every way resembled a father nursing anxious thoughts about a son. I urge you to welcome this man warmly whenever he comes, and to send for him when he does not. Make him your advisor and trust him in everything. Both of you will be praised for it.

Ἀσκληπιῷ. (355) Ἐφρόντιζον, ἐπειδὴ ἐνθένδε ἀπῆρας, ὅπως ἡμῖν περιέσῃ τῶν πραγμάτων, οὐ σοῦ τινα ἀσθένειαν καταγνούς, ἀλλ’ ἐκείνοις ἐνορῶν μοχθηρίαν. ἀτεχνῶς γὰρ εἰς χειμῶνα τὸ σκάφος ἀφῆκας. ἀλλά τοι τοῦτό σε αὐτὸ καὶ ποιείτω ἄρχοντα ἀγαθὸν τὸ μείζω σοι λόγον ἀπὸ τῆς δυσκολίας ἔσεσθαι. καὶ δῆτά μοι δοκεῖς ἤδη τοῦ μεγίστου τυγχάνειν. ὃς γὰρ ἄριστός ἐστι τῶν παρ’ ὑμῖν, οὗτός ἐστί σοι φίλος ἀπὸ θαυμάζειν εἰς τὸ φιλεῖν ἐλθών. Εὐτόλμιος γὰρ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν πόλιν εὐθὺς εἰσῆλθεν ὡς ἐμὲ παλαιὸν ἑταῖ- ρον διώκων. καὶ οὔτ’ ἐγώ τι πρότερον ἠρόμην ἡ ὅστις εἴης ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτός τε οἷς ἀπεκρίνατο δῆλος ἦν οὐκ ἂν ἡδέως ἕτερα πρὸ τούτων ἐρωτηθείς. καὶ ἐπῄνει τε τὴν πρᾳότητα καὶ ἐδεδοίκει τοῦθ’ ὅπερ ἡμεῖς, τὴν ἀπορίαν, καὶ συνεύχετο ῥᾳστώ- νην καὶ ὅλως ἐῴκει κατὰ τὴν γνώμην πατρὶ τρέφοντι φρον- τίδας ὑπὲρ υἱέος. παραινῶ δή σοι τὸν ἄνδρα προσιόντα τε ὡς ἀσμενέστατα δέχεσθαι καὶ μὴ τοῦτο ποιοῦντα μεταπέμ- πεσθαι σύμβουλόν τε ποιεῖσθαι καὶ τἄλλα πιστεύειν · ὡς ἀμ- φοτέρους γε ἐπαινέσῃ τὸν μὲν τοῦ συμπροθυμηθῆναί σοι, τοῦ προξενῆσαι δὲ ἐμέ, καὶ τρίτον γε τοῦ πεισθῆναι σαυτόν. νῦν μὲν οὖν μαθητής τε ἡμέτερος εἶναι φῄς καὶ λόγων ὀφείλειν χάριτας, Εὐτολμίῳ δὲ χρησάμενος ἔργα φήσεις πρὸς τοῖς λόγοις ὀφείλειν. εἴη δέ σε τῆς μὲν φρονήσεως αὐτοῦ πεῖ- ραν τοῖς λαμβάνειν, τῆς διατριβῆς δὲ ἐν ἄλλων σώμασιν.