Letter 424: It is the mark of a friend to feel pain when hearing such things and to write about them.

It is the mark of a friend to feel pain when hearing such things and to write about them. It is the mark of a good man -- one like you -- to write with the Muses at his side. But the person who reported these things to you either boldly speaks about matters he knows nothing about as if he did, or else -- and this is more likely -- he is an enemy of both yours and mine. He fabricated these stories to criticize me and cause you grief. Or rather, the intention was that of an enemy, but the result was that of a friend. For giving you the occasion to compose such a letter, and for sending so fine a letter my way -- that is deeply caring toward us both. As for our situation here: those who were flourishing before my arrival have withered, and no envy has sprung up. They know very well not to kick against the goads. As for that Cyclops and Scylla -- they are confined to the straits of Sicily. So rejoice, set aside the proverb, and share in my good fortune.

Φιλίππῳ. (355) Φιλοῦ μὲν τὸ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἀκούσαντα ἀλγῆσαι καὶ ἐπι- στεῖλαι, ἀγαθοῦ δὲ καὶ κατὰ σὲ τὸ μετὰ Μουσῶν ἐπιστεῖλαι. ὁ δὲ σοὶ ταῦτα ἀγγείλας ἢ ῥᾳδίως περὶ ὧν οἶδεν οὐδὲν ὡς εἰδὼς τολμᾷ λέγειν ἢ τοῦτο μὲν οὐχί, σοὶ δὲ ἐχθρός ἐστι καὶ ἐμοί. καὶ ταῦτα ἔπλαττεν ἐπὶ ψόγῳ μὲν ἐμῷ, σῇ δὲ λύπῃ. μᾶλλον δέ, ἐχθροῦ μὲν ἡ γνώμη, τὸ δὲ ἔργον φίλου. τὸ γὰρ σοὶ μὲν δοῦναι τοιαύτην ἐπιστολὴν συνθεῖναι, καλὴν δὲ οὕτως ἐλθεῖν ἐπιστολὴν ἐμοὶ σφόδρα ἀμφοῖν κηδομένου. τὰ δὲ ἡμέτερα ὧδε ἔστηκεν· οἱ πρὶν ἡμᾶς ἥκειν ἀνθοῦντες ἀπηνθή- κασιν, φθόνος δ’ ἀνέφυ οὐδείς. τὸ δὲ μὴ πρὸς κέντρα καὶ μάλα ἴσασι. Κύκλωψ δὲ ἐκεῖνος καὶ Σκύλλα μέχρι τοῦ πορθμοῦ Σικελίας. χαῖρε τοίνυν καὶ τὴν παροιμίαν ἀφεὶς συνήδου.