Letter 469: Meterius barely slipped away from our city unnoticed.

To Alcimus. (355/56) Meterius barely slipped away from our city unnoticed. Having many admirers — more than Aristodemus — he was watched. I myself was among those who wanted him to stay, since he was here on our behalf. Many things should dispose you kindly toward him: the claims of his homeland, your kinship with his family, and the fact that his education is your gift. Add, if you will, the young man's devotion to us. Considering all this, persuade his father not to regard his son's winning distinction among us as an offense. I would be very distressed if Meterius, blameless in all other respects, were thought wicked because, having admired the Syrians, he received the same from them. If he finds you as his ally, he will be praised rather than accused. As for us, we are doing well enough otherwise, but as for my body — I cannot even say how badly it fares.

Ἀλκίμῳ. (355/56) Μόλις λαθὼν τὴν ἡμετέραν πόλιν Μητέριος διέδυ. πολλοὐς γὰρ ἔχων τοὺς ἐρῶντας ὑπὲρ τὸν Ἀριστόδημον ἐτη- ρεῖτο. ἦν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τῶν βουλομένων αὐτὸν ἐνθάδε εἶναι, καὶ γὰρ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἦν ἐνθάδε. σὲ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν εὔνουν πολλὰ ἂν ποιοῖ. τά τε τῆς πατρίδος δίκαια καὶ ἡ πρὸς τὸ γένος οἰκειότης καὶ τὸ τοὺς ἐν τούτῳ λόγους σὴν εἶναι δόσιν. πρόσθες, εἰ βούλει, καὶ τὴν εἰς ἡμᾶς τοῦ νεανίσκου σπουδήν. ἃ πάντα ἐνθυμηθεὶς πεῖθε τὸν πατέρα μὴ νομί- ζεῖν ἀδίκημα τοῦ παιδὸς τὸ παρ’ ἡμῖν εὐδοκιμηκέναι. πάνυ γὰρ ἄν ἀχθοίμην, εἰ τὰ ἄλλα ὢν Μητέριος ἄμεμπτος πονηρὸς εἶναι δόξει, διότι Σύρους θαυμάσας ταὐτὸν ἔσχε παρ’ ἐκείνων. οὗτος μὲν οὖν ἢν τύχῃ σοῦ συμμάχου, μέμψεται μᾶλλον ἢ ἐν αἰτίαις ἔσται· ἡμεῖς δέ σοι τὰ μὲν ἄλλα πράττομεν οὐ κα- κῶς, τὸ σῶμα δὲ οὐδὲ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν ὅπως ἡμῖν ἔχει κακῶς.