Letter 47: It was good of you to acquit me of blame in the very act of accusing me.

To Olympius. (359) You did well to acquit us of the charge in the very midst of your accusations. For having said that you would not be surprised if, being a bad man toward my friends, I did not write to my friends, you have grounds indeed to prosecute me as a scoundrel, but you can no longer reproach me for not receiving any letters. For just as knavery belongs to Eurybatus, and thieving to Autolycus, and playing the fool to Melitides, so to me, if I am a bad man, belongs the wronging of my friends. Whenever, then, you have purged me of my wickedness—for you have skill concerning the soul no less than concerning bodies—then bring a charge against my silence; for it would be a strange thing indeed that I, being truly good, should do such things. But so long as you overlook me while I am full of wickedness, put up with the consequences that come from my wickedness.

**To Olympius** (359) You did well to acquit us of the charge in the very act of laying it. For by saying that you would not be surprised if I, being a bad man toward my friends, failed to write to my friends, you may indeed prosecute me as a scoundrel, but you can no longer reproach me for not sending letters. For just as villainy belongs to Eurybatus, thievery to Autolycus, and foolishness to Melitides, so too, if I am wicked, wronging my friends belongs to me. When, therefore, you have cured me of my wickedness — for you possess an art that heals the soul no less than the body — then blame my silence. For it would truly be terrible if I, being a good man, were to behave in such a way. But so long as you look on while I overflow with wickedness, you must endure what wickedness produces.

Ὀλυμπίῳ. (359) Καλῶς ἐποίησας ἀπολύσας ἡμᾶς ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἐγκλή- μασι τῆς αἰτίας. εἰπὼν γάρ, ὡς οὐ θαυμάζοις, εἰ κακὸς ὢν περὶ τοὺς φίλους μὴ γράφοιμι τοῖς φίλοις, ὡς μὲν πονηρὸν ἔχεις διώκειν, μέμφεσθαι δὲ τῷ μὴ γράμματα λαβεῖν οὐκέτ ἂν ἔχοις. τοῦ τε γὰρ Εὐρυβάτου τὸ πονηρεύεσθαι τοῦ τε Αὐτολύκου τὸ κλέπτειν Μελιτίδου τε τὸ μωραίνειν ἐμόν τε, εἰ κακὸς ἐγώ, τὸ τοὺς φίλους ἀδικεῖν. ὅταν οὖν με καθή- ρῃς τῆς πονηρίας, ἔστι γάρ σοι καὶ περὶ ψυχὴν οὐχ ἧττον ἢ τὰ σώματα τέχνη, τότε μου τὴν σιγὴν αἰτιῶ· δεινὸν γὰρ ὡς ἀληθῶς ἀγαθὸν ὄντα με τοιαῦτα ποιεῖν. ἕως δέ με περιορᾷς γέμοντα πονηρίας, ἀνέχου τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς πονηρίας