Letter 531: The pleasure I would have felt if you were governing Syria, I feel now that you are governing cities I hold equal to...

To Calliopius. (356/57) The pleasure I would have felt if you were governing the Syrians, that same pleasure I now feel, since you govern cities which I count as equal to my native land. Now justice will be at hand for those under you even without anyone urging you to it; yet nothing prevents me from making it known to our friends that it lies open to all to obtain what is just. For in addition to enjoying the common benefits, there is some measure of contentment in not being overlooked. There was a father who wished to be honorable toward Strategius and a friend to us. This man entrusted to me what is greatest among men, his own sons. Of these, the one is still with us at his studies; the other, after taking a small part of them, entered upon public service, intending to become distinguished, as one occupied with his father's concerns. But the one of them the divine power snatched away from the midst of his labors, while the other, being bereft, takes refuge in your providence. For it is not unclear to you that you will recognize those who need much assistance, and you will give as much as is needed.

Καλλιοπίῳ. (356/57) Ἣν ἂν ἥσθην ἡδονήν, εἰ Σύρων ἦρχες, ταύτην ἥδομαι νῦν, ἐπειδὴ πόλεων ἄρχεις, ἃς ἐν ἴσῳ ποιοῦμαι τῇ πατρίδι. τὰ μὲν οὖν δίκαια καὶ μηδενός σε παρακαλοῦντος ὑπάρξει τοῖς γε ὑπὸ σοί, κωλύει δὲ οὐδὲν μηνύσαι τοῖς ἡμῖν ἐπιτη- δείοις τὸ πᾶσιν εἶναι τῶν δικαίων τυγχάνειν. πρὸς γὰρ τῷ τῶν κοινῶν ἀπολαύειν ἀγαθῶν ἔχει τι μέρος εὐθυμίας τὸ μὴ ἠγνοῆσθαι. πατὴρ ἦν Στρατηγίῳ χρηστὸς εἶναι ἐθέλων καὶ φίλος ἡμῖν. οὗτος ἃ μέγιστα ἀνθρώποις ἐστὶν ἐνεχείρισέ μοι τοὺς υἱεῖς αὑτοῦ. τούτων ὁ μὲν ἔτι παρ’ ἡμῖν ἐπὶ λόγοις, ὁ δὲ μικρὰ μετασχὼν εἰς τὸ λειτουργεῖν εἰσῆλθεν ὡς ἐν ταῖς φροντίσι τοῦ πατρὸς ἐσόμενος λαμπρός ἀλλὰ τὸν μὲν ἐκ μέσων τῶν πόνων ὁ δαίμων ἥρπασεν, ὁ δὲ ὢν ἔρημος εἰς τὴν σὴν καταφεύγει πρόνοιαν. οὐ γὰρ ἄδηλον ὡς οἷς τε δεῖ πολλῆς ἐπικουρίας εἴσῃ καὶ δώσεις ὁπόσης δεῖ.