Letter 541: Every time I went to him and made my case, asking that you receive what is rightly yours regarding the bronze, he...

To Elpidius. (356/57) There was never a time when we did not approach and entreat that you might obtain some part of what is rightfully yours concerning the money [literally, the bronze/copper coinage]; but he sat there like one who does not hear. When you come, you will hear the reasons why he was so disposed toward us. But now, the boy having arrived, I have once more made trial of him; and he was better than before, and offered himself up to learning, and listened concerning your nature, and how many years old you were when you came to Athens, and the reputation you won there, and the speeches you displayed. And as I went on I told of your lawsuits against the procurator, the appeal, the second contests, and all the ways you were wronged when you laid hold of the chair [of teaching], and the death of the man who seemed to be victorious in the marriage proceedings, and how Calchas had foretold these things to you. And he marveled, and bade me summon you, and sent as much as was possible, since the emperor had forbidden the larger sums by his written order. So appear, then, with many speeches. And it is clear that, however many you bring, you will bring fine ones, and that you go on your way with good hopes; for I conjecture that you will depart having received greater things than you would pray for.

Ἐλπιδίῳ. (356/57) Οὐκ ἔστιν ὅτε οὐ προσιόντες ἐδεήθημεν, ὅπως σοί τι γένοιτο τῶν περὶ τὸν χαλκὸν δικαίων, ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀίοντι ἐοι- κὼς ἐκάθητο. τοῦ δ’ οὕτως ἐσχηκέναι πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ἐπειδὰν ἥκῃς, ἀκούσῃ τὰς αἰτίας. νῦν δὲ τοῦ παιδὸς ἀφιγμένου πάλιν ἐποιησάμην πεῖραν· ὁ δὲ ἀμείνων ἦν ἢ πρόσθεν καὶ παρεῖχεν αὑτὸν εἰς τὸ μανθάνειν καὶ ἤκουε περὶ τῆς σῆς φύ- σεως καὶ πόσα ἴτη γεγονὼς ἔλθοις Ἀθήναζε καὶ δόξαν ἣν αὐτόθι κτήσαιο καὶ λόγους οὓς δείξαις. καὶ προιὼν ἔλεγον τὰς πρὸς τὸν ἐπίτροπον δίκας, τὴν ἔφεσιν, τοὺς δευτέρους ἀγῶνας ὅσα τε ἐκακουργήθης ἁπτόμενος θρόνου καὶ τὴν τοῦ δόξαντος κρατεῖν ἐν τοῖς γάμοις τελευτὴν καὶ ὡς ταῦτά σοι προηγόρευε Κάλχας. ὁ δὲ ἐθαύμασέ τε καὶ καλεῖν ἐκέλευσε καὶ ἔπεμψεν ὅσα ἐξῆν, ὡς τά γε μείζω βασιλεὺς ἐκώλυσε γράφων. φάνηθι δὴ μετὰ λόγων πολλῶν. δῆλον δὲ ὡς, ὅσους ἂν κομίζῃ, οἴσεις καλούς, καὶ μετ᾿ ἐλπίδων ἀγαθῶν ἰών, τεκμαί. ρομαι γάρ, ὧν ἂν εὔξαιο μείζω λαβὼν ἄπει.