Letter 55: A novel kind of theft this is -- to announce in advance where the theft will take place and that you intend to...

To Acacius. (359) A novel kind of theft this is -- to announce in advance where the theft will take place and that you intend to steal, and then proceed with the robbery. But you call your open seizure "stealing," so that the offense does not look tyrannical but has some air of modesty about it. I would have been just as happy to keep Titianus here as you are to summon him. But I am sending him back, since everything you command must be done. I trust the young man will accomplish the purpose for which he has been called home. You say you are ailing and stripped of your companions, and that you are seeking comfort from his presence. He will lighten your grief not merely by the pleasure of seeing him -- that much is common to all fathers and sons -- but because he brings you a certain power of rhetoric which you yourself planted and we nurtured. But remember the agreement you made about the timing, and before the harvest season is fully over, return our colt to us. Surely from your own feelings you will sympathize with mine. For if you miss your son, we too miss ours -- since both of us have raised him.

**To Acacius** (359 AD) A novel kind of theft indeed — to announce in advance to the person from whom one intends to steal that one *will* steal, and then to proceed with the robbery! But you, seizing openly, call it "stealing," so that your offense may not seem tyrannical but may share in a certain modest restraint. For my part, I would have been no less happy to keep Titianus than you are eager to summon him. But I send him back, since whatever you command must be done. And I trust the young man will accomplish the very purpose for which he has been sent back. For you say that you are weary and stripped of your companions, and that you seek from him some consolation. He will lighten your grief not merely by the pleasure of seeing him — that common gift of all sons — but because he also brings you a certain power in eloquence which you yourself planted and we have nurtured. But mind you remember our agreement regarding the time: before the fair season has fully run its course, give us back our colt. Surely from your own feelings you will forgive me as well. For if you long for a son, we too long for a son — since we have both had the raising of him.

Ἀκακίῳ (359) Καινῆ γε ἡ κλοπὴ προειπόντα οὗ τις ὑφαιρήσεται ὅτι κλέψει, ἔπειτα ἐπιχειρεῖν τῇ κλοπῇ· σὺ δὲ ἁρπάζων φανερῶς κλέπτειν λέγεις, ὅπως σοι τὸ ἀδίκημα μὴ δοκῇ τυραννικόν, κοινωνῇ δέ τινος εὐλαβείας. ἐγὼ δὲ Τιτιανὸν οὐχ ἠτ- τον μὲν <ἂν> ἡδέως κατεῖχον ἢ σὺ καλεῖς· ἀποπέμπω ἐπειδὴ πᾶν ὅ τι ἂν κελεύῃς ἔργον εἷναι δεῖ. καὶ πιστεύω τὸν νέον πράξειν τοῦτο ἐφ’ ᾧπερ ἐπανῆκται. φῂς μὴν γὰρ κά- μνειν καὶ ἐψιλῶσθαι τῶν ἑταίρων, ζητεῖν δὲ τὴν ἐκ τοῦδε πα- ραμυθίαν. ὁ δέ σοι κουφιεῖ τὴν λύπην οὐ τῇ τῆς ὄψεως ἡδονῇ μόνον, τοῦτο δὴ τὸ κοινὸν τῶν υἱέων, ἀλλ᾿ ὅτι σοι καὶ δύναμίν τινα κομίζει λόγων ἣν αὐτὸς μὲν ἐφύτευσας, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐθρέψαμεν. 4 ἀλλ’ ὅπως μεμνήσῃ τῶν συνθηκῶν, ἃς περὶ τοῦ χρόνου πεπςίησαι καὶ πρὶν τέλος τὴν ὡραίαν λαβεῖν ἀπό- δὸς ἡμῖν τὸν πῶλον. πάντως δὲ ἐκ τοῦ σαυτοῦ πάθους καὶ ἐμοὶ συγγνώσῃ. εἰ γὰρ σὺ ποθεῖς υἱόν. καὶ ἡμεῖς ποθοῦμεν υἱόν ἀμφότεροι γὰρ ἐθρέψαμεν.