Letter 56

To the same person. (359/360) Welcome Philoxenus as well. He has proven himself worthy of your family in every respect, enduring many hardships and considering it no less valuable to earn a reputation for character than for eloquence. When you were planning to send him to us, you added to your other praises the claim that he would also make a fine showing in physical contests. But while he confirmed everything else, on this point he made a liar of you, preferring the quieter life of the frail to a display of strength. It is for you, then, either to punish him for this or to admire even that choice.

**To the same person.** (359/360) Welcome Philoxenus too, a man who has shown himself in every respect worthy of your kinship, who has endured many labors, and who has considered distinction won through character no less valuable than that won through eloquence. And yet you, when you were planning to send him to us, added to your other praises of him the claim that he would also prove most formidable in a contest of fists. But while he has confirmed everything else, on this point he has made a liar of you, preferring instead the quiet life of the weak. It is for you, then, either to punish him for this or to admire even this about him.

τῷ αὐτῷ. (359/360) Δέχου καἰ τὸν Φιλόξενον ἄξιον διὰ πάντων τυ ὑμε- τέρας συγγενείας φανέντα πόνοις τε πολλοῖς κεχρημένον καἰ τὸ διὰ τοὺς τρόπους εὐδοκιμεῖν οὐ χεῖρον νομίσαντα τοῦ διὸ τοὺς λόγους. καίτοι σὺ πέμπειν αὐτὸν ὡς ἡμᾶς διανοού- μενος τοῖς ἄλλοις ἐπαίνοις ἐπέθηκας, ὡς κοὶ ἐν κρίσει χειρῶν ὅτι πλεῖστον εἰσοίσει. ὁ δὲ τἄλλα βεβαιώσας ἐν τούτῳ σε ψεύ- στην ἀπέφηνε τῶν ἀσθενῶν μᾶλλον τὴν ἡσυχίαν τιμήσας. σὸν τοίνυν ἢ δίκην τούτου λαβεῖν ἢ καὶ τοῦτο θαυμάσαι.