Letter 564: The reasons Iamblichus [a young kinsman of the famous philosopher, not the philosopher himself] set out, he will...

To Hierocles. (357) Concerning the matters for which Iamblichus has set out, he himself will tell you. But you, having examined his purpose, if you find it sound, assist it; or, if it is not such, oppose it; for whatever you decide, this stands as authoritative over what has now been resolved. For the young man is persuaded of two things: that you have good sense, and goodwill toward him. From both of these, whatever you judge to be advantageous will be strong. As for Calycius, one of the things you ordered he does, but the other he has not been able to do. For he has laid hold of the works of Plato, but of our discourses he did not send any—as he himself said, because he lacked someone to copy them out, but as we think, because he feared lest something of those things that are not agreeable should come into your hands from us.

Ἱεροκλεῖ. (357) Ἐφ᾿ οἷς ἐξῆλθεν Ἰάμβλιχος, αὐτὸς ἐρεῖ σοι. σὺ δὲ δο- κιμάσας τὴν γνώμην ἢ χρηστὴν εὑρὼν ἐπικούρησον ἢ μὴ τοιαύτην κίνησον· ὡς ὅ τι ἂν γνῷς, τοῦτο ἱστᾶι κύριον παρὰ τὰ νῦν δεδογμένα. δύο γὰρ ὁ νεανίσκος πέπεισται, φρένας τε ἀγαθὰς εἶναί σοι καὶ πρὸς αὑτὸν εὔνοιαν. ἐξ ὧν ἀμφο- τέρων ἰσχυρὸν ἔσται τοῦθ’ ὅ τι ἂν ἡγῇ συμφέρειν. Καλύ- κιος δὲ τὸ μὲν ὧν ἐκέλευες ποιεῖ, τὸ δ’ οὐκ ἴσχε ποιῆσαι. τῶν μὲν γὰρ Πλάτωνος ἧπται, τῶν δ’ ἡμετέρων οὐκ ἔπεμψε λόγων, ὡς μὲν αὐτὸς ἔφη, τοῦ γράψοντος ἀπορῶν, ὡς δὲ ἐγὼ νομίζω, δείσας μὴ τί <σοι> τῶν οὐχ ἡδέως ἡμῖν εἰς χεῖρας ἔλθοι.