Letter 598: I care for this Olympius here for many reasons.

To Mygdonius. (357) I care about this Olympius here for many reasons. For I love him both as a fellow citizen, and as a friend I love him in return. He has both intelligence and grace, and he is a judge of literary discourse who is not, indeed, of the first rank, but is by no means a poor one. He has become a soldier instead of an orator, compelled by poverty. But not even in this, however, has he turned from a poor man into a rich one, since he was unable to flatter, and found no one who loved his ways. But you become that man for him. And first of all, grant him this favor: that the length of his absence not be set down as a charge against him. Next, let something be done of those things that are easiest for you but useful for him. For it is just that I should enjoy the influence you have with Musonius, and that he should enjoy mine with you.

Μυγδονίῳ. (357) Ὀλυμπίου τουτουὶ πολλαχόθεν κήδομαι. καὶ γὰρ ὡς πολίτην φιλῶ καὶ ὡς φίλον ἀντιφιλῶ. καὶ νοῦν ἔχει καὶ χάριν, καὶ λόγων κριτὴς οὐκ ἄκρος μέν, οὐ φαῦλος δέ. γέγονε δὲ στρατιώτης ἀντὶ ῥήτορος πενίᾳ βιασθείς. ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ ἐν τούτῳ μέντοι πλούσιος ἀντὶ πένητος γεγένηται κο- λακεῦσαι μὲν οὐ δυνηθείς, ἐραστὴν δὲ τῶν αὑτοῦ τρόπων οὐχ εὑρών ἀλλ’ οὗτος αὐτῷ σὺ γενοῦ. καὶ πρῶτον μὲν αὐτῷ χάρισαι τὸ μὴ τὸ μῆκος τῆς ἀπουσίας ἔγκλημα αὐτῷ καταστῆναι. ἔπειτα τῶν σοὶ μὲν ῥᾴστων, τούτῳ δὲ χρησίμων γενέσθω τι. τῆς τε γὰρ παρὰ Μουσωνίῳ δυνάμεως δίκαιον ἀπολαύειν ἐμὲ τοῦτόν τε τῆς ἐμῆς παρὰ σοί.