Letter 610: Ascholius brought us news both most terrible and most heartening: having spoken of the fall — at which he himself...

To Demetrius. (361 AD) Ascholius brought us news both most terrible and most heartening: having spoken of the fall — at which he himself was struck and fell — he immediately added that the gods caught the girl with their hand as she plunged and set her gently on the ground, as if into a bed. Just as I rejoiced that she came to no harm, so I was grieved that the servant was shattered beyond saving... After speaking thus, and having praised the fields and urged that they be kept rather than sold, Ascholius departed. Where on earth he is now, I have no idea. May the gods grant safety to you and your children; may the seasons bring their fruits; may all sail before fair winds; and send us both letters and the produce of your estate. I have sent two speeches — in one I engage Herodotus, in the other Aristides. They must pass immediately into Palladius's hands: he asked for them in person, and it's clear he will manage to make your copies his own as well.

Δημητρίῳ. (361) Ὁ μὲν Ἀσχόλιος τὰ πάντων δεινότατά τε καὶ ἥδιστα πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀγγείλας — εἰπὼν γὰρ περὶ τοῦ πτώματος, ἐφ’ ᾧ καὶ αὐτὸς πληγεὶς ἔπεσον, εὐθὺς ἐπέθηκεν ὅτι ἀλλὰ θεῶν μέν ἀνέσχε τῇ χειρὶ φερομένην τὴν παρθένον, ἕως εἰς τὴν γῆν κατέστησεν ὥσπερ εἰς εὐνήν. ὥσπερ δὲ ἐνταῦθα τῷ μηδὲν συμβῆναι δυσχερὲς ἡδόμην, οὕτω τῷ τὸν οἰκέτην συντριβῆναι καὶ μὴ ἂν σωθῆ- νᾶι δύνασθαι . . . . . . . — τοιαῦτα διαλεχθεὶς Ἀσχόλιος καὶ τοὺς ἀγροὺς ἐπαινέσας καὶ παραινέσας ἔχειν, ἀλλὰ μὴ πωλεῖν ἀπῆλθε. καὶ νῦν ὅπου γῆς ἐστιν, οὐκ οἴδα. σοὶ δὲ καὶ παισὶ τοῖς σοῖς εἴη μὲν ἐκ θεῶν σωτηρία, φέροιεν δὲ αἱ ὧραι τὰ αὑτῶν, πάντα δὲ ἐξ οὐρίων θέοι, πέμποις δὲ ἡμῖν καὶ γράμματα καὶ τὰ παρὰ τῆς χώρας. ἐγὼ δὲ δύο λόγους, ὧν ἐν μὲν τῷ πρὸς Ἡρόδοτον, ἐν δὲ τῷ πρὸς Ἀριστείδην μάχομαι, πέπομφα. τούτους εὐθὺς δεῖ γενέσθαι Παλλαδίου, καὶ γὰρ ᾔτησε παρών, οὐκ ἄδηλον δὲ ὡς τοῦτο ποιήσει καὶ σοὺς εἶναι τοὺς λόγους.