Letter 612: If I knew how to revolve around the doors of the powerful, I would myself be one of the powerful.

To Modestus. (361 AD) If I knew how to revolve around the doors of the powerful, I would myself be one of the powerful. As it is, I am weak — but not in the least ashamed. Singing is enough for me, as it is for the nightingale. I didn't think I should send you many letters, given how much business you handle and how many letters you receive. Ships already heavy with freight should not have more cargo added. But since you want abundance — know that you're challenging a Lydian onto his own plain. [A proverbial expression for picking a fight on the opponent's home ground.] I am grateful to you for the letter you sent to Acacius: it showed a man who was earnest and wanted to see results, while another would have perfunctorily dismissed the matter. As for the stoa, you'll need to consider how favorable things may be said of it — taking care not to appear to be pleasing Dionysus at the cost of grieving Dionysus's father, Zeus.

Μοδέστῳ. (361) Εἰ περὶ τὰς τῶν δυνατῶν ἠπιστάμην στρέφεσθαι θύρας, ἦν ἂν καὶ αὐτὸς τῶν δυνατῶν· νῦν δέ εἰμι μὲν ἀσθενής, αἰσχύνομαι δὲ οὐδαμῶς, ἀλλ’ ἀρκεῖ μοι τὸ ᾄδειν, ὥσπερ τῇ ἀηδόνι. γράμματα δέ σοι πέμπειν πολλὰ οὐκ ᾠήθην δεῖν πολλὰ μὲν πράττοντι πράγματα, πολλὰ δὲ δεχομένῳ γράμ- ματα· τοῖς γάρ τοι βαρυνομένοις τῶν πλοίων οὐ δεῖ προστι- θέναι φορτία· ἐπεὶ δὲ πλήθους ἐπιθυμεῖς, Λυδὸν εἰς πεδίον ἴσθι προκαλούμενος. τῆς μὲν οὖν ἐπιστολῆς, ἣν πρὸς Ἀκάκιον ἔπεμψας, οἶδά σοι χάριν, ἐδείκνυ γὰρ τὸν ἐσπουδα- κότα καὶ βουλόμενον ἔργον ἰδεῖν, ἄλλος δ’ ἂν ἀφοσιωσάμενος ἀπηλλάγη· περὶ δὲ τῆς στοᾶς σοι σκεπτέον, ὅπως εὔφημόν τι λέγοιτο περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ μὴ δοκῶν τῷ Διονύσῳ χαρίζεσθαι τὸν πατέρα λυποίης τοῦ Διονύσου τὸν Δία.