Letter 630: Manos is quick to borrow but slow to repay.

To Themistius. (361 AD) Manos is quick to borrow but slow to repay. That is his nature, but let the laws teach him otherwise — laws he would not dare disregard when you uphold them. Faustillianus brings this petition, so that the other man cannot act shamelessly. And you must show some care for Faustillianus, since he is a kinsman of Severus — about whom, as you know, I could write at great length — and since he strives to imitate Severus's character. That character is this: they do not know how to commit injustice, but they do not tolerate suffering it. Do well by such people, whether present or absent. For any governor who desires praise — and I believe that desire lives in you — would best win it by helping good men. But you must not only help them in deed; you must also write to me about what is being done for them. They will not keep silent either, but among my greatest pleasures would be to learn it from you as well.

Θεμιστίῳ. (361) Μανὸς ὀξὺς μέν ἐστι δανείσασθαι, βραδὺς δὲ ἀπο- δοῦναι. ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν τῆς ἐκείνου φύσεως, οἱ νόμοι δὲ αὐ- τὸν ἕτερα διδασκέτωσαν, ὧν οὐκ ἂν καταφρονοίη σοῦ βεβαι- οῦντος τοὺς νόμους. βιβλίδιον δὲ τουτὶ κομίζει Φαυστιλ- λιανός, ὥστε μὴ εἶναι ἀναισχυντεῖν ἐκείνῳ. τούτῳ δέ γε εἶναι δεῖ παρὰ σοῦ τινα φροντίδα Σευήρου τε ὄντι συγγενεῖ, περὶ οὗ γράφων οἶσθα ὁπόσα εἶχον γράφειν, καὶ πειρωμένῳ τὸν Σευήρου μιμεῖσθαι τρόπον. οὗτος δέ ἐστιν· ἀδικεῖν μὲν οὐκ ἐπίστανται, πάσχειν δὲ κακῶς οὐκ ἀνέχονται. τούτους καὶ παρόντας καὶ ἀπόντας εὖ ποιεῖν· ὡς ὅστις ἄρχων ἐπαίνων ἐπιθυμεῖ — τὴν τούτων δὲ ἐπιθυμίαν εἶναι πιστεύω παρὰ σοί — μάλιστ’ ἂν τυγχάνοι τῶν ἐπαίνων τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς βοη- θῶν. δεῖ δὲ μὴ μόνον ἔργῳ βοηθεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐπιστέλλειν, ἅττα εἰς αὐτοὺς πράττεται. σιγήσονται μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲ ἐκεῖνοι, τῶν δὲ ἡδίστων ἐμοὶ τὸ καὶ παρὰ σοῦ μανθάνειν.