Letter 650: In your anger at Karterios you have done something pleasing to the Muses and all the gods of eloquence — for he,...

To Maximos. (361) In your anger at Karterios you have done something pleasing to the Muses and all the gods of eloquence — for he, despite having enjoyed their favor, has abandoned them, bought weapons, taken up the worship of Ares, and become a soldier instead of an orator. But, my dear friend, consider the present times, which have raised their fortunes and brought down ours — the proof is clear enough from your own circumstances, and I might add from mine: we who have been forced to praise men far worse than ourselves, fearing their power combined with their folly. Therefore, believing that Karterios acted understandably in turning to what was profitable, confine your gratitude to Hermes to the past, and for the future be more forgiving than exacting — so that I too may be freed from blame. For it is not you who seem to have forgotten your promises to me, but I who seem to have swayed your judgment. And then I am insulted by suspicions! Put an end to this, and show that I am no schemer and that you are far from being a liar.

Μαξίμῳ. (361) Τῇ πρὸς Καρτέριον ὀργῇ Μούσαις τε καὶ πᾶσι λογίοις θεοῖς ἔπραξας κεχρισμένα, οὓς ἐκεῖνος ἀφεὶς καὶ ταῦτα αὐ- τῶν τυχὼν ὅπλα τε ἐώνηται καὶ τὸν Ἄρη θεραπεύει καὶ γέ- γονεν ἀντὶ ῥήτορος στρατιώτης. ἀλλ’, ὦ μακάριε, βλέψας πρὸς τὸν παρόντα καιρόν, ὃς τὰ μὲν ἐκείνων ἦρε, τὰ δ’ ἡμέ- τέρα καθεῖλε, — πάντως δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν σῶν εὐθὺς ἡ πίστις, προσθείην δ’ ἂν ὅτι καὶ ἐμῶν, οἳ πολλῷ χείρους ἡμῶν ἐπαι- νεῖν ἠναγκάσμεθα φοβούμενοι μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτῶν τὴν ἄνοιαν — διὰ δὴ ταῦτα νομίσας Καρτέριον εἰκός τι πεπον- θέναι πρὸς τὸ λυσιτελοῦν κεχωρηκότα τῷ μὲν παρελθόντι χρό- νῷ τὴν εἰς τὸν Ἑρμῆν ὅρισον χάριν, τὰ λοιπὰ δὲ ἔστω φιλαν- θρωπότερα μᾶλλον ἢ ἀκριβέστερα, ὅπως καὶ αὐτὸς ἀπολυ- θείην αἰτίας. οὐ γὰρ σὺ δοκεῖς ἀμνημονεῖν τῶν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὑποσχέσεων, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ τὴν σὴν κεκινηκέναι γνώμην. ἔπειτα ὑβρίζομαι ταῖς ὑποψίαις. ἀλλὰ σὺ τοῦτο ἄνελε καὶ δεῖξον ἐμ τε οὐ κακοῦργον σαυτόν τε πόρρω τοῦ ψεύδεσθαι.