Letter 664: What people on shore feel when they watch others sailing through a storm — imagining the waves crashing against...

To Ulpianus (361) What those experience who watch from the shore people sailing in a storm, and who imagine that the waves are breaking against their own bodies, this same thing we too have undergone as we reflect on the moment at which you have taken up your office. We are, at any rate, full of turmoil and confusion, as though we ourselves were being encircled on every side by these affairs. But we for our part join you in our prayers, while you must strive to be worthy of your father, and of your own nature, and of the eloquence you have acquired; and show that by a noble resolve even the difficulty of the times is overcome. These things I have said not to persuade one already persuaded, but to encourage a fine impulse, since I know well that you will treat the worthy Amphilochius kindly, even if no one should speak on his behalf; yet I ask all the same that you do him some good. For he is my fellow student and your fellow soldier, an able teacher, and the father of children sufficient to bring honor to a father.

Οὐλπιανῷ (361) Ὅπερ οἱ τοὺς ἐν χειμῶνι πλέοντας ἀπὸ γῆς ὁρῶντις πάσχουσι καὶ τὰ κύματα τοῖς αὑτῶν ἡγοῦνται προσπίπτειν σώμασι, τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς λογιζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ἐν ᾧ παρεί- ληφας τὴν ἀρχήν, πεπόνθαμεν. μεστοὶ γοῦν ἐσμεν θόρυβοι καὶ ταραχῆς ὥσπερ αὐτοὶ κυκλούμενοι πανταχόθεν ὑπὸ τῶν πραγμάτων. ἀλλ’ ἡμεῖς μὲν σοὶ συνευχόμεθα, σὺ δὲ τοῦ τε πατρὸς καὶ τῆς σαυτοῦ φύσεως καὶ ὧν ἐκτήσω λόγων ἄξιος εἶναι πειρῶ καὶ δεῖξον ὡς ὑπὸ γνώμης γενναίας καὶ καιροῦ δυσκολία νικᾶται ταῦτα εἶπον οὐ πείθων τὸν πε- πεισμένον, ἀλλ’ ὁρμὴν καλὴν παρακαλῶν, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸν χρηστὸν Ἀμφιλόχιον οἶδα μὲν ὡς εὖ ποιήσεις, κἂν μηδεὶς ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ διαλέγηται, δέομαι δὲ ὅμως εὖ τι ποιεῖν. καὶ γὰρ ἐμὸς συμ- φοιτητὴς καὶ σὸς συστρατιώτης καὶ παιδευτὴς δεξιὸς καὶ παίδων πατὴρ ἀρκούντων εἰς τιμὴν πατρί.