Letter 726: Just as last year I was unhappy with everything except one thing -- and you know what that one thing was, since...

To Alexandra. (362) Just as last year I was grieved by everything except one thing — and you know what that one thing was, for whenever I came to you and conversed, I considered it a festival — so now, while rejoicing in everything, I am pained by one thing, that you have not come back to us. And yet, hearing that the noble Seleucus had received the belt [of office], I was hoping that he would follow the emperor, and you him, and that I myself would again behold the woman who, as Homer said, resembles the goddesses. But while I was despondent at having missed them, a certain old man, coming up to me as I was making my customary discourses, told me from whom he had come and that he was bringing slaves as a gift. To me the gift did not appear novel, for many things belonging to you are with us, and indeed the man who tutors my illegitimate son is still even now called "Seleucus's man"; but I supposed that there ought to be attached to the gift something finer than the gift itself — a letter from you. But when the slaves were being brought in, while no letter appeared, I received the gift even so, yet the pleasure was not as great as it would have been, had the letter too been added. But if you have become indifferent toward us on account of the childbirth, then bid your daughter at least to write and to assist her mother. And may the gods grant me to send such tidings concerning your sons as well.

Ἀλεξάνδρᾳ. (362) Ὥσπερ πᾶσι πράγμασι πλὴν ἑνὸς πέρυσιν ἠχθόμην — σὺ δὲ οἶσθα τοῦτο τὸ ἕν, ὁπότε γὰρ ἔλθοιμι παρὰ σὲ καὶ διαλεγοίμην, ἑορτὴν ἡγούμην — οὕτω νῦν πᾶσι χαίρων ὑφ’ ἑνὸς ἀνιῶμαι τοῦ μὴ πάλιν ὑμᾶς ἀφῖχθαι. καίτοι τὸν γεν- ναῖον Σέλευκον ἀκούων κεκομίσθαι τὴν ζώνην ἤλπιζον τὸν μὲν ἕψεσθαι τῷ βασιλεῖ, σὲ δὲ ἐκείνῳ, καὶ πάλιν αὐτὸς ὄψεσθαι τὴν ταῖς θεαῖς, Ὅμηρος ἔφησεν, ἐοικυῖαν γυναῖκα. ὡς δὲ ἐκείνων ἁμαρτὼν ἠθύμουν γέρων τις ἐπιστὰς τὰς συνήθεις μοι ποιουμένῳ διατριβὰς εἶπέ τε παρ’ ὧν ἥκοι καὶ ὅτι ἄγοι ἀνδράποδα δῶρον. ἐμοὶ δὲ τὸ μὲν δῶρον οὐκ ἐφάνη καινόν, πολλὰ γὰρ παρ’ ἡμῖν ὑμέτερα καὶ ὅ γε τὸν νόθον μοι παιδα- γωγῶν ἔτι καὶ νῦν ὁ Σελεύκου καλεῖται· ἕμην δὲ ὅτι δεῖ προσεῖναὶ τῷ δώρῳ κάλλιον αὐτοῦ τοῦ δώρου, γράμματα σά. ὡς δὲ τὰ μὲν ἀνδράποδα εἰσήγετο, γράμματα δὲ οὐκ έφαί- νετο, τὸ μὲν δῶρον καὶ οὕτως ἐλάμβανον, ἡδονὴ δὲ οὐκ ἦν, ὅσηπερ ἂν ἦν, εἰ καὶ τὰ γράμματα προσῆν. σὺ δ’ εἰ ῥᾴθυ- μος ἡμῖν γέγονας ἐπὶ τῷ τόκῳ, τήν γε θυγατέρα κέλευε γρά- φειν καὶ βοηθεῖν τῇ μητρί. θεοὶ δέ μοι δοῖεν καὶ περὶ σῶν υἱέων τοιαῦτα ἐπιστεῖλαι.