Letter 729: I am delighted to receive your letters -- not only because a letter from a friend is the sweetest thing, but because...

I am delighted to receive your letters -- not only because a letter from a friend is the sweetest thing, but because it serves as proof that the country is clear of enemies. That is what Julian's mere expectation accomplishes. Those who came before him only made the enemy bolder. As for the present security, the good Pappus deserves to enjoy it, so that the smile that habitually blooms on his face may never leave him. The Persians will fare as men deserve who make war on the gods. The gods will each take up their own weapons and fall upon them without delay, teaching them to run. Your son wants to become an orator, and his nature is no worse than his desire. He also knows how to show respect -- and any young man who knows that draws me in and gets more from me than others do. Write to him to hold fast to these qualities, and as far as I am concerned, you will need no further urging.

Πάππω. (362) Χαίρω σου γράμματα λαμβάνων οὐκ αὐτὸ τοῦτο μόνον, ὅτι πρᾶγμα ἥδιστον γράμματα φίλου, ἀλλ’ ὅτι μοι καὶ σημεῖον γίγνεται τοῦ καθαρὰν εἶναι πολεμίων τὴν χώραν· τοσοῦτόν ἐστιν Ἰουλιανὸς ἐλπιζόμενος· οἱ δὲ πρὶν ὁρώμενοι θρασυτέρους ἐποίουν τοὺς ἐναντίους. τῆς παρούσης δὲ ἀσφαλείας ἄξιος ἀπολαύειν Πάππος ὁ καλός, ὅπως αὐτὸν μήποτε ἐπιλείποι τὸ μειδιᾶν εἰωθὸς ἐπανθεῖν τῷ προσώπῳ. Πέρσαι μὲν οὖν οὕτω πράξουσιν, ὡς εἰκὸς ἀνθρώπους θεοῖς πολεμοῦντας, οἳ τὸ αὑτῶν ἕκαστος ὅπλα λαβόντες αὐτίκα αὐτοῖς συνεπιθήσον- ται καὶ διδάξ·ουσι φεύγειν. ὁ δὲ υἱός σου βούλεται γενέσθαι ῥήτωρ, καὶ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας οὐ χείρων ἡ φύσις· ἐπί- σταται δὲ καὶ τὸ αἰδεῖσθαι. τοῦτο δὲ ὅστις οἶδε τῶν νέων, ἐφέλκεταί με καὶ πλέον ἑτέρου λαμβάνει. γράφε δὴ πρὸς ἐκεῖνον ἐμμένειν τοῖς τρόποις, καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ἄν σοι παρακλήσεως δέοι.