Letter 741

To Leontius, governor. (362) My first letter was an appeal for you to do justice by the son of my teacher. This one is both praise for what you have done and another appeal to keep doing the same. The good Gaudentius came to me with his pleasure written all over his face. Delighted to see him so cheerful, I asked where this mood came from. He said, "The most just of my students toward me is Leontius," and he went through the honors paid to his son -- how the boy profits doubly, both practicing his oratory and receiving a stipend. Having said this, the old man raised his hand to the gods and prayed that they would bless you in all things and keep your governorship on a straight course. So that he may always have reason to pray like that, keep aiming true and build your reputation through excellence in everything.

Λεοντίῳ. (362) Τὰ μὲν πρῶτα γράμματα παράκλησις ἦν γενέσθαι σε δίκαιον εἰς τὸν παῖδα τοῦ διδασκάλου, τὰ οἱ νῦν ἔπαινός τι ὧν ἐποίησας καὶ πάλιν παράκλησις τοῦ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμμένειν. ὁ γάρ τοι Γαυδέντιος ἦλθεν ὡς ἐμὲ μηνύων τῷ προσώπῳ τὴν ἡδονήν. ἡσθεὶς οὖν, ὅτι ἦν φαιδρός, ἠρόμην, ὅθεν εἴη τοιοῦτος· ὁ δὲ μαθητῶν ἔφησεν εἰς ἐμὲ δικαιότατος Λεόντιος, καὶ διῆλθε τὴν εἰς τὸν παῖδα τιμὴν καὶ ὡς διπλῆ κερδαίνοι λέγειν τε μελετῶν καὶ λαμβάνων. ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὁ γέρων καὶ τὴν χεῖρα ἄρας πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς εὔξατό σοι παρ’ ἐκείνων τά τε ἄλλα καὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν ὀρθοῦσθαι. ἴν’ οὖν ἐκεῖνος ἀεὶ ταῦτα αἰτῇ, καὶ σὺ βάλλ’ οὕτως καὶ κτῶ δόξαν τῇ περὶ πάντα ἀρετῇ.