Letter 770: I was distressed that I did not see you when you departed.

To Asclepius. (362) I was distressed that I did not see you as you were setting out; but you saw this well, and how it might be remedied. At any rate, as soon as your letter arrived, I both rejoiced at once and thought that that thing had been preserved for me. So then, make better, by your company, those whom you see, and the absent by letters. For this indeed is your contest, just as that of those men to whom belong words of verse. And I, who was long ailing, rose up by your help, and the health I had obtained was sweeter to me because you had taken thought for it; but now, being praised by your voice, I set more store by this than if all men were ranking me the best of all. That I myself, then, may become good, and that you may bestow your praises upon such a man, let your letters too come thick and fast, bringing exhortations as well.

Ἀσκληπιῷ. (362) Ἠχθόμην, ὅτι σε ἀπαίροντα οὐκ εἶδον σὺ δὲ τοῦτο καλῶς εἶδες καἰ ὅπως ἂν λυθείη. τὸ γράμμα γοῦν ὡς ἧκεν, εὐθύς τε ἡδόμην καὶ ᾤμην ἐκεῖνό μοι σεσῶσθαι. ποίει τοί νυν βελτίους, οὓς μὲν ὁρᾷς, τῇ συνουσίᾳ. τοὺς ἀπόντας δὲ ἐπιστολαῖς. οὗτος γὰρ δὴ σὸς ἆθλος, ὥσπερ ἐκείνων οἷς ἔπη. ἐγὼ δὲ πάλαι μὲν ἀρρωστῶν σοῦ βοηθοῦντος ἀνέ- στῆν καὶ ἦν μοι τῆς ὑγείας ἥδιον τὸ σοῦ φροντίζοντος ἐκεί- νης τετυχηκέναι· νῦν δὲ ἐπαινούμενος ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς φωνῆς πλέον τοῦτο τίθεμαι ἢ εἴ με πάντες ἄνθρωποι πάντωv ἄρι- στον ἦγον. ἴν’ οὖν αὐτός τε ἀγαθὸς γίγνωμαι καὶ σὺ περὶ τοιούτου τοὺς ἐπαίνους ποιῇ, πυκνά τε ἴστω τὰ γράμματα καὶ παραινέσεις κομίζοντα.