I'm asking you for a favor you're already eager to grant. When you young men receive positions of authority, you're delighted to be able to do something for us older folk -- and there's a certain pleasure for teachers in asking favors of their students, just as there is for students in being able to do something their teachers actually want.
So here is the situation: Cleobulus the teacher instructs me in what I can ask of you, and I ask of you what your office puts within your power. Antiphilus is one of your top assistants and a relative of Cleobulus. His character already recommended him to me before any formal introduction -- he doesn't know how to profit from doing what he shouldn't. Cleobulus vouches for this, and I trust his word.
The favor is simply this: look on Antiphilus kindly. He won't abuse that kindness for personal gain, but it will give him the confidence to brief you frankly on urgent matters and to carry out your orders with good cheer.
**To Ambrosius** (359)
I ask of you a favor you are eager to grant. For when you young men are entrusted with offices of authority, you take pleasure in having the chance to oblige us older folk — and there is a certain delight for teachers in making requests of their students, just as there is for students in being able to do something that pleases their teachers.
Now then, Cleobulus the teacher charges me with what lies in my power with you, and I in turn ask of you what lies in your power by virtue of your office. Antiphilus is among the foremost of your staff and a kinsman of Cleobulus. His character has already commended him to me before any introduction was needed, for he does not know how to profit by daring what he ought not — and this Cleobulus himself attests. So I too commend him, trusting in that testimony.
The favor I ask is this: that you look upon him with a kindly eye — which he will not exploit for personal advantage, but will use only to speak up with confidence on urgent matters and to carry out whatever you command with good cheer.
I'm asking you for a favor you're already eager to grant. When you young men receive positions of authority, you're delighted to be able to do something for us older folk -- and there's a certain pleasure for teachers in asking favors of their students, just as there is for students in being able to do something their teachers actually want.
So here is the situation: Cleobulus the teacher instructs me in what I can ask of you, and I ask of you what your office puts within your power. Antiphilus is one of your top assistants and a relative of Cleobulus. His character already recommended him to me before any formal introduction -- he doesn't know how to profit from doing what he shouldn't. Cleobulus vouches for this, and I trust his word.
The favor is simply this: look on Antiphilus kindly. He won't abuse that kindness for personal gain, but it will give him the confidence to brief you frankly on urgent matters and to carry out your orders with good cheer.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.