Letter 80: Macedonius is one of my closest friends and has been for a long time.

Macedonius is one of my closest friends and has been for a long time. He's the sort of man who could win anyone over from the first meeting and a brief conversation -- that's how much natural charm he has. Now, if he were coming to you with a lawsuit, I would be a fool to write, since you would never let a friend's letter outweigh the laws. But since all he wants is to be known to you, I ask the favor with confidence. Just as you don't grant every request, so you don't refuse every kindness.

**To Magnus** (359) Macedonius is among my closest friends, having lived in my company for no small time. Yet he could win anyone's friendship the moment they meet him, after only a brief conversation — so powerful is the charm he possesses in his character. Now, if he were coming before you as a litigant, I would be utterly foolish to dare write to you on his behalf, since you would never value a friend's letter above the laws. But since he desires only to be known to you, I ask this favor with confidence. For just as you do not know how to grant every request, so too you do not shrink from granting favors in every case where you rightly may.

Μάγνῳ. (359) Τῶν μάλιστα φίλων ἡμῖν Μακεδόνιός ἐστιν οὐκ ὀλίγον συμβεβιωκὼς χρόνον. κτήσαιτο δ’ ἄν τινα φίλον εὐθύς τε συμβαλὼν καὶ μικρὰ διαλεχθείς· οὕτω πολλὴν ἐπὶ τῶν τρό- πων ἔχει τὴν ἴυγγα. εἰ μὲν οὖν δικασόμενος ᾔει παρὰ σοί, πάν., ἂν ἦν ἀνόητος, εἴ σοι γράφειν ἐτόλμων, ὡς οὐδὲν γράμμα φίλου κατὰ τῶν νόμων τιμήσεις· ἐπεὶ δὲ τοῦ γνωρί- ζεσθαι μόνον ἐπιθυμεῖ, θαρρῶν αἰτῶ τὴν χάριν. ὥσπερ γὰρ οὐ πάντα οἶσθα χαρίζεσθαι, οὕτως οὐ πανταχοῦ τὸ χαρίζεσθαι φευγεις.