Letter 816: The emperor is no worse than his predecessor — I would say better, if one values complete virtue over reckless daring.

To Demetrios. (~363 AD) The emperor is no worse than his predecessor — I would say better, if one values complete virtue over reckless daring. But when you compare the adviser to the previous adviser, take care you do not seem unaware how great is the distance between a donkey and a horse. As for me, I rescued the city from famine by supplication — though his own inclination might have granted this even without anyone pleading. I also attempted to persuade him that he had not been wronged by us, but came away having failed: such was the rhetorician I was wrestling with. What remains is reconciliation. That is what we are now pursuing, and we call on you to help.

Δημητρίῳ. (363) Ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς τοῦ βασιλέως οὐ χείρων, φαίην δ’ ἂν ὅτι καὶ βελτίων, εἴ τις τὴν ὅλην ἀρετὴν πρὸ τῆς ἀλογίστου τόλμης ἄγοι· τὸν σύμβουλον δὲ τῷ συμβούλῳ παραβάλλων ὄρα μὴ δόξῃς ἀγνοεῖν, ὅσον ὄνου καὶ ἵππου τὸ μέσον. ἐγὼ δὲ λιμοῦ μὲν τὴν πόλιν ἱκετεύων ἐξειλόμην, ὃ καὶ μηδενὸς ἱκετεύοντος ἴσως ἂν ὑπῆρξεν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκείνου γνώμης· πεῖσαι δὲ ὡς οὐκ ἠδίκηται παρ’ ἡμῶν ἐπεχείρησα μέν, ἀπῆλθον δὲ οὐ δυνηθείς· τοιούτῳ ῥήτορι προσεπάλαισα. λείπεται δὴ πρὸς διαλλαγάς, ἐφ’ ὃ ἡμεῖς τετράμμεθα, καὶ σὲ παρακαλοῦμεν.