Letter 840: Libanius thanks Tatianus for quietly helping clear him from a political accusation and renews affection through Tatianus' son.

When your first letters reached us right at the beginning of your term in office, and then no others came, my friends began to wonder and ask what could have made things turn out that way. I would not let them be puzzled or think this meant a change in you. That is not your character. I pointed instead to the explanation I had: I had been branded disloyal toward those in power, and I said that the law was preventing letters from men of your rank to men in my position. Once that accusation was disproved, I told them, they would see your letters. That is what I said, that is what I expected, and that is what happened. The same day brought your letter, and others too, from which we learned that we had been set free. Nor were we unaware who had fought alongside us in the affair, adding his own efforts to those made from that quarter. Even if you do not say so, you helped. It is fitting for you not to say it, and for me to say it; anyone who has received a kindness, unless he is a bad man, will do as much. Even in your absence I had a way to love you, through your son. When I set my mouth to Proclus' mouth, I thought I was embracing you both; and I rejoiced with my own city, which had so repaid you as to outdo everything done for her by officials, and quite rightly. For you have used what is yours for her as others have used what is theirs.

1. Τῶν πρώτων σου γραμμάτων εὐθὺς ἡμῖν ἐν ἀρχῇ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἡκόντων, εἶτα ἑτέρων οὐχ ἡκόντων θαυμάζειν ἐπῄει τοῖς φίλοις καὶ ζητεῖν, ὅτῳ ποτὲ τοῦθ’ οὕτως ἔσχεν. 2. ἐγὼ δὲ αὐτοὺς οὐκ εἴων ἀπορεῖν οὐδὲ σὴν τοῦτο νομίζειν μεταβολήν, οὐ γὰρ σὸς οὗτος ὁ τρόπος, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τὴν αἰτίαν ἣν ἔσχον ὡς πονηρὸς εἰς τοὺς κρατοῦντας γεγονώς, ἦγον τῆς σιωπῆς τὴν αἰτίαν κωλύειν λέγων τὸν νόμον τὰς τῶν τηλικούτων πρὸς τοὺς τοιούτους ἐπιστολάς, τῆς μέμψεως δὲ ἐξελεγχθείσης ἔφην ὄψεσθε τὰ γράμματα. 3. ταῦτα εἶπον, ταῦτα προσεδόκησα, ταῦτα ἐξέβη τῆς αὐτῆς ἡμέρας σὴν ἐνεγκούσης ἐπιστολὴν καί τινων ἄλλων, ἐν αἷς ἦν μανθάνειν ὡς ἀφείθημεν ἐλεύθεροι. 4. καὶ οὐκ ἠγνοοῦμεν τὸν συνηγωνισμένον τοῖς πράγμασι προσθέντα γε αὑτὸν τοῖς ἀπ’ ἐκείνων. καὶ γάρ, εἰ μὴ λέγεις, ἀλλὰ βεβοήθηκας. καὶ πρέπει ἂν σοὶ μὲν τοῦτο μὴ λέγειν, ἐμοὶ δὲ λέγειν. ὁ γὰρ εὖ παθὼν οὐκ ὢν κακὸς τοῦτο ποιήσει. 5. ἐγὼ δέ σε καὶ ἀπόντα φιλεῖν εἶχον ἐν τῷ σῷ παιδὶ καὶ προσάγων τῷ Πρόκλου στόματι τοὐμὸν ἀμφοτέρους ἡγούμην φιλεῖν καὶ τῇ γε ἐμαυτοῦ συνέχαιρον οὕτως ὑμᾶς ἀμειβομένῃ νικώσῃ πάντα τὰ πρὸς ἄρχοντας αὐτῇ πεπραγμένα καὶ μάλα εἰκότως· καὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς τοῖς ὑμετέροις αὐτῶν τὰ τῶν ἄλλων εἰς ταύτην.