From: Libanius, rhetorician in Antioch
To: Cratinus
Date: ~359 AD
Context: A witty letter about a son's resemblance to his father, drawing on Homer's Odyssey.
Not even Helen, when she recognized Odysseus's son Telemachus by his appearance, nor Menelaus, who confirmed his wife's observation by describing the hands, the feet, the eyes, and everything else he mentions -- neither of them insulted the young man or his father. In fact, I think Odysseus would have been no less pleased to hear this than he was to have sacked the sacred citadel of Troy [a direct Homeric quotation]. And you surely know of another man who considered it a mark of happiness when children resemble their parents.
So what were you looking at when you took offense at my remark about the nose? I wrote it to make you happy, but it seems I'm some kind of boor and ignoramus.
Consider, then, whether you'd like some of this ignorance of mine to rub off on your son. I'm perfectly willing to share what I have -- but whether the gift is a help or a hindrance to the recipient, the good Cratinus can decide for himself.
**To Cratinus** (359)
But surely neither Helen, when she recognized the father in Telemachus by the young man's appearance, nor Menelaus, when he agreed with his wife and spoke of the hands and feet and eyes and all the rest that he mentions — neither of them was insulting the youth or his father. Indeed, it seems to me that Odysseus would have been no less pleased to hear such things than he was that he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy. And you know, of course, that another man too counted it a mark of happiness that children should resemble their parents.
So what were you thinking when you took offense at my remark about the nose? I wrote it to give you pleasure, but it seems I am some sort of boor and ignoramus.
Consider, then, whether it would suit you to pass some of this boorishness of mine along to your son — for I am eager to share what I possess, but whether the gift is no harm to the one who receives it, let the good Cratinus decide.
Context:A witty letter about a son's resemblance to his father, drawing on Homer's Odyssey.
Not even Helen, when she recognized Odysseus's son Telemachus by his appearance, nor Menelaus, who confirmed his wife's observation by describing the hands, the feet, the eyes, and everything else he mentions -- neither of them insulted the young man or his father. In fact, I think Odysseus would have been no less pleased to hear this than he was to have sacked the sacred citadel of Troy [a direct Homeric quotation]. And you surely know of another man who considered it a mark of happiness when children resemble their parents.
So what were you looking at when you took offense at my remark about the nose? I wrote it to make you happy, but it seems I'm some kind of boor and ignoramus.
Consider, then, whether you'd like some of this ignorance of mine to rub off on your son. I'm perfectly willing to share what I have -- but whether the gift is a help or a hindrance to the recipient, the good Cratinus can decide for himself.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.