To Cratinus. (359)
But not even Helen, when she discovered the father of Telemachus [Odysseus] in the form of Telemachus, nor indeed Menelaus, agreeing with his wife and speaking about the hands and feet and eyes and the other things that he in fact mentions, insults either the young man himself or that man's father; rather, it seems to me that Odysseus would have been no less delighted to hear these things than that he had sacked the holy citadel of Troy. And you know too, I suppose, of yet another man who counted it a portion of happiness that children should resemble their parents.
With what in view, then, did you fasten upon the talk about the nose? For I wrote this in order to give you pleasure, yet I seem to be a sort of clumsy and ignorant fellow.
Consider, therefore, whether it will be well for you that some of this want of education should pass over into your son; for I am eager to share what I possess, but if for the one who receives it the receiving is no harm, let the noble Cratinus consider it.
**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.
But not even Helen, when she discovered the father of Telemachus [Odysseus] in the form of Telemachus, nor indeed Menelaus, agreeing with his wife and speaking about the hands and feet and eyes and the other things that he in fact mentions, insults either the young man himself or that man's father; rather, it seems to me that Odysseus would have been no less delighted to hear these things than that he had sacked the holy citadel of Troy. And you know too, I suppose, of yet another man who counted it a portion of happiness that children should resemble their parents.
With what in view, then, did you fasten upon the talk about the nose? For I wrote this in order to give you pleasure, yet I seem to be a sort of clumsy and ignorant fellow.
Consider, therefore, whether it will be well for you that some of this want of education should pass over into your son; for I am eager to share what I possess, but if for the one who receives it the receiving is no harm, let the noble Cratinus consider it.
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.