Letter 62

To the General. Praise is the reward of virtue, and we offer it now to the most illustrious Marcellinus [a man of senatorial rank], at this moment when he is leaving his post — precisely when there can be no suspicion of flattery. When he arrived here, he found our cities attacked from without by hordes of barbarians and from within by the indiscipline of the troops and the greed of their commanders. Marcellinus appeared among us like a god. He defeated the enemy in a single day's fighting, and through his constant vigilance he brought our own forces into line. Out of both disasters, he forged peace for our cities. He claimed none of the profits that custom has made to seem legitimate. He did not scheme to rob the rich or oppress the poor. He showed himself pious toward God, just toward his fellow citizens, and compassionate to those who begged for mercy. For these reasons, a philosopher-priest is not ashamed to praise him — a priest from whom no one has ever purchased a favorable testimonial. I wish the courts of law had been present so that all of us in Ptolemais, collectively and individually, could have given him the kind of recognition that is in our power, however inadequate — since words always fall short of deeds. I would gladly have made a speech on behalf of us all. But since today he has already crossed the frontier, we dedicate this testimonial in the form of a letter — not as people soliciting a favor, but as people who have received one.

Letter 62: A Farewell [1] To the General Praise is the reward of virtue, which we offer to the most illustrious note [A translation of clarissimus , the title of a man of senatorial rank.] Marcellinus at this moment when he is leaving his post, at this moment when suspicion of every flattery is in abeyance. When he arrived here, he found our cities attacked from without by the multitude and rage of the barbarians , from within by the lack of discipline of the troops and the rapacity of their commanders. Marcellinus appeared in our midst as a god. He vanquished the enemy in a single day's fighting, and by his continual alertness he has brought our subjects into line. He has thus out of both calamities brought peace to our cities. [2] Nor did he claim any of those profits that usage has made to appear lawful; he has not plotted to despoil the rich or ill-treat the poor. He has shown himself pious towards God, just towards his fellow citizens, considerate to suppliants. [3] On this account a philosopher priest is not ashamed to praise him, a priest from whom no one ever received a testimonial bought by favor. We wish that the courts of law also were present with us, so that, collectively and individually, all we inhabitants of Ptolemais might have presented him in return with such a testimonial as is in our power, however inadequate, for words are somehow far inferior to deeds. I would most willingly have made a speech on the occasion in behalf of us all. [4] But since today he is beyond the frontier, we wish at all events to dedicate to him our testimony in the form of a letter, not as those from whom a favor is solicited, but as those who have solicited one.