Letter 83
Synesius of Cyrene→Chryses|synesius cyrene
friendshiphumor
To Chryses.
I am not recommending the charming Gerontius to your friendship merely because he is related to my children — although that alone would be reason enough. I recommend him because he is worthy of the golden Chryses in his character, if I may indulge a cold Gorgian pun on your name. Receive him well.
Letter 83: A Recommendation
[1] To Chryses
Not because this charming Gerontius is related to my children, do I recommend the young man to your friendship, although that in itself would be the best of reasons. It is rather because he is worthy of the golden Chryses in his manners, if I must express myself with the cold wit of a Gorgias. [2] To say of you that you are included in the sphere of every virtue, and that the man who is to hand you this letter is more worthy to enjoy intimacy with you, is the very truth.
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To Chryses.
I am not recommending the charming Gerontius to your friendship merely because he is related to my children — although that alone would be reason enough. I recommend him because he is worthy of the golden Chryses in his character, if I may indulge a cold Gorgian pun on your name. Receive him well.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.