Ep. XIII.

I approve the statement of Theognis, who, while not praising the friendship which goes no further than cups and pleasures, praises that which extends to actions in these words,

Beside a full wine cup a man has many friends:

But they are fewer when grave troubles press.

We, however, have not shared winecups with each other, nor indeed have we often met (though we ought to have been very careful to do so, both for our own sake, and for the sake of the friendship which we inherited from our fathers), but we do ask for the goodwill which shews itself in acts.  A struggle is at hand, and a very serious struggle.  My son Nicobulus has got into unexpected troubles, from a quarter from which troubles would least be looked for.  Therefore I beg you to come and help us as soon as you can, both to take part in trying the case, and to plead our cause, if you find that a wrong is being done us.  But if you cannot come, at any rate do not let yourself be previously retained by the other side, or sell for a small gain the freedom which we know from everybody’s testimony has always characterized you.

[13] ΑΜΦΙΛΟΧΙΩΙ

Ἐπαινῶ τὸ Θεόγνιδος, ὃς τὴν μέχρι πότων καὶ τοῦ ἡδέος φιλίαν οὐκ ἐπαινῶν, ἐπαινεῖ τὴν ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων: τί γράφων;

Πολλοὶ πὰρ κρητῆρι φίλοι γίνονται ἑταῖροι, ἐν δὲ σπουδαίῳ πρήγματι, παυρότεροι.

Ἡμεῖς τοίνυν κρατήρων μὲν ἀλλήλοις οὐ κεκοινωνήκαμεν, οὐδὲ γὰρ πολλὰ συγγεγόναμεν ἀλλήλοις (καίτοι χρῆν παντὸς μᾶλλον, καὶ δι' ἡμᾶς αὐτούς, καὶ διὰ τὴν ἐκ πατέρων φιλίαν), τὴν ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων δ' ἀπαιτοῦμεν εὔνοιαν. Ἐγγὺς ἀγών, καὶ ἀγώνων ὁ μέγιστος: ὁ γὰρ υἱὸς ἡμῶν Νικόβουλος ἐν ταραχαῖς ἀδοκήτοις, παρ' ὧν ἥκιστ' ἂν ᾠήθη τις ἔχων πράγματα. Διὰ τοῦτ' ἀξιοῦμέν σε παρεῖναι καὶ βοηθεῖν ἡμῖν ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ συνδικάσοντα καὶ συνηγορήσοντα, εἰ εὕροις ἀδικουμένους: εἰ δ' οὖν, μὴ προληφθῆναι τῷ ἐναντίῳ μέρει κέρδους μικροῦ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἀποδόμενον, ἣν ἀεί σοι μαρτυρηθεῖσαν παρὰ πάντων γινώσκομεν.