Ep. XXXIX.

I wish well to all my friends.  And when I speak of friends, I mean honourable and good men, linked with me in virtue, if indeed I myself have any claim to it.  Therefore at the present time when seeking how I might do a kindness to my excellent brother Amazonius (for I was very much pleased with the man in some intercourse which has lately taken place between us), I thought I might return him one favour for all,—in your friendship and protection.  For in a short time he shewed proof of an extensive education, both of the kind which I used once to be very zealous for, when I was shortsighted, and of that for which I am zealous in its place since I have been able to contemplate the summit of virtue.  Whether I in my turn have appeared to him to be worth anything in respect of virtue is his affair.  At any rate I shewed him the best things I have, namely, my friends to him as my friend.  Of these I reckon you as the first and truest, and want you to shew yourself so to him—as your common Country demands, and my desire and promise begs; for I promised him your patronage in return for all his kindness.

[39] ΣΩΦΡΟΝΙΩΙ

Πάντα τοῖς φίλοις βούλομαι δεξιά. Φίλους δ' ὅταν εἴπω, τοὺς καλοὺς λέγω καὶ ἀγαθοὺς καὶ κατ' ἀρετὴν ἡμῖν συναπτομένους, ἐπειδή τι καὶ αὐτοὶ ταύτης μεταποιούμεθα. Ταῦτά τοι καὶ νῦν ζητήσας τί μέγιστον ἂν χαρισαίμην τῷ αἰδεσιμωτάτῳ ἀδελφῷ ἡμῶν Ἀμαζονίῳ (καὶ γὰρ ἥσθην τῷ ἀνδρὶ διαφερόντως ἐκ τῆς ἔναγχός μοι γεγενημένης πρὸς αὐτὸν συνουσίας), ἓν ἀντὶ πάντων αὐτῷ χαρίσασθαι δεῖν ᾠήθην, τὴν σὴν φιλίαν καὶ προστασίαν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ πολλὴν ἐν βραχεῖ τὴν παίδευσιν ἐπεδείξατο, τήν τε σπουδασθεῖσαν ἡμῖν ποτε, ὅτε μικρὸν διεβλέπομεν, καὶ τὴν νῦν ἀντ' ἐκείνης σπουδαζομένην, ὅτε πρὸς τὸ τῆς ἀρετῆς ὕψος ἐβλέψαμεν. Ἡμεῖς δ' εἰ μέν τι καὶ κατ' ἀρετὴν ἐφάνημεν ὄντες αὐτῷ, αὐτὸς ἂν εἰδείη: τὸ δ' οὖν κάλλιστον ὧν ἔχομεν ἀντεπιδεικνύμεθα, τῷ φίλῳ τοὺς φίλους: ὧν σε πρῶτον καὶ γνήσιον εἶναι τιθέμενοι, τοιοῦτον αὐτῷ φανῆναι βουλόμεθα, οἷον ἥ τε κοινὴ πατρὶς ἀπαιτεῖ καὶ ὁ ἡμέτερος βούλεται πόθος καὶ λόγος, ἀντὶ πάντων αὐτῷ τὴν σὴν κηδεμονίαν ὑποσχομένων.