Letter CLXXX.856    Of the same date.

To the Master Sophronius, on behalf of Eunathius.

I have been much distressed on meeting a worthy man involved in very great trouble.  Being human, how could I fail to sympathise with a man of high character afflicted beyond his deserts?  On thinking in what way I could be useful to him, I did find one means of helping him out of his difficulties, and that is by making him known to your excellency.  It is now for you to extend also to him the same good offices which, as I can testify, you have shown to many.  You will learn all the facts of the case from the petition presented by him to the emperors.  This document I beg you to take into your hands, and implore you to help him to the utmost of your power.  You will be helping a Christian, a gentleman, and one whose deep learning ought to win respect.  If I add that in helping him you will confer a great kindness upon me, though, indeed, my interests are matters of small moment, yet, since you are always so good as to make them of importance, your boon to me will be no small one.

ΣΩΦΡΟΝΙῼ ΜΑΓΙΣΤΡῼ ΕΥΜΑΘΙΟΥ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ

[1] Ἀνδρὶ ἀξιολόγῳ περιτυχὼν περιστάσει οὐκ ἀνεκτῇ κεχρημένῳ ἔπαθον τὴν ψυχήν. Τί γὰρ οὐκ ἔμελλον, ἄνθρωπος ὤν, ἀνθρώπῳ ἐλευθέρῳ παρ' ἀξίαν ἐμπεπλεγμένῳ πράγμασι συναλγεῖν; Καὶ βουλευσάμενος πῶς ἂν γενοίμην αὐτῷ χρήσιμος μίαν εὗρον λύσιν τῆς κατεχούσης αὐτὸν δυσχερείας, εἰ τῇ σῇ κοσμιότητι ποιήσαιμι γνώριμον. Σὸν οὖν τὸ ἐφεξῆς τὴν σαυτοῦ σπουδήν, ἣν εἰς πολλοὺς ὑφ' ἡμῖν μάρτυσιν ἐπιδέδειξαι, καὶ αὐτῷ παρασχέσθαι. Τὸ δὲ πρᾶγμα γνωρίσει ἡ ἐπιδοθεῖσα παρ' αὐτοῦ δέησις τοῖς Βασιλεῦσιν, ἣν καὶ λαβεῖν εἰς χεῖρας καὶ συμπράξαι τῷ ἀνδρὶ τὰ δυνατὰ παρακλήθητι. Καὶ γὰρ χριστιανῷ χαρίζῃ καὶ εὐγενεῖ καὶ ἀπὸ λόγου πολλοῦ τὸ αἰδέσιμον ἐπαγομένῳ. Ἐὰν δὲ προσθῶμεν ὅτι καὶ ἡμεῖς μεγάλην διὰ τῆς εἰς αὐτὸν εὐποιίας ὑποδεχόμεθα χάριν, πάντως, κἂν μικρὸν ᾖ ἄλλως τὸ ἡμέτερον, ἀλλὰ τῇ σῇ σεμνότητι ἀεὶ ἐν λόγῳ ποιεῖσθαι τὰ καθ' ἡμᾶς ἀνεχομένῃ οὐ μικρὸν φανεῖται τὸ χαρισθὲν ἡμῖν.