Letter CCLXXV.1495    Placed at the same time as the preceding.

Without address.  Concerning Hera.

You have anticipated my entreaties in your affection for my very reverend brother Hera, and you have been better to him than I could have prayed for you to be in the abundant honour which you have shewn him, and the protection which you have extended to him on every occasion.  But I cannot allow his affairs to go unnoticed by a word, and I must beseech your excellency that for my sake you will add something to the interest you have shewn in him, and will send him back to his own country victorious over the revilings of his enemies.  Now many are trying to insult the peacefulness of his life, and he is not beyond the reach of envy’s shafts.  Against his foes we shall find one sure means of safety, if you will consent to extend your protection over him.

ΑΝΕΠΙΓΡΑΦΟΣ ΠΕΡΙ ΗΡΑ

[1] Προέλαβες τὰς παρ' ἡμῶν παρακλήσεις ἐν τῇ πρὸς τὸν αἰδεσιμώτατον ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν Ἥραν διαθέσει καὶ γέγονας αὐτῷ εὐχῆς ἀμείνων τῶν τε τιμῶν ταῖς ὑπερβολαῖς αἷς εἰς αὐτὸν ἐπεδείξω καὶ ταῖς ἐφ' ἑκάστου καιροῦ προστασίαις. Ὅμως δὲ καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἐπειδὴ σιωπῇ φέρειν τὰ κατ' αὐτὸν οὐ δυνάμεθα, παρακαλοῦμέν σου τὴν ἀνυπέρβλητον τιμιότητα καὶ εἰς ἡμετέραν χάριν προσθεῖναι τῇ εἰς τὸν ἄνδρα σπουδῇ καὶ ἀποπέμψαι αὐτὸν τῇ πατρίδι κρείττονα τῆς παρὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ ἐπηρείας, ἐπεὶ νῦν γε οὐκ ἔξω ἐστὶ βελῶν τοῦ φθόνου, πολλῶν αὐτοῦ ἐπηρεάζειν ἐπιχειρούντων τῇ ἀπραγμοσύνῃ τοῦ βίου. Πρὸς οὓς μίαν εὑρήσομεν ἀσφάλειαν ἄρρηκτον, εἰ αὐτὸς ὑπερσχεῖν τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς θελήσειας.