Letter 72
Julian the Apostate→Plutarch|julian emperor
To Plutarch.
My physical health is reasonably good, and my state of mind is no less satisfactory. I think there can be no better opening to a letter between friends. And where does this lead? To a request, of course. And what is the request? Letters in return — and may their sentiments match mine, and may they bring me equally happy news about you.
To Plutarch 1
In all respects my bodily health is fairly good, and indeed my state of mind is no less satisfactory. I fancy there can be no better prelude than this to a letter sent from one friend to another. And to what is this the prelude? To a request, of course! And what is the request? It is for letters in return, and in their sentiments may they harmonise with my own letters and bring me similar news from you, and equally auspicious.
1 This may be the obscure Athenian philosopher, a contemporary of Julian; cf.
Marinus, Proclus 12.
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To Plutarch.
My physical health is reasonably good, and my state of mind is no less satisfactory. I think there can be no better opening to a letter between friends. And where does this lead? To a request, of course. And what is the request? Letters in return — and may their sentiments match mine, and may they bring me equally happy news about you.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.