Letter 461
Libanius→Hierocles|libanius
To Hierocles. (355/56)
You inherited very little from your father, and what you earned by pleading cases you spent as a judge — so instead of gold, you have reputation.
Where, then, did you get the gold you sent me? If you stumbled on a treasure, say so and I will accept it. If you have not, I will accept it when you do.
Ἱεροκλεῖ. (355/56)
Σὺ πατρῴων μὲν πάνυ μικρῶν ἐκληρονόμησας χρημα΄-
των, ἃ δὲ δίκας λέγων εἰργάσω, δικάζων ἀνήλωκας καί σοι
σύνεστιν ἀντὶ χρυσίου δόξα.
πόθεν οὖν μοι πέπομφας τὸ
χρυσίον; εἰ μὲν ἐντυχὼν θησαυρῷ, φράζε καὶ δεξόμεθα· εἰ δ
οὐκ ἐντυχών, ἐπειδὰν ἐντύχῃς, δεξόμεθα.
◆
To Hierocles. (355/56)
You inherited very little from your father, and what you earned by pleading cases you spent as a judge — so instead of gold, you have reputation.
Where, then, did you get the gold you sent me? If you stumbled on a treasure, say so and I will accept it. If you have not, I will accept it when you do.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.