To Olympius. (359)
It was good of you to acquit me of blame in the very act of accusing me. For by saying you would not be surprised if a man so disloyal to his friends failed to write to them, you gave yourself grounds to attack my character, but you can no longer complain about not receiving letters. After all, being wicked is Eurybatus's specialty [a proverbially treacherous man], thieving is Autolycus's, foolishness is Melitides', and being disloyal to friends is apparently mine.
So when you have cured me of my wickedness -- for you have a craft that works on souls no less than on bodies -- then you may blame me for my silence. It would truly be outrageous if I were a good man and behaved this way. But as long as you tolerate me wallowing in wickedness, put up with its consequences too.
**To Olympius** (359)
You did well to acquit us of the charge in the very act of laying it. For by saying that you would not be surprised if I, being a bad man toward my friends, failed to write to my friends, you may indeed prosecute me as a scoundrel, but you can no longer reproach me for not sending letters. For just as villainy belongs to Eurybatus, thievery to Autolycus, and foolishness to Melitides, so too, if I am wicked, wronging my friends belongs to me.
When, therefore, you have cured me of my wickedness — for you possess an art that heals the soul no less than the body — then blame my silence. For it would truly be terrible if I, being a good man, were to behave in such a way. But so long as you look on while I overflow with wickedness, you must endure what wickedness produces.
It was good of you to acquit me of blame in the very act of accusing me. For by saying you would not be surprised if a man so disloyal to his friends failed to write to them, you gave yourself grounds to attack my character, but you can no longer complain about not receiving letters. After all, being wicked is Eurybatus's specialty [a proverbially treacherous man], thieving is Autolycus's, foolishness is Melitides', and being disloyal to friends is apparently mine.
So when you have cured me of my wickedness -- for you have a craft that works on souls no less than on bodies -- then you may blame me for my silence. It would truly be outrageous if I were a good man and behaved this way. But as long as you tolerate me wallowing in wickedness, put up with its consequences too.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.