Letter 505

To Florentius. I spent only a little time in your company, owing to my preoccupation with my teaching, and I count it as a real loss that I did not become one of your close acquaintances long ago. Now I am pursuing your friendship through letters -- not to exploit your influence, which would be the act of a merchant rather than someone genuinely seeking friendship, but so that a truly good man does not slip through my fingers, and so I am not left embarrassed when people praise you and I cannot say, "Yes, that fine man is my friend." You should know: most people consider you fortunate on account of the usual things -- birth, wealth, and the office you hold. I do not dismiss those, but what I truly admire is that amid all of this you remain self-controlled, and that you enjoy a reputation for integrity without a single dissenting voice. That is a rare thing for someone in your position -- universal praise. A man with power inevitably annoys some people. To this day, I have heard nothing but praise of you, and nothing of the other kind -- nor may I ever. I pray that you continue to be good, and I share that prayer with my dear friend Spectatus. The two of us are to each other what Heracles and Theseus were to each other [inseparable legendary heroes]: whatever brings honor to one belongs to both. Let it be a mark of your good character that you reply to this letter with one of your own. But if that is too much trouble, simply being willing to be a friend requires no effort at all. So if you care for me but do not write -- that will be enough.

Φλωρεντίῳ. (356/57) ἐγώ σοι μικρὰ συγγενόμενος διὰ τὴν ἐν λόγοις ἀσχο- λίαν, ὅτι γε μὴ πάλαι σοι τῶν πάνυ συνήθων γέγονα, βε- βλάφθαι φημὶ καὶ νῦν ἀπὸ γραμμάτων τὴν φιλίαν θηρεύω, οὐχ ὅπως σου καρπωσαίμην τὴν δύναμιν, ἐμπόρου γὰρ τοῦτό γε καὶ οὐ φιλίας ἐπιθυμοῦντος, ἀλλ’ ἵνα μή με καλὸς κἀγαθὸς ἀνὴρ διαφύγῃ κἀν τοῖς ἐπαίνοις τοῖς περὶ σοῦ καταδύωμαι μὴ ἔχων λέγαν ὅτι οὗτος ὁ τοιοῦτος ἐμοὶ φίλος. εὖ γὰρ ἴσθι, τοῖς μὲν πολλοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων εὐδαίμων εἶναι δοκεῖς, γένους δὴ λέγω καὶ πλούτου καὶ τάξεως, ἐφ’ ἦς σὺ βέβηκας· ἐγὼ δὲ οὐδὲ ταῦτα μὲν ἀτιμάζω, μακαρίζω δὲ τὸ καὶ ἐν τού- τοις εἰδέναι σωφρονεῖν καὶ πολλῆς εὐφημίας τυγχάνειν. χα- λεπὸν γὰρ οὗπερ σὺ τεταγμένον πάντας ἐπαινέτας λαβεῖν. ἀνάγκη γὰρ τὸν ἐν δυνάμει καὶ λυπεῖν τινας. ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ μέχρι τῆσδε τῆς ἡμέρας ἐπαίνων μὲν σῶν ἀκροατὴς γέγονα, τῶν δὲ ἑτέρων οὔτε ἐγενόμην μήτε γενοίμην. εὐχόμενος δέ σε μένειν ἀγαθὸν καὶ τῷ καλῷ Σπεκτάτῳ συνεύχομαι. πρὸς γὰρ ἀλλήλους ἡμεῖς ὅπερ Ἡρακλῆς καὶ Θησεὺς πρὸς ἀλλή- λους, ὥσθ’ ὅτι ἂν θατέρῳ καλὸν ᾖ, τοῦτ’ ἀμφοῖν ἐστι. γε- νέσθω δή σου τῆς καλοκἀγαθίας τὸ καὶ τῶν γραμμάτων ἀντι- δοῦναι γράμματα. εἰ δὲ τοῦτο ἐπίπονον, ἀλλὰ τό γε φιλεῖν ἐθέλειν πόνον οὐκ ἔχει, ὥστ’ ἂν φιλῶν μὴ γράφῃς, ἀρκέσει.