Letter 686

To Chromatios. (361/62) I have loved and admired you since those days when Klematios — that man who, after a just life, met an unjust end — returned from his governorship among you and praised Palestine at length, but defined the crown of its virtues as your character. When I hear of a man's excellence — and I am a lover of such things — I was moved and ready to write. Then somehow I lost the impulse. But now I make amends, and as an old friend I immediately offer a favor, persuading myself that you will grant it rather than blame me. This man Bassos, now over twenty years old, a poor man of a poor father, came to me from Phoenicia out of desire for learning. Knowing how to work hard and shunning pleasures, he acquired such skill that I hesitate to praise it, though to you it may seem no small thing. He recently appeared in his homeland and among the other Phoenicians and was recognized as a rhetor. Now he wishes to tour Palestine, and believes that if he could anchor himself with you and travel to others with your letters of introduction, he would have everywhere, through you, the same standing he would have among your people. Be a harbor, then, to a man who knows how to speak, to love, and to remember a kindness. We shall praise you — though of course you do everything for the sake of praise, which is why your name is distinguished, since in wealth many surpass you.

Χρωματίῳ. (361/62) Ἐγώ σε ἐξ ἐκείνων καὶ φιλῶ καὶ θαυμάζω τῶν χρόνων, ἐν οἷς ἀπὸ τῆς παρ’ ὑμῖν ἀρχῆς ἥκων Κλημάτιος ἐκεῖνος, ὃς ἐπὶ δικαίῳ βίῳ τελευτὴν οὐ δικαίαν ἐδέξατο πολλὰ μὲν τὴν Παλαιστίνην ἐπῄνει, κεφάλαιον δὲ τῶν καλῶν τὴν σὴν ὡρίζετο φύσιν. ἐγὼ δὲ ἀκούων ἀνδρὸς ἀρετήν, εἰμὶ ἴε τῶν τοιού- των ἐρωτικός, ἐκινούμην τε καὶ οἷος ἦν ἐπιστέλλειν. ἔπειτ᾿ οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅπως ἀφῃρέθην τὴν ὁρμήν. ἀλλὰ νῦν ἀποδίδωμι καὶ δῆτα ὡς παλαιὸς φίλος εὐθὺς ἐπαγγέλλω χάριν πείθων ἐμαυ- τὸν ὡς οὐ μέμψῃ μᾶλλον ἢ δώσεις. Βάσσος οὗτος ἤδη γεγονὼς ὑπὲρ εἴκοσιν ἴτη, πένης πένητος πατρός, ἦλθεν ἐκ Φοινίκης παρ’ ἐμὲ κατὰ λόγων ἐπιθυμίαν, εἰδὼς δὲ πονεῖν καὶ φεύγων ἡδονὰς ἐκτήσατο τοσοῦτον ὅσον ἐγὼ μὲν ἐπαινεῖν ὀκνῶ, σοὶ δὲ ἴσως οὐ μικρὸν δόξει. τῇ μὲν οὖν πατρίδι μικρὸν ἔμπροσθεν ἐφάνη καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις Φοίνιξι καὶ ῥήτωρ ἐνομίσθη νῦν δ’ ἐπελθεῖν ἐθέλων τὴν Παλαιστίνην, εἰ παρὰ σοί τε ὁρμίσαιτο καὶ μετὰ σῶν γραμμάτων ἔλθοι παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους ὅσονπερ παρ’ ὑμὶν, τοσοῦτον ἕξειν ἡγεῖται πανταχοῦ διὰ σοῦ. γενοῦ δὴ λιμὴν ἀνθρώπῳ καὶ λέγειν εἰδότι καὶ φιλεῖν καὶ μεμνῆσθαι χάριτος· ἡμεῖς δέ σε ἐπαινεσόμεθα. πάντως δὲ ὑπὲρ ἐπαίνου πάντα ποιεῖς, ὅθεν σοι κοὶ τοὔνομα λαμπρόν, ἐπεὶ χρημάτων γε μεγέθει πολλοί σε νικῶσιν.