To Nicocles. (363 AD)
It is obvious that in every city you passed through, you filled them all with talk about me. For here too, when you began doing this, you filled every ear — willing and unwilling alike — pleasing some and annoying others. So I would be surprised if you did not shout similar things even to the farmers cutting their furrows up to the highway.
To me, these praises are worth more than the tithe of Syracuse, though somewhat less than what the god said to your lawgiver [Lycurgus]. For since you would never flatter — you would not flatter even a king's fortune, let alone a sophist — and since you could never fail to recognize beauty or ugliness in speech, how can your praise not make the one praised great and illustrious among the company of Greeks?
We in turn never cease praising you, but we do something like a man who, having borrowed wheat, repays in barley with the same measure — he has kept the measure, but has not repaid in full.
For not even that Spartan I just mentioned, honored by the oracle — if he had adorned the Pythian god in return with verses, it would not have been equal, not even if the verses were very many.
Here, then, we fall short. But in affection we either win or at least are not defeated. And I have reached such confidence in you and belief that I would obtain anything, that I send our friends who travel there and need allies to your door, knowing you will imitate my attitude toward them but employ greater power.
As for the man who brings you this letter, do not consider him one of the common sort — he is no different to me than a son. The reason is his fairness, his sense of respect, and his having won the praise of the elders, first and foremost my uncle, whom if you know, you would know this man too — for my uncle would never have admired one who was not good.
Modestus also cares for this young man — at first because I asked him to, but after experience, on his own account. You will see him showing a father's devotion to this Hyperechius, but there is nothing like the patronage of the divine Nicocles — for Modestus too will praise him eagerly if he learns it will also please you. Let this man hear plainly from your own mouth that in approaching you he will not be a nuisance — or rather, that if he conducts any of his affairs through someone else, you will consider yourself wronged and will demand satisfaction from him.
It is obvious that in every city you passed through, you filled them all with talk about me. For here too, when you began doing this, you filled every ear — willing and unwilling alike — pleasing some and annoying others. So I would be surprised if you did not shout similar things even to the farmers cutting their furrows up to the highway.
To me, these praises are worth more than the tithe of Syracuse, though somewhat less than what the god said to your lawgiver [Lycurgus]. For since you would never flatter — you would not flatter even a king's fortune, let alone a sophist — and since you could never fail to recognize beauty or ugliness in speech, how can your praise not make the one praised great and illustrious among the company of Greeks?
We in turn never cease praising you, but we do something like a man who, having borrowed wheat, repays in barley with the same measure — he has kept the measure, but has not repaid in full.
For not even that Spartan I just mentioned, honored by the oracle — if he had adorned the Pythian god in return with verses, it would not have been equal, not even if the verses were very many.
Here, then, we fall short. But in affection we either win or at least are not defeated. And I have reached such confidence in you and belief that I would obtain anything, that I send our friends who travel there and need allies to your door, knowing you will imitate my attitude toward them but employ greater power.
As for the man who brings you this letter, do not consider him one of the common sort — he is no different to me than a son. The reason is his fairness, his sense of respect, and his having won the praise of the elders, first and foremost my uncle, whom if you know, you would know this man too — for my uncle would never have admired one who was not good.
Modestus also cares for this young man — at first because I asked him to, but after experience, on his own account. You will see him showing a father's devotion to this Hyperechius, but there is nothing like the patronage of the divine Nicocles — for Modestus too will praise him eagerly if he learns it will also please you. Let this man hear plainly from your own mouth that in approaching you he will not be a nuisance — or rather, that if he conducts any of his affairs through someone else, you will consider yourself wronged and will demand satisfaction from him.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.