Letter 133: It isn't the letter-writing that needs forgiveness -- it's your failure to write that would have required it.

To Hypatius. (358) It is not the writing of a letter that deserves to be pardoned; rather, if you had not done this, then you would reasonably be asking for pardon. For it was not so that you might keep silent that either you toiled over eloquence or I toiled over you; but the hopes of your speaking persuaded me to bear those labors. So make use of this possession in your other affairs and in writing letters as well. For you do it well, and you will do it still better, provided you do not cease doing it. You seem to me to confirm the saying I have often spoken, that you are my son, not merely my pupil. At any rate, you give heed to Solon, and you nourish your father now that you are released from the schoolrooms. But grant me this too: run to us, not as one who will linger, but as one who will do a favor for however long you keep company with us; and at the same time you will set right our affairs, if anything should require authority. In considering Bacchius a friend, you are not ill-advised. Come, then, for the sake of this friend, and indeed for the sake of yet another friend. For I would not wish Euagoras to be superior to you in matters of love, seeing that he, having escaped his father's hands, has come from Cilicia in search of you, while you, being your own free man, will not stir yourself from Berroea.

**To Hypatius** (358) It is not the writing of a letter that deserves pardon — rather, had you *not* done so, that is when you would rightly have begged forgiveness. For it was not so that you might keep silent that you labored at eloquence, nor I at training you; no, it was the hope that you would one day speak that persuaded us to endure all that toil. So make use of your acquisition in all other matters, and in letter-writing too. For you do it well, and you will do it still better if you do not leave off. You seem to me, moreover, to confirm what I have often said — that you are my *child*, not merely my student. At any rate, you heed Solon's precept and nourish your father now that you have left the schoolroom. But grant me this favor as well: run to visit us — not for a long stay, but to gladden me for whatever time you can spend with us. And at the same time, if any of your affairs should need the intervention of the governor, you will set them right. In counting Bacchius a friend you show good judgment. Come, then, for the sake of this friend — and indeed for the sake of another friend besides. For I should not wish Evagoras to outdo you in devotion: he, after all, escaped his father's clutches and came all the way from Cilicia seeking you, yet you, a free man, will not bestir yourself from Beroea?

Ὑπατίῳ. (358) Οὐ τὸ ἐπιστεῖλαι συγγνώμης ἄξιον, ἀλλ’ εἰ μὴ τοῦτο ἐποίεις, τότ’ ἂν εἰκότως ᾐτοῦ συγγνώμην. οὐ γὰρ ὅπως σι- γῴης, οὔτε σὺ περὶ τοὺς λόγους ἐπόνεις οὔτ’ ἐγὼ περὶ σέ, ἀλλ’ αἱ τοῦ λέξειν ἐλπίδες ἔπειθον ἐκεῖνα φέρειν. ἔν τε οὖν τοῖς ἄλλοις χρῶ τῷ κτήματι καὶ ἐπιστέλλων. καλῶς γὰρ αὐτὸ ποιεῖς καὶ ἔτι ποιήσεις κάλλιον, ἢν μὴ παύσῃ ποιῶν. ἔοικας δέ μοι βεβαιοῦν τὸν λόγον, ὃν πολλάκις ἔφην, ὡς ἐμὸς σὺ παῖς, οὐχὶ μαθητὴς μόνον. τοῦ γοῦν Σόλωνος ἀκού- εις καὶ τρέφεις τὸν πατέρα διδασκαλείων ἀπαλλαγείς. ἀλλά μοι καὶ τοῦτο χάρισαι· δράμε παρ’ ἡμᾶς, οὐχ ὡς διατρίψων, ἀλλ’ ὡς ὅσον ἂν συγγένῃ χαριούμενος, ἅμα δὲ καὶ τῶν πραγ- μάτων, εἴ τι δέοιτο τῆς ἀρχῆς, ἐπανορθώσεις. Βάκχιον δὲ φίλον ἡγούμενος οὐ κακῶς φρονεῖς. ἧκε οὖν διὰ τοῦτον τὸν φίλον, καὶ ἔτι γε δι’ ἄλλον φίλον. οὐ γὰρ ἂν βουλοίμην Εὐα- γόραν ἐν τοῖς ἐρωτικοῖς εἶναί σου κρείττονα, εἴ γε ὁ μὲν πατρὸς διαφυγὼν χεῖρας ἐκ Κιλικίας ἀφῖκται σὲ ζητῶν σὺ δὲ ὢν ἐλεύθερος ἐκ Βερροίας οὐ κινήσῃ.