Letter 155: We have received a wonderful report about both of you -- Hypatius and yourself -- and you should know that you fully...

To Andronicus. (358-361) Concerning you both, Hypatius and yourself, we have received a marvelous report, and you know what this is that you two are called: governors in the strict sense. We therefore rejoice together with those who are preserved by you, and you, as is fitting, with one another: the one, because such a man as he tends his native city on his behalf; you, because you govern a city that has brought forth such a man. But I was astonished that he needed any exhortation from me to you toward the care of his own affairs. For if, being well treated, he did this so that you might learn that you are also doing a favor to me, he acted rightly; but if, not yet having had experience of your goodwill, [he did so] not to learn [...], from which he has not yet been well treated. For you must consider that you owe a reward to one who resembles you in your office. For if he honors the same things, he surely does you a favor, and to one who does a favor you owe gratitude. Suppose now that you yourself held estates in Palestine and farmed them, [...] and that the man cared nothing for your affairs - would we not accuse him, and justly? This very thing, this, will now come upon us, if we are slack. Let us then be seen giving what we would in that case have demanded.

To Andronicus. (358–361) We have received a wonderful report concerning both of you, Hypatius and yourself, and you are in truth what you are called: governors in the fullest sense. We therefore rejoice with those whose welfare you safeguard, and you, as is only natural, rejoice in one another — he, because such a man as you tends to his homeland; you, because you govern a city that produced such a man as he. I was surprised, however, that he felt he needed an appeal from me to you on behalf of his interests. If he did this while already enjoying your favor, so that he might learn that you are also obliging me in the process, then he did well. But if he has not yet had experience of your goodwill, he cannot be blamed for not knowing the source from which he has not yet benefited. For you should consider that you owe a debt to the man who mirrors you in his governance. If he honors the same principles, he is surely doing you a favor — and to one who does you a favor, you owe a favor in return. Suppose that you yourself owned estates in Palestine and were farming them there — if he took no care for your affairs, would we not rightly accuse him? This very charge, this very one, will fall upon us if we are negligent. Let us therefore be seen giving what we would then have demanded.

Ἀνδρονίκῳ. (358—361) Ὑπὲρ ἀμφοτέρων ὑμῶν, Ὑπατίου τε καὶ σοῦ, θαυμαστὴν ἐδεξάμεθα φήμην, καὶ ἴστον τοῦτο ὃ δὴ καλεῖσθον, ἄρχοντες ἀκριβῶς. ἡμεῖς τε οὖν συγχαίρομεν τοῖς ὑφ’ ὑμῶν ὑμῶν σωζο- μένοις ὑμεῖς τε, ὡς εἰκός, ἀλλήλοις, ὁ μέν, ὅτι τοιοῦτος αὐ- τῷ τὴν πατρίδα θεραπεύει, σὺ δέ, ὅτι πόλεως ἄρχεις, ἣ τοι- οῦτον ἤνεγκεν. ἐθαύμασα δέ, ὅπως ἐμῆς ἐδεήθη πρὸς σὲ παρακλήσεως εἰς κηδεμονίαν τῶν αὑτοῦ. εἰ μὲν γὰρ εὖ πά- σχων, ὅπως ὅτι κἀμοὶ χαρίζῃ μάθοι, τοῦτο ἐποίησε, καλῶς ἐποίησεν· εἰ δ’ οὔπω τῆς σῆς εὐνοίας πεῖραν λαβών, οὐκ μαθεῖν, ὅθεν οὔπω πέπονθεν εὖ. δεῖ γάρ σε νομίζειν μισθὸν ὀφείλειν τῷ προσομοίῳ σοι κατὰ τὴν ἀρχήν. εἰ γὰρ τὰ αὐτὰ τιμᾷ, χαρίζεται δήπου σοι, τῷ χαριζομένῳ δὲ χάριν ὀφείλεις. θὲς δὴ σαυτὸν ἐν Παλαιστίνῃ κτήματα ἔχειν καὶ γεωργεῖν, τῷ δὲ οὐδὲν τῶν σῶν μέλειν οὐκ ἂν κατηγοροῖμεν καὶ δι- καίως; τοῦτο δή, τοῦτο νῦν ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς, εἰ ῥᾳθυμοῖμεν, ἥξει. φαινώμεθα τοίνυν διδόντες ὃ τότε ἂν ἀπῃτοῦμεν.