Letter 196: It was no small thing to hear others bring reports about you -- reports we had hoped for, and some that exceeded our...

To Modestus. (359/60) What you long ago yearned to hear has now come to you: a wonderful occasion for the dissolution of the condemnation which by no just cause fell upon the noble Anysius, and which, owing to your clemency, was prevented from being fixed firmly upon him. For of a just postponement they were always in need, and you did not begrudge it; and as the time passed in this way, room was found for the magnanimity of the emperor, room which you have the power to turn to our benefit. For the pledge stands outside the compulsion that comes from the letters, as you will know from many quarters; and this, if you so wish, is a strong thing for us, but if not, it is the shadow of smoke. But indeed I seem to be doing an outrage in matters where I ought to be confident, having let go of distrust. For you will, I think, debate with yourself about the need to follow your own self. And if indeed one must reckon the supplication of friends as no small thing, the letter of Eustochius and Nicentius is worthy of honor, and mine perhaps is not without honor.

Μοδέστῳ. (359/60) Ὃ πάλαι ἐπόθεις ἀκοῦσαι, νῦν ἥκει σοι, θαυμαστή ἀφορμὴ πρὸς τὴν τῆς καταδίκης λύσιν, ἣ κατ’ οὐδὲν μὲν δί- καῖον ἐπέπεσεν Ἀνυσίῳ τῷ καλῷ, τὸ μὴ παγῆναι δὲ βεβαίως ὑπὸ τῆς σὴρ ἔπαθε πρᾳότητος. δικαίας γὰρ ἀναβολῆς οἱ μὲν ἐδεήθησαν ἀεί, σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἐφθόνησας, καὶ ταύτῃ δὴ τοῦ χρόνου χωροῦντος τῇ μεγαλοψυχίᾳ τοῦ βασιλέως εὑρέθη τόπος, ὃν ἐνεγκεῖν ἡμῖν ὄνησιν σὺ κύριος. τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐνέχυρον ἔξω τῆς ἀπὸ τῶν γραμμάτων ἀνάγκης, ὡς πολλαχόθεν εἴσῃ, τοῦτο δέ, ἢν μὲν ἐθέλῃς, ἰσχυρὸν ἡμῖν, εἰ δὲ μή, καπνοῦ σκιά. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ὑβρίζειν ἔοικα περὶ ὧν ἔδει θαρρεῖν ἀφεὶς τὸ διαπιστεῖν. σαυτῷ γάρ, οἶμαι, διαλέξῃ περὶ τοῦ δεῖν ἀκολουθῆσαι σαυτῷ. εἰ δὲ δὴ καὶ φίλων ἱκετείας οὐ μικρὸν δεῖ νομίζειν, τὸ μὲν Εὐστοχίου καὶ Νικεντίου γράμμα τίμιον, τοὐμὸν δὲ ἴσως οὐκ ἄτιμον.