Letter 256: What you write is neither true nor flattering to us -- you who wrestled with our teaching for so long.

To Iphicrates. (358/59) You write neither what is true nor what is pleasing to us, you who wrestled against us for so long a time. Whether there is anything good here among us, I do not know, but to enjoy the things that exist lies open to those who wish for it more than the waters of fountains do. And among the young men, he is loved the more who gives me cause to labor the more. But if Philopatris should persuade himself that eloquence is a fine possession, he will come bringing it to you, on which account he will make you the happier. You, however, have already made me happier by declaring that the governor is in fact that which he is called. And I am grateful to Eutherius, because he is a good man, and to you, because you disclose such things concerning Eutherius.

Ἰφικράτει. (358/59) Οὔτ᾿ ἀληθῆ γράφεις οὔθ’ ἡμῖν κεχαρισμένα, ὃς τοσοῦ- τον ἡμῖν προσεπάλαισας χρόνον. παρ’ ἡμῖν δὲ εἰ μέν τι κεῖ- τᾶι χρηστόν, οὐκ οἶδα, τῶν δὲ ὄντων ἀπολαῦσαι πρόκειται τοῖς ἐθέλουσι μᾶλλον ἢ κρηνῶν. καὶ τῶν νέων οὗτος φιλεῖται πλέον ὅστις αἴτιος μοι πλείω πονεῖν. Φιλόπατρις δὲ εἰ πεί- σειεν αὑτὸν κτῆμα καλὸν εἶναι τοὺς λόγους, ἥξει φέρων ὑμῖν ἐφ’ οἷς ἡδίω σε ποιήσει. σὺ μέντοι με ἤδη πεποίηκας ἡδίω τὸν ἄρχοντα φάσκων εἶναι τοῦτο ὃ καλεῖται. καὶ ἔχω χάριν Εὐθηρίῳ μέν, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀγαθός, σοὶ δέ, ὅτι τοιαῦτα περὶ Εὐ- θηρίου μηνύεις.