Letter 304: The matter is urgent, the man is honest, and the case is just.

To Modestus. (361?) Let none of your undertakings be left incomplete. Let not Hyperechius, then, either be reckoned or styled half a soldier. For so do those name him in mockery who know to what point the matter has advanced. In order, therefore, that we may put a stop to their jeers and that some complete good may come to him, write to the governor of the Galatians, the worthy Acacius, what it is fitting for you to write about this man; for we did not dare to show the earlier letter to Ecdicius, fearing that the vessel might be wrecked upon the hidden reef. For that man, doing many such things, used to take pleasure in them, and indeed in this case too he was plainly going to inflict a wound. But the one who now governs the province, taking account both of justice and of doing you a favor, will, with no distortion of the truth, supply the starting points for the accomplishment.

Μοδέστῳ. (361?) Μηδὲν ἔστω τῶν σῶν ἀτελές. μὴ τοίνυν μηδ’ Ὑπερέχιος ἥμισυ στρατιώτου μήτε ἴστω μήτε καλείσθω. τοιαῦτα γὰρ ἐπισκώπτοντες ὀνομάζουσιν αὐτὸν οἱ μέχρι τίνος προὔβη τὸ πρᾶγμα εἰδότες. ἴν’ οὖν ἐκείνους τε παύσωμεν τῶν σκωμ- μάτων καὶ τούτῳ τι γένηται τέλειον ἀγαθόν, γράφε πρὸς τὸν ἄρχοντα Γαλατῶν, τὸν χρηστὸν Ἀκάκιον, ἃ σὲ περὶ τούτου γράφειν εἰκός· ὡς τὴν προτέραν ἐπιστολὴν οὐκ ἐτολμήσαμεν Ἐκδικίῳ δεῖξαι δείσαντες μὴ περὶ τὴν ὕφαλον ῥαγῇ τὸ σκάφος. πολλὰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος τοιαῦτα ποιῶν ηὐφραίνετο καὶ δὴ καὶ τούτῳ δῆλος ἦν ποιήσων ἕλκος. ἀλλ’ οὐχ ὁ νῦν ἄγων τὸ ἔθνος ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ δικαίου λόγον καὶ τοῦ σοὶ χαρίζεσθαι ποιούμενος οὐδὲν διαστρέψας τῆς ἀληθείας δώσει τὰς ἀφορ- μὰς τῷ τέλει.