Letter 34: To the same person. (358/59)

To the same man. (358/59) Would not this too be a sign of your eagerness for letters [literature], if the reading of a letter has lightened your toils for you? For I see other men recovering their strength after the long stretches of the roads by means of oil and baths and drink, but you instead of these things by writings, and these so brief, and I would add not even particularly fine ones. What then would you have done, if they had been both long and fine? But the brevity of the letter was not out of negligence; rather I deliberately kept it short, knowing that affairs have need of your eyes. As for Romulus, I know him to be worthy of honor, but of no punishment. By him more than half has already been accomplished, and the running [the rest of the course] is toward the finish. And yet Nebridius, though always at some point wishing this, remained in the wishing, but was not able to carry it out. Your every command, it seems, is possible. For since you yourself make things better than our hopes, a passion to set everything aright falls upon your servants too, as they look to your interests. And know that Olympius is the same toward you and is very far from any change.

**To the Same** (358/59) Would this not also be a sign of your passion for literature — that reading a letter relieved you of your fatigue? For I see that other men, after long journeys, restore their strength with oil, baths, and drink, but for you it is a letter that serves in place of all these, and such a short one at that — I might even add, not a particularly fine one. What on earth would you have done, then, if it had been both long and fine? As for the letter's brevity, it was not from laziness — rather, I deliberately kept it short, knowing that your affairs demand your eyes. As for Romulus, I know him to be worthy of honor, but of no punishment whatsoever. He has already accomplished more than half the task, and the race is now toward the finish. And yet Nebridius, though he always wished for this very thing, remained stuck in the wishing and was unable to accomplish it. But every command of yours, it seems, is within the realm of the possible. For since you yourself surpass all expectations, a desire to succeed in everything falls upon your servants too, as they look to your example. And know that Olympius remains the same man toward you and is very far from any change of heart.

τῷ αὐτῷ. (358/59) Οὐκ ἂν καὶ τόδε σημεῖον εἴη τῆς περὶ τοὺς λόγους ὁρ- μῆς, εἴ σοι τοὺς πόνους ἐπιστολῆς ἀνάγνωσις ἐπεκούφισε; τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἄλλους ἐπὶ τοῖς μήκεσι τῶν ὁδῶν ἐλαίῳ τε καὶ λου- τροῖς καὶ πότῳ τὴν ῥώμην ἀνακτωμένους ὁρῶ, σοὶ δ’ ἀντὶ τούτων γράμματα καὶ ταῦτα οὕτω μικρά, προσθείην δ’ ἂν ὡς οὐδὲ πάνυ καλά. τί ποτ’ ἂν οὖν ἔδρας, εἰ μακρά τε ἦν καὶ καλά; τῆς δὲ ἐπιστολῆς ἡ βραχύτης οὐκ ἐκ ῥᾳθυμίας, ἀλλ’ ἐξεπίτηδες συνέστελλον εἰδώς, ὅτι σου τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν δεῖται τὰ πράγματα. Ῥωμύλον δὲ τιμῶν μὶν ἄξιον οἶδα, τιμωρίας δὲ οὐδεμιᾶς. ᾧ πλέον ἤδη τοῦ ἡμίσεος πέπρακται, πρὸς δὲ τὸ πέρας ὁ δρόμος. καίτοι τοῦτο Νεβρίδιος ἀεί ποτε θέλων ἔμει- νεν ἐν τῷ βούλεσθαι, πρᾶξαι δὲ οὐκ ἠδυνήθη. σὸν δὲ ἐπί- τάγμα πᾶν, ὡς ἔοικε, δυνατόν. ἐπεὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς κρείττω ποιεῖς ἐλπίδων, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς ὑπηρέταις εἰς τὰ σὰ βλέπουσιν ἔρως ἐμπίπτει πάντα κατορθοῦν. τὸν δὲ Ὀλύμπιον ἴσθι σοι τὸν αὐτὸν εἶναι καὶ πλεῖστον ἀπέχειν μεταβολῆς.