Letter 41: It seems to me that you are being pushed to push me by your own sister, who is Philoxenus's mother.

To Ecdicius. (358/359) It seems to me that you are being moved to move me by your sister, the mother of Philoxenus. And she does the same thing toward my uncle by means of his wife. He, being present, urges the very things that you write, namely that the young man shall become an orator for us. Tell the mother of Philoxenus, then, that, with God granting it, the boy will become such a one as to satisfy her; for both her resolve is willing and his nature is capable.

**To Ecdicius** (358/359) It seems to me that you are being stirred to stir me by your sister, the mother of Philoxenus. She does the same thing with my uncle, working through his wife. And he, being here in person, urges the very things you write — that the young man should become an orator under my instruction. So tell Philoxenus's mother that her son, God willing, will become such a one as to satisfy her; for he has both the willing mind and the capable nature.

Ἐκδικίῳ. (358/359) Ἐμοὶ σὺ δοκεῖς ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς μὲν ἀδελφῆς, Φιλοξένου δὲ μητρὸς ἐπὶ τὸ κινεῖν με κινεῖσθαι. ποιεῖ δὲ ταὐτὸ καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἐμὸν θεῖον διὰ τῆς ἐκείνου γυναικός. ὁ δ’ ἅπερ σὺ γρά- φεις κελεύει παρών, ὅπως ἡμῖν ἔσται ῥήτωρ ὁ νεανίσκος. φράζε δὴ τῇ Φιλοξένου μητρὶ τὸν παῖδα αὐτῇ θεοῦ διδόν- τος ἔσεσθαι τοιοῦτον ὡς ἀρκεῖν αὐτῇ· γνώμη τε γὰρ βουλο- μένη φύσις τε δυναμένη.