Letter 428: If I had written before saying I have little influence with Dionysius, you might not have believed me -- and that is...

To Silanus. (355) If I had written to you earlier that I have not much influence with Dionysius, perhaps I would have been disbelieved, and for that reason I did not write; but now would be the right moment to confess my weakness. For Clematius will persuade you that I am not lying. Know, then, that I have neither bettered my own affairs, and as for those of my friends who wished, through us, to obtain something, they came to know not the outcome they ought to have, but, having approached, a different one; so that I share in one thing only, the addressing of words. If, then, when I had power you were not enjoying its benefit, I would be doing wrong; but with one who is powerless, you must hold forgiveness. But of those things over which I am master, you too are master. And let go of the journey in a more splendid station, for it is not worthy of your soul to chase after such things; but come in whatever way you can, and put my judgment to the test, if indeed it still remembers its wings. And here the wings are more, and those who will admire your qualities are a multitude. And there is need also of a teacher of the laws for the young men. This awaits you, since we have prevented another from being set over the matter.

Σιλανῷ. (355) Πρότερον μέν σοι γράφων ὡς οὐ πολλή μοι παρὰ τῷ Διονυσίῳ δύναμις, ἴσως ἂν ἠπιστούμην καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔγραφον, νῦν δὲ καιρὸς ἂν εἴη τὴν ἀσθένειαν ὁμολογεῖν. Κλη- μάτιος γὰρ ὡς οὐ ψεύδομαι πείσει. ἴσθι τοίνυν ὡς οὔτε τὰ ἐμαυτοῦ βελτίω πεποίηκα τῶν τε φίλων ὅσοι δι’ ἡμῶν ἐβουλήθησάν του τυχεῖν, ἔγνωσαν οὐχ ἣν ἐχρῆν, ἐλθόντες δὲ ἑτέραν· ὡς ἑνὸς μετέχω μόνου τοῦ προσειπεῖν. εἰ μὲν οὖν οὔσης μοι δυνάμεως οὐκ ἀπέλαυες, ἠδίκουν ἄν· ἀδυνατοῦντι δὲ συγγνώμην ἔχειν. ὧν δ’ ἐγὼ κύριος, καὶ σύ. καὶ τὴν μὲν ἐν λαμπροτέρῳ σχήματι πορείαν ἄφες, οὐ γὰρ τῆς σῆς ψυχῆς ἄξιον τὰ τοιαῦτα θηρεύειν, ἐλθὼν δὲ ὅπως ἂν ἐξῇ, δοκίμαζέ μου τὴν γνώμην, εἴγε μέμνηται τῶν πτερῶν. πτερὰ δὲ ἐν- ταῦθα πλείω καὶ οἱ τὰ σὰ θαυμασόμενοι πλῆθος. δεῖ δὲ καὶ νόμων διδασκάλου τοῖς νέοις. σὲ δὲ τοῦτο ἀναμένει κεκωλυ- κότων ἡμῶν ἕτερον ἐπιστῆναι τῷ πράγματι.