Letter 470: You should have suffered no blow to your household.

To Lampetius. (355/56) It would have been right that no blow should befall your house; but since this has seemed good to those who govern human affairs, you do well in bearing the misfortune with self-control. As for this Materius here, with us it fell to him both to take some pleasure and, for the greater part, to busy himself in serious matters, feasting in the company of some, while enjoying the society of others among those who manage public affairs, men who indeed often held back his return. It was fitting, therefore, that on these accounts he should be praised, and not envied. Among you too the older men surely do not dishonor the contests of horses; for in this way it is finer for me to speak than as much as is permitted. If, then, the father is of such a mind as not to bring even a single charge, praise his judgment; but if he thinks he must rebuke, change his mind.

Λαμπετίῳ. (355/56) Ἔδει μέν σοι μηδεμίαν γενέσθαι περὶ τὸν οἶκον πληγήν· ἐπεὶ δὲ ταῦτα ἔδοξε τοῖς ἄγουσι τὰ ἀνθρώπεια, καλῶς ποιεῖς σωφρόνως τὸ κακὸν φέρων. Μητερίῳ δὲ τῷδε παρ’ ἡμῖν ὑπῆρξε μέν τι καὶ ἡσθῆναι, τὰ πλείω δὲ σπουδάσαι, τῶν μὲν μεθ’ ἡμῶν εὐωχουμένῳ, τῶν δὲ σὺν τοῖς τὰ πολιτικὰ πράτ- τουσιν ἀπολαύοντι, οἳ δὴ καὶ τὴν ἐπάνοδον αὐτῷ πολλάκις ἀνέκοψαν. προσῆκεν οὖν αὐτὸν τῶν μὲν ἐπαινεῖσθαι, διὰ δὲ ταῦτα μὴ φθονεῖσθαι. πάντως καὶ παρ’ ὑμῖν οἱ πρεσβύ- τιροι τὰς τῶν ἴππων ἁμίλλας οὐκ ἀτιμάζουσιν· οὕτω γάρ μοι κάλλιον εἰπεῖν ἢ ὅσον ἔξεστιν. εἰ μὲν οὖν οὔτως ὁ πατὴρ ἔχει γνώμης ὡς μηδὲ ‘ὲν ἐγκαλεῖν, ἐπαίνει τὴν κρίσιν· εἰ δὲ οἴεται δεῖν ἐπιτιμᾶν, μετάβαλλε τὴν γνώμην.