Letter 686: I have loved and admired you since those days when Klematios — that man who, after a just life, met an unjust end —...

To Chromatius. (361/62) I have both loved and admired you ever since those days when that famous Clematius, arriving from your government [the province under your administration], who for his just life met an unjust end, praised Palestine highly, and defined your character as the chief of its excellences. And I, when I hear of a man's virtue, being indeed a lover of such things, was moved and was disposed to write to you. Then, somehow, I do not know how, I was robbed of the impulse. But now I make repayment, and indeed, as an old friend, I straightway announce a favor, persuading myself that you will not blame me rather than grant it. This Bassus, now already more than twenty years of age, a poor man and the son of a poor father, came to me from Phoenicia out of a longing for letters [learning], and, knowing how to toil and shunning pleasures, he acquired as much as I am reluctant to praise, but which to you perhaps will seem no small thing. To his fatherland, then, a little while ago he made his appearance, and to the rest of the Phoenicians, and he was reckoned an orator; but now, wishing to go over to Palestine, he believes that, if he should anchor with you and come with your letters to the others, he will have as much everywhere through you as he has with you. Become, then, a harbor to a man who both knows how to speak and to love and to be mindful of a favor; and we shall praise you. In any case you do everything for the sake of praise, whence your name too is illustrious to you, since in greatness of wealth indeed many surpass you.

Χρωματίῳ. (361/62) Ἐγώ σε ἐξ ἐκείνων καὶ φιλῶ καὶ θαυμάζω τῶν χρόνων, ἐν οἷς ἀπὸ τῆς παρ’ ὑμῖν ἀρχῆς ἥκων Κλημάτιος ἐκεῖνος, ὃς ἐπὶ δικαίῳ βίῳ τελευτὴν οὐ δικαίαν ἐδέξατο πολλὰ μὲν τὴν Παλαιστίνην ἐπῄνει, κεφάλαιον δὲ τῶν καλῶν τὴν σὴν ὡρίζετο φύσιν. ἐγὼ δὲ ἀκούων ἀνδρὸς ἀρετήν, εἰμὶ ἴε τῶν τοιού- των ἐρωτικός, ἐκινούμην τε καὶ οἷος ἦν ἐπιστέλλειν. ἔπειτ᾿ οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅπως ἀφῃρέθην τὴν ὁρμήν. ἀλλὰ νῦν ἀποδίδωμι καὶ δῆτα ὡς παλαιὸς φίλος εὐθὺς ἐπαγγέλλω χάριν πείθων ἐμαυ- τὸν ὡς οὐ μέμψῃ μᾶλλον ἢ δώσεις. Βάσσος οὗτος ἤδη γεγονὼς ὑπὲρ εἴκοσιν ἴτη, πένης πένητος πατρός, ἦλθεν ἐκ Φοινίκης παρ’ ἐμὲ κατὰ λόγων ἐπιθυμίαν, εἰδὼς δὲ πονεῖν καὶ φεύγων ἡδονὰς ἐκτήσατο τοσοῦτον ὅσον ἐγὼ μὲν ἐπαινεῖν ὀκνῶ, σοὶ δὲ ἴσως οὐ μικρὸν δόξει. τῇ μὲν οὖν πατρίδι μικρὸν ἔμπροσθεν ἐφάνη καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις Φοίνιξι καὶ ῥήτωρ ἐνομίσθη νῦν δ’ ἐπελθεῖν ἐθέλων τὴν Παλαιστίνην, εἰ παρὰ σοί τε ὁρμίσαιτο καὶ μετὰ σῶν γραμμάτων ἔλθοι παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους ὅσονπερ παρ’ ὑμὶν, τοσοῦτον ἕξειν ἡγεῖται πανταχοῦ διὰ σοῦ. γενοῦ δὴ λιμὴν ἀνθρώπῳ καὶ λέγειν εἰδότι καὶ φιλεῖν καὶ μεμνῆσθαι χάριτος· ἡμεῖς δέ σε ἐπαινεσόμεθα. πάντως δὲ ὑπὲρ ἐπαίνου πάντα ποιεῖς, ὅθεν σοι κοὶ τοὔνομα λαμπρόν, ἐπεὶ χρημάτων γε μεγέθει πολλοί σε νικῶσιν.