Letter 768: I love Magnus, as one naturally loves a fellow student and a good man, and I admire him as a formidable and powerful...

To Belaeus [362] I love Magnus, as is natural toward a fellow-student and a good man too, and I admire him as a clever and powerful orator; and I would wish that he both conquer his adversaries here and reap the produce of his land there, land which is not large but is ancestral. His victories, then, he himself affords me to behold, routing one set of opponents after another; but as for some part of that land coming to him, let that be your concern. And it would be your concern if you should both recognize those whom he has set over his affairs and receive them kindly when they have need of a court. Grant these favors, then, and write; for in this way you will do me two favors, the deeds themselves and the account concerning them. But if you should do the one and not add the other, we will indict you before the Muses, on the ground that you are dishonoring the former chorus.

Bηλαίῳ (362) Μάγνον φιλῶ μέν, ὡς εἰκὸς συμφοιτητήν τι καὶ ἄν χρηστόν, θαυμάζω δὲ ὡς ῥήτορα δεινόν τε καἰ ἰσχυρόν· βου- λοίμην δ’ ἂν αὐτὸν νικᾶν μὲν ἐνταῦθα τοὺς ἀντιπάλους, καρ- ποῦσθαι δὲ τὴν ἐκεῖ γῆν οὐ πολλὴν μέν, πατρῴαν δέ. τὰς μὲν οὖν νίκας αὐτὸς ὁρᾶν μοι παρέχει τρεπόμενος ἄλλους ἐπ ἄλλοις· τοῦ δ’ ἐΜεν αὐτῷ τι προσιέναι μελέτω σοί. μέλοι δ’ ἄν, εἰ οὓς ἐπέστησε τοῖς πράγμασι γνωρίζοις τε καὶ δικα- στηρίου χρῄζοντας εὐμενῶς δέχοιο. ταῦτά τε οὖν χαρίζου καὶ γράφε, δύο γὰρ οὕτω γε χαριῇ, τά τε ἔργα τόν τε ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν λόγον. εἰ δὲ τὸ μὲν ποιοῖς, τὸ δὲ μὴ προστιθείης, γρα- ψόμεθά σε παρὰ ταῖς Μούσαις, ὅτι δὴ τὸν πρότερον ἀτιμά- ζεις χορόν.