Letter 772: The Phoenicians enjoy the blessings, while I dream of Phoenician blessings: councilors honored, populace cheerful,...

To Gaianus. (362) The Phoenicians enjoy good things, while I dream of the good things of the Phoenicians: councilors held in honor, the populace in good cheer, merchants suffering no injustice, farmers not despised, orators flowing as never before and keeping company with Demosthenes, knowing that with a man brimming with Demosthenes the lawsuits rest. Seeing these things, and seeming to see such things, I am beheld looking more radiant, and to those who ask what I am rejoicing at, I answer, "The Phoenicians are doing well." "And what is this to one who is not a Phoenician?" they say. "Very much indeed," I say. For doing good is no worse than receiving good as a source of pleasure. And in a certain way the things they now have are mine too; for the things of the governor are also mine. Whenever I say these things, I raise up against you many accusers from many quarters, who did not wish others to prosper in their stead. Then I attempt to make a defense, but shouting and uproar oppose me, and I run the risk of taking my leave with blows received. And this grief was born of gladness. For those around Orontes, having been saved by you while you presided, considering who you would have been had you yourself been driving the chariot, the great pleasure they then took, with such great despondency they now live alongside it. Such are the matters that have been planted for you among us, you whose voice is sweeter than honey; and I would add "and whose character too"-things which nothing of all things shall cut down, so long as there is water and there are trees.

Γαϊανῷ. (362) Φοίνικες μὲν ἀπολαύουσι τῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἐγὼ δὲ ὀνειρο- πολῶ τὰ Φοινίκων ἀγαθά, βουλευτὰς τιμωμένους, δήμους εὐ- θυμουμένους, ἐμπόρους οὐκ ἀδικουμένους, γεωργοὺς οὐ καταφρονουμένους, ῥήτορας ῥέοντας ὡς οὔπω πρότερον κοὶ τῷ Δημοσθένει συγγινομένους εἰδότας ὅτι παρ’ ἀνδρὶ γέ- μοντι τοῦ Δημοσθένους αἱ δίκαι. ταῦτα ὁρᾶ καἰ τὰ τοιαῦτα δοκῶν ὁρῶμαι φαιδρότερος καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἐρωτῶν τὰς, ὅτῳ γέγηθα, Φοίνικες εὖ πράττουσιν ἀποκρί- νομαι. καὶ τί τοῦτο πρὸς τὸν οὐ Θοίνικα; φασί. μάλι- στά γε φημί. τοῦ μὲν γὰρ εὖ πάσχειν τὸ εὖ ποιεῖν οὐ χεῖρον εὶς ἡδο νήν. ἔστι δὲ τρόπον τινὰ ἐκείνοις, ἃ νῦν ἔχουδι, καὶ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ· τὰ γὰρ τοῦ ἄρχοντος καὶ ἐμά. ταῦθ’ ὅταν εἴπω, πολλοὺς ἀνίστημί σοι πολλαχόθεν τοὺς κατηγόρους, οἳ οὐκ ἄλλους ἀνθ’ ἑαυτῶν εὐδαιμονεῖν ἤθελον. εἶτα ἀπολογεῖσθαι μὲν ἐπιχειρῶ, κραυγὴ δὲ καὶ θό- ρυβος ἀντικρούει καὶ κινδυνεύω πληγὰς λαμβάνων ἀπιέναι. καὶ ταύτην τὴν λύπην ἔτεκεν εὐφροσύνη. σωθέντες γὰρ ὑπὸ σοῦ παρεδρεύοντος οἱ περὶ τὸν Ὀρόντην ἐνθυμούμενοι, τίς ἂν ἦσθα τὸ ἅρμα αὐτὸς ἐλαύνων, ὅσην τότε ἥδοντο ἡδο- νήν, τοσαύτῃ νῦν ἀθυμίᾳ συζῶσι. 5 τοιαῦτά σοι πράγματα πεφύτευται παρ’ ἡμῖν, ὦ μέλιτος γλυκίων τὴν αὐδήν, προσ- θείην δ’ ἂν καὶ τρόπον, ἃ οὐδὲν ἐκκόψει τῶν πάντων, ἴως ἂν ὕδωρ ᾖ καὶ δένδρα.