To Philagrius. (359)
Gladly did I receive your sons. And why should I not have, since I regard them as my own as well? But concerning the earlier decision, it is better to keep silent than, in seeking to defend myself, to have nothing strong to say. For even if you are the most formidable of sophists, still three times four is twelve, even should Philagrius undertake to say something else about it.
What, however, I have come to know by experience on account of your resolve, I shall declare and not conceal from a friend. I never once pursued young men who fled from me, for I did not see the springs running after those who are thirsty to drink; rather, I held that goodwill is owed to those who approach, while toward those who look down on this very thing, they should themselves be looked down upon.
And indeed it was for this reason that a reputation arose about me, that I was the more dignified, because I endured nothing demeaning. Yet when your boys had turned aside to another, I confess that I was stung and that I wished this vote to be set in motion, even though those who took hold of your judgment were more numerous than those who took it as a sign of my own ignorance.
Now, then, since you have argued the matter through with yourself, that after all it is not better to abide by what had been decided, do not suppose that there is need of any entreaty addressed to us, except addressed to yourself on their behalf. For, apart from everything else, the very forms of the young men, calling to mind their father, make me active.
Moreover, Eutychius too is a friend to you, but a kinsman by marriage to us, and I should be doing wrong were I not to gratify him. He, in bringing to me both your boys and his own brother, showed that he loved that one no more than these.
Wherefore indeed the law of the summer has been suspended for these alone, so that he might be gladdened and that something of what is due might come about for you.
To Philagrius. (359)
I was delighted to receive your sons. How could I not be, when I consider them my own? As for your earlier decision, it is better to keep silent than to seek excuses and have nothing strong to say. For even if you are the most formidable of sophists, still, three times four makes twelve, even if Philagrius tries to argue otherwise.
What I suffered on account of your decision, however, I will tell you and not hide from a friend. I have never pursued young men who were fleeing from me, for I have never seen springs go running after those who need a drink. Rather, I have always believed that goodwill is owed to those who come of their own accord, while those who look down on me deserve to be looked down on in turn.
And indeed, it is precisely for this reason that I have gained a reputation for dignity — because I never stooped to anything demeaning. Yet when your boys were turning to another teacher, I confess I was stung, and I wished that the vote had gone differently — though in truth there were more people who seized upon your judgment than those who took it as proof of my incompetence.
Now, then, since you have had a talk with yourself and concluded that it is not, after all, better to stick with your original decision, do not imagine that any appeal to us is needed — only, perhaps, an appeal to yourself on their behalf. For apart from everything else, the very faces of the young men, calling their father to mind, stir me to action.
And besides, Eutychius is a friend of yours and a kinsman of mine, and I would do wrong not to oblige him. By bringing your sons and his own brother to me, he showed himself no less devoted to them than to him.
For this reason, indeed, the rule about the summer holiday has been set aside for these boys alone, so that Eutychius may have his joy and you may have what you need.
Gladly did I receive your sons. And why should I not have, since I regard them as my own as well? But concerning the earlier decision, it is better to keep silent than, in seeking to defend myself, to have nothing strong to say. For even if you are the most formidable of sophists, still three times four is twelve, even should Philagrius undertake to say something else about it.
What, however, I have come to know by experience on account of your resolve, I shall declare and not conceal from a friend. I never once pursued young men who fled from me, for I did not see the springs running after those who are thirsty to drink; rather, I held that goodwill is owed to those who approach, while toward those who look down on this very thing, they should themselves be looked down upon.
And indeed it was for this reason that a reputation arose about me, that I was the more dignified, because I endured nothing demeaning. Yet when your boys had turned aside to another, I confess that I was stung and that I wished this vote to be set in motion, even though those who took hold of your judgment were more numerous than those who took it as a sign of my own ignorance.
Now, then, since you have argued the matter through with yourself, that after all it is not better to abide by what had been decided, do not suppose that there is need of any entreaty addressed to us, except addressed to yourself on their behalf. For, apart from everything else, the very forms of the young men, calling to mind their father, make me active.
Moreover, Eutychius too is a friend to you, but a kinsman by marriage to us, and I should be doing wrong were I not to gratify him. He, in bringing to me both your boys and his own brother, showed that he loved that one no more than these.
Wherefore indeed the law of the summer has been suspended for these alone, so that he might be gladdened and that something of what is due might come about for you.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.