Letter 860: Libanius sends Diognetus to Diogenes and asks for eager help in return for the introduction.

Diognetus is coming to you with a letter from me. You have often said that you were very eager to meet him. I would have done this even if you had said nothing of the kind, since you show the beauty of your soul in the beauty of your face; but I do it much more gladly because you have asked for it so warmly, and because I know it will please you more. Just as I have done you a favor through this letter, do me one in return through your eagerness on Diognetus' behalf. I owe him a great debt, and so does Demosthenes: he has freed us from reproach and made it plain to everyone that these weapons alone can bring victories. Perhaps you will laugh to hear recommendation from a man who could have stirred another to such requests himself. Forgive me, then, if my deep concern for Diognetus kept me from seeing what was already so obvious.

1. Ἥκει σοι Διόγνητος μετ’ ἐπιστολῆς ἐμῆς, οὗ σφόδρα πρὸς αὐτὸν πολλάκις ἐπιθυμεῖν ἔφησθα. ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦτο μὲν καὶ μηδέν σου τοιούτων εἰπόντος ἐποίησα ἄν, ᾧ τὸ κάλλος τῆς ψυχῆς ἐν τῷ τοῦ προσώπου δεικνύων, πολὺ μέντοι ζητοῦντος ἥδιον, ὡς οὕτω σου μᾶλλον ἡσθησομένου. 2. ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ ἐγώ σοι κεχάρισμαι διὰ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς, οὕτω καὶ σύ μοι χάρισαι διὰ τῆς περὶ τὸν Διόγνητον προθυμίας· ᾧ μεγάλην ὀφείλω χάριν καὶ ἐγὼ καὶ Δημοσθένης ὀνείδους ἡμᾶς ἀπηλλαχότι καὶ πᾶσι ποιήσαντι δῆλον ὅτι καὶ μόνα ταῦτα τὰ ὅπλα δύναται νίκας φέρειν. 3. ἀλλ’ ἴσως γελάσῃ παρακλητικῶν ἀκούων ἀνὴρ κἂν ἄλλον ἐπὶ ταῦτα κινήσας. ἔχε δή μοι συγγνώμην, εἰ τῷ πάνυ τῶν Διογνήτου φροντίζειν τοῦθ’ οὕτως ὂν φανερὸν οὐκ εἶδον.