Letter 457: You asked about the raven sent to feed Elijah.

To Arabianus the Bishop. If, having failed to win the points you disputed - indeed, having been resoundingly defeated - you now think you can ask for a favor, you plainly show that you are trying to overturn what has been judged under the name of "favor." But if you should say that you have also been wronged by the one who gave judgment - that you were justly defeated, I will let pass in silence; but as to how the case has been judged, I will speak. For not even so would it have been judged thus, since the judge happens to be incorruptible, were the verdict not also just. Nevertheless, even after winning I grant the favor - I who would not even have entered the contest in the first place, had you, condemning yourself, asked for pardon. For one must put down the pride of those who err yet do not think they have erred; but to those who acknowledge their fault, one must dispense pardon.

Εἰ ὧν ἡμφισβήτησας μὴ τυχὼν, ἀλλὰ λαμπρῶς ἡττηθείς, νῦν χάριν δοκεῖς αἰτεῖν, δῆλος εἶ τῷ τῆς χάριτος ὀνόματι λῦσαι τὰ κριθέντα πειρώμενος. Εἰ δὲ λέγοις καὶ παρὰ τοῦ δικάσαντος ἠδικῆσθαι (τὸ μὲν ὡς δικαίως ἡττηθείς, ἐάσω λέγειν), τὸ δέ, ὡς κέκριται, λέξω. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν οὐδ’ οὕτω κεκριμένον ἦν, τοῦ δικάσαντος ἀδέκαστον τυγχάνοντος, εἰ μὴ τὸ δικαίως προσῆν. Πλὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ μετὰ τὸ νικῆσαι τὴν χάριν δίδωμι, ὅς γε οὐδ’ ἂν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἠγωνισάμην, εἴγε καταγνοὺς σαυτοῦ συγγνώμην ᾔτησας. Χρὴ γὰρ τὸ φρόνημα τῶν σφαλλομένων μὲν, μὴ οἰομένων δὲ ἐσφάλθαι, καθαιρεῖν· γνωσίμαχοῦσι δὲ συγγνώμην νέμειν.