Letter 104: How much Eudaemon is worth to anyone who cares about Greek culture, how close a friend he is to us, and how much he...

To Modestus. (359/60) How worthy Eudaemon is among the sons of the Greeks, how much a friend he is to us, and that he rejoices in your good fortune, you know yourself and could tell another. And being thus disposed, it is plain enough that you would gladly do the man a kindness. The matter will be an easy one for you, since you have come to Egypt. For he has an aged father in Pelusium, and a family second to none in nobility, but, on account of their moderation, not much in the way of money. If you should be willing to see these people, by ordering that the relatives of Eudaemon be summoned, you will gratify both them and us: us, in that we are honored; and them, in that they will have, as a strong safeguard, the fact that you have not passed them by in silence. For even if they are now experiencing certain harsher treatments, those who deal with them will, once you have done that, look upon them more moderately. I had more to say, but you do not permit it. For you are not unaware that, where help must be given to companions of the Muses such as Eudaemon, there must be no delay.

To Modestus. (359/60) You know well how highly Eudaemon deserves to be valued among the children of the Greeks, how dear a friend he is to us, and how he rejoices in your successes — and you would say as much to anyone. Being so disposed, it is plain that you would gladly do the man a good turn. The matter will be easy for you once you arrive in Egypt. He has an elderly father in Pelusium and a family second to none in nobility, though their means are modest on account of their integrity. If you would consent to see them — simply give the order to summon the relatives of Eudaemon — you will satisfy both them and us: us, by the honor you show; and them, because having not been passed over by you in silence will give them a powerful guarantee of security. For if certain people are now giving them trouble, they will find those men turn reasonable once you have done this. I had more to say, but you do not permit it. Where one must come to the aid of the companions of the Muses — a man such as Eudaemon — you need no prompting.

Μοδέστῳ. (359/60) Εὐδαίμων ὅσου μὲν Ἑλλήνων παισὶν ἄξιος, ὅπως δὲ ἡμῖν φίλος, ὅτι δὲ τοῖς σοῖς ἀγαθοῖς χαίρων, οἶσθά τε καὶ πρὸς ἄλλον εἴποις ἄν. οὕτω δὲ ἔχων εὔδηλον ὡς κἂν εὖ ποιήσαις τὸν ἄνδρα ἡδέως. ῥᾳστώνη δέ σοι τοῦ πράγματος εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐλθόντι. ἔστι μὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ πατήρ τε γέρων ἐν Πηλουσίῳ καὶ γένος εὐγενείᾳ μὲν οὐδενὸς ὕστερον, χρήματα δὲ αὐτοῖς δι’ ἐπιείκειαν οὐ πολλά. τούτους ἂν ἰδεῖν ἐθε- λήσῃς, καλεῖν κελεύσας τοὺς Εὐδαίμονος οἰκείους ἐκείνοις τε ἀρκέσεις καὶ ἡμῖν· ἡμῖν μὲν τετιμημένοις, ἐκείνοις δὲ <ἰσχυ- ρὸν> πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν ἔχουσι τὸ σὲ μὴ παρελθεῖν σιωπῇ. καὶ γὰρ εἴ τινων νῦν πειρῶνται χαλεπωτέρων, ὄψονται τούτους, ἐπειδὰν σὺ ποιήσης ἐκεῖνο, μετρίους. εἶχον πλείω λέγειν, σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἐᾷς. οὗ γὰρ δεῖ βοηθῆσαι τοῖς Μουσῶν ἑταίροις οἷος Εὐδαίμων, οὐκ οἷσθα μέλλειν.