Letter 186: Titianus should have been stirred to action by a letter from you, but it seems the rumor is true -- you are unwell.

To Acacius. (360) Even now Titianus ought to have been stirred to action by your letters, but as it is, what was said seems to be true: that you are ill. For so it has been reported; but, God granting that you have also recovered, so it has been reported. For you must be preserved both for other reasons and because the divinity has heaped up against us many of the harbors, and those in whom we are confident are few. And of the few, this man is, as it were, the chief, who is also the chief of those skilled in letters. And altogether, if you know yourself, you know whom I mean. So then his son has come to relieve you, and I now urged him to hasten on, now held him back: in part looking to you, knowing that by appearing he will make you better, and in part so that he might gain more. For indeed he is one of those who have been sharpened in what are called the declamation exercises, and who have learned much in no great length of time. But nevertheless your interest prevailed, and I sent the boy as a consolation for the present circumstances. And he will attend upon you in a twofold manner: in this respect as a father, and in that respect as a teacher.

Ἀκακίῳ. (360) Ἔδει μὲν καὶ νῦν ὑπὸ σῶν κεκινῆσθαι Τιτιανὸν γραμ- μάτων, νῦν δ’ ἔοικεν ἀληθὲς εἶναι τὸ λεχθέν, ὡς ἀρρώστως ἔχεις. εἴρηται γάρ, ἀλλὰ θεοῦ γε διδόντος ὡς καὶ ἀνέστης, εἴρηται. δεῖ γάρ σε τῶν τε ἄλλων εἵνεκα σώζεσθαι καὶ ὅτι πολλοὺς ἡμῖν τῶν λιμένων προσέχωσε τὸ δαιμόνιον καὶ οἷς θαρροῦμεν ὀλίγοι τῶν δὲ ὀλίγων ὅτιπερ κεφάλαιον οὗτος, ὃς καὶ τῶν ἐν λόγοις ὅτιπερ κεφάλαιον. πάντως δέ, εἰ σαυτὸν οἷσθα, οἶσθα ὃν λέγω ὁ μὶν οὖν υἱὸς ἥκει σὲ κουφιῶν, ἐγὼ δὲ αὐτὸν νῦν μὲν ἤπειγον θεῖν, νῦν δὲ κατεῖχον τὸ μὲν εἰς σὲ βλέπων εἰδώς, ὅτι σε ποιήσει ῥᾴω φανείς, τὸ δ’ ὅπως πλείω προσλάβοι. καὶ γάρ ἐστι τῶν ἐν ταῖς καλουμέναις με- λέταις θηγομένων καὶ πολλὰ ἐν οὐ πολλῷ μεμαθηκότων χρό- νῳ. ἀλλ’ ὅμως ἐνίκα τὸ σόν, καὶ ἔπεμψα τὸν παῖδα παρα- μυθίαν εἰς τὰ παρόντα. ὁ δέ σε διπλῆ θεραπεύσει, τοῦτο μὲν ὡς πατέρα, τοῦτο δὲ ὡς παιδευτήν.