Letter 352: Even this counts as a great gift from you: that you remembered those who made a request, sought out the letter,...

To Strategius. (358) But even this we count a great gift, that you remembered something of those who made requests of you, that you sought out the documents, and that you chose to grant them and to make clear that you had not been able to do so. For such indeed are your remedies toward your subjects: either, when asked, you give; or, when the matter does not permit it, distressed at being prevented, you gladden those who did not obtain their wish as though they had received it. And now those who were seeking the grain, having your letter instead of it, consider that they have reaped all Egypt. But toward those who know you well, what need was there to swear that you would gladly have given? For an oath about such matters would be ours concerning you toward others, not yours toward us; so well do we know that you would gladly have given. Take heart, then, about what is to come; for we shall not cease asking until, by giving, you put away the pain that comes from not giving.

Στρατηγίῳ. (358) Ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦθ’ ἡμῖν ἐν μεγάλῃ δωρεᾷ τὸ μνησθῆναί τι τῶν δεηθέντων καὶ ζητῆσαι τὰ γράμματα καὶ προελέσθαι δοῦναι καὶ τὸ μὴ δεδυνῆσθαι δηλῶσαι. τοιαῦτα γὰρ δὴ τὰ σὰ πρὸς τοὺς ὑπηκόους φάρμακα· ἢ δίδως αἰτηθεὶς ἢ τοῦ πράγ- ματος οὐκ ἐῶντος ἀχθόμενος τῷ κεκωλῦσθαι τοὺς οὐ τυχόντας εὐφραίνεις ὥσπερ λαβόντας. καὶ νῦν οἱ ζητοῦντες τὸν σῖ- τὸν ἀντ’ ἐκείνου τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ἔχοντες Αἴγυπτον ὅλην ἠγοῦν- ται κεκαρπῶσθαι. πρὸς δὲ τοὺς εἰδότας σε καλῶς τί χρῆν ὀμνύειν ὡς ἔδωκας ἂν ἡδέως; ὁ γὰρ δὴ περὶ τῶν τοιούτων ὅρκος ἡμῶν ἂν εἴη περὶ σοῦ πρὸς ἄλλους, ἀλλ’ οὐ σοῦ πρὸς ἡμᾶς· οὕτως ἴσμεν ὡς ἔδωκας ἂν ἡδέως. θάρρει δὴ περὶ τοῦ μέλλοντος· οὐ γὰρ ἀνήσομεν αἰτοῦντες, ἕως ἂν δοὺς ἀπόθῃ τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι λύπην.