Letter 359: To the same. (~358 AD)

To the same man. [following letter 358] This Domnus had a good father and a still better father-in-law; for he is married to the daughter of Celsus, through whom the Syrians are not without a share in the language of the Italians [i.e., Latin]. But Domnus himself is also such a man that, even if he had neither of the things I have mentioned, he would deservedly be honored on account of his character. For, living in a soldier's station, he exhibits a finer cast of mind than his way of life would suggest, being free from insolence, not knowing how to play the rogue, considering unjust gain to be a loss, ready to grant a favor, and, when he has received one, to repay it, smiling rather than scowling, in short giving to no one any pretext for blame on any account, but to many men, on very many accounts, occasion for praise. Now then he has completed his service here, and by law he is being transferred to the higher branch of service. And for faring there as well as possible he has one hope, your influence; and indeed he has hopes of that very influence as well. For these two things are sung of among us: that you are willing to help those from here, and that your power is equal to your intention. Hearing these things now, Domnus will, on the strength of the deeds, tell them to others.

Τῷ αὐτῶ. (358) Δόμνῳ τούτῳ πατήρ τε ἦν ἀγαθὸς καὶ κηδεστὴς βελτίων· γαμεῖ γὰρ θυγατέρα Κέλσου, δι’ ὃν οὐκ ἄμοιροι Σύροι τῆς Ἰταλῶν φωνῆς. ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Δόμνος τοιοῦτος, οἶος, εἰ καὶ μηδέτερον ὧν ἔφην εἶχεν, ἀπὸ τῶν τρόπων εἰκότως ἂν τιμᾶσθαι. ζῶν γὰρ ἐν στρατιώτου σχήματι καλλίω γνώμην παρέχεται τοῦ βίου θράσους ἀπηλλαγμένος, πανουργεῖν οὐκ εἰδώς, κέρδος ἄδικον βλάβην ἡγούμενος, χάριν ἕτοιμος μὲν δοῦναι, λαβὼν δὲ ἀποδοῦναι, μᾶλλον μειδιῶν ἢ σκυθρωπάζων, ἁπλῶς μέμψεως μὲν οὐδενὶ δοὺς ἐπ’ οὐδενὶ πρόφασιν, ἐπαίνου δὲ πολλοῖς ἐπὶ πάνυ πολλοῖς. τὴν μὲν οὖν τῇδε διακονίαν πεπλήρωκε, νόμῳ δὲ πρὸς τὴν μείζω στρατείαν μεθίσταται. τοῦ δ’ ὡς ἄριστα πράξειν ἐκεῖ μίαν ἐλπίδα τὴν σὴν ἔχει ῥο- πή ἔχει δέ γε καὶ τῆς ῥοπῆς αὐτῆς ἐλπίδας. δύο γὰρ δὴ ταῦτα παρ’ ἡμῖν ᾄδεται, ὡς ἐθέλεις τε τοῖς ἐνθένδε βοηθεῖν καὶ δύναμις ἴση τῇ γνώμῃ. ἃ νῦν ἀκούων Δόμνος ἐπὶ τοῖς ἕργοις πρὸς ἄλλους ἐρεῖ.