Letter 63: It is no burden for me to keep writing and pleading about the same matter, but it may not sit well with you to keep...

To Clearchus. (359) For us it is no labor either to write or to make requests about the same matters, but for you it cannot be a pleasant thing always to be hearing about the same things; for the fact that the need of your zeal -- to put it in a fair-sounding way -- still persists for us is itself a reproach. Whence, then, are we to procure consolation for the insults that Severus heaps upon us? From the fact that Clearchus's power has been stripped away? And yet it has actually been increased, since Fortune does what is just. But is he hindered from action by the press of business? And where is there a throng so great that he could not most easily cope with it? What then? Did he not confer the greatest benefits when he began to defend us? Indeed it is impossible to say how great they were. What, then, has he suffered that he does not make good the proverb which says: "I shall begin from what is good, and shall end at what is better"? But his start from the mark was brilliant, while as he went on he gave Severus license to grow bold, and what then seemed to be the end gave birth to the beginning of troubles. Seeing, therefore, that Cleobulus is being wronged and you are being held in contempt, exact justice on behalf of both. And the greatest punishment for Severus is his being unable to seize what belongs to others.

**To Clearchus** (359 AD) For us it is no trouble either to write or to make requests about the same matters, but it can hardly be pleasant for you to keep hearing about the same things — for the fact that our need for your, shall I say, *goodwill* persists is itself a reproach. Where, then, are we to find relief from the outrages Severus commits? From the notion that Clearchus has been stripped of his power? On the contrary, his power has grown, since Fortune is doing what is right. Well then, is he hindered by a press of business? And where is there such a mass of affairs that he could not handle with the greatest ease? And what of this — did he not render the greatest service when he first began to defend us? One cannot even express how great it was. Why, then, does he not make good the proverb that says: *"I shall begin from good, and end at something better"*? Instead, his start from the gate was brilliant, but as things progressed he gave Severus license to grow bold, and what seemed then to be the end of the affair gave birth to fresh troubles. Since Cleobulus is being wronged and you are being treated with contempt, exact justice on behalf of both. And the greatest justice for Severus would be his finding himself unable to seize what belongs to others.

Κλεάρχῳ. (359) Ἡμῖν μὲν οὐκ ἔργον οὔτε γράφειν οὔτι δεῖσθαι περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν, σοὶ δ’ οὐκ ἂν ἔχοι καλῶς ἀεὶ περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν ἀκούειν· τὸ γὰρ ἡμῖν μένειν τὴν χρείαν τῆς σῆς, ἵν’ εὐφήμως εἴπω, προθυμίας ἔλεγχος. πόθεν οὗν πορισώμεθα παρα- μυθίαν ἐφ’ οἷς ὑβρίζει Σευῆρος; ἀπὸ τοῦ περιῃρῆσθαι Κλε- άρχῳ τὴν δύναμιν; καὶ μὴν ηὔξηται τῆς Τύχης τὰ δίκαια ποιούσης. ἀλλ’ ὡς ὄχλῳ διακωλύεται πραγμάτων; καὶ ποῦ τοσοῦτο πλῆθος, ᾧ μὴ ῥᾷστα ἂν ἐπαρκέσαι; τί δαί; οὐ τὰ μέγιστα ὤνησεν ἀρξάμενος ἀμύνειν; οὐδὲ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν ἡλίκα τί οὖν παθὼν οὐ βεβαιοῖ τὴν παροιμίαν ἥ φησιν· ἄρξομαι ἐξ ἀγαθοῖο, τελευτήσω δ’ ἐς ἄμεινον; ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν ἀπὸ βαλβῖδος λαμπρά, προιὼν δὲ θρασύνεσθαι τῷ Σευήρῳ δέδωκε, καὶ τὸ δοκοῦν τότε πέρας ἀρχὴν ἔτεκε πραγμάτων. ὡς οὖν Κλεοβούλου μὲν ἀδικουμένου, σοῦ δὲ καταφρονουμένου δίκην ὑπὲρ ἀμφοῖν λαβέ. δίκη δὲ μεγίστη Σευήρῳ τὸ τὰ ἀλλότρια μὴ δυνηθῆναι λαβεῖν.