Letter 696: You know this young man, I think -- you were never unaware of those among my students who showed promise in oratory.

To Celsus. You know, I think, this young man here; for you were not unaware of those among us who have devoted themselves to studies. Now he ought to have come to Cilicia on better terms, but as it is he comes to mourn his sister and to honor his loss with tears. Therefore, so that he may neither depart from your presence before meeting with you, nor go searching for someone through whom he might be brought together with you, I have given him this letter. As for you, do not, in the manner of Homer, send him off whenever he wishes; rather, send him even if he wishes to stay.

Κέλσῳ. (362) Οἶσθά που τουτονὶ τὸν νεανίσκον· οὐ γὰρ ἠγνόεις τοὺς παρ’ ἡμῖν ἐπιδεδωκότας εἰς λόγους. ἴδει μὲν οὖν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ βελτίοσιν εἰς Κιλικίαν ἐλθεῖν, νῦν δ’ ἥκει πενθήσων τὴν ἀδελφὴν καὶ δάκρυσι τιμήσων τὸ πάθος. ἱν οὖν μήτ’ ἀπέλθῃ παρ’ ὑμῶν πρὶν ἐντυχεῖν σοι μήτε ζητῇ, δι’ ὅτου ἵν σοι συγγένοιτο δέδωκα τὴν ἐπιστολήν. σὺ δ’ αὐτὸν μὴ καθ’ Ὅμηρον, ὅταν ἐθέλῃ, πέμπειν, ἀλλὰ πέμπε. κἂν ἐθέλῃ μένειν.