Letter 713: This man Menecrates came from home to study with me full-time, but a host of illnesses made his time with me brief.

To Ammonius. (362) This Menecrates came from his home in order to take part continually in my lessons, but a multitude of illnesses made his attendance with me brief. This did not, however, blunt the goodwill we bear toward him; rather, in whatever way it may be possible to help him outside the sphere of oratory, I hold myself ready. And the greatest of the things I might give is what I am doing now; for this very letter is the beginning of many good things, since it procures for him your support. Seeing then that he desired the art of rhetoric but was hindered from gaining as much of it as is worthwhile, sustain him with the aid that comes from yourself.

Ἀμμωνίῳ. (362) Μενεκράτης οὗτος ἦλθε μὲν οἴκοθεν ὡς μετασχήσων μου συνεχῶς, νοσημάτων δὲ πλῆθος ὀλίγην ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ τὴν συνουσίαν. οὐ μὴν τήν γε παρ’ ἡμῶν εὔνοιαν εἰς αὐτὸν τοῦτο ἤμβλυνεν, ἀλλ’ ὅ τι ἂν ἔξω τῶν λόγων ἐξῇ βοηθεῖ ἕτοιμον ἐμαυτὸν παρέχω. μέγιστον δὲ ὧν δοίην ἂν ὃ νυνὶ ποιῶ· ταυτὶ γὰρ αὐτῷ τὰ γράμματα πολλῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀρχὴ τὴν σὴν προξενοῦντα ῥοπήν. ὡς οὖν ἐπιθυμήσαντα μὲν ῥητορικῆς, κωλυθέντα δὲ ὅσον ἄξιον λαβεῖν ἄνεχε ταῖς παρὰ σαυτοῦ βοηθείαις.