Letter 730: What a treasure I had in my hands and never used!

To Demetrius. (362) What a good thing I had in hand and was not making use of! For many necessities of many kinds have often brought the excellent Eucarpion here, and though I had long been suffering in my head and able to be relieved through the art that resides in this man, I conversed with him a little, but I did not go so far as even to seek help. These things, then, belonged to my former simplicity, or, if you prefer, my misfortune. But now those who have come have inquired more carefully about the affliction, and he has both discovered what its nature was and, after considering the matter, has explained the means by which it will either be wholly halted or will trouble me more lightly. And indeed, right at the outset, we received no ignoble proof of his aid; and as I was praising and acknowledging it, "Let Demetrius the sophist too," he said, "now know of it." And this was the remark of one who knew that you will feel as much gratitude toward him as the patient himself feels. But do you at once both acknowledge the favor and set in motion something more skillful; for, as in a great war that drags out at length, there is need of many devices. Therefore let him compose a treatise, at your urging, so that, looking to that, we may so conduct the body, obeying its rule.

Δημητρίῳ. (362) Οἶον ἔχων ἐν χεροῖν ἀγαθὸν οὐκ ἐχρώμην Εὐκαρπίωνα γὰρ τὸν καλὸν πολλαὶ μὲν πολλάκις δεῦρ’ ἤγαγον ἀνάγκαι, τὴν κεφαλὴν δὲ ἐγὼ νοσῶν καὶ δυνάμενος πάλαι διὰ τῆς παρὰ τῷδε ῥαῖσαι τέχνης μικρὰ μὶν αὐτῷ διελέχθην, οὐ μὴν μέχρι τοῦ καὶ ζητῆσαι βοήθειαν προῆλθον. ταυτὶ μὶν τῆς πρὶν εὐηθείας ἤ, εἰ βούλει γε, δυστυχίας· ἀλλὰ νῦν ἥκουσί τε ἀκριβέστερον περὶ τοῦ πάθους καὶ τήν τε φύσιν ἥτις ἦν ἐξεῦρε καὶ δι’ ὧν ἢ στήσεται τελέως ἢ κουφότερον ἀνιάσει ἕφρασε σκεψάμενος. καὶ πεῖρόν γε τῆς ἐπικουρίας εὐθὺς ἐν προοιμίοις ἐλαμβάνομεν οὐκ ἀγεννῆ· ὡς δὲ ἐπῄνουν τε καὶ ὡμολόγουν, γνώτω τοίνυν ἴφη καὶ Δημήτριος σοφιστής. τοῦτο δὲ ἦν εἰδότος ὅτι τοσαύτην αὐτῷ χάριν, ὅσηνπερ ὁ κάμνων, εἴσῃ. σὺ δ’ ὁμοῦ τι τὴν χάριν ὁμολογεῖν καὶ κινεῖν ἐπί τι σοφώτερον· οἷα γὰρ ἐν μεγάλῳ πολέμῳ καὶ μῆκος ἔχοντι πολλῶν δεῖ τῶν ἐπιτεχνήσεων. βιβλίον οὖν ποιησάτω σοῦ πείθοντος, ὅπως εἰς ἐκεῖνο βλέποντες οὕτως ἄγωμεν τὸ σῶμα πειθόμενοι τῷ νόμῳ.