Letter 307

To Herimus the Count [comes, a high imperial official]. I learn that you covet the so-called seat of the prefects [the praetorian prefecture], which is reputed to be unattainable and prodigious, though in truth it is not so. Know, then, most illustrious sir, that the glory offered to you by men is a small thing, and cheap, and short-lived, and in no way different from the flowers of spring; it is a laughable and mocking glory, while the shame that comes afterward turns out to be great and abundant. If, therefore, you do not wish to be put to shame, do not wish to be glorified with that washed-out glory which is easily blotted out and diminished.

Τῆς λεγομένης, οὐ μὴν οὔσης ἀνεφίκτου, καὶ ὑπερφυοῦς καθέδρας τῶν ἐπάρχων ἐπιθυμεῖν σε μανθάνω. Γίνωσκε οὖν, λαμπρότατε ἄνθρωπε, ὅτι μικρὰ μὲν, καὶ εὐτελής ἐστι, καὶ ὀλιγοήμερος, καὶ τῶν ἠρινῶν ἀνθέων οὐδὲν διαφέρουσα, ᾗ παρὰ ἀνθρώ- πων σοι προσφερομένη γελωδὴς, καὶ χλευαστικὴ δόξα, μεγάλη δὲ καὶ πολλὴ τυγχάνει ἡ εὐστέρον αἰσχύνη. Εἰ τοίνυν μὴ βούλει αἰσχυνθῆναι, μὴ βού- λου δοξασθῆναι τὴν ἔκπλυτον, καὶ ῥᾳδίως ἐξαφανιζο- μένην καὶ μειουμένην δόξαν.