Letter 50
To his Brother
They say that Joannes killed Aemilius. Another says this is a
calumny that his political enemies have put in circulation. Justice only knows the truth,
and time will discover it, but although the case is an obscure one, I think all these
people should be held in detestation; the one because, even if he did not commit the
crime, he is just the sort of man to commit it; the other because, if they did not invent
the stories, at all events were quite capable of doing so, and the attempt to slander is
theirs. But if only a man has a nature that does not lend itself to suspicion, even all
the evidence of a multitude of conspirators will not injure his reputation. He would be
laughed to scorn who assailed Ajax on the charge of unchastity. But Alexander, even if not
debauched, at all events was effeminate, and laid himself open to that imputation. As for
Sisyphus and Odysseus, I detest them. Even although they spoke the truth in exceptional
cases, they were, nevertheless, the sort of men who generally lie, and in whatever way I
may be unlucky, I am very lucky to get rid of such citizens, whether they be friends or
enemies. Let me be fortified against all such, and may I have no dealings with any of
them! I would rather live a stranger amongst strangers.
Our way of life separates us more than country. I mourn over the famous
site of Cyrene, in the past the abode of the Carneadae and of the Aristippi, but now of
the Joannes and the Julii. In their society I cannot live with pleasure, and I live away
from it with pleasure. Do not write again to me therefore about any occurrences there. Do
not recommend to my good graces anybody who is engaged in a lawsuit, for in future I do
not wish to interest myself in any one of them. I should indeed by unfortunate if I were
deprived of good things of my beloved native town, but had to take part in its quarrels
and those affairs that drag me away from my ease in philosophy, unfortunate if, when I
have chosen poverty as a guerdon from leisure, I should interfere without reward in other
men's evil concerns.
Letter 51
To his Brother
Starting from Phycus at early dawn, late in the evening we stood in the gulf of Erythra. There we stopped only sufficient time to drink water and to take in a supply. Springs of pure, sweet water gush forth upon the very shore. As our Carpathians were in a huryr, we took to sea again. The wind was light, but it blew continually on our stern, so that where we expected to make nothing of a run each day, we made all we needed before we were aware of it. On the fifth day we perceived the beacon fire lit upon a tower to warn ships running too close. We accordingly disembarked more quickly than it takes to relate, on the island of Pharos, a poor island where there are neither trees nor fruit, but only salt marshes.
Letter 52
To his Brother
They say that a fellow who sells boots has come from Athens. It is the same person, I think, from whom you bought for me last year some lacing shoes. Now, according to my information, he has extended the area of his trade; he has robes in the Attic style, he has light summer clothes which will become you, and mantles such as I like for the summer season. Before he sells all these goods, or at least the finest of them, invite the stranger here, for you must remember that the first purchaser will choose the best of everything, without troubling himself about those who come to buy after him, and but for me three or four of these mantles. In any case, whatever you pay, I will repay you many times over.