Letter 62
To the General
Praise is the reward of virtue, which we offer to the most
illustrious Marcellinus at this moment when he is leaving his post, at this moment when
suspicion of every flattery is in abeyance. When he arrived here, he found our cities
attacked from without by the multitude and rage of the barbarians, from within by the lack
of discipline of the troops and the rapacity of their commanders. Marcellinus appeared in
our midst as a god. He vanquished the enemy in a single day's fighting, and by his
continual alertness he has brought our subjects into line. He has thus out of both
calamities brought peace to our cities. Nor did he claim any of those profits that usage
has made to appear lawful; he has not plotted to despoil the rich or ill-treat the poor.
He has shown himself pious towards God, just towards his fellow citizens, considerate to
suppliants. On this account a philosopher priest is not ashamed to praise him, a priest
from whom no one ever received a testimonial bought by favour. We wish that the courts of
law also were present with us, so that, collectively and individually, all we inhabitants
of Ptolemais might have presented him in return with such a testimonial as is in our
power, however inadequate, for words are somehow far inferior to deeds. I would most
willingly have made a speech on the occasion in behalf of us all.
But since to-day he is beyond the frontier, we wish at all events to
dedicate to him our testimony in the form of a letter, not as those from whom a favour is
solicited, but as those who have solicited one.