§8## τοῖς Μυτιληναίων ἄρχουσιν
οἱ παῖδες οἱ Ἀφαρέως, ὑιδεῖς δ’ ἐμοί, παιδευθέντες ὑπ’ Ἀγήνορος τὰ περὶ τὴν μουσικήν, ἐδεήθησάν μου γράμματα πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ὅπως ἄν, ἐπειδὴ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τινὰς κατηγάγετε φυγάδων, καὶ τοῦτον καταδέξησθε καὶ τὸν πατέρα καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφούς.
## To the Rulers of the Mytileneans The children of Aphareus, who are grandsons to me, having been educated by Agenor in matters concerning music, begged of me to send a letter to you, so that, since you have restored some of the other exiles, you might also receive back this man, his father, and his brothers.
λέγοντος δέ μου πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὅτι δέδοικα μὴ λίαν ἄτοπος εἶναι δόξω καὶ περίεργος, ζητῶν εὑρίσκεσθαι τηλικαῦτα τὸ μέγεθος παρ’ ἀνδρῶν οἷς οὐδὲ πώποτε πρότερον οὔτε διελέχθην οὔτε συνήθης ἐγενόμην, ἀκούσαντες ταῦτα πολὺ μᾶλλον ἐλιπάρουν.
When I said to them that I feared I might seem too out of place and meddlesome in seeking to obtain such a great favor from men with whom I had never before spoken nor been acquainted, upon hearing this they importuned me all the more.
ὡς δ’ οὐδὲν αὐτοῖς ἀπέβαινεν ὧν ἤλπιζον, ἅπασιν ἦσαν καταφανεῖς ἀηδῶς διακείμενοι καὶ χαλεπῶς φέροντες.
And when nothing turned out for them as they hoped, they were manifest to all as being in a state of displeasure and taking it hard.
ὁρῶν δ’ αὐτοὺς λυπουμένους μᾶλλον τοῦ προσήκοντος, τελευτῶν ὑπεσχόμην γράψειν τὴν ἐπιστολὴν καὶ πέμψειν ὑμῖν.
Seeing them grieved more than was fitting, I finally promised that I would write the letter and send it to you.
ὑπὲρ μὲν οὖν τοῦ μὴ δικαίως ἂν δοκεῖν μωρὸς εἶναι μηδ’ ὀχληρὸς ταῦτ’ ἔχω λέγειν.
Therefore, to show that I would not justly seem foolish or troublesome, I have this much to say.
ἡγοῦμαι δὲ καλῶς ὑμᾶς βεβουλεῦσθαι καὶ διαλλαττομένους τοῖς πολίταις τοῖς ὑμετέροις, καὶ πειρωμένους τοὺς μὲν φεύγοντας ὀλίγους ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ συμπολιτευομένους πολλούς, καὶ μιμουμένους τὰ περὶ τὴν στάσιν τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἡμετέραν.
I believe that you have resolved well both in reconciling with your fellow citizens, in trying to make the exiles few and those sharing in the government many, and in imitating our city in matters concerning civil strife.
μάλιστα δ’ ἄν τις ὑμᾶς ἐπαινέσειεν ὅτι τοῖς κατιοῦσιν ἀποδίδοτε τὴν οὐσίαν· ἐπιδείκνυσθε γὰρ καὶ ποιεῖτε πᾶσι φανερὸν ὡς οὐ τῶν κτημάτων ἐπιθυμήσαντες τῶν ἀλλοτρίων, ἀλλ’ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως δείσαντες ἐποιήσασθε τὴν ἐκβολὴν αὐτῶν.
Most of all would one praise you because you restore property to those who return; for you display and make clear to all that you did not banish them because you coveted the possessions of others, but because you feared for the city.
οὐ μὴν ἀλλ’ εἰ καὶ μηδὲν ὑμῖν ἔδοξε τούτων μηδὲ προσεδέχεσθε μηδένα τῶν φυγάδων, τούτους γε νομίζω συμφέρειν ὑμῖν κατάγειν.
Nevertheless, even if you had resolved on none of these things and were not receiving back any of the exiles, I think it is in your interest to restore these men at least.
αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τὴν μὲν πόλιν ὑμῶν ὑπὸ πάντων ὁμολογεῖσθαι μουσικωτάτην εἶναι καὶ τοὺς ὀνομαστοτάτους ἐν αὐτῇ παρ’ ὑμῖν τυγχάνειν γεγονότας, τὸν δὲ προέχοντα τῶν νῦν ὄντων περὶ τὴν ἱστορίαν τῆς παιδείας ταύτης φεύγειν ἐκ τῆς τοιαύτης πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους Ἕλληνας τοὺς διαφέροντας περί τι τῶν καλῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων, κἂν μηδὲν προσήκωσι, ποιεῖσθαι πολίτας, ὑμᾶς δὲ τοὺς εὐδοκιμοῦντάς τε παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις καὶ μετασχόντας τῆς αὐτῆς φύσεως περιορᾶν παρ’ ἑτέροις μετοικοῦντας.
For it is shameful that your city, while acknowledged by all to be most musical and having produced the most famous men in this field among you, should see the one who excels among those now living in the knowledge of this education live as an exile from such a city, and that, while other Greeks make citizens of those who excel in any of the noble pursuits, even if they have no connection, you, who are well-reputed among others and share in the same nature, should tolerate them living as resident aliens among others.
θαυμάζω δ’ ὅσαι τῶν πόλεων μειζόνων δωρεῶν ἀξιοῦσι τοὺς ἐν τοῖς γυμνικοῖς ἀγῶσι κατορθοῦντας μᾶλλον ἢ τοὺς τῇ φρονήσει καὶ τῇ φιλοπονίᾳ τι τῶν χρησίμων εὑρίσκοντας, καὶ μὴ συνορῶσιν ὅτι πεφύκασιν αἱ μὲν περὶ τὴν ῥώμην καὶ τὸ τάχος δυνάμεις συναποθνῄσκειν τοῖς σώμασιν, αἱ δ’ ἐπιστῆμαι παραμένειν ἅπαντα τὸν χρόνον ὠφελοῦσαι τοὺς χρωμένους αὐταῖς.
I wonder at those cities which deem those who succeed in athletic contests worthy of greater gifts than those who by wisdom and diligence discover something useful, and do not perceive that while the powers concerning strength and speed are natural to die with the bodies, sciences remain for all time, benefiting those who use them.
ὧν ἐνθυμουμένους χρὴ τοὺς νοῦν ἔχοντας περὶ πλείστου μὲν ποιεῖσθαι τοὺς καλῶς καὶ δικαίως τῆς αὑτῶν πόλεως ἐπιστατοῦντας, δευτέρους δὲ τοὺς τιμὴν καὶ δόξαν αὐτῇ καλὴν συμβαλέσθαι δυναμένους· ἅπαντες γὰρ ὥσπερ δείγματι τοῖς τοιούτοις χρώμενοι καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους τοὺς συμπολιτευομένους ὁμοίους εἶναι τούτοις νομίζουσιν.
Reflecting on these things, sensible men ought to value most those who govern their own city well and justly, and second, those who are able to contribute honorable honor and glory to it; for all, using such men as an example, believe that the other fellow citizens are like them.
ἴσως οὖν εἴποι τις ἂν ὅτι προσήκει τοὺς εὑρέσθαι τι βουλομένους μὴ τὸ πρᾶγμα μόνον ἐπαινεῖν ἀλλὰ καὶ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ἐπιδεικνύναι δικαίως ἂν τυγχάνοντας, περὶ ὧν ποιοῦνται τοὺς λόγους.
Perhaps, then, someone might say that it is fitting for those who wish to obtain something not only to praise the matter but also to show themselves justly deserving of that about which they make their pleas.
ἔχει δ’ οὕτως. ἐγὼ τοῦ μὲν πολιτεύεσθαι καὶ ῥητορεύειν ἀπέστην· οὔτε γὰρ φωνὴν ἔσχον ἱκανὴν οὔτε τόλμαν· οὐ μὴν παντάπασιν ἄχρηστος ἔφυν οὐδ’ ἀδόκιμος, ἀλλὰ τοῖς τε λέγειν προῃρημένοις ἀγαθόν τι περὶ ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων συμμάχων φανείην ἂν καὶ σύμβουλος καὶ συναγωνιστὴς γεγενημένος, αὐτός τε πλείους λόγους πεποιημένος ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ τῆς αὐτονομίας τῆς τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἢ σύμπαντες οἱ τὰ βήματα κατατετριφότες.
It is thus: I have stood aloof from public life and public speaking; for I had neither sufficient voice nor daring; yet I was not born altogether useless or without repute, but I would appear to have been both a counselor and a fellow-combatant to those who chose to say something good about you and the other allies, and I myself have made more speeches on behalf of the freedom and autonomy of the Greeks than all those who have worn down the speaker’s platforms.
ὑπὲρ ὧν ὑμεῖς ἄν μοι δικαίως πλείστην ἔχοιτε χάριν· μάλιστα γὰρ ἐπιθυμοῦντες διατελεῖτε τῆς τοιαύτης καταστάσεως.
For which things you would justly have the greatest gratitude to me; for you continue to desire such a constitution most of all.
οἶμαι δ’ ἄν, εἰ Κόνων μὲν καὶ Τιμόθεος ἐτύγχανον ζῶντες, Διόφαντος δ’ ἧκεν ἐκ τῆς Ἀσίας, πολλὴν ἂν αὐτοὺς ποιήσασθαι σπουδήν, εὑρέσθαι με βουλομένους ὧν τυγχάνω δεόμενος.
And I think that if Conon and Timotheus happened to be alive, and Diophantus had returned from Asia, they would have made great effort, wishing that I should obtain what I happen to be in need of.
περὶ ὧν οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅ τι δεῖ πλείω λέγειν· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ὑμῶν οὕτως ἐστὶ νέος οὐδ’ ἐπιλήσμων, ὅστις οὐκ οἶδε τὰς ἐκείνων εὐεργεσίας.
Concerning which things I do not know what more I need to say; for none of you is so young or forgetful as not to know their benefactions.
οὕτω δ’ ἄν μοι δοκεῖτε κάλλιστα βουλεύσασθαι περὶ τούτων, εἰ σκέψαισθε, τίς ἐστιν ὁ δεόμενος καὶ ὑπὲρ ποίων τινῶν ἀνθρώπων.
And you would seem to me to resolve best about these matters if you should consider who it is that makes the request and on behalf of what kind of men.
εὑρήσετε γὰρ ἐμὲ μὲν οἰκειότατα κεχρημένον τοῖς μεγίστων ἀγαθῶν αἰτίοις γεγενημένοις ὑμῖν τε καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις, ὑπὲρ ὧν δὲ δέομαι τοιούτους ὄντας, οἵους τοὺς μὲν πρεσβυτέρους καὶ τοὺς περὶ τὴν πολιτείαν ὄντας μὴ λυπεῖν, τοῖς δὲ νεωτέροις διατριβὴν παρέχειν ἡδεῖαν καὶ χρησίμην καὶ πρέπουσαν τοῖς τηλικούτοις.
For you will find that I have associated most intimately with those who have been the causes of the greatest goods to you and the others, and that those on whose behalf I make the request are of such a character as not to annoy the older citizens and those engaged in public life, but to afford to the younger a pleasant, useful, and fitting occupation for those of their age.
μὴ θαυμάζετε δ’ εἰ προθυμότερον καὶ διὰ μακροτέρων γέγραφα τὴν ἐπιστολήν· βούλομαι γὰρ ἀμφότερα, τοῖς τε παισὶν ἡμῶν χαρίσασθαι καὶ ποιῆσαι φανερὸν αὐτοῖς ὅτι, κἂν μὴ δημηγορῶσι μηδὲ στρατηγῶσιν ἀλλὰ μόνον μιμῶνται τὸν τρόπον τὸν ἐμόν, οὐκ ἠμελημένως διάξουσιν ἐν τοῖς Ἕλλησιν.
Do not wonder if I have written the letter with greater zeal and at greater length; for I wish both to gratify our children and to make clear to them that, even if they do not speak in public or serve as generals, but only imitate my way of life, they will not live neglected among the Greeks.
ἓν ἔτι λοιπόν· ἂν ἄρα δόξῃ τι τούτων ὑμῖν πράττειν, Ἀγήνορί τε δηλώσατε καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὅτι μέρος τι καὶ δι’ ἐμὲ τυγχάνουσιν ὧν ἐπεθύμουν.
One thing yet remains: if indeed it should seem fit to you to do any of these things, make it clear to Agenor and his brothers that they obtain what they desired partly through me.