§7#1## Τιμοθέῳ
περὶ μὲν τῆς οἰκειότητος τῆς ὑπαρχούσης ἡμῖν πρὸς ἀλλήλους οἶμαί σε πολλῶν ἀκηκοέναι, συγχαίρω δέ σοι πυνθανόμενος, πρῶτον μὲν ὅτι τῇ δυναστείᾳ τῇ παρούσῃ κάλλιον χρῇ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ φρονιμώτερον, ἔπειθ’ ὅτι προαιρεῖ δόξαν καλὴν κτήσασθαι μᾶλλον ἢ πλοῦτον μέγαν συναγαγεῖν.
## To Timotheus As to the intimacy that exists between us, I think you have heard of it from many. But I congratulate you upon learning, first, that you are using your present power better and more wisely than did your father, and second, that you choose to acquire a good reputation rather than to amass great wealth.
σημεῖον γὰρ οὐ μικρὸν ἐκφέρεις ἀρετῆς, ἀλλ’ ὡς δυνατὸν μέγιστον, ταύτην ἔχων τὴν γνώμην· ὥστ’ ἢν ἐμμείνῃς τοῖς περὶ σοῦ νῦν λεγομένοις, οὐκ ἀπορήσεις τῶν ἐγκωμιασομένων τήν τε φρόνησιν τὴν σὴν καὶ τὴν προαίρεσιν ταύτην.
For you display no small sign of virtue, but the greatest possible, in holding this opinion; so that if you abide by the reports now current about you, you will not lack those who will praise both your wisdom and this purpose.
ἡγοῦμαι δὲ καὶ τὰ διηγγελμένα περὶ τοῦ πατρός σου συμβαλεῖσθαι μεγάλην πίστιν πρὸς τὸ δοκεῖν εὖ φρονεῖν σε καὶ διαφέρειν τῶν ἄλλων· εἰώθασι γὰρ οἱ πλεῖστοι τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐχ οὕτως ἐπαινεῖν καὶ τιμᾶν τοὺς ἐκ τῶν πατέρων τῶν εὐδοκιμούντων γεγονότας, ὡς τοὺς ἐκ τῶν δυσκόλων καὶ χαλεπῶν, ἤν περ φαίνωνται μηδὲν ὅμοιοι τοῖς γονεῦσιν ὄντες.
And I think also that what has been reported about your father will contribute great credibility toward your being thought to be wise and to excel others; for most people are accustomed to praise and honor not so much those born from well-reputed fathers, as those born from difficult and harsh ones, if they appear to be in no way like their parents.
μᾶλλον γὰρ ἐπὶ πάντων κεχαρισμένον αὐτοῖς ἐστὶ τὸ παρὰ λόγον συμβαῖνον ἀγαθὸν τῶν εἰκότως καὶ προσηκόντως γιγνομένων.
For in all cases, a good thing that happens contrary to expectation is more pleasing to them than those things which occur reasonably and properly.
ὧν ἐνθυμούμενον χρὴ ζητεῖν καὶ φιλοσοφεῖν ἐξ ὅτου τρόπου καὶ μετὰ τίνων καὶ τίσι συμβούλοις χρώμενος τάς τε τῆς πόλεως ἀτυχίας ἐπανορθώσεις καὶ τοὺς πολίτας ἐπί τε τὰς ἐργασίας καὶ τὴν σωφροσύνην προτρέψεις καὶ ποιήσεις αὐτοὺς ἥδιον ζῆν καὶ θαρραλεώτερον ἢ τὸν παρελθόντα χρόνον· ταῦτα γάρ ἐστιν ἔργα τῶν ὀρθῶς καὶ φρονίμως τυραννευόντων.
Reflecting on these things, you must seek and study by what means, and with whose help, and by employing what advisers you will correct the misfortunes of the state, and urge the citizens toward industry and moderation, and make them live more pleasantly and securely than in the past; for these are the deeds of those who rule as tyrants rightly and wisely.
ὧν ἔνιοι καταφρονήσαντες οὐδὲν ἄλλο σκοποῦσι, πλὴν ὅπως αὐτοί θ’ ὡς μετὰ πλείστης ἀσελγείας τὸν βίον διάξουσι, τῶν τε πολιτῶν τοὺς βελτίστους καὶ πλουσιωτάτους καὶ φρονιμωτάτους λυμανοῦνται καὶ δασμολογήσουσι, κακῶς εἰδότες ὅτι προσήκει τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας καὶ τὴν τιμὴν ταύτην ἔχοντας μὴ τοῖς τῶν ἄλλων κακοῖς αὑτοῖς ἡδονὰς παρασκευάζειν, ἀλλὰ ταῖς αὑτῶν ἐπιμελείαις τοὺς πολίτας εὐδαιμονεστέρους ποιεῖν, μηδὲ πικρῶς μὲν καὶ χαλεπῶς διακεῖσθαι πρὸς ἅπαντας, ἀμελεῖν δὲ τῆς αὑτῶν σωτηρίας, ἀλλ’ οὕτω μὲν πράως καὶ νομίμως ἐπιστατεῖν τῶν πραγμάτων ὥστε μηδένα τολμᾶν αὐτοῖς ἐπιβουλεύειν, μετὰ τοσαύτης δ’ ἀκριβείας τὴν τοῦ σώματος ποιεῖσθαι φυλακὴν ὡς ἁπάντων αὐτοὺς ἀνελεῖν βουλομένων.
Some of whom, having despised these duties, consider nothing else except how they themselves may pass their lives with the greatest licentiousness, and how they may abuse and despoil the best, wealthiest, and wisest of the citizens, knowing ill that it is fitting for those who are wise and hold this honor not to provide pleasures for themselves through the misfortunes of others, but to make the citizens happier by their own care, nor to be bitterly and harshly disposed toward all, while neglecting their own safety, but to oversee affairs so gently and lawfully that no one will dare to plot against them, and yet to maintain the guard of their persons with such exactness as if everyone wished to destroy them.
ταύτην γὰρ τὴν διάνοιαν ἔχοντες αὐτοί τ’ ἂν ἔξω τῶν κινδύνων εἶεν καὶ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις εὐδοκιμοῖεν· ὧν ἀγαθὰ μείζω χαλεπὸν εὑρεῖν ἐστίν.
For holding this frame of mind, they would both be out of danger and be well reputed among others; than which goods it is difficult to find greater.
ἐνεθυμήθην δὲ μεταξὺ γράφων, ὡς εὐτυχῶς ἅπαντά σοι συμβέβηκεν.
And it occurred to me while writing, how fortunately everything has turned out for you.
τὴν μὲν γὰρ εὐπορίαν ἣν ἀναγκαῖον ἦν κτήσασθαι μετὰ βίας καὶ τυραννικῶς καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς ἀπεχθείας ὁ πατήρ σοι καταλέλοιπε, τὸ δὲ χρῆσθαι τούτοις καλῶς καὶ φιλανθρώπως ἐπὶ σοὶ γέγονεν· ὧν χρή σε πολλὴν ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν.
For the wealth, which it was necessary to acquire by force and tyrannically and with much hatred, your father has left to you, but the using of these well and humanely has fallen to your share; of which things you must take great care.
ἃ μὲν οὖν ἐγὼ γιγνώσκω, ταῦτ’ ἐστίν· ἔχει δ’ οὕτως.
These, then, are the things that I know; and so it stands.