§512Αὐτοκράτορι Καίσαρι Μάρκῳ Αὐρηλίῳ Ἀντωνίνῳ σεβαστῷ καὶ αὐτοκράτορι Καίσαρι Λουκίῳ Αὐρηλίῳ Κομόδῳ σεβαστῷ Αἴλιος Ἀριστείδης χαίρειν.
To the Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus and the Emperor Caesar Lucius Aurelius Commodus Augustus, Aelius Aristides sends greeting.
πρότερον μὲν, ὦ μέγιστοι βασιλεῖς, ἀγωνίσματα καὶ λόγους ἐκ διατριβῶν καὶ τοιαῦθʼ ὑμῖν ἀπέστελλον, νυνὶ δὲ ἑτέραν ὁ δαίμων ἔδωκεν ὑπόθεσιν.
Formerly, O greatest sovereigns, I used to send you declamations and speeches from my studies, but now the divinity has given us a different subject.
κεῖται Σμύρνα τὸ τῆς Ἀσίας ἄγαλμα, τῆς δὲ ὑμετέρας ἡγεμονίας ἐγκαλλώπισμα, πυρὶ καὶ σεισμοῖς ἐκτριβεῖσα.
Smyrna, the jewel of Asia, and the ornament of your empire, lies prostrate, ruined by fire and earthquakes.
ὀρέξατε πρὸς θεῶν χεῖρα, ὀρέξατε, ὅσην ὑμῖν πρέπει.
Stretch out your hand, by the gods, stretch it out, as much as becomes you.
Σμύρνα τοι μέγιστα δὴ τῆς νῦν Ἑλλάδος εὐτυχήσασα καὶ πρὸς θεῶν καὶ πρὸς ὑμῶν, τῶν τε ἀεὶ βασιλέων καὶ τοῦ συνεδρίου κοινῇ, μέγιστα δὴ καὶ πέπονθε τῶν μνημονευομένων.
Smyrna, which indeed had enjoyed the greatest good fortune in present-day Greece, both from the gods and from you, as well as from the successive emperors and the senate in common, has now also suffered the greatest of memorable disasters.
ἓν δὲ ὅμως αὐτῇ κἀν τούτοις ἐφυλάχθη παρὰ τοῦ δαίμονος ὡσπερεὶ σύμβολον σωτηρίας· εἴδετε τὴν πόλιν, ἴστε τὴν ζημίαν.
Yet, one thing nevertheless was preserved for her by the divinity even in these trials, as a token of salvation: you have seen the city, you know her loss.
ἀναμνήσθητε ὧν ἐπὶ τῆς πορείας ἐφθέγξασθε ὁρῶντες εἰς αὐτὴν, ἀναμνήσθητε ὧν εἴσω παρελθόντες, ὡς διετέθητε, ὡς διεθήκατε.
Recall what you uttered during your journey when you looked upon her; recall, having entered within, how you were affected, and what dispositions you made.
οἱ μὲν Θεοξένια ἦγον, ὑμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἐν τοῖς ἡμερωτάτοις ὧν κέκτησθε ἀνεπαύεσθε.
The people were celebrating the Theoxenia, while you rested as if in the mildest of your possessions.
ποία προσβολὴ τῆς ὄψεως οὐχ ἡδίους ὑμᾶς ἐποίησε;
What approach of the view did not make you more pleased?
τί τῶν πάντων §513ἐθεάσασθε σιγῇ καὶ οὐ μετὰ τῆς πρεπούσης ὑμῖν εὐφημίας;
What of all things did you behold in silence and not with the praise that became you?
ὧν οὐδὲ ἀπελθόντες ἠμνημονήσατε.
Even after departing, you did not forget them.
ἃ νῦν πάντα ἐν κόνει.
All of these are now in the dust.
μέμυκε μὲν ἐκεῖνος λιμὴν, οἴχεται δὲ ἀγορᾶς κάλλη, κόσμοι δὲ ὁδῶν ἀφανεῖς, γυμνάσια δὲ αὐτοῖς ἀνδράσι καὶ παισὶ διέφθαρται· ναοὶ δὲ οἱ μὲν κεῖνται, οἱ δὲ κατέδυσαν·
That harbor is closed, the beauties of the market-place are gone, the decorations of the streets have vanished, the gymnasia have been destroyed along with the men and boys themselves; as for the temples, some lie prostrate, others have sunk.
ἡ δὲ πρὸς θέαν ὡραιοτάτη πόλεων καὶ τοῦ κάλλους ἐπώνυμος ἀνθρώποις ἅπασιν ἀωρότατον θεαμάτων ἀποπέφανται, κολωνὸς ἐρειπίων καὶ νεκρῶν.
The city which was the most beautiful of all to behold and named after beauty itself has appeared to all mankind as the most untimely of spectacles, a hill of ruins and corpses.
ζέφυροι δὲ ἐρήμην ἐπιπνέουσι.
West winds blow over a desert.
τὸ δὲ λειπόμενον πᾶν εἰς ὑμᾶς βλέπει, συναποβλέπει δὲ καὶ ἡ ἄλλη πᾶσα Ἀσία, ὑμῖν μὲν τἀγαθὰ νῦν τε καὶ ἀεὶ συνευχομένη, τῇ Σμύρνῃ δʼ ἔλεον παρʼ ὑμῶν, εἰ δὴ Σμύρνα γε τοὔδαφος.
Everything that remains looks to you, and all the rest of Asia looks with it, praying for your prosperity now and always, and begging for Smyrna your mercy, if indeed Smyrna is still even its site.
παράδοξον μὲν οὖν οἶδα ἐρῶν λόγον, οὐ μὴν ἀνόητόν γε, ὡς οἶμαι.
Now, I know I shall speak a paradoxical word, yet not a foolish one, as I think.
εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἀβούλητος ὑμῖν ἡ ὑπόθεσις, τῆς γε ἀγαθῆς τύχης ὑμῖν γέγονε, δούσης ἀφορμὴν ἐφʼ ἧς κάλλιστα δὴ καὶ φανερώτατα τῇ φύσει χρήσεσθε ἐπὶ πολλοῖς καὶ μεγάλοις οἷς πρότερον ἐπεδείξασθε.
For even if this subject was unwanted by you, it has become a matter of good fortune for you, since it has given you an opportunity in which you will display your nature most beautifully and most clearly, upon the many and great occasions you have previously shown.
μὴ γάρ μοι Λυσίμαχον ἔτι, μηδὲ Ἀλέξανδρον αὐτὸν, μηδὲ Θησέα καὶ μύθους, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς οἰκισταὶ τῆς πόλεως γένεσθε, ὑμεῖς νέαν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἀποδείξατε, ὑμῶν γενέσθω πᾶσα καὶ διʼ ἁπάντων ἡ πόλις, εἴτε ὡς καλύπτραν βασιλίδων εἴτε ὡς βασιλέων διάδημα εἴθʼ ὅπως βούλεσθε λογίσασθε, οὕτω σώσατε τὴν πόλιν.
For tell me no more of Lysimachus, nor of Alexander himself, nor of Theseus and myths; but become yourselves the founders of the city, show a new one from the beginning, let the entire city in all its parts become yours, whether you consider it as a veil of queens or as a diadem of kings or however you wish to reckon it, so save the city.
τίνας οἰκιστὰς, ποίους βασιλέας οὐκ ἀποκρύψετε;
What founders, what kings will you not eclipse?
ποίους οὐχ ὑπερβαλεῖσθε ὅρους μεγαλοψυχίας, ἃ χρόνῳ καὶ καθʼ ἕκαστον ἐκτήθη τῇ πόλει, ταῦθʼ ἑνὸς οἰκισμοῦ ποιήσαντες γενέσθαι;
What bounds of magnanimity will you not surpass, by making those things which were acquired by the city through time and individually become the work of a single foundation?
καὶ ταῦτα οὐχ ὡς συμβουλεύων εἶπον, οὐδʼ ὡς ἀγνοοῦντας διδάσκων, οὐχ οὕτως ἔκφρων γέγονα ὑπὸ τῆς συμφορᾶς, ἀλλά τοι καὶ εὔχεσθαι οὕτω νομίζουσιν ἄνθρωποι, Δὸς νίκην Αἴαντι, καὶ νῦν αὖτέ με φῖλαι §514Ἀθήνη. ἐν ᾧ τοίνυν τρόπῳ τοῖς θεοῖς διαλεγόμεθα, ἐν τούτῳ καὶ ὑμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν ἀνεπίφθονον.
And I have said these things not as one giving advice, nor as one teaching those who are ignorant; I have not become so out of my mind by the disaster, but indeed men are accustomed to pray in this way, "Grant victory to Ajax," and "now again love me, Athena." In the same manner, therefore, in which we address the gods, it is free from reproach to write to you also.
καὶ μὴν τοῖς μὲν θεοῖς εὐχόμεθα ὑπὲρ τούτων, ὑμῶν δὲ τῶν θειοτάτων ἀρχόντων δεόμεθα.
And indeed, we pray to the gods for these things, but we entreat you, the most divine rulers.
καλὸν δέ που καὶ πρὸς θεῶν καὶ πρὸς ἀνθρώπων δεῖσθαι τὰ τοιαῦτα.
And it is surely a noble thing, both before gods and men, to entreat such things.
ὅπως δὲ αὐτὸς ἐξέφυγον ποθεῖτε ἴσως ἀκοῦσαι.
But how I myself escaped, you perhaps desire to hear.
ἡμέραις τισὶ πρότερον τῶν συμβάντων ἐκίνησέ με ὁ θεὸς καὶ κατέστησεν εἰς χωρίον τι, καὶ προσέταξε κατὰ χώραν μένειν, οὗ δὴ καὶ διατρίβων τὰ συμβάντα ἐπυθόμην.
A few days before the events, the god moved me and established me in a certain place, commanding me to remain where I was, where indeed, while staying, I learned of what had happened.
πυθόμενος δὲ οὐκ εἶχον ὅπως ἡσυχάζοιμι ἐλείπετο δὲ ἄλλο μὲν οὐδὲν, οἶμαι, θεοὺς δὲ καὶ ὑμᾶς καλεῖν.
Having learned of it, I could not remain quiet. Nothing else was left to me, I think, but to call upon the gods and you.
διὰ ταῦτα οὔτε πρεσβείαν κοινὴν ἀνέμεινα οὔτʼ εἰς ἕτερον βλέπειν ἠξίουν ὅ τι πράξειεν, ἀλλʼ ἡγούμενος εἴ τινι τῶν πάντων κἀμοὶ διαλέγεσθαι τὸ πρᾶγμα, ἐμαυτὸν ἔταξα διάκονον, ἀξιόχρεων εἶναι νομίσας εἰ μή τι ἄλλο, ἀλλʼ ἀνακλαύσασθαι τὰς τῆς πόλεως συμφοράς.
For this reason, I did not wait for a common embassy, nor did I think it worthy to look to another to see what he would do, but believing that the matter concerned me as much as anyone else, I appointed myself as a minister, thinking it worthy, if nothing else, at least to lament the misfortunes of the city.
ἕτεροι μὲν οὖν παρὰ βασιλεῦσιν ἰσχύσαντες δωρεὰς εὕροντο ἑαυτῶν πατρίσιν εὖ πραττούσαις, ἐγὼ δʼ εἴ τι καὶ τοὐμόν ἐστι παρʼ ὑμῖν, αἰτῶ καὶ δέομαι ταύτην γενέσθαι τῇ πόλει τὴν χάριν, μὴ καθάπερ σκεῦος συντριβὲν ἐκριφῆναι καταγνωσθὲν ἀχρηστίαν, ἀλλʼ ἀναβιῶναι διʼ ὑμῶν.
Others, indeed, having power with emperors, obtained gifts for their prosperous fatherlands, but as for me, if there is anything of mine with you, I ask and entreat that this favor be granted to the city, that she not be cast aside like a broken vessel condemned for uselessness, but that she may live again through you.
εἰσῄει δέ μοι καὶ τὸ τοῦ Σόλωνος, ὅν φασι τῆς πολιτείας καταλυθείσης λαβόντα ἀσπίδα καὶ δόρυ καθῆσθαι πρὸ τῆς οἰκίας, βοηθεῖν μὲν οὐκ ἔχοντα, οἶμαι, ἐνδεικνύμενον δὲ ὡς ἔχει γνώμης.
And there came to my mind also the story of Solon, who, they say, when the constitution was overthrown, took up his shield and spear and sat before his house, unable indeed to help, I think, but showing how he stood in mind.
τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν καὶ πλέον.
My case is even more.
εἰ γὰρ καὶ μηδὲν ἔργῳ συντελεῖν εἶχον, τό γε τὴν ὑμετέραν φιλανθρωπίαν παρακαλεῖν εἰς ἔργον ᾔδειν μοι καθιστάμενον, ὥστʼ οὐχὶ μάταια σπουδάσασθαι.
For if I could contribute nothing by deed, yet I knew that to summon your benevolence into action was set before me as my task, so that my efforts would not be in vain.
καὶ μὴν ὅσα μὲν ἔξω πυλῶν οὐ πάνυ θράττει με, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τοῖς προστάταις συνέχαιρον, ἡνίκα περιειργάζοντο· δείσθω δʼ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ὁ βουλόμενος, οὐδὲν τό γε ἐμὸν κωλύει· ὅσα δʼ εἴσω περιβόλου καὶ παλαιὰ καὶ καινὰ τῆς τε εἰς ὑμᾶς τιμῆς καὶ ἅμα τῆς παρʼ ὑμῶν ὑπομνήματα καὶ τῇ πόλει φιλοτιμίαν ἔχοντα πρός τε τοὺς ὁμοτίμους
Indeed, what is outside the gates does not trouble me very much, since I did not even rejoice with the patrons when they busy themselves with them; let whoever wishes entreat for them, nothing on my part prevents it; but what is within the walls, both old and new, being monuments of honor to you and at the same time from you, and possessing glory for the city among her peers...