1. Of the friendly relations which exist between your family and me I think you have heard from many sources, and I congratulate you as I receive word, first that you are making use of the princely power you now possess in better and wiser fashion than your father, and also, that you choose rather to win good repute than to amass great wealth. In making this your purpose you give no slight indication of virtue, but the very greatest; so that, if you are faithful to your present reputation, you will not lack those who will praise both your wisdom and this choice.
1. 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. 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.
2. I think that the reports which have been noised abroad about your father will also contribute a great deal of credibility to the general opinion of your good judgement and superiority to all others; for most men are wont to praise and honor, not so much the sons of fathers who are of good repute, as those born of harsh and cruel fathers, provided that they show themselves to be similar in no respect to their parents. For any boon which comes to men contrary to reason always gives them greater pleasure than those which duly come to pass in accordance with their expectation.
2. 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. μᾶλλον γὰρ ἐπὶ πάντων κεχαρισμένον αὐτοῖς ἐστὶ τὸ παρὰ λόγον συμβαῖνον ἀγαθὸν τῶν εἰκότως καὶ προσηκόντως γιγνομένων.
3. Bearing this in mind, you should search and study in what fashion, with the aid of whom, and by employing what counsellors you are to repair your city’s misfortunes, to spur your citizens on to their labors and to temperate conduct, and to cause them to live more happily and more confidently than in the past; for this is the duty of good and wise kings.
3. 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.
4. Some, disdaining these obligations, look to nothing else save how they may themselves lead lives of the greatest licentiousness and may mistreat and pillage by taxation the best and wealthiest and most sagacious of their subjects, being ill aware that wise men who hold that high office should not, at the cost of injury to all the rest, provide pleasures for themselves, but rather should by their own watchful care make their subjects happier;
4. 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.
5. nor should they, while being harshly and cruelly disposed toward all, yet be careless of their own safety; on the contrary, their conduct of affairs should be so gentle and so in accordance with the law that no one will venture to plot against them; yet they should rigorously guard their persons as if everybody wished to kill them. For if they should adopt this policy, they would themselves be free from danger and at the same time be highly esteemed by all; blessings greater than these it would be difficult to discover. I have been thinking, as I write, how happily everything has fallen out for you. The wealth which could only have been acquired forcibly and despotically and at the cost of much hatred, has been left to you by your father, but to use it honorably and for the good of mankind has devolved upon you; and to this task you should devote yourself with great diligence.
5. ταύτην γὰρ τὴν διάνοιαν ἔχοντες αὐτοί τ’ ἂν ἔξω τῶν κινδύνων εἶεν καὶ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις εὐδοκιμοῖεν· ὧν ἀγαθὰ μείζω χαλεπὸν εὑρεῖν ἐστίν. ἐνεθυμήθην δὲ μεταξὺ γράφων, ὡς εὐτυχῶς ἅπαντά σοι συμβέβηκεν. 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.
7. These, then, are my views; but this is the application: If your heart is set upon money and greater power and dangers too, through which these possessions are acquired, you must summon other advisers; but if you already have enough of these and wish virtue, fair reputation, and the goodwill of your subjects in general, you should heed my words and emulate those rulers who govern their states well and should endeavor to surpass them.
7. ἃ μὲν οὖν ἐγὼ γιγνώσκω, ταῦτ’ ἐστίν· ἔχει δ’ οὕτως. εἰ μὲν ἐρᾷς χρημάτων καὶ μείζονος δυναστείας καὶ κινδύνων δι’ ὧν αἱ κτήσεις τούτων εἰσίν, ἑτέρους σοι συμβούλους παρακλητέον· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα μὲν ἱκανῶς ἔχεις, ἀρετῆς δὲ καὶ δόξης καλῆς καὶ τῆς παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν εὐνοίας ἐπιθυμεῖς, τοῖς τε λόγοις τοῖς ἐμοῖς προσεκτέον τὸν νοῦν ἐστὶ καὶ τοῖς καλῶς τὰς πόλεις τὰς αὑτῶν διοικοῦσιν ἁμιλλητέον καὶ πειρατέον αὐτῶν διενεγκεῖν.
8. I hear that Cleommis, who in Methymna holds this royal power, is noble and wise in all his actions, and that so far from putting any of his subjects to death, or exiling them, or confiscating their property, or injuring them in any other respect, he provides great security for his fellow-citizens, and restores the exiles, returning to those who come back their lost possessions, and in each case recompenses the purchasers the price they had paid. In addition, he gives arms to all the citizens, thinking that none will try to revolt from him; but even if any should dare it, he believes that his death after having shown such generosity to the citizens would be preferable to continued existence after becoming the author of the greatest evils to his city.
8. ἀκούω δὲ Κλέομμιν τὸν ἐν Μηθύμνῃ ταύτην ἔχοντα τὴν δυναστείαν περί τε τὰς ἄλλας πράξεις καλὸν κἀγαθὸν εἶναι καὶ φρόνιμον, καὶ τοσοῦτον ἀπέχειν τοῦ τῶν πολιτῶν τινας ἀποκτείνειν ἢ φυγαδεύειν ἢ δημεύειν τὰς οὐσίας ἢ ποιεῖν ἄλλο τι κακόν, ὥστε πολλὴν μὲν ἀσφάλειαν παρέχειν τοῖς συμπολιτευομένοις, κατάγειν δὲ τοὺς φεύγοντας, ἀποδιδόναι δὲ τοῖς μὲν κατιοῦσι τὰς κτήσεις ἐξ ὧν ἐξέπεσον, τοῖς δὲ πριαμένοις τὰς τιμὰς τὰς ἑκάστοις γιγνομένας, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις καθοπλίζειν ἅπαντας τοὺς πολίτας, ὡς οὐδενὸς μὲν ἐπιχειρήσοντος περὶ αὐτὸν νεωτερίζειν, ἢν δ’ ἄρα τινὲς τολμήσωσιν, ἡγούμενον λυσιτελεῖν αὑτῷ τεθνάναι τοιαύτην ἀρετὴν ἐνδειξαμένῳ τοῖς πολίταις μᾶλλον ἢ ζῆν πλείω χρόνον τῇ πόλει τῶν μεγίστων κακῶν αἴτιον γενόμενον.
10. I should have discussed these matters with you at greater length, and perhaps also in a more attractive style, were I not under the stern necessity of writing the letter in haste. As it is, I will counsel you at a later time if my old age does not prevent; for the present I will speak concerning our personal relations. Autocrator, the bearer of this letter, is my friend;
10. ἔτι δ’ ἂν πλείω σοι περὶ τούτων διελέχθην, ἴσως δ’ ἂν καὶ χαριέστερον, εἰ μὴ παντάπασιν ἔδει με διὰ ταχέων γράψαι τὴν ἐπιστολήν. νῦν δὲ σοὶ μὲν αὖθις συμβουλεύσομεν, ἂν μὴ κωλύσῃ με τὸ γῆρας, ἐν δὲ τῷ παρόντι περὶ τῶν ἰδίων δηλώσομεν. αὐτοκράτωρ γὰρ ὁ τὰ γράμματα φέρων οἰκείως ἡμῖν ἔχει·
11. we have been interested in the same pursuits and I have often profited by his skill, and, finally, I have advised him about his visit to you. For all those reasons I would have you use him well and in a manner profitable to us both, and that it may become evident that his needs are being realized in some measure through my efforts.
11. περί τε γὰρ τὰς διατριβὰς τὰς αὐτὰς γεγόναμεν καὶ τῇ τέχνῃ πολλάκις αὐτοῦ κέχρημαι καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον περὶ τῆς ἀποδημίας τῆς ὡς σὲ σύμβουλος ἐγενόμην αὐτῷ. διὰ δὴ ταῦτα πάντα βουλοίμην ἄν σε καλῶς αὐτῷ χρήσασθαι καὶ συμφερόντως ἀμφοτέροις ἡμῖν, καὶ γενέσθαι φανερόν, ὅτι μέρος τι καὶ δι’ ἐμὲ γίγνεταί τι τῶν δεόντων αὐτῷ.
12. And do not marvel that I am so ready to write to you, though I never made any request of your father Clearchus. For almost all who have sailed hither from your court say that you resemble my best pupils. But as for Clearchus when he visited us, all who met him agreed that he was at that time the most liberal, kindly, and humane of the members of my school; but when he gained his power he seemed to change in disposition so greatly that all who had previously known him marvelled.
12. καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃς, εἰ σοὶ μὲν οὕτως ἐπιστέλλω προθύμως, Κλεάρχου δὲ μηδὲν πώποτ’ ἐδεήθην. σχεδὸν γὰρ ἅπαντες οἱ παρ’ ὑμῶν καταπλέοντες σὲ μὲν ὅμοιόν φασιν εἶναι τοῖς βελτίστοις τῶν ἐμοὶ πεπλησιακότων, Κλέαρχον δὲ κατὰ μὲν ἐκεῖνον τὸν χρόνον, ὅτ’ ἦν παρ’ ἡμῖν, ὡμολόγουν, ὅσοι περ ἐνέτυχον, ἐλευθεριώτατον εἶναι καὶ πραότατον καὶ φιλανθρωπότατον τῶν μετεχόντων τῆς διατριβῆς· ἐπειδὴ δὲ τὴν δύναμιν ἔλαβε, τοσοῦτον ἔδοξε μεταπεσεῖν ὥστε πάντας θαυμάζειν τοὺς πρότερον αὐτὸν γιγνώσκοντας.
13. For these reasons I was estranged from him; but you I esteem and I should highly value your friendly disposition toward myself. And you yourself will soon make it clear if you reciprocate my regard; for you will be considerate of Autocrator, and send me a letter renewing our former friendship and hospitality. Farewell; if you wish anything from here, write.
13. πρὸς μὲν οὖν ἐκεῖνον διὰ ταύτας τὰς αἰτίας ἀπηλλοτριώθην· σὲ δ’ ἀποδέχομαι καὶ πρὸ πολλοῦ ποιησαίμην ἂν οἰκείως διατεθῆναι πρὸς ἡμᾶς. δηλώσεις δὲ καὶ σὺ διὰ ταχέων, εἰ τὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην ἔχεις ἡμῖν· αὐτοκράτορός τε γὰρ ἐπιμελήσει καὶ πέμψεις ἐπιστολὴν ὡς ἡμᾶς, ἀνανεούμενος τὴν φιλίαν καὶ ξενίαν τὴν πρότερον ὑπάρχουσαν. ἔρρωσο, κἄν του δέῃ τῶν παρ’ ἡμῖν, ἐπίστελλε.