Letter CXXXVII.
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To Antipater, on his assuming the governorship of
Cappadocia
.
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I do
now really feel the loss
which I suffer from being ill; so that, when such a man succeeds to the
government of my country, my having to nurse myself compels me to be
absent. For a whole month I have been undergoing the treatment of
natural hot springs, in the hope of drawing some benefit from
them. But I seem to be troubling myself to no purpose in my
solitude, or indeed to be deservedly a laughing stock to mankind, for
not heeding the proverb which says “warmth is no good to the
dead.” Even situated as I am, I am very anxious to put
aside everything else, and betake myself to
your excellency, that I may enjoy the
benefit of all your high qualities, and through your goodness settle
all my home affairs here in a proper manner. The house of our
reverend mother Palladia is my own, for I am not only nearly related to
her, but regard her as a mother on account of her character. Now,
as some disturbance has been raised about her house, I ask your
excellency to postpone the enquiry for a little while, and to wait till
I come; not at all that justice may not be done, for I had rather die
ten thousand times than ask a favour of that kind from a judge who is a
friend of law and right, but that you may learn from me by word of
mouth matters which it would be unbecoming for me to write. If
you do so you will in no wise fail in fealty to the truth, and we shall
suffer no harm. I beg you then to keep the individual in
question
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in safe custody
under the charge of the troops, and not refuse to grant me this
harmless favour.
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Placed in
373.
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Compare
Letters
clxxxvi. and clxxxvii.
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Possibly the
person to whom the disturbance at Palladia’s house was
due.