1. I have received
the letter which has reached me under the name of Diodorus, but in what
it contains creditable to any one rather than to Diodorus. Some
ingenious person seems to have assumed your name, with the intention of
getting credit with his hearers. It appears that he was asked by
some one if it was lawful to contract marriage with his deceased
wife’s sister; and, instead of shuddering at such a question, he
heard it unmoved, and quite boldly and bravely supported the unseemly
desire. Had I his letter by me I would have sent it you, and you
would have been able to defend both yourself and the truth. But
the person who showed it me took it away again, and carried it about as a kind of trophy
of triumph against me who had forbidden it from the beginning,
declaring that he had permission in writing. Now I have written
to you that I may attack that spurious document with double strength,
and leave it no force whereby it may injure its readers.