Extracted Text

Koine Greek

Ἱεροκλῆς Ζήνωνι χαίρειν. εἰ ἔρρωσαι καὶ ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἀπαλλά[σσεις κατὰ νοῦν], καλῶς ἂν ἔχοι. ὑγιαίνω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς. ἔγραψάς μοι περὶ Πύρρου ὅτι εἰ μὲ̣[ν ἡμεῖς ἐπιστάμεθα] ἀκριβῶς (*) ὅτι νικήσει, ἀλείφειν, εἰ δὲ <μή>, μὴ συνβῆι αὐτὸν ἀπό τε τῶν γραμ[μάτων ἀποσπασθῆναι] καὶ ἀνήλωμα (*) μάταιον προσπεσεῖν. ἀπὸ μὲν οὖν τῶν γραμμάτων ο[ὐ πάνυ ἀπεσπάσθη], ἀλλὰ παραβάλλει, καὶ πρὸς τὰ λοιπὰ δὲ μαθήματα. περὶ δὲ τοῦ ἀκριβῶς ἐπί[στασθαι, οἱ θεοὶ μάλισ-] τʼ ἂν εἰδέησαν (*), τῶν δὲ νῦν ὄντων π̣ολὺ ὑπερέξειν φησὶ Πτολεμαῖο[ς, καίπερ τὸ παρὸν λείπεται] παρὰ τὸ ἐκείνους μὲν προειληφέναι (*) χρόνον πολύν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄρτι ἐναρ[χόμεθα ἀλείφοντες. καὶ] ἐπίστω ὅτι Πτολεμαῖος οὐ μισθοὺς ἐπρασεται (*) ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ ἐπισ̣τάτ̣[αι, ἁπλῶς δʼ ἐλπίζει σε] στεφανῶσαι ἀνθʼ ὧν ἀγνὼς ὢν αὐτῶι πρότερος ἐβούλου εὐεργετεῖν καὶ [ - ca.18 - ] τα ποιεῖς περὶ τῆς παλαίστρας. φρόντισον δὲ καὶ περὶ τοῦ στρωματίου περὶ οὗ̣ [ἔγραψά σοι πρότερον] ἵνα καταγάγηις. καὶ ῥίσκον πρίω δραχμῶν ἓξ καὶ κατάγαγε. ἀπόστειλον δὲ [καὶ μέλιτος κάδια δύο ], ἵνα ἔχωμεν· χρή̣σ̣ι̣μον γάρ ἐστι.

Latin

(ἔτους) κθ, Ξανδικοῦ β, 15 ἐμ (*) Μέμφει.

Translation

Hierocles to Zenon, greetings. If you are well and also in other matters you are free [from worry], it would be well. I myself am healthy. You wrote to me about Pyrrhus that if we [indeed know] accurately (*) that he will win, to anoint, but if , let him not be drawn away from the letters [and be detached] and it is futile to approach. Therefore, from the letters he [was not very much detached], but he compares, and also to the other studies. About knowing accurately, the gods would indeed have known (*) that of the present ones, Ptolemy says he will far exceed, although the present is lacking, since those before have taken (*) a long time, but we have just begun to anoint. And I know that Ptolemy will not sell his services (*) as the other supervisors, but he simply hopes to crown you instead of whom, being unknown, he previously wished to benefit and [ - ca.18 - ] what you do regarding the wrestling school. Take care also about the mattress about which I wrote to you earlier, so that you may bring it. And a small amount of six drachmas, and bring it. Also send [two jars of honey], so that we may have it; for it is useful.

Extracted Koine Greek Text

Ἱεροκλῆς Ζήνωνι χαίρειν. εἰ ἔρρωσαι καὶ ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἀπαλλά[σσεις κατὰ νοῦν], καλῶς ἂν ἔχοι. ὑγιαίνω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς. ἔγραψάς μοι περὶ Πύρρου ὅτι εἰ μὲ̣[ν ἡμεῖς ἐπιστάμεθα] ἀκριβῶς ὅτι νικήσει, ἀλείφειν, εἰ δὲ <μή>, μὴ συνβῆι αὐτὸν ἀπό τε τῶν γραμ[μάτων ἀποσπασθῆναι] καὶ ἀνήλωμα μάταιον προσπεσεῖν. ἀπὸ μὲν οὖν τῶν γραμμάτων ο[ὐ πάνυ ἀπεσπάσθη], ἀλλὰ παραβάλλει, καὶ πρὸς τὰ λοιπὰ δὲ μαθήματα. περὶ δὲ τοῦ ἀκριβῶς ἐπί[στασθαι, οἱ θεοὶ μάλιστʼ ἂν εἰδέησαν, τῶν δὲ νῦν ὄντων π̣ολὺ ὑπερέξειν φησὶ Πτολεμαῖο[ς, καίπερ τὸ παρὸν λείπεται] παρὰ τὸ ἐκείνους μὲν προειληφέναι χρόνον πολύν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄρτι ἐναρ[χόμεθα ἀλείφοντες. καὶ] ἐπίστω ὅτι Πτολεμαῖος οὐ μισθοὺς ἐπρασεται ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ ἐπισ̣τάτ̣[αι, ἁπλῶς δʼ ἐλπίζει σε] στεφανῶσαι ἀνθʼ ὧν ἀγνὼς ὢν αὐτῶι πρότερος ἐβούλου εὐεργετεῖν καὶ τα ποιεῖς περὶ τῆς παλαίστρας. φρόντισον δὲ καὶ περὶ τοῦ στρωματίου περὶ οὗ̣ [ἔγραψά σοι πρότερον] ἵνα καταγάγηις. καὶ ῥίσκον πρίω δραχμῶν ἓξ καὶ κατάγαγε. ἀπόστειλον δὲ [καὶ μέλιτος κάδια δύο], ἵνα ἔχωμεν· χρή̣σ̣ι̣μον γάρ ἐστι.

Extracted Latin Text

Apparatus criticus (editorial notes in Latin):
r.3. corr. ex ακρε̣ιβωσ
r.4. corr. ex αναλωμα
r.6. l. εἰδείησαν
r.7. corr. ex προιιληφεναι
r.8. l. ἐ<κ>πράσ<σ>εται
v.15. l. ἐν

English Translation

Hierocles to Zenon, greetings. If you are well and everything else is going according to your wishes, it would be good. I myself am also in good health. You wrote to me concerning Pyrrhos, that if we know precisely that he will win, he should train (literally "anoint himself"), but if not, he should not be distracted from his studies and incur useless expense. Indeed, he has not been greatly distracted from his studies, but he is applying himself, even to his other lessons. Concerning precise knowledge, the gods would know best; but Ptolemaios says that he will greatly surpass the current competitors, even though at present he is behind, since they have had a long head start, while we have only just begun training. And know that Ptolemaios does not charge fees like the other trainers, but simply hopes that you will crown him, since you previously wished to benefit him even though you did not know him. Do what you can concerning the wrestling-school. Also, take care about the mattress I wrote to you about earlier, so that you may bring it down. Buy also a chest costing six drachmas and bring it down. Send also two jars of honey, so that we may have it; for it is useful.

Hierocles concerning the boy to Zenon.
Year 29, Xandikos 2, in Memphis.