The Golden Wind

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Eudoxos son of Theon, of Kyzikos, wishes his son Theon well. The gods willing, this letter and the manuscript with it will reach you by a trustworthy captain of my host in Gades, Eldagon ben-Balatar the shipmaster.

You may have heard hard things about me from your mother's kinsmen. Before you do anything rash—like throwing away these papers unread—I pray you to hear my side of the tale. Although we have not seen each other in nearly a decade, I hope the love that is proper between father and son be not wholly quenched. Furthermore, aside from such considerations, I want you to perform certain tasks for me, and you will be more likely to do so if I justify my course.

Not to make two bites of a cherry, the principal task is to edit the inclosed manuscript, taking out parts that would discredit me or reveal things better kept quiet. In writing it, I have let myself go. But age is upon me, and my judgment as to what should be said may not be so keen as once it was. Then, arrange for publication, that the fame due my deeds shall not be lost in the river of time. There used to be at least two good bookmakers in Kyzikos.

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