SECTION XVI. FROM HIS LETTERS. Apollonius seems to have written many letters to emperors, kings, philosophers, communities and states, although he was by no means a “voluminous correspondent”; in fact, the style of his short notes is exceedingly concise, and they were composed, as Philostratus says, “after the manner of the Lacedæmonian scytale”[118] (iv. 27 and vii. 35). It is evident that Philostratus had access to letters attributed to Apollonius, for he quotes a number of them,[119] and there seems no reason to doubt their authenticity. Whence he obtained them he does not inform us, unless it be that they were the collection made by Hadrian at Antium (viii. 20). That the reader may be able to judge of the style of Apollonius we append one or two specimens of these letters, or rather notes, for they are too short to deserve the title of epistles. Here is one to the magistrates of Sparta: “Apollonius to the Ephors, greeting! “It is possible for men not to make mistakes, but it requires noble men to acknowledge they have made them.” All of which Apollonius gets into just half as many words in Greek. Here, again, is an interchange of notes between the two greatest philosophers of the time, both of whom suffered imprisonment and were in constant danger of death. “Apollonius to Musonius, the philosopher, greeting! “I want to go to you, to share speech and roof with you, to be of some service to you. If you still believe that Hercules once rescued Theseus from Hades, write what you would have. Farewell!” “Musonius to Apollonius, the philosopher, greeting! “Good merit shall be stored for you for your good thoughts; what is in store for me is one who waits his trial and proves his innocence. Farewell.” “Apollonius to Musonius, greeting! “Socrates refused to be got out of prison by his friends and went before the judges. He was put to death. Farewell.” “Musonius to Apollonius, the philosopher, greeting! “Socrates was put to death because he made no preparation for his defence. I shall do so. Farewell!” However, Musonius, the Stoic, was sent to penal servitude by Nero. Here is a note to the Cynic Demetrius, another of our philosopher’s most devoted friends. “Apollonius, the philosopher, to Demetrius, the Dog,[120] greeting! “I give thee to Titus, the emperor, to teach him the way of kingship, and do you in turn give me to speak him true; and be to him all things but anger. Farewell!” In addition to the notes quoted in the text of Philostratus, there is a collection of ninety-five letters, mostly brief notes, the text of which is printed in most editions.[121] Nearly all the critics are of opinion that they are not genuine, but Jowett[122] and others think that some of them may very well be genuine. Here is a specimen or two of these letters. Writing to Euphrates, his great enemy, that is to say the champion of pure rationalistic ethic against the science of sacred things, he says: