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to the old man, and at the same time through the meeting receiving some counsel from us because you have business with certain persons in Caesarea which requires our mediation for its settlement. If, therefore, it is not burdensome, do not hesitate to come to us.

279. TO MODESTUS THE PREFECT

279.1 Even if many are those who bring letters from us to the Honor

of you, but on account of your exceeding honor towards us I believe that the multitude of letters presents no trouble to your great genius. For this reason I have readily given this letter also to this brother, knowing that he too will obtain all that he desires and that we will be counted as benefactors in your sight for providing occasions of doing good to your good will. The matter, therefore, for which he requires your protection he himself will state, if you deign to look upon him with a benevolent gaze and give him courage to utter a word in the presence of your great and extraordinary authority. But we, for our part, make known through this letter that what is done for him we consider our own gain, because he has especially come from Tyana for this very reason to us, as one who would have some great gain if he should present our letter in place of a supplication. In order, therefore, that he may not be disappointed in his hopes, and that we may enjoy our accustomed honor, and that your zeal for good deeds may be fulfilled also in the present case, we ask that he be received kindly and be counted among your most intimate friends.

280. TO MODESTUS THE PREFECT

280.1 Although it is a bold thing to present supplications through letters to so great a man, yet the honor previously shown us by you removes the timidity from our heart and we take courage to write on behalf of men related to us by kinship, and worthy of honor for the excellence of their character. The one, therefore, who delivers this letter of ours has been to me in the place of a son. Since, therefore, he needs only your benevolence for what he seeks to be accomplished for him, deign to receive my letter which the aforementioned man extends to you in place of a supplication, and to give him an opportunity to relate his affairs and to speak with those who are able to assist him, so that by your command he may quickly obtain what he desires and I may have cause to boast that such a patron has been given to me by the grace of God who considers those belonging to me as his own suppliants and refugees.

281. TO MODESTUS THE PREFECT

281.1 I remember your great honor, that among other things you have given me also

the confidence to write to your great genius. I have therefore used the gift and enjoy your most benevolent favor, on the one hand delighting myself by conversing with so great a man, and on the other giving your magnanimity an occasion to honor us with your replies. And since I petitioned your Clemency on behalf of our companion Helladius, the principal citizen, that he, being relieved of the care of the equalization of taxes, might be permitted to labor in the affairs of our country, and I was deemed worthy of some favorable nod, I renew the same embassy and I beseech you that an order be sent down to the governor of the province to release him from the annoyance.

282. TO A BISHOP

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γέροντι, ὁμοῦ δὲ καὶ διὰ τῆς συντυχίας δεχόμενός τινα παρ' ἡμῶν συμβουλὴν διὰ τὸ εἶναί σοι πράγματα πρός τινας τῶν ἐν Καισαρείᾳ τὰ δεόμενα τῆς ἡμετέρας μεσιτείας πρὸς τὴν διόρθωσιν. Ἐὰν οὖν ἀνεπαχθὲς ᾖ, μὴ κατοκνήσῃς ἡμᾶς καταλαβεῖν.

279.τ ΜΟ∆ΕΣΤΩ ΕΠΑΡΧΩ

279.1 Κἂν πολλοὶ ὦσιν οἱ γράμματα παρ' ἡμῶν προσκομίζοντες τῇ τιμιότητί

σου, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸ ὑπερβάλλον τῆς σῆς περὶ ἡμᾶς τιμῆς ἡγοῦμαι τὸ πλῆθος τῶν γραμμάτων ὄχλον μηδένα παρέχειν τῇ μεγαλοφυΐᾳ σου. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο προθύμως καὶ τῷ ἀδελφῷ τούτῳ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ἔδωκα ταύτην εἰδὼς ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς πάντων τεύξεται τῶν σπουδαζομένων καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐν τοῖς εὐεργέταις λογισθησόμεθα παρὰ σοὶ ἀφορμὰς εὐποιιῶν προξενοῦντες τῇ ἀγαθῇ προαιρέσει σου. Τὸ μὲν οὖν πρᾶγμα εἰς ὃ δεῖται τῆς προστασίας σου αὐτὸς ἐρεῖ, ἐὰν αὐτὸν εὐμενεῖ καταξιώσῃς προσιδεῖν τῷ βλέμματι καὶ δῷς αὐτῷ θάρσος ὥστε φωνὴν ῥῆξαι ἐπὶ τῆς μεγάλης σου καὶ ὑπερ φυοῦς ἐξουσίας. Ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸ ἡμέτερον διὰ τοῦ γράμματος παριστῶμεν, ὅτι τὸ εἰς αὐτὸν γινόμενον οἰκεῖον ἡγούμεθα κέρδος διὰ τὸ μάλιστα ἐκ τῆς Τυανέων αὐτὸν ἀναστάντα τούτου ἕνεκεν ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὡς μέγα τι ἕξοντα κέρδος, εἰ τὴν ἡμετέραν ἐπιστολὴν ἀνθ' ἱκετηρίας προβάλοιτο. Ἵνα οὖν μήτε αὐτὸς τῶν ἐλπίδων ἐκπέσῃ καὶ ἡμεῖς τῆς συνήθους τιμῆς ἀπολαύσωμεν καὶ σοὶ ἡ περὶ τὰ ἀγαθὰ σπουδὴ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς παρούσης ὑποθέσεως πληρωθῇ, ἀξιοῦμεν δεχθῆναι αὐτὸν εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐναρίθμιον γενέσθαι τοῖς οἰκειοτάτοις σου.

280.τ ΜΟ∆ΕΣΤΩ ΕΠΑΡΧΩ

280.1 Εἰ καὶ τολμηρὸν ἀνδρὶ τοσούτῳ διὰ γραμμάτων ἱκεσίας προσάγειν, ἀλλ' οὖν ἡ προϋπάρχουσα περὶ ἡμᾶς παρὰ σοῦ τιμὴ ἀφαιρεῖται τῆς καρδίας ἡμῶν τὸ δειλὸν καὶ καταθαρ σοῦμεν ἐπιστέλλειν ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων οἰκείων μὲν ἡμῖν κατὰ γένος, τιμῆς δὲ ἀξίων διὰ τὴν δεξιότητα τῶν ἠθῶν. Ὁ τοίνυν τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ταύτην ἡμῶν ἐπιδιδοὺς ἐν υἱοῦ μοι τάξει καθέστηκεν. Ἐπεὶ οὖν δεῖται μόνης τῆς παρὰ σοῦ εὐμενείας εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτῷ τὰ ἐπιζητούμενα, κατα ξίωσον δέξασθαί μου τὸ γράμμα ὃ ἀνθ' ἱκετηρίας προτείνε ταί σοι ὁ προειρημένος καὶ δοῦναι αὐτῷ καιρὸν διηγήσασθαι τὰ καθ' αὑτὸν καὶ διαλεχθῆναι τοῖς δυναμένοις αὐτῷ συν εργῆσαι, ἵνα τῷ προστάγματί σου ταχέως τύχῃ τῶν σπουδα ζομένων καὶ ἐμοὶ ὑπάρχῃ καλλωπίζεσθαι ὅτι μοι δέδοται τοιοῦτος παρὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ προστάτης ὃς τοὺς ἐμοὶ προσήκοντας ἰδίους ἡγεῖται ἱκέτας καὶ πρόσφυγας.

281.τ ΜΟ∆ΕΣΤΩ ΕΠΑΡΧΩ

281.1 Μέμνημαι τῆς μεγάλης σου τιμῆς, ὅτι μοι μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἔδωκας καὶ

τὸ θαρσεῖν ἐπιστέλλειν σου τῇ μεγαλοφυΐᾳ. Κέχρημαι τοίνυν τῇ δωρεᾷ καὶ ἀπολαύω τῆς φιλανθρωπο τάτης χάριτος ὁμοῦ μὲν ἐμαυτὸν εὐφραίνων ἐκ τοῦ διαλέ γεσθαι ἀνδρὶ τοσούτῳ, ὁμοῦ δὲ καὶ τῇ σῇ μεγαλονοίᾳ καιρὸν ἐνδιδοὺς σεμνύνειν ἡμᾶς ταῖς ἀποκρίσεσιν. Ἐπεὶ δὲ ἱκέτευσα τὴν σὴν ἡμερότητα ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἑταίρου ἡμῶν Ἑλλαδίου τοῦ πρωτεύοντος, ὥστε τῆς ἐπὶ τῇ ἐξισώσει φροντίδος αὐτὸν ἀνεθέντα ἐν τοῖς πράγμασι τῆς πατρίδος ἡμῶν συγχωρη θῆναι μοχθεῖν, καί τινος εὐμενοῦς νεύματος ἠξιώθην, ἀνανεοῦμαι τὴν αὐτὴν πρεσβείαν καί σε καθικετεύω κατα πεμφθῆναι πρόσταγμα τῷ ἄρχοντι τῆς ἐπαρχίας συγχωρῆ σαι αὐτῷ τὴν ἐνόχλησιν.

282.τ ΠΡΟΣ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΝ