Letter CCCVI.

To the Governor of Sebasteia.1526    ῾Ηγεμόνι Σεβαστείας.  The Ben. Ed. think that here and in Letter lxiii. ἡγευών means not governor but Head of the Senate.  cf. Cod. Theod. xii., i. 127, 171, 189.  So in Letter lxxxvi.  The “præpositus pagorum” is styled ἡγεμών.

I am aware that your excellency is favourably receiving my letters, and I understand why.  You love all that is good; you are ready in doing kindnesses.  So whenever I give you the opportunity of shewing your magnanimity, you are eager for my letters, because you know that they furnish an occasion for good deeds.  Now, once more, behold an occasion for your shewing all the signs of rectitude, and at the same time for the public exhibition of your virtues!  Certain persons have come from Alexandria for the discharge of a necessary duty which is due from all men to the dead.  They ask your excellency to give orders that it may be permitted them to have conveyed away, under official sanction, the corpse of a relative who departed this life at Sebasteia, while the troops were quartered there.  They further beg that, as far as possible, aid may be given them for travelling at the public expense, so that, of your bounty, they may find some help and solace in their long journey.  The tidings of this will travel as far as to great Alexandria, and will convey thither the report of your excellency’s astonishing kindness.  This you well understand without my mentioning it.  I shall add gratitude for this one more favour to that which I feel for all which you have done me.

ΗΓΕΜΟΝΙ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΕΙΑΣ

[1] Αἰσθάνομαι τῆς τιμιότητός σου ἡδέως τὰς ἐπιστολὰς ἡμῶν προσιεμένης καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν γνωρίζω. Φιλάγαθος γὰρ ὢν καὶ πρὸς εὐποιίας πρόχειρος, ἐπειδή τινα ἑκάστοτε ὕλην παρεχόμεθά σοι ἱκανὴν δέξασθαί σου τῆς προαιρέσεως τὸ μεγαλοφυές, προστρέχεις ἡμῶν ταῖς ἐπιστολαῖς ὡς ἔργων ἀγαθῶν ὑποθέσεις ἐχούσαις. Ἥκει τοίνυν καὶ ἄλλη ὑπόθεσις δυναμένη δέξασθαι τῆς σῆς περὶ πάντα δεξιότητος τοὺς χαρακτῆρας ὁμοῦ καὶ κήρυκα τῶν σῶν ἀγαθῶν ἐπαγομένη. Ἄνδρες γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας κινήσαντες καθηκόντως ἕνεκεν ἀναγκαίου καὶ κοινῶς πάσῃ τῇ φύσει τῶν ἀνθρώπων τοῖς ἀπελθοῦσιν ὀφειλομένου δέονται τῆς παρὰ σοῦ προστασίας, ὥστε κελεῦσαι αὐτοῖς σῶμα οἰκείου ἀνδρὸς κατὰ τὴν ἐπιδημίαν τοῦ στρατοπέδου τελευτήσαντος τὸν βίον ἐν τῇ Σεβαστείᾳ προστάγματι δημοσίῳ συγχωρηθῆναι κινῆσαι, ἔπειτα μέντοι καὶ τὴν δυνατὴν αὐτοῖς παρασχεθῆναι βοήθειαν ἐκ τοῦ δημοσίου δρόμου, ὥστε εὑρέσθαι τινὰ τῆς μακρᾶς πλάνης διὰ τῆς σῆς μεγαλοφυΐας παραμυθίαν. Ταῦτα δὲ ὅτι μέχρι τῆς μεγάλης διαβήσεται Ἀλεξανδρείας καὶ τοῖς ἐκεῖ διακονήσει τὸ θαῦμα τῆς σῆς τιμιότητος φανερὸν τῇ συνέσει σου, κἂν ἐγὼ μὴ λέγω. Ἡμεῖς τε πρὸς πολλοῖς οἷς εἰλήφαμεν ἤδη καὶ ταύτην τὴν χάριν ἐναριθμήσομεν.