Letter 73

To Maximinus. I have given orders for ships to be ready at Cenchreae [a port town southwest of the Isthmus of Corinth]. You will learn the number from the governor of the Hellenes [the proconsul of Achaia at Corinth], but here is how you are to carry out your commission: without bribery, and without delay. I will personally see to it — with the gods' help — that you do not regret having done your duty as I have indicated.

To Maximinus 2 I have given orders that there shall be ships at Cenchreae.3 The number of these you will learn from the governor of the Hellenes,4 but as to how you are to discharge your commission you may now hear from me. It must be without bribery and without delay. I will myself, with the help of the gods, see that you do not repent of having done your duty as I have indicated. 2 Nothing is known of Maximinus or the circumstances; if the letter is genuine, as is probable, it may refer to Julian's preparations for his march against Constantius in 361. 3 A coast town S.W. of the Isthmus of Corinth. 4 i.e. the proconsul of Achaia who resided at Corinth. This text was transcribed by Roger Pearse, 2010, from volume 3 of the Loeb edition. This file and all material on this page is in the public domain - copy freely. Greek text is rendered using unicode. Early Church Fathers - Additional Texts