Letter 11

From: Libanius, rhetorician in Antioch To: Julian Date: ~363 AD Context: A brief note about a friend's illness and a recommendation for a visitor to Bithynia. The grief we felt over your illness has itself made us ill -- what pleasure can we have when you're suffering? It fell to Seleucus, it seems, to bring this news as well: that you've passed the worst of the crisis. On that account I consider Entrechiοs a lucky man, since he'll see Bithynia [a province in northwest Asia Minor] at a better time -- and it's a better time when your health has been restored. We're grateful for your affection toward him, and we ask one further kindness: invite him to your table.

**To Julian** (363 or 353/54?) The grief we felt over your illness has itself cast us into illness — for what pleasure can we have when you are suffering? It fell to Seleucus, it seems, to bring this news as well: that you have passed the worst of the crisis. On that account I consider Entrechiοs a fortunate man, for he will see Bithynia at a better time — and it is a better time when your body, too, is restored to health. We are grateful to you for your affection toward the man, and we ask you to add a further kindness: that you invite him to your table.

Ἰουλιανῷ. (363 vel 353/54?) Τῇ διὰ τὴν σὴν ἀρρωστίαν λύπῃ καὶ αὐτοὶ πεπτώκαμεν εἰς ἀρρωστίαν. τί γὰρ ἡμῖν ἡδὺ σοῦ γε ἀνιωμένου Σελεύκῳ δὲ ἄρα ἔπρεπε καὶ τοῦτο ἀγγεῖλαι τὸ ὡς ἐκπέφευγας τοῦ κα- κοῦ τὴν ἀκμήν. ᾗ δὴ καὶ πείθομαι τὸν Ἐντρέχιον εὐτυχῆ νομίζειν. ὄψεται γὰρ Βιθυνίαν, ὅτε βέλτιον. βέλτιον δέ, ὅτε καὶ σοὶ τὸ σῶμα ἐν ὑγιείᾳ χάριν δὲ εἰδότες σοι τοῦ φιλεῖν τὸν ἄνδρα χάριν ἑτέραν αἰτοῦμεν προσθεῖναι τὸ τόνδε καλεῖν.