To Calliopius, imperial secretary. (355)
The usual news has reached us: the emperor has won a victory and a barbarian nation has been destroyed. We savor this pleasure while hoping for the next. And the next is this: a letter from you bearing an account of the battle and a tribute to the victor.
So announce the news to your eager audience, finest and most fortunate of heralds, you who live alongside a noble champion. And let the wrestler grant me this favor in return for your voice: to remain quietly in my bed, since I can do nothing now but admire the deeds of others -- so thoroughly weakened am I in every way.
And you too -- grant me this favor: not only to act on my behalf, but also to write. How do you think I felt when I learned that you wrote to my uncle on my behalf, yet sent me nothing?
The usual news has reached us: the emperor has won a victory and a barbarian nation has been destroyed. We savor this pleasure while hoping for the next. And the next is this: a letter from you bearing an account of the battle and a tribute to the victor.
So announce the news to your eager audience, finest and most fortunate of heralds, you who live alongside a noble champion. And let the wrestler grant me this favor in return for your voice: to remain quietly in my bed, since I can do nothing now but admire the deeds of others -- so thoroughly weakened am I in every way.
And you too -- grant me this favor: not only to act on my behalf, but also to write. How do you think I felt when I learned that you wrote to my uncle on my behalf, yet sent me nothing?
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.