Letter 440

From: Libanius, rhetorician in Antioch To: Aristainetus Date: ~355 AD Context: A brief introduction of two ambassadors passing through Aristainetus's region. There is no need to tell you about the ambassadors -- you know them both. One you met when he was passing through your territory; the other, when he traveled as far as your city. But I would add this: you have no small claim on them. Each has a son studying with me, and each son gives cause for high hopes.

Ἀρισταινέτῳ. (355) Οὐδέν σε διδάσκειν δεῖ περὶ τῶν πρέσβεων· ἄμφω γὰρ οἶσθα, τὸν μέν, ἡνίκα διὰ τῆς ὑμετέρας ἤλαυνε, τὸν δέ, ὅτε ἄχρι τῆς ὑμετέρας ἦλθεν. ἀλλ᾿ ὅμως ἐκεῖνο προσθείην ἄν· οὐ μικρόν σοι δίκαιον πρὸς αὐτούς· παῖς ἐστιν ἑκατέρῳ παρ᾿ ἡμῖν ἑκάτερος εὐφραίνων ἐλπίσιν.