Letter 519
Libanius→Araxius, provincial governor|libanius
To Araxius.
Heliodorus is on his way to Italy, and along the route the finest thing on earth will come into his view -- your city. When he looks for the finest thing within the city itself, this letter will lead him to you, since it is you who gives the city its claim to surpass all others.
Even if the man is in a hurry, take the time to show him who you are. He deserves not to remain ignorant of your character. And in any case, whatever words you exchange with him, you will send him away marveling.
Ἀραξίῳ. (356)
Ἔρχεται μὲν εὶς Ἰταλίαν Ἡλιόδωρος, τῆς αὐτοῦ δὲ ὁδοῦ
τῶν ἐν τῇ γῇ τὸ κάλλιστον ὄψεται τὴν ὑμετέραν πόλιν. ζητῶν
δὲ τῶν ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ πόλει τὸ κάλλιστον ἄγεται παρὰ σὲ διὰ
τῆς ἐπιστολῆς, ὃς καὶ τῇ πόλει δίδως τῶν ἄλλων κρατεῖν.
τὸν δὲ ἄνδρα, κἂν ἐπείγηται, δίδαξον, ὅστις εἶ, δίκαιον
ὄντα μὴ τὸν σὸν ἀγνοεῖν τρόπον. πάντως δέ, ὅ τι ἂν φθέγξη
πρὸς αὐτόν, θαυμάζοντα ἀποπέμψεις.
◆
To Araxius.
Heliodorus is on his way to Italy, and along the route the finest thing on earth will come into his view -- your city. When he looks for the finest thing within the city itself, this letter will lead him to you, since it is you who gives the city its claim to surpass all others.
Even if the man is in a hurry, take the time to show him who you are. He deserves not to remain ignorant of your character. And in any case, whatever words you exchange with him, you will send him away marveling.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.