Letter 778
To Bassianus. (362)
You yourself spoke first of the consolation — which you might rightly call a celebration too — a wife good, beautiful, and noble. Another man might have added her wealth as well.
As for the reason for my silence, you would do right to put it down to the truth. For if I had been asked for a letter and held back, I would have been in the wrong. But since no one asked, both you who received nothing and I who wrote nothing have been wronged alike.
I am amazed that, having farmed well and sown and awaited the harvest, you wrote to others about your field but not to me — me, who will have to labor over the child-to-be more than anyone else.
But perhaps you were bashful. I would have expected you, if you had not accomplished this, to show respect for us elders. As it is, we congratulate you on being near the title of father.
Show yourself to us, then, with the child. And let the man who composed the song for your wedding come along too, so that on top of his earlier fee he may receive the greater one — speeches after the tunic. Surely Theodora will not object when you ask so just a favor, one that pleases her too.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.