To Albanius. (363 AD)
What is this? You have sent us money — performing a service for us who perform none for you — as though you had not already spent much while your father was still living, and no small amount after his death, and hosted us as we ran back and forth, not for twenty days like Oeneus hosted Bellerophon, but sometimes a whole month, sometimes three. For all of which you would quite justly be entitled to receive my services for free.
What were you thinking when you sent this? If it is because you excel at oratory, I owe you a fee for that. If it is because the just Maximus extended his hand over you, then I owe Maximus a fee in turn — and you still have not received what I owe you. You know my rule with friends: to imitate toward them what fathers do for their children.
Clever of you not to mention the money in your letter — you knew perfectly well I would protest and refuse. As it was, Ulpianus, your accomplice in this scheme, gave the money to my household before coming to see me, and handed the letter to me. He then described your circumstances — which were brilliant and worthy of our hopes — while I, wandering through the house with your letter, discovered the trick. I considered sending it back, but knowing it would upset you and fearing it would be boorish, I let it stay. But I am planning how the repayment might be made pleasantly, in good form, and in a way that conceals the fact that it is a repayment.
What is this? You have sent us money — performing a service for us who perform none for you — as though you had not already spent much while your father was still living, and no small amount after his death, and hosted us as we ran back and forth, not for twenty days like Oeneus hosted Bellerophon, but sometimes a whole month, sometimes three. For all of which you would quite justly be entitled to receive my services for free.
What were you thinking when you sent this? If it is because you excel at oratory, I owe you a fee for that. If it is because the just Maximus extended his hand over you, then I owe Maximus a fee in turn — and you still have not received what I owe you. You know my rule with friends: to imitate toward them what fathers do for their children.
Clever of you not to mention the money in your letter — you knew perfectly well I would protest and refuse. As it was, Ulpianus, your accomplice in this scheme, gave the money to my household before coming to see me, and handed the letter to me. He then described your circumstances — which were brilliant and worthy of our hopes — while I, wandering through the house with your letter, discovered the trick. I considered sending it back, but knowing it would upset you and fearing it would be boorish, I let it stay. But I am planning how the repayment might be made pleasantly, in good form, and in a way that conceals the fact that it is a repayment.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.