To Pylaemenes.
I had a large Egyptian rug — not the kind you put under a bedspread, but one fine enough to use as a bedspread itself. Asterius, the shorthand writer, saw it and asked me for it, back when I was forced to sleep in front of the Record Office. I promised to leave it for him as a gift when I departed, but naturally I could not part with it while I was exposed to the Thracian snow.
Now I am sending it at last, because I did not manage to leave it behind at the time. Would you be kind enough to deliver it to him for me, along with an apology — and you yourself can bear witness to the truth of what I say, if you remember the circumstances of my departure. God shook the earth repeatedly that day, and most people were flat on their faces in prayer, since the ground itself was trembling. Thinking the open sea would be safer than the land, I rushed straight to the harbor without saying goodbye to anyone except Photius of blessed memory — and even to him I simply shouted from a distance and waved my hand. A man who left without bidding farewell to Aurelian, his dear friend and a consul, has certainly excused himself for treating Asterius, a mere attendant, the same way.
That is how it happened. Though three ships have sailed to Thrace since my departure, this is the first one I have been able to send myself. So I am paying my debt through you at the first possible opportunity.
Please find this man for me. I have told you his name and occupation, but in case there is someone else with the same name and job: he is Syrian by birth, dark-skinned, hook-nosed, and of medium height. He lives near the imperial palace — not the official state palace, but the one behind it.
Letter 61: An Egyptian Rug
[1] To Pylaemenes
I had a large Egyptian rug, not such as one could put below a bedspread, but one which might be used by itself as a bedspread. Asterius, the shorthand writer, saw it, and asked me for it, at the time when I was obliged to sleep in front of the Record Office. I promised to leave it to him as a present when I should go away, but naturally I could not gratify him in such a manner, exposed as I was to the Thracian snow. Now I am sending it off to him, for I did not leave it behind at the time. [2] Would you be so kind as to give it to him for me, with an apology to the truth which you yourself shall witness, if you remember the circumstances which I left the town. God shook the earth repeatedly during the day, and most men were on their faces in prayer: for the ground was shaking. As I thought at the time that the open sea would be safer than the land, I rushed straight to the harbor without speaking to anyone except Photius of blessed memory, but I was content simply to shout to him from afar, and to make signs with my hand that I was going away. He who departed without saying good-bye to Aurelian, his dear friend and a consul , has certainly excused himself for having behaved in the same way to Asterius, an attendant. [3] That is how it all happened, and though since my departure this vessel has been sent on her third voyage to Thracian parts, yet it is the first time that she is being sent by me. So I am now paying my debt through you on the first possible occasion. Be so kind as to find out this man for me. [4] I first tell you his name and occupation, but you must have some further indications, as perchance there may be some one else with the same name and calling. All points are seldom found in one person, nor would a man be at once a Syrian by race, dark in color, aquiline in features, and medium in height. He dwells near the royal palace, not that palace which belongs to the state, but the one behind it which formerly belonged to Albabius, and which now belongs to Placidia , the sister of our Emperors. If Asterius has changed his dwelling-place, for that is possible, you have only to seek Marcus. He is a well-known person, one of the Prefect 's cohort. He was at that time at the very head of the company of shorthand writers of which Asterius was a member, and through his good offices you could find out this company. Asterius was not the last, but amongst the first few, the third or the fourth; possibly now he is the first. [5] You will give him this thick rug, and say to him what we have said to you concerning the delay. And you may also, if you wish, read the letter itself to him, for military duties do not leave us time to write to him too; but nothing, I suppose, prevents us from being just. May weapons of war never have such power as that!
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To Pylaemenes.
I had a large Egyptian rug — not the kind you put under a bedspread, but one fine enough to use as a bedspread itself. Asterius, the shorthand writer, saw it and asked me for it, back when I was forced to sleep in front of the Record Office. I promised to leave it for him as a gift when I departed, but naturally I could not part with it while I was exposed to the Thracian snow.
Now I am sending it at last, because I did not manage to leave it behind at the time. Would you be kind enough to deliver it to him for me, along with an apology — and you yourself can bear witness to the truth of what I say, if you remember the circumstances of my departure. God shook the earth repeatedly that day, and most people were flat on their faces in prayer, since the ground itself was trembling. Thinking the open sea would be safer than the land, I rushed straight to the harbor without saying goodbye to anyone except Photius of blessed memory — and even to him I simply shouted from a distance and waved my hand. A man who left without bidding farewell to Aurelian, his dear friend and a consul, has certainly excused himself for treating Asterius, a mere attendant, the same way.
That is how it happened. Though three ships have sailed to Thrace since my departure, this is the first one I have been able to send myself. So I am paying my debt through you at the first possible opportunity.
Please find this man for me. I have told you his name and occupation, but in case there is someone else with the same name and job: he is Syrian by birth, dark-skinned, hook-nosed, and of medium height. He lives near the imperial palace — not the official state palace, but the one behind it.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.