Letter 196: Rumour, messenger of good news, is continually reporting how you dart across, like the stars, appearing now here, now there, in the barbarian regions; now supplying the troops with provisions, now appearing in gorgeous array before the emperor. I pray God that your doings may prosper as they deserve, and that you may achieve eminent success. I p...
Rumor — that bearer of good news — keeps reaching me with reports of you darting about like a star, appearing now here, now there across the frontier regions [the Danube border where Roman troops were stationed against the Goths]: now supplying the armies with provisions, now appearing in full splendor before the emperor. I pray God that your work prospers as it deserves and that you achieve outstanding success. And I pray that, as long as I live and still draw breath — for my life now amounts to little more than that — our homeland [Cappadocia] may catch sight of you from time to time.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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