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.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
[Πρός: Ἀβουργίῳ.]
Διάττειν σε ὡς τοὺς ἀστέρας, ἄλλοτε κατʼ ἄλλο μέρος τῆς βαρβαρικῆς ἀνίσχοντα, νῦν μὲν σιτηρέσια στρατιωτικὰ παρέχοντα, νῦν δὲ βασιλεῖ φαινόμενον μετὰ λαμπροῦ τοῦ σχήματος, ἡ τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἄγγελος φήμη ἀγγέλλουσα ἡμῖν οὐ διαλείπει. εὐχόμεθα δὲ τῷ Θεῷ, κατὰ λόγον σοι προϊοῦσαν τὴν ἐπιχείρησιν, ἐπὶ μέγα σε προσελθεῖν, καὶ φανῆναί ποτε τῇ πατρίδι. ἕως ἐσμὲν ὑπὲρ γῆς καὶ τὸν ἀέρα τοῦτον ἀνέλκομεν. τοσοῦτον γὰρ μέτεστιν ἡμῖν τοῦ βίου, ὅσον ἀναπνεῖν μόνον.
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