Letter 281: I am mindful of the great honour I received in the encouragement you gave me, along with others, to address your excellency. I avail myself of the privilege and the enjoyment of your gracious favour. I congratulate myself upon having such a correspondent, as also upon the opportunity afforded your excellency of conferring an honour on me by your...

Basil of CaesareaModestus|c. 373 AD|basil caesarea
imperial politicsproperty economics

I am mindful of the great honor I received in the encouragement you gave me to address Your Excellency. I take full advantage of that privilege and of the enjoyment of your gracious favor.

I congratulate myself on having such a correspondent, and I congratulate you on the opportunity of conferring honor on me by your reply.

I ask your clemency on behalf of my good friend Helladius. I pray that he may be relieved from his duties as tax assessor, so that he can devote himself to working for the benefit of our region.

You have already given a gracious preliminary consent to this request. I now renew it and ask you to send instructions to the provincial governor that Helladius may be released from this burden.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.

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