Letter 78: Without inscription, on behalf of Elpidius. I have not failed to observe the interest you have shown in our venerable friend Elpidius; and how with your usual intelligence you have given the prefect an opportunity of showing his kindness. What I am now writing to ask you is to make this favour complete and suggest to the prefect that he should b...

I've noticed how you've been looking out for our friend Elpidius, and how cleverly you've given the prefect [the provincial governor] an opening to do something generous. Now I'm asking you to finish what you started: suggest to the prefect that he issue a specific order appointing Elpidius to oversee our city [Caesarea, capital of Cappadocia, in modern central Turkey]. The man cares deeply about public welfare, and we need him here. You'll have no shortage of good arguments to make the case for keeping Elpidius in Caesarea. And frankly, you don't need me to spell them out — you know the situation better than anyone, and you know how capable he is.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA Without inscription, on behalf of Elpidius. I have not failed to observe the interest you have shown in our venerable friend Elpidius; and how with your usual intelligence you have given the prefect an opportunity of showing his kindness. What I am now writing to ask you is to make this favour complete and suggest to the prefect that he should by a particular order set over our city the man who is full of all possible care for the public interests. You will therefore have many admirable reasons to urge upon the prefect for his ordering Elpidius to remain at Cæsarea. There is at all events no need for you to be taught by me, since you yourself know only too well, what is the position of affairs, and how capable Elpidius in administration.

[Πρός: Ἀνεπίγραφος ὑπὲρ Ἐλπιδίου] Οὐκ ἔλαθεν ἡμᾶς ἡ ἀγαθή σου σπουδὴ περὶ τὸν αἰδεσιμώτατον ἑταῖρον ἡμῶν Ἐλπίδιον, ὅπως τῇ συνήθει σεαυτοῦ συνέσει ἔδωκας καιρὸν φιλανθρωπίας τῷ ἄρχοντι. ταύτην οὖν τὴν χάριν νῦν σε τελειῶσαι παρακαλοῦμεν διὰ τοῦ γράμματος, καὶ ὑπομνῆσαι τὸν ἄρχοντα οἰκείῳ προστάγματι ἐπὶ τῆς πατρίδος ἡμῶν καταστῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα πᾶσαν σχεδὸν τὴν φροντίδα τῶν δημοσίων ἐξηρτημένον. ὥστε πολλὰς ἕξεις καὶ εὐπροσώπους ὑποβάλλειν προφάσεις τῷ ἄρχοντι, ἐξ ὧν ἀναγκαίως ἐπιμένειν αὐτὸν τῇ πατρίδι ἡμῶν προστάξει. οἷα δὲ τὰ ἐνταῦθα, καὶ ὅσου ἄξιος τοῖς πράγμασιν ὁ ἀνήρ, πάντως οὐδὲν δεήσῃ παρʼ ἡμῶν διδαχθῆναι, αὐτὸς τῇ ἑαυτοῦ συνέσει ἀκριβῶς ἐπιστάμενος.