From: Libanius, rhetorician in Antioch
To: Evagrius
Date: ~359 AD
Context: A letter about an estate dispute -- farmers threatened with losing land that Libanius inherited from his uncle.
The estate of Zezos was acquired by my uncle, and not unjustly. I held on to it thanks to the proper order of the law and to your help -- for which I never stop praising you, especially since you stood up for us without even being asked.
Now the farmers who work this land have come to me in terror, reporting certain threats: they've been told they'll be punished for wronging the imperial estates by making us masters of land that belongs to the emperor.
It seems to me they haven't actually heard any such thing -- they just fear it. And it's no surprise: men who spend their days with plows and oxen tend to invent terrors that don't exist and believe things have happened that never will. Farming makes people gullible.
So be true to your own nature, keep the friendship you've established, and reassure these frightened men -- make it clear that you'd fight anyone who tried to disturb them.
**To Evagrius** (359/60)
The estate of Zizus was acquired by my uncle, and not unjustly. I have held possession of it both by the order of justice and by your assistance — for which we never cease to praise you, especially since you stood up for us without even being asked.
Now, however, the tenants who farm the land have come to me in great fear, reporting certain threats — among them, that they will be punished for wronging the imperial household by making us masters of land belonging to the emperor.
For my part, I believe they have heard nothing of the sort, but merely expect it. And it is no wonder that men whose company is the plough and the ox should fashion terrors for themselves that do not exist, and believe that things which will never happen have already come to pass. Such is the farmer's life: it makes one simple-minded.
But do as you have always done, and keeping faith with the friendship you undertook, teach these frightened men that you would fight even another who tried to disturb them.
Context:A letter about an estate dispute -- farmers threatened with losing land that Libanius inherited from his uncle.
The estate of Zezos was acquired by my uncle, and not unjustly. I held on to it thanks to the proper order of the law and to your help -- for which I never stop praising you, especially since you stood up for us without even being asked.
Now the farmers who work this land have come to me in terror, reporting certain threats: they've been told they'll be punished for wronging the imperial estates by making us masters of land that belongs to the emperor.
It seems to me they haven't actually heard any such thing -- they just fear it. And it's no surprise: men who spend their days with plows and oxen tend to invent terrors that don't exist and believe things have happened that never will. Farming makes people gullible.
So be true to your own nature, keep the friendship you've established, and reassure these frightened men -- make it clear that you'd fight anyone who tried to disturb them.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.