Letter 172

To Philagrius, sophist. (360) The uncertainty is resolved -- you no longer receive contradictory reports, one saying that the excellent Elpidius was heading your way, the other ours. He is now in our city, and he gives us reason to hope that you too will visit us. That would be no small gift to both him and me: he would see his sons, and I would see you. I was about to write a long letter, but the hope of seeing you in person held me back.

**To Philagrius** (360 AD) The uncertainty is resolved, and no longer do conflicting reports reach you — one claiming that the altogether excellent Elpidius was traveling to you, the other that he was coming to us. In fact, he is now in our city, and he gives reason to hope concerning you as well: that you yourself will soon be with us, bestowing no small gift upon both me and you — for you will see your sons, and I shall see you. I was going to make this letter a long one, but the hope of meeting you in person prevented me.

Φιλαγρίῳ. (360) Λέλυται τὸ ἀμφίβολον καὶ οὐκέτι σοι διττὸς ἀφικνεῖται λόγος, ὧν ὁ μὲν ἔφασκε τὸν πάντα ἄριστον Ἐλπίδιον ὡς ὁμᾶς, ὁ δὲ ὡς ἡμᾶς πορεύεσθαι. ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν ἐν τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ νῦν, περὶ δὲ σοῦ δίδωσιν ἐλπίζειν, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς ἴσῃ παρ’ ἡμῖν δῶρόν τι τοῦτο οὐ μικρὸν ἐμοί τε καὶ σοὶ διδούς, εἰ σὺ μὲν ὄψει τοὺς υἱεῖς, ἐγὼ δὲ σέ. ἔμελλον μακρὰν ποιεῖν τὴν ἐπιστολήν, ἀλλ’ ἡ τῆς συνουσίας ἐλπὶς ἐκώλυσεν.