To Euphemius, military commander. (360)
Rufinus is a kinsman of the distinguished Olympius and a friend of mine -- he follows his kinsman's example. He is, moreover, the leading figure in the prefect's guard. A soldier of yours, Cyrinus, wants to give him his daughter in marriage -- sensibly enough -- but delays because he is stationed at Beroea [modern Aleppo].
Along with Zeus the god of marriage, you have the power to make this wedding happen, if you will grant Cyrinus a few days' leave. And you should serve the god of Marriage, so that your own second marriage [Libanius alludes to a known remarriage] may turn out better than the first.
But please -- do not write back with the usual excuses: "too busy," "impossible," and all the rest. We are not asking to hear that you did not release the man. We want to see the man himself, released.
Rufinus is a kinsman of the distinguished Olympius and a friend of mine -- he follows his kinsman's example. He is, moreover, the leading figure in the prefect's guard. A soldier of yours, Cyrinus, wants to give him his daughter in marriage -- sensibly enough -- but delays because he is stationed at Beroea [modern Aleppo].
Along with Zeus the god of marriage, you have the power to make this wedding happen, if you will grant Cyrinus a few days' leave. And you should serve the god of Marriage, so that your own second marriage [Libanius alludes to a known remarriage] may turn out better than the first.
But please -- do not write back with the usual excuses: "too busy," "impossible," and all the rest. We are not asking to hear that you did not release the man. We want to see the man himself, released.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.