Letter 226: Antiochus serves the whole city through his medical practice, but the greatest share of his labors is spent on my...

To Andronicus. (360?) Antiochus serves the whole city through his medical practice, but the greatest share of his labors is spent on my family. Bassiane -- whose very name, I know, commands your respect -- clings to his hands as though to a sacred anchor. I mention this so you understand what kind of people, and how many, you will make happy by doing a favor for Antiochus. His kinsman Eulalius ran afoul of Trajan's brand of justice: though he was enrolled in one military unit, he was transferred to another then under Trajan's command and required to supply horses. But the emperor has forbidden this, canceling even the earlier penalty. Elpidius is confirming this for him now, and Eulalius is currently with Elpidius -- but shortly he will come before you bearing the official decision. Better yet, take the emperor's ruling, which is attached in copy, and remove the horses from the list of those to be requisitioned. That way no trouble can arise later, and through our efforts the doctor will have something to show for his goodwill.

Ἀνδρονίκῳ. (360?) Ἀντίοχος ἁπάσῃ μὲν βοηθεῖ τῇ πόλει διὰ τῆς ἰατρικῆς, ὁ δὲ πλεῖστος αὐτῷ πόνος περὶ τὸ γένος τοὐμόν. Βασσιανὴ δέ, ἦς αἰδέσιμόν σοι καὶ τοὔνομα, τῶν ἐκείνου χειρῶν ὡσπερεὶ τῆς ἱερᾶς ἀγκύρας ἐξῆπται. ταυτὶ δὲ εἶπον, ὅπως εἰδῇς οἴους τε καὶ ὅσους διὰ τῶν εἰς Ἀντίοχον εὐφρανεῖς. τούτου γὰρ Εὐ- λαλιὸς σιγγενὴς περιπεσὼν τῇ Τραϊανοῦ δικαιοσύνη τελῶν εἰς ἑτέραν στρατείαν εἰς τὴν ὑπ’ ἐκείνῳ τότε οὖσαν ἐγγράφεται καὶ ἵππους ἔδει παρέχειν. ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐᾷ βασιλεὺς λύων καὶ τὴν προτέραν ζημίαν. τουτὶ μὲν οὖν Ἐλπίδιος αὐτῷ βεβαιοῖ, καὶ νῦν Εὐλάλιος παρ’ ἐκείνῳ, μικρὸν δὲ ὕστερον παρὰ σοὶ κομίζων τὴν γνῶσιν. μᾶλλον δὲ ἔχε τὴν βασιλέως ἤδη γνῶσιν ἐν ἀντιγράφοις παρεζευγμένην καὶ τοὺς ἵππους ἐξαίρει τῶν δραμουμένων, ὅπως μήθ’ ὕστερον ἐγγένοιτο τῷ πράγματι τα- ραχὴ τῷ τε ἰατρῷ δι’ ἡμῶν ἧ τι τῶν κατὰ νοῦν πεπραγμένον.