Letter 540: Three things need to happen through you: one for a kinsman, one for an orator, and one for a rhetorician.

To Spectatus. Three things need to happen through you: one for a kinsman, one for an orator, and one for a rhetorician. My cousin needs the emperor's approval to confirm the liturgy he has been called to. Sabinus needs a letter of appointment conferring a more distinguished rank, so that the man who prevails in eloquence is not outranked in status. And do not let it appear that my friends have weaker patrons than other men have. It would be unbearable for us and discreditable to you if that man were to receive anything that could be held against both me and you. As for the third -- let him receive his grain allowance, so that his gain may choke our enemies.

Σπεκτάτῳ. (356/57) Τρία δεῖ γενέσθαι διὰ σοῦ, τὸ μὲν εἰς συγγενῆ, τὸ δὲ εἰς ῥήτορα, τὸ δὲ εἰς σοφιστήν. τῷ μὲν γὰρ ἀνεψιῷ τὴν λειτουργίαν ἐφ’ ἣν κέκληται δεῖ βασιλέως βεβαιωθῆναι νεύ- ματι, Σαβίνῳ δὲ δέλτον ἐλθεῖν σχῆμα λαμπρότερον φέρουσαν, ὅπως μὴ ὧν κρατεῖ τοῖς λόγοις, τούτῳ λείποιτο. ταύτῃ δὲ μὴ δοκῇ χρῆσθαι φίλοις ἀσθενεστέροις ἑτέρων. οὔτε γὰρ ἡμῖν ἀνεκτὸν οὔτε σοὶ καλὸν ἐκείνῳ τι παρέχειν ἐμοῦ τε καὶ σοῦ κατηγορεῖν. ὁ δὲ δὴ τρίτος λαβέτω τὸν σῖτον, ὅπως τὸ τούτου κέρδος τοὺς ἡμῖν ἐχθροὺς ἀποπνίγῃ.