Letter 677
Libanius→Ἀνατολίῳ|libanius
To Anatolius. (361)
The man who preserves Helladius's household by his tireless efforts is this Martyrius here. The need for a husband [for Helladius's daughter] has once again sent him running on the very errand that brings him to you. He has come to rouse a sluggish suitor — either to lead him to the marriage or, if the man has changed his mind, to let him go.
If you receive Martyrius as befits one sent by us and on behalf of such a family, everything will turn out well for us.
Ἀνατολίῳ. (361)
Ὁ σώζων Ἑλλαδίῳ τὸν οἶκον τοῖς περὶ ἕκαστα πόνοις
Μαρτύριός ἐστιν οὑτοσί. τὸ δὲ δεῖν ἀνδρὸς εἰς ἐκεῖνο πάλιν
ἐφ᾿ ᾧπερ ἥκει πεποίηκεν αὐτὸν τρέχειν. ἥκει γὰρ μνηστῆρα
ῥᾴθυμον κινήσων καὶ ἢ πρὸς γάμον ἄζων ἢ μεταβεβλημένον
ἀφήσων.
ἢν οὖν ἴδῃς Μαρτύριον, ὡς εἰκὸς τὸν ὑφ’ ἡμῶν
τε καὶ ὑπὲρ τοιούτων πεμφθέντα, πάνθ’ ἡμῖν ἕξει καλῶς.
◆
To Anatolius. (361)
The man who preserves Helladius's household by his tireless efforts is this Martyrius here. The need for a husband [for Helladius's daughter] has once again sent him running on the very errand that brings him to you. He has come to rouse a sluggish suitor — either to lead him to the marriage or, if the man has changed his mind, to let him go.
If you receive Martyrius as befits one sent by us and on behalf of such a family, everything will turn out well for us.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.