Letter 696
Libanius→Celsus, governor of Cilicia|libanius
To Celsus, governor of Cilicia. (362)
You know this young man, I think -- you were never unaware of those among my students who showed promise in oratory. He ought to have come to Cilicia under happier circumstances, but as it is, he has come to mourn his sister and honor the loss with his tears.
So that he does not leave your province without meeting you, and does not have to search for someone to introduce him, I have given him this letter.
And do not send him away in Homer's fashion, "whenever he wishes" -- send him yourself, even if he wants to stay.
Κέλσῳ. (362)
Οἶσθά που τουτονὶ τὸν νεανίσκον· οὐ γὰρ ἠγνόεις τοὺς
παρ’ ἡμῖν ἐπιδεδωκότας εἰς λόγους. ἴδει μὲν οὖν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ
βελτίοσιν εἰς Κιλικίαν ἐλθεῖν, νῦν δ’ ἥκει πενθήσων τὴν
ἀδελφὴν καὶ δάκρυσι τιμήσων τὸ πάθος.
ἱν οὖν μήτ’
ἀπέλθῃ παρ’ ὑμῶν πρὶν ἐντυχεῖν σοι μήτε ζητῇ, δι’ ὅτου ἵν
σοι συγγένοιτο δέδωκα τὴν ἐπιστολήν.
σὺ δ’ αὐτὸν μὴ
καθ’ Ὅμηρον, ὅταν ἐθέλῃ, πέμπειν, ἀλλὰ πέμπε. κἂν ἐθέλῃ
μένειν.
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To Celsus, governor of Cilicia. (362)
You know this young man, I think -- you were never unaware of those among my students who showed promise in oratory. He ought to have come to Cilicia under happier circumstances, but as it is, he has come to mourn his sister and honor the loss with his tears.
So that he does not leave your province without meeting you, and does not have to search for someone to introduce him, I have given him this letter.
And do not send him away in Homer's fashion, "whenever he wishes" -- send him yourself, even if he wants to stay.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.