Letter 7: I'm embarrassed to be asking you a favor when I've never done you any kindness, and don't expect I ever will.

I am ashamed to ask a favor of you, since I have as yet done you no good turn, nor do I expect to; but nevertheless, since my concern is on behalf of a child, I am under necessity to ask, and you must forgive me. I beg you, then, to grant us a hearing of something concerning Romanus, for whom my concern is a noble one. And this would come about through your goodwill; and if he should enjoy it, he will gain as much from you as one who has spent much time pleading at law gains from that time. But there is also another favor: if you are going to grant that one, write back to say that you will grant it.

**To Martinianus** (392?) I am ashamed to ask a favor of you when I have never yet done you any kindness, nor expect that I shall. Nevertheless, since my concern is for a young man, I am compelled to ask, and you must forgive me. I beg you, then, to grant us some word concerning Romanus, whose welfare weighs on me. This could come about through your goodwill, and if he should enjoy it, he will gain as much from your favor as one who has spent long years in advocacy gains from time. And there is a second favor: if, intending to grant the first, you would write to say that you will.

Μαρτινιανῷ. (392?) Αἰσχύνομαι μὲν αἰτῶν σε χάριν οὐδέν σε οὐδέπω εὑ πεποιηκὼς οὐδὲ ἐλπίζων, ὅμως δέ, ἐπειδήπερ ὑπὲρ παιδὸς ἡ φροντίς, ἐμοὶ μὲν αἰτεῖν ἀνάγκη, σὺ δὲ σύγγνωθι. δέομαι 20 δή σου δοῦναι ἡμῖν ἀκοῦσαί τι περὶ Ῥωμανοῦ, οὗ φροντὶς καλόν. τοῦτο δὲ γένοιτ᾿ ἄν ἀπὸ τῆς σῆς εὐνοίας, ἧς εἰ ἀπολαύ- σειεν, ἔξει τοσοῦτον ὅσον ᾧ πολὺς ἐν τῷ συνδικεῖν ὁ χρόνος, παρὰ τοῦ χρόνου. χάρις δὲ ἑτέρα. εἰ μέλλων δώσειν ἐκείνην ἐπιστείλαις ὡς δώσεις.