Letter 779: Look — the elder of Justinianus's two sons is now my relation by marriage.
To Celsus. (362)
Look — the elder of Justinianus's two sons is now my relation by marriage. For I have a daughter too, since Cynegius does — he who, imitating his brother, proved no less devoted to me than my own brothers.
So that both he and Letoius may see that the man they love is not idle, I would like the one who is to receive the girl through you to be well treated. For the young couple have land in Cilicia and everything else that belongs to the prosperous. Inquire about these matters, ask questions, learn the facts, and make it clear that if anyone tries to use force, you will not permit it.
This much belongs to Cilicia and the law of your office. But let another concern be added to the law — one befitting kinship. And whatever consideration you would have shown Marcus, had he happened to be farming in your territory, extend now to the estates of these young people.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
Κέλσῳ. (362)
Ἴδου καὶ κηδεστής ἐστί μοι τοῖν Ἰουστινιανοῦ παίδοιν
ὁ πρεσβύτερος. ἔστι γάρ μοι καὶ θυγάτηρ ἐπειδήπερ ἐστὶ
Κυνηγίῳ, ὅς τὸν ἀδελφὸν τὸν αὑτοῦ μιμησάμενος οὐ χείρων
εἰς ἐμὲ τῶν ἐμῶν ἀδελφῶν ἀνεφάνη.
ἵν’ οὖν κὰκεῖνος κοὶ
Λητόϊος ἴδωσιν ὡς οὐ ῥᾴθυμον ὄρα φιλοῦσι, τὸν δαὶ σοῦ
τὴν παῖδα ληψόμενον βουλοίμην ἂν εὖ παθεῖν. ἔστι γὰρ τοῖς
νέοις ἐν Κιλικίᾳ καὶ γῆ καὶ τἄλλα ἃ τῶν εὐδαιμόνων ἐστί.
περὶ τούτων καὶ ζήτει καὶ ἐρώτα καὶ μάνθανε καὶ ποίει δῆ-
λον ὡς, εἰ βιάζοιτό τις, οὐκ έπιτρέφεις.
ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὶν
κοινὸν Κιλικίας καὶ τοῦ τῆς άρχῆς νόμου· προσίστω δὲ τῷ
νόμῳ φροντὶς ἑτέρα συγγενείᾳ πρέπουσα. καὶ ὧν ἂν ἠξίωσας
Μάρκον, εἰ παρ’ ὑμῖν ἐτύγχανε γεωργῶν, τούτοις νῦν χρῶ
περὶ τὰ τῶνδε κτήματα.
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