From: Libanius, rhetorician in Antioch
To: Leontius
Date: ~359 AD
Context: A brief, droll note about a messenger who ran off to Phoenicia without delivering Libanius's letter.
The man who brought me your second letter took off for Phoenicia. I only learned this now that he's back -- at the time, I was puzzled why he didn't come to see me. When he asked for a letter, I told him I'd written one long ago, but I wouldn't give it to him. I said he should content himself with having enjoyed Phoenicia.
But when he kept pressing and begging me not to punish him like that, I gave him the letter -- deciding it was better than leaving him with the pain of not receiving it.
**To Leontius** (359)
This fellow, after giving me your second letter, went off to Phoenicia. I learned this only now, upon his return; at the time, I was puzzled why he never came to see me. When he asked for a letter to carry back, I told him I had written one long ago, but that I would not give it to him — for it was punishment enough that he had enjoyed his trip to Phoenicia.
But when he persisted and begged me not to impose so harsh a penalty, I gave him the letter, judging it best to spare him the grief of going away empty-handed.
Context:A brief, droll note about a messenger who ran off to Phoenicia without delivering Libanius's letter.
The man who brought me your second letter took off for Phoenicia. I only learned this now that he's back -- at the time, I was puzzled why he didn't come to see me. When he asked for a letter, I told him I'd written one long ago, but I wouldn't give it to him. I said he should content himself with having enjoyed Phoenicia.
But when he kept pressing and begging me not to punish him like that, I gave him the letter -- deciding it was better than leaving him with the pain of not receiving it.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.