Letter 96

From: Libanius, rhetorician in Antioch To: Modestus Date: ~359 AD Context: A brief, striking letter combining praise for a successful resolution with an appeal for Alexandria and a poignant reference to his dead uncle. Well, this particular labor has ended well -- the helmsman's skill proved stronger than the wild winds. Now then, set right the city of Alexander [Alexandria] for us too, as it rushes toward ruin. Save its people, and give those of us with the ability to speak something grand to say about you. If only you had the power to bring the dead back to the light -- you would surely have raised my uncle first of all.

**To Modestus** (359/60) Well then, that contest has ended happily, the helmsman's skill having proved stronger than the savage winds. Come now, set right for us the city of Alexander too, as it rushes toward destruction — so that its people may be saved, and so that those who have the power of eloquent speech may have lofty things to say about you. How I wish you had the power to bring even the dead back to the light! For surely you would have raised up the divine one for us first of all.

Μοδέστῳ. (359/60) Οὗτος μὲν δὴ ἄεθλος εἰς καλὸν ἐτελεύτησε τῆς τοῦ κυβερνήτου τέχνης κρείττονος γενομένης τῶν ἀγρίων πνευ- μάτων. ἄγε δὴ καὶ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου πόλιν ὄρθωσον ἡμῖν ἐπειγομένην εἰς ὄλεθρον, ὅπως οἱ μὲν σώζωνται, περὶ σοῦ δὲ ὑπάρχῃ τοῖς δυναμένοις λέγειν ὑψηλὰ λέγειν. ὡς ἴδει σε δύνασθαι καὶ τοὺς οἰχομένους εἰς φῶς ἄγειν· πάντως γὰρ ἂν ἡμῖν πρῶτον τὸν θεῖον ἀνέστησας.