Letter 663

To Pionius the Illustrious. [illustris, a high senatorial rank] Since you are the son of my genuine friend, the most blessed Eucarpius, caring greatly for your salvation and beside myself [...] and of the reputations, I write to you what is of benefit. Put off, then, the golden rings and the two bracelets on your arms, bestowing these rather upon your future wife, in accordance with the law. But if your wife should happen to be very dignified and chaste, not even she will accept them, as I think.

Ἐπειδὴ γνησίου μοῦ φίλου μακαριωτάτου Εὐκαρπίου υἱὸς ὑπάρχεις, ἀγὰν κηδόμενος τῆς σῆς σωτηρίας καὶ ἐξιστάμενος, ἐγὼ μακρῶς. ρας καὶ τῶν ὑπολήψεων, γράφω τὸ ὠφελοῦν σε. Ἀπόθου τοίνυν τοὺς χρυσοῦς δακτυλίους, καὶ τὰ δὑο ψέλια τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν χειρῶν σου, τῇ ἐσομένῃ συμβίῳ κατὰ τὸν νόμον μᾶλλον ταῦτα χαριζόμενος. Εἰ δὲ πάνυ σεμνὴ καὶ σώφρων ἡ γαμετὴ τυγχάνοι, οὐδ’ αὐτὴ καταδέχεται, ὥσπερ ἐγὼ νομίζω.