Letter 70: The story of the noble Mary belongs in a tragedy.

To Eustathius, Bishop of Aegae, The story of the noble Mary belongs in a tragedy. As she herself says, and as several others confirm, she is a daughter of the distinguished Eudaemon. In the catastrophe that has overtaken Libya [likely the Vandal conquest of North Africa], she has fallen from her father's free estate into slavery. Merchants bought her from the barbarians and sold her to people in our region. Sold alongside her was a young woman who had once been her own household servant, so the galling yoke of slavery fell at the same moment on both mistress and maid. But the servant refused to forget the distinction between them. Even in calamity she preserved her loyalty: after waiting on their common masters, she waited on the woman who was now reckoned her fellow slave -- washing her feet, making her bed, and performing every such service. The purchasers noticed. Soon the whole town heard the story of the mistress's noble birth and the servant's remarkable devotion. When this reached the ears of the faithful soldiers stationed in our city (I was away at the time), they paid the purchase price and freed the woman from slavery. On my return, when I was told the whole sad story and the admirable generosity of the soldiers, I called down blessings on their heads, placed the noble young woman in the care of a reputable deacon, and arranged sufficient provision for her. Ten months passed. Then she heard that her father was still alive and holding high office in the West. Naturally, she expressed a desire to return to him. It is reported that many travelers from the West are on their way to the fair being held here, and I ask your holiness to help her find safe passage among them.

Letter 70