Letter
CCCVI.
To the Governor of Sebasteia
.
3262
I am
aware that your excellency
is favourably receiving my letters, and I understand why. You
love all that is good; you are
ready in doing kindnesses. So whenever I
give you the opportunity of shewing your magnanimity, you are eager for
my letters, because you know that they furnish an occasion for good
deeds. Now, once more, behold an occasion for your shewing all
the signs of rectitude, and at the same time for the public exhibition
of your virtues! Certain persons have come from Alexandria for
the discharge of a necessary duty which is due from all men to the
dead. They ask your excellency to give orders that it may be
permitted them to have conveyed away, under official sanction, the
corpse of a relative who departed this life at Sebasteia, while the
troops were quartered there. They further beg that, as far as
possible, aid may be given them for travelling at the public expense,
so that, of your bounty, they may find some help and solace in their
long journey. The tidings of this will travel as far as to great
Alexandria, and will convey thither the report of your
excellency’s astonishing kindness. This you well understand
without my mentioning it. I shall add gratitude for this one more
favour to that which I feel for all which you have done
me.
3262
῾Ηγεμόνι
Σεβαστείας
. The Ben. Ed. think that here and in
Letter
lxiii.
ἡγευών
means not governor
but Head of the Senate.
cf
.
Cod.
Theod
. xii., i. 127, 171, 189. So in
Letter
lxxxvi. The “
præpositus pagorum
”
is styled
ἡγεμών
.