Letter 637: The profit is yours, if you are seen to benefit the household of Bassiana, a woman who deserves every fine word I...

To Italicianus. (361) The gain is yours, if you should be thought to do some good to the household of Bassiana, who deserves that I should address all the finest things to her. See to it, then, that you make use of the occasion and become better disposed toward Rufinus than he himself wishes. He has come to look over the land that they have in Asia and to set it in order, if anything has been thrown into confusion. Such matters would require the goodwill of those in office, which you, having always preserved it toward these people, will now, I know, display more brilliantly.

Ἰταλικιανῷ. (361) Σὸν τὸ κέρδος, εἴ τι δόξεις εὑ ποιεῖν τὸν οἶκον τῆς πάντα ἐμοὶ τὰ κάλλιστα προσειπεῖν ἀξίας Βασσιανῆς. ὅπως τοίνυν χρήσῃ τῷ καιρῷ καὶ γένῃ βελτίων εἰς Ῥουφῖνον ἢ βούλεται. ἥκει δὲ γῆν τὴν οὖσαν αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀσίας ὀψόμενος καὶ καταστήσων, εἴ τι τετάρακται. τὰ τοιαῦτα δὲ τῆς παρὰ τῶν ἀρχόντων δέοιτ’ ἂν εὐνοίας, ἣν ἀεὶ σὺ περὶ τούσδε φυλάξας νῦν οἶδ’ ὅτι λαμπρότερον δείξεις.