Letter 931: Libanius recommends Boethus to Africanus and praises the recipient as equal to himself in Boethus' eyes.

Excellent Boethus became my friend through the rest of his good character, and especially because he places the highest value on men who spend their lives in rhetoric. He took more pleasure in being with me than with those who shine in the bloom of youth and devote themselves to these pursuits. Now unavoidable circumstances have brought him back to you. It was clear that he counted it gain if he could hear your voice, and loss if he could not hear mine. He delighted me in both ways, for in my eyes what belongs to you is equal to what belongs to me. To the many honors he pays me every day, he added this great one: he wanted to appear before you with my letter, and asked this in the presence of many, saying that everything would go better for him if, as usual, he brought mouth to mouth and hand to hand, the hand giving a letter. If this happens, I hope a letter will soon come from him reporting these very things, and crying out to everyone that children receive no more from their fathers than I receive from you.