Letter 578

To Elias the Illustrious. [Illustris was a high senatorial honorific.] Having formerly plundered so many estates that belonged to others, now that you have had a small portion plundered from you by a more powerful man, for what reason are you vexed and consumed with rage, and gnash your teeth, O man?

Τοσαύτας πρώην ἀλλοτρίας διαρπάξας οὐσίας, νῦν ὀλίγην διηρπαγμένος μοῖραν ὑπὸ δυνατωτέρου ἀνδρός, τίνος ἕνεκεν ἄχθῃ καὶ διαπρῇ, καὶ βρύχεις, ὦ ἄνθρωπε;