Libanius → Cataphronius
Tradução moderna em inglês
To Cataphronius.
Dulcitius belongs to the powerful faction, as you well know, but he would rather earn your esteem through decency than through influence.
Let it be proof of that that he trusts a letter from me more than whatever credentials his official position provides. And the same thing strengthens his case and reflects well on you: it shows you respect rhetoricians more than you fear governors.
I am grateful to him for giving me the chance to address you. If you are inclined to reciprocate, show it in action. At the very least, it will be enough for Dulcitius to let the Egyptians know that you know who he is.
Texto latino / grego
Καταφρονίῳ. (356) Δουλκίτιός ἐστι μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς ἰσχυούσης ὅσον οἶσθα συμμορίας, βούλοιτο δ’ ἂν ἐπιεικείᾳ μᾶλλον ἢ τῷ δύνασθαι δόξαι τῆς παρὰ σοῦ τιμῆς τυγχάνειν. γινέσθω δέ σοι ση- μεῖον τὸ τοῖς παρ’ ἡμῶν αὐτὸν μᾶλλον πιστεῦσαι γράμμασιν ἢ ὅσα τῆς ἀρχῆς ἔρχεται φέρων. τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ τούτῳ τε ἰσχυρὸν καὶ σοί τις ἔπαινος, εἰ φαίνοιο τοὺς σοφιστὰς μᾶλλον αἰδού- μένος ἢ τοὺς ἄρχοντας φοβούμενος. ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν οἶδα τούτῳ χάριν, ὅτι μοι προσειπεῖν ἔδωκέ σε· σὺ δ’ εἰ τοῦ λαβεῖν ἔχεις, δεῖξον ἔργῳ. πάντως δὲ ἀρκέσει Δουλκιτίῳ γνῶναι τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους ὡς ἄρα αὐτὸν ἐπίστασαι.