Letter 280

280. To Modestus the Prefect

Though it be a bold thing to bring petitions by letter to so great a man, yet the honour you have long shown toward us takes away the timidity from our heart, and we take courage to write on behalf of men who are indeed our own kindred by birth, but worthy of honour through the graciousness of their character. Now the man who delivers this letter of ours stands to me in the rank of a son. Since, then, he needs only your goodwill for what he seeks to be granted him, deign to receive my letter, which the aforesaid man holds out to you in place of a suppliant's branch, and to grant him an occasion to set forth his own affairs and to speak with those who are able to help him, so that by your command he may speedily obtain what he seeks, and I in turn may have ground for pride that there has been given to me, by the grace of God, such a protector—one who regards those connected with me as his own suppliants and refugees.