Letter 797: Sufficient reward for me is that Hyperechius is the sort of man to be declared, while you are still living, master...

To Maximus. (363) Hyperechius, being such a man as he is, is a sufficient reward for me, in that while you are all still living he has been declared master of that portion of the property of which it was just that he be master. For he is both an ornament to you and a refuge to his brothers, bearing their rashness gently and coming to the aid of nature with honor. At any rate, having rescued the youngest from military service and hardships, he has returned. For he must hasten to the Great City [Constantinople] and enjoy the occasion to the full. And the advantages from here he would have had, had he arrived sooner; but it remained to grant both after the victory, and both of these rest with the god. As for marriage, if he himself shuns it, let him be persuaded by you not to shun it; if he pursues it, but your wish is not in accord with it, change your minds.

Μαξίμῳ. (363) Ἀρκῶν ἐμοὶ μισθὸς Ὑπερέχιος τοιοῦτος ὤν, ὥσθ᾿ ὑμῶν ἔτι ζώντων ἀποδειχθῆναι δεσπότης οὗπερ ἦν δίκαιον τῶν ὄντων μέρους. ἔστι γὰρ ὑμῖν τε κόσμος τοῖς τε ἀδελφοῖς καταφυγὴ φέρων μὲν τὴν θρασύτητα πρᾴως, τιμῇ δὲ τῆς φύ- σεως βοηθῶν. τὸν γοῦν νεώτατον στρατείας καὶ πόνων ἐξελόμενος ἐπανήκει. δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν πρὸς τὴν Μεγάλην πόλιν δραμεῖν καὶ πρὸς μέγεθος ἀπολαῦσαι τοῦ καιροῦ. τὰ δὲ ἐν- τεῦθεν εἶχε μὲν ἄν, εἰ θᾶττον ἀφῖκτο· ἔζει δὲ μετὰ τὴν νίκην δοῦναι δὲ ἄμφω θεοῦ. γάμον δὲ εἰ μὲν αὐτὸς φεύγει, πειθέσθω παρ’ ὑμῶν μὴ φεύγειν· εἰ ὁ ὁ μὲν διώκει, τὸ δ᾿ ὑμέτερον οὐ συμπνεῖ, μετάθεσθε.