Extracted Text

Koine Greek

Χαιρᾶς Διονυσίωι τῶι φιλτάτωι
πλεῖσ̣τα χαίρειν καὶ διὰ παντὸ̣(ς)
ὑγιαίνειν. κομισάμενός σου ἐπι̣[στολ(ὴν)]
οὕτως περιχαρὴς ἐγενόμη̣[ν ὡς εἰ]
ὄντως ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐγεγόνειν, ἄ̣[νευ]
γὰρ ταύτης οὐθέν ἐστιν. γράφειν δέ̣
σοι μεγάλας εὐχαριστίας παρετέο̣(ν)·
δεῖ
(*) γὰρ τοῖς μὴ φίλοις οὖσι διὰ λόγων
εὐχαριστεῖν. πείθομαι δὲ ὅτι ἐν
10
γαληνείᾳ τινὶ ἐνεισχύω
(*), καὶ εἰ μὴ
τὰ ἴ
(*) σα σοι παρασχεῖν, βραχ̣εία
(*) τινὰ
παρέξομαι τῇ εἰς ἐμὲ φιλοστοργίᾳ.
ἀντιρ̣ράφια
(*) δέ μοι δύο ἔ̣πεμψας,
τὸ μὲν τῆς Ἀρχαγαθήου
(*) τὸ δὲ τῆς
15
ἑλκωτικῆς. ἡ μὲν Ἀρχαγάθι̣ς̣
(*) ὑγιῶς
περιέχει, ἡ δὲ ἑλκωτικὴ ῥητείνης
(*) συνσταθμίαν οὐ περιέχει. ἐρωτῶ
δὲ σε περὶ ἑ̣λ̣κωτικῆς γενναίας
δυναμένης ἀκινδύνως πέλματ(α)
20
ἑλκῶσα̣ι̣·
̣  ̣  ̣
γ̣[ὰ]ρ̣ [κ]ατʼ ἀνάγκην
ἐπείγομαι. περὶ δὲ τῆς σκληρᾶς̣
ἔγραψας δύο γένη εἶναι. τὸ τῆς δια-
λυτικῆς μοι γραφῖον
(*) πέμψον· ἔστιν
γὰρ καὶ ἡ τετραφάρμακος σκληρά.
25
ἡ δὲ ἐπιστολὴ αὕτη ταύτῃ σοι ἐσφράγ̣ι̣(σται).
ἔρρωσο καὶ μέμνησο τῶν εἰρημ(ένων).
ε
(ἔτους) Νέρωνος τοῦ κυρίου μηνὸς Γερμαν̣ι̣κ̣ειου
(*) α.
v
Διονυσίωι ἰατρῶι.

Latin

(ἔτους) Νέρωνος τοῦ κυρίου μηνὸς Γερμαν̣ι̣κ̣ειου

Translation into English

To Chaireas, most beloved Dionysios,
I wish you much joy and health in all things.
Having received your letter, I was so filled with joy as if I had truly been in your presence,
for without it, there is nothing. I must express great thanks to you;
for it is necessary to give thanks to those who are not friends through words.
I am persuaded that I am strengthened in some calmness,
and if I cannot provide you with the same,
I will offer you a brief token of my affection towards you.
You have sent me two copies,
one of Archagathios
and the other of the healing one. The Archagathian
is in good health, but the healing one does not contain the resinous composition.
I ask you about the healing kind that can safely draw out the feet;
for I am in urgent need.
Concerning the hard one, you have written that there are two kinds.
Send me the writing of the dissolving one;
for the hard one is also the tetrapharmakos.
This letter is sealed to you.
Farewell and remember the things mentioned.
(In the year) of Nero, the Lord, in the month of Germanicus.
To Dionysios the physician.

Extracted Koine Greek Text

Χαιρᾶς Διονυσίωι τῶι φιλτάτωι
πλεῖσ̣τα χαίρειν καὶ διὰ παντὸ̣(ς)
ὑγιαίνειν. κομισάμενός σου ἐπι̣[στολ(ὴν)]
οὕτως περιχαρὴς ἐγενόμη̣[ν ὡς εἰ]
ὄντως ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐγεγόνειν, ἄ̣[νευ]
γὰρ ταύτης οὐθέν ἐστιν. γράφειν δέ̣
σοι μεγάλας εὐχαριστίας παρετέο̣(ν)·
δεῖ γὰρ τοῖς μὴ φίλοις οὖσι διὰ λόγων
εὐχαριστεῖν. πείθομαι δὲ ὅτι ἐν
γαληνείᾳ τινὶ ἐνεισχύω, καὶ εἰ μὴ
τὰ ἴσα σοι παρασχεῖν, βραχέα τινὰ
παρέξομαι τῇ εἰς ἐμὲ φιλοστοργίᾳ.
ἀντιγράφια δέ μοι δύο ἔπεμψας,
τὸ μὲν τῆς Ἀρχαγαθείου τὸ δὲ τῆς
ἑλκωτικῆς. ἡ μὲν Ἀρχαγάθειος ὑγιῶς
περιέχει, ἡ δὲ ἑλκωτικὴ ῥητίνης
συνσταθμίαν οὐ περιέχει. ἐρωτῶ
δὲ σε περὶ ἑλκωτικῆς γενναίας
δυναμένης ἀκινδύνως πέλματ(α)
ἑλκῶσαι· γὰρ κατʼ ἀνάγκην
ἐπείγομαι. περὶ δὲ τῆς σκληρᾶς
ἔγραψας δύο γένη εἶναι. τὸ τῆς δια-
λυτικῆς μοι γραφεῖον πέμψον· ἔστιν
γὰρ καὶ ἡ τετραφάρμακος σκληρά.
ἡ δὲ ἐπιστολὴ αὕτη ταύτῃ σοι ἐσφράγισται.
ἔρρωσο καὶ μέμνησο τῶν εἰρημένων.
ἐ(ἔτους) Νέρωνος τοῦ κυρίου μηνὸς Γερμανικείου α.
Διονυσίωι ἰατρῶι.

English Translation

Chairas to Dionysius, my dearest friend,
I send you many greetings and wish you continual good health. Having received your letter, I became so joyful as if I had truly been in your presence, for without it there is nothing. I must express great thanks to you in writing; indeed, one must give thanks even to those who are not friends through words. I am convinced that I am strengthened by a certain tranquility, and even if I cannot offer you equal returns, I will provide something small in return for your affection towards me.

You sent me two copies, one of Archagathius and the other of the ulcerative remedy. The Archagathius is correctly composed, but the ulcerative remedy does not contain the proper proportion of resin. I ask you about a strong ulcerative remedy capable of safely ulcerating soles, for I am urgently in need. Regarding the hard remedy, you wrote that there are two kinds. Send me the prescription for the dissolving one, for the four-ingredient remedy is also hard.

This letter has been sealed for you in this manner. Farewell and remember what has been said.

Year of Nero the lord, month Germanikeios, day 1.
To Dionysius, physician.