To Proclus, Bishop of Constantinople, on the Taxes of Cyrrhus

A year ago, thanks to your holiness, the illustrious Philip, governor of our city, was rescued from serious danger. Once he had come to enjoy the security he owed to your kindness, he filled our ears with your praises. But a certain most pious personage has been trying to make all your labor null and void. He slanders the survey that was made several times twelve years ago, and he has taken up a style of slander that would be unbecoming even in a decent slave. [a]

Now I beg your holiness to put a stop to his lies, and to persuade the illustrious prefects to ratify the decision they properly and mercifully gave. As a matter of fact our city was taxed more heavily than all the cities of the provinces, and after every other city had been relieved, ours went on being assessed, to this very day, at over sixty-two thousand acres. At last those who held that seat of honor were with difficulty persuaded to send inspectors to the district. Their report was first received by Isidorus of famous memory, and confirmed by the glorious and Christ-loving lord Florentius. Then the whole matter was examined very carefully by our present ruler, whose fairness adorns the throne, and he confirmed the assessment by an imperial decree.

But this lover of truth, all for his hatred of one single man, the excellent Philip, has declared war on the poor. So I implore your holiness to bring the forces of your righteous eloquence against his eloquence of wrong, to throw your shield over the truth under attack, and so to prove at once her strength and the emptiness of lies.