XXIII TO THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
I RECEIVED, Sir, a despatch from your freedman, Lycormas, desiring me, if any embassy from Bosporus〖The town of Panticapoeum, also called Bosporus, standing on the European side of the Cimmerian Bosporus (Straits of Kaffa), in the modern Crimea.
〗 should come here on the way to Rome, that I would detain it till his arrival. None has yet arrived, at least in the city〖Nicea (as appears by the 15th letter of this book), a city in Bithynia, now called Isnik. M.〗 where I now am. But a courier passing through this place from the king of Sarmatia,〖Sarmatia was divided into European, Asiatic, and German Sarmatia. It is not exactly known what bounds the ancients gave to this extensive region; however, in general, it comprehended the northern part of Russia, and the greater part of Poland, &c. M.〗 I embrace the opportunity which accidentally offers itself, of sending with him the messenger whom Lycormas despatched hither, that you might be informed by both their letters of what, perhaps, it may be expedient you should be acquainted with at one and the same time.