Letter 529: The moment I heard that Rome had claimed you, I counted you fortunate.

To Olympius (356) As soon as I heard that you had been taken up by Rome, I counted you fortunate on this account; but when I learned that you had there both a finer reputation and greater power, I called you more fortunate still. I am afraid, however, that this may rob our own city of what belongs to her, namely, that her offspring should win esteem among others. For my part, I would wish you to meet with praise everywhere, yet not to wrong by this the city that bore you, which begs that you come to her through us, rejoicing in the eloquence you have acquired and longing for the enjoyment of those powers of speech you have acquired. And she blames me before she blames you; for they suppose that you follow my nods, and they hold me, who do not bid you come, responsible for your not yet having come. Let Rome, then, be the chief of all things upon the earth; but do not let this make you forgetful of your friends and of your kindred. Rather, return to us on the same terms as before, and join in tending the flocks, accounting it sweeter to govern these in my company than to be the leader of cities. And if the report of you falls short of your living voice, you yourself will make it better by your voice. She was delighted both with the books you sent and with those you said you were collecting. And from us too there will come to you in the summer the things you ask for.

Ὀλυμπίῳ. (356) Εὖθύς ἀκούσας σε τῆς Ῥώμης εἰλῆφθαι τούτου σε εὐδαι- μόνιζον γνοὺς δὲ ὅτι σοι καὶ δόξα βελτίων εἴη καὶ δύναμις αὐτόθι, μᾶλλον ἐκάλουν εὐδαίμονα. δέδοικα μέντοι μὴ τοῦτο τὴν ἡμετέραν ἀποστερήσῃ τῶν ἑαυτῆς τὸ τοῖς ἐγγόνοις εἶναι παρ’ ἄλλοις εὐδοκιμεῖν. ἐγὼ δέ σε πανταχοῦ μὲν ἐπαίνων βουλοίμην ἂν τυγχάνειν, οὐ μέντοι τούτῳ τὴν ἐνεγκοῦσαν ἀδικεῖν, ἣ δεῖται μέν σου δι’ ἡμῶν ἥκειν αὑτῇ χαίρουσα μὲν ἐφ’ οἷς ἐκτήσω λόγοις, ἐρῶσα δὲ τῆς ἀπολαύσεως ὧν ἐκτήσω λόγων. μέμφεται δὲ ἐμοὶ πρὸ σοῦ· σὲ γὰρ οἴονται τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἕπεσθαι νεύμασι καὶ τοῦ μήπω σε ἥκειν ἐμὲ τὸν οὐ λέγοντα αἰτιῶνται. Ῥώμη μὲν οὖν ἔστω τὸ κεφάλαιον τῶν ἐν τῇ γῇ, σὲ δὲ μὴ τοῦτο ποιείτω καὶ φίλων ἐπιλήσμονα καὶ γένους, ἀλλ’ ἐφ’ ὁμοίοις ἡμῖν ἐπάνιθι καὶ συνεπιμελοῦ ποιμνίων ἥδιον τὸ μετ’ ἐμοῦ τούτων ἄρχειν ἢ τὸ πόλεων ἡγούμενος. εἰ δ’ ἥττων ἀκοὴ τῆς σῆς φωνῆς, σύ τοι ποιήσεις αὐτὴν κρείττω τῇ σῇ φωνῇ βιβλίοις δὲ οἷς τε ἔπεμψας ἥσθη, οἷς τε συλλέγειν ἔφης. ἥξει δέ σοι καὶ παρ’ ἡμῶν τοῦ θέρους ἃ κελεύεις.