To Themistius. (359/360)
I was still saying to my friends, "What is this? Does Themistius not write?" when Evagrius appeared and asked whether I had received a letter from you. But, as it seems, you had sent the man who was to deliver it, and before I could receive it he himself was in the marketplace. Then, turning back, I had your dear letter, which told me what I had long known, that once again you had been in the company of the emperor.
These things you reported by yourself alone, but from rumor I learned both these and more: that greater honors had come to you than before, and that a fuller sharing of the table revealed your intimacy; and that whatever you proposed was the proposal of a man who cared for his friends, and that whomever you brought to mind were straightway among the better-off, and that the one who gave surpassed the pleasure of the one who received.
I too, then, was filled with pleasure, considering that I myself had come thither, and had obtained whatever you had obtained, and had been granted as great favors as you. And of these just rewards may you never cease your courses, nor the emperor cease his honors.
That your disposition toward me ought not to be judged by your letters seems to me to have been well said; but as to the speeches you showed me not having come to us, what excuse could you have, and that too after the promises in which it was said that you would send them at once? The right time for this is always, but now not least, since the power to speak has been taken from us by the death of our companions, while perhaps the power to listen still remains.
Fulfill your promise, then, and if anything has been composed by you since those things, do not grudge it; and add the song of the poet who adorned the statue—or rather the song which the bronze that followed your likeness has adorned. For we have seen the claw from your letters to Eudaemon, but we want the lion.
Meterius was one of those who reported your news, and this he had in common with others; but the fact that he told it rejoicing, and was almost flying for joy, this indeed made him better than the other messengers.
**To Themistius** (359/360)
I was still saying to my friends, "What is this? Themistius does not write?" when Evagrius appeared and asked whether I had received a letter from you. It seems he had sent the man who was to deliver it, but before receiving it himself he was already in the marketplace. Then, when I returned home, I had in my hands that welcome letter telling me what I had long known — that you had once again been received by the emperor.
That much you told me and no more, but from common report I learned this and much besides: that you have been granted honors greater than before; that you share the imperial table, a sign of still deeper intimacy; that every recommendation you made was the act of a man who cares for his friends; that whoever you mentioned was at once raised to better fortune; and that the giver surpassed the pleasure of the one who received.
I myself, then, was filled with delight, imagining that I had gone there in person, that I had obtained everything you obtained, that I had been shown every favor you were shown. And may you never cease running these noble courses, nor the emperor cease bestowing these honors.
Your remark that I should not judge your feelings toward me by your letters strikes me as well said. But as for the speeches you showed us that have never reached me — what excuse can you offer, especially after those promises in which you said you would send them at once? The time for this is always right, but now more than ever: the death of my companions has robbed me of the power to speak, yet the ability to listen perhaps still remains.
Fulfill your promise, then. If you have composed anything since those works, do not begrudge it to me. And do include the poem by the poet who adorned your statue — or rather, the poem that was adorned by the bronze that was modeled after your likeness. For from your letter to Eudaemon I have seen the claw; now I want the whole lion.
Meterius was one of those who brought me news of you, and in this he was no different from the others. But the joy he took in telling it — he practically took flight from sheer happiness — this is what made him a better messenger than all the rest.
I was still saying to my friends, "What is this? Does Themistius not write?" when Evagrius appeared and asked whether I had received a letter from you. But, as it seems, you had sent the man who was to deliver it, and before I could receive it he himself was in the marketplace. Then, turning back, I had your dear letter, which told me what I had long known, that once again you had been in the company of the emperor.
These things you reported by yourself alone, but from rumor I learned both these and more: that greater honors had come to you than before, and that a fuller sharing of the table revealed your intimacy; and that whatever you proposed was the proposal of a man who cared for his friends, and that whomever you brought to mind were straightway among the better-off, and that the one who gave surpassed the pleasure of the one who received.
I too, then, was filled with pleasure, considering that I myself had come thither, and had obtained whatever you had obtained, and had been granted as great favors as you. And of these just rewards may you never cease your courses, nor the emperor cease his honors.
That your disposition toward me ought not to be judged by your letters seems to me to have been well said; but as to the speeches you showed me not having come to us, what excuse could you have, and that too after the promises in which it was said that you would send them at once? The right time for this is always, but now not least, since the power to speak has been taken from us by the death of our companions, while perhaps the power to listen still remains.
Fulfill your promise, then, and if anything has been composed by you since those things, do not grudge it; and add the song of the poet who adorned the statue—or rather the song which the bronze that followed your likeness has adorned. For we have seen the claw from your letters to Eudaemon, but we want the lion.
Meterius was one of those who reported your news, and this he had in common with others; but the fact that he told it rejoicing, and was almost flying for joy, this indeed made him better than the other messengers.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.