Letter 930: Libanius asks Vitalius, a lover of books, to support Thalassius' admission to the council.

By the books you already have, and by the books you will have, since you will never stop adding to your collection: stand with us and open the council to us. By us I mean excellent Thalassius, whom we call a philosopher because of the virtue of his character. Yet this man, called a philosopher for that very reason, found among you people who said different things about him and were able to persuade others. Because of them he was deprived of a share in the council, though he would have brought it no disgrace. I will say no more, though I have plenty to say. At the time I consoled myself with the thought that in earlier days excellent men had not only been slandered but even destroyed. But since my friend still wants to enter that temple, who should help before you? He has often spoken on my behalf in many places and done much as well, imitating his noble father no less in soul than in appearance. At the imperial court he shouted such things for me, when I especially needed allies, that he forced men who had previously stopped at nothing to cover themselves up. Now, people say, your task is not so great, since the earlier slanderers are no longer the same men.