Letter 118

From: Libanius, rhetorician in Antioch To: Nicentius Date: ~359 AD Context: A rebuke of a friend who urged Libanius to "remember" him -- as if such a thing were possible to forget. You urged me to remember you when I write. Then why didn't you also urge me to remember myself? If you think that's unnecessary, hold the same view about the other. The day I forget myself is the day I'll forget you -- you, who by many fine deeds have melted a memory into our very souls, one that not even a tyrant's command could have dislodged. Even then you would have been admired in silence, you who never thought it any part of...

**To Nicentius** (359/60) You urged me in your letter to remember you. Why, then, did you not also urge me to remember myself? If you consider that superfluous, hold the same opinion regarding the other as well — for I shall forget you only when I forget myself, you who by many noble deeds have fused a memory into our souls that not even a tyrant, had he commanded it, could have had the power to cast out. But even then you would have been admired in silence — you who did not consider it part of governing to abuse those you governed, who did not tear people apart while collecting taxes, from whom came no blows, no chains, no tears. Rather, there were feasts and festivals and discoveries of new delights, honors for the magistrates and pleasures for the people, and songs from all, each repaying you according to their own art. Indeed, more than one man who had found his own parents harsh at home discovered the governor to be gentler. These things we remember, these things we long for — and not without expectation. But whoever supposes that Fortune alone made that era so smooth should know that he is paying you a compliment, not a reproach — unless it was also a disgrace for Athena to sail alongside Telemachus and guide his course.

Νικεντίῳ. (359/60) Παρεκελεύου μοι μεμνῆσθαί σου γράφων. τί οὖν οὐ παρεκελεύου μοι καὶ ἐμαυτοῦ μεμνῆσθαι; εἰ δὲ τοῦτο ἡγῇ πε- ριττόν, καὶ περὶ ἐκείνου τὴν αὐτὴν ἔχε δόξαν· ὡς ἔγωγε, ὅταν ἐμαυτοῦ, τότε ἐπιλήσομαι καὶ σοῦ τοῦ πολλοῖς τε καὶ καλοῖς ἔργοις ταῖς ἡμετέραις ψυχαῖς μνήμην ἐντήξαντος, ἣν οὐδέ, εἰ τύραννος προσέταττεν, ἐκβαλεῖν ἴσχυεν ἄν. ἀλλὰ καὶ τότ’ ἂν ἐθαυμάζου διὰ σιγῆς, ὃς οὐκ ἐνόμισας μέρος εἶναι τῆς ἀρχῆς τὸ τοὺς ἀρχομένους ὑβρίζειν οὐδὲ εἰσπράττων ἐσπά- ραττες, οὐδὲ πληγαὶ καὶ δεσμὸς καὶ δάκρυα παρὰ σοῦ, μὲν οὖν καὶ θαλίαι καὶ πανηγύρεις καὶ τέρψεων εὑρέσεις καὶ τιμαὶ τοῖς ἐν τέλει καὶ δήμοις ἡδοναὶ καὶ παρὰ πάντων ᾠδαὶ κατὰ τὴν αὑτῶν μουσικὴν ἀμειβομένων ἑκάστων. ἤδη δέ τις καὶ γονεῦσιν οἴκοι τραχυτέροις χρησάμενος ἡμερώτερον εὗρε τὸν τὴν ἀρχὴν ἔχοντα τούτων μεμνήμεθα, ταῦτα ἐπιζη- τοῦμεν, οὐκ ἄνευ τοῦ προσδοκᾶν. ὁ δ’ οἰόμενος ὑπὸ τῆς Τύ- χης γενέσθαι τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον λεῖον ἴστω κοσμῶν, οὐ ψέ- γων, εἰ μὴ καὶ τῷ Τηλεμάχῳ συμπλεῖν τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν κατευθύνουσαν ὄνειδος ἦν.