Letter 319
Libanius→Unknown|libanius
To Strategius. (358)
I imagine the news that you are coming quickly has already reached you, and I congratulate both the emperor on your speed and you on your wings — those you possess in eloquence no less than on the road.
Delighted as I am, along with everyone else, that I shall see you, I find myself honored above the rest by your letter. Perhaps this is nothing new: some distinction from you always finds its way to me. Your virtue makes you illustrious, and you make me so.
Στρατηγίῳ. (358)
Ἤση σε ἔχειν ἡγοῦμαι τὸ ὡς ταχέως ἥξεις ἀκούσας καὶ
συγχαίρω τῷ τε βασιλεῖ τοῦ σοῦ τάχους σοί τε τῶν πτερῶν,
ἃ κέκτησαι τοῦτο μὲν ἐν τοῖς λόγοις, τοῦτο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς.
ἡδόμενος δὲ μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων, ὅτι σε ὄψομαι τετίμημαι
πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐν τοῖς γράμμασι. καὶ καινὸν ἴσως οὐδέν·
ἀεὶ γάρ μοί τι παρὰ σοῦ γέρας εὑρίσκεται, καὶ ποιεῖ σὲ μὲν
λαμπρὸν ἡ ἀρετή, σὺ δὲ ἐμέ.
◆
To Strategius. (358)
I imagine the news that you are coming quickly has already reached you, and I congratulate both the emperor on your speed and you on your wings — those you possess in eloquence no less than on the road.
Delighted as I am, along with everyone else, that I shall see you, I find myself honored above the rest by your letter. Perhaps this is nothing new: some distinction from you always finds its way to me. Your virtue makes you illustrious, and you make me so.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.